chapter of the 1st of Chronicles, that Solomon was to succeed to the throne, which was some considerable time before Adonijah's revolt, for king David was not then infirm. Adonijah, on learning that his younger brother would be called to govern Israel, was, doubtless, excited to envy. This unholy feeling might have been fanned by the jealousies existing among the ladies of the court, as regarded the regal succession, which tended to strengthen him in his rebellion.

This revolt, on the part of Adonijah, must have been very painful to the mind of David, for Adonijah was Absalom's younger brother, by his wife Haggith, and must have brought vividly to his recollection all the distress and calamity which he suffered at the rebellion of Absalom, which is minutely detailed in the Second Book of Samuel, chapters xv.-xviii., “When David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up;"—as well as the grief he felt at the death of that beloved yet disaffected son, “ When the king was much moved, went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, 0 Absalom, my son, my son!”” Haggith might have been jealous of Bathsheba, on account of the regard that David bestowed on her son Solomon; and thus a feeling of disaffection possessed the minds of both mother and son. Adonijah, perceiving that David, from age, was unable to lead forth the armies of Israel, felt satisfied that his success was inevitable, aided by so distinguished a captain as Joab.

We are informed in the chapter above referred to, that king David, on collecting a number of artists and artisans, and providing abundantly for the building, assembled the princes and elders, when he “called for Solomon, and in their presence charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel, and commanded them to assist Solomon in the building. Adonijah’s revolt, after this public act, was not less an insult to Jehovah than unkind to his affectionate parent, and the height of wickedness and folly. As a foul cistern cannot send forth pure water, so Adonijah, having unnatural affections, being aided by Joab, and by Abiathar the priest, cherished the proud hope of ascending his father's throne with little or no opposition.

The sacred historian recording his revolt, says, that “ Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and fat cattle at En-rogel, near Jerusalem, and invited his brethren, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants. But Nathan the Prophet, and his brother Solomon were not invited.” At this festival board they shouted aloud, “God save king Adonijah!” (1 Kings i. 5—9.) From the feeling displayed on the occasion, both he and his partizans felt certain of realising their most ardent desire. But as the falling of a small stone will disturb the smoothness of water, the mere absence of his brother Solomon, and that of Nathan the prophet, soon disorganised their whole arrangements. On the news of the revolt reaching the capital, Nathan, the servant of the Most High, repaired to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, and said “Hast thou not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? Let

I give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thy own life,

pray thee, and the life of thy son Solomon.” Nathan had no reason to doubt but that the purposes of God would be accomplished in the reign of Solomon, nor could he be unacquainted with the positive command, “touch not mine anointed.” The information had been brought to Nathan by some of the followers of Adonijah, or he was made acquainted with the event by the divine Spirit, to prevent calamity. In discharge of his sacred duty, he says to Bathsheba, “Go, and get thee unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thy handmaid, saying, 'Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?' why then doth Adonijah reign ?" It may not be improper here to remark, that independently of the Divine influence that guided David in the choice of Solomon to be his successor, all Eastern monarchs inherit a right, contrary to modern usages in Europe, to name their successor; hence the vested right of David to appoint Solomon, in preference to his other sons, to succeed him in the government of Israel. Nathan further added, “While thou yet talkest with the king, I also will come after thee and confirm thy words.”

What a strong contrast is here observable between the conduct of Abiathar the priest, and that of Nathan the prophet! The former was intent on honour and emolument, while the latter was anxious for God's honour and the prosperity of Israel.

Bathsheba, we are informed by the sacred historian, followed Nathan's advice, and “went in unto the king into the chamber, the king being very old, and bowed, and did obeisance unto the king.” When the king asked, “What wouldest thou, Bathsheba ? She said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the Lord thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, “Assuredly, Solomon, thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.' Behold, Adonijah reigneth! and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not. He hath slain oxen and fat cattle, and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host : but Solomon thy servant, he hath not called."

The conduct of Bathsheba on this trying occasion cannot be too much admired. She promptly obeys the prophet's instructions, and with suitable words, and in a respectful manner, pleads the cause of her son; and she closes her speech, by reminding the king that “the eyes of all Israel are directed towards thee that thou shouldst tell them who shall succeed to the throne, ere thou sleepest with thy fathers, that I and my son Solomon may not be considered offenders.” (1 Kings i. 11-21.) While Bathsheba was thus addressing the king, Nathan the prophet entered, who, on bowing himself before the king, with his face to the ground, said, “ My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne ?" Then, repeating what Bathsheba had stated as to his slaying oxen, and inviting the king's sons, and the captain of the hosts, and Abiathar the priest, who did eat and drink before him, and say, 'God save king Adonijah!' complains that, “even me, thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, have they not called !" He then inquires, “Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shown it unto thy servant, who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him ?"

The very appearance of Nathan, after what Bathsheba had stated, must have aroused David's mind,

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however frail his bodily powers were, to a consciousness of the importance of the matter submitted to his consideration. Were he not now to confirm the oath that he had made, he must see that the kingdom of Israel would be exposed to all the horrors of war; and that the temple which he desired to build to God's honour would never be erected. Further, he might naturally expect that the prophet who condemned him, in that beautiful allegorical fable of “the ewe lamb," would denounce some more heavy and calamitous event in his declining hours, did he not confirm his former purposes.

David, impressed with the urgency of the case, said, “ Call me Bathsheba." She entered and stood in the king's presence, when the king sware, and said, “As the Lord liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, ' Assuredly, Solomon, thy son, shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead;' even so will I certainly do this day!” Then “Bathsheba bowed her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, “Let my lord king David live for ever.'” King David then called for Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and said unto them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon my mule, and bring him down to Gihon. Let Zadok and Nathan anoint him there king over Israel, and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, "GOD SAVE KING SOLOMON.' Then ye shall come up with him that he

may

sit

upon my throne: for he shall be king in my stead, for I have appointed him to rule over Israel and Judah.” Then Benaiah answered the king, and said, “ Amen: the Lord God of my lord the king say so too. As the