The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-01
LESSON STORY.

We have for our lesson subject to-
day two specimen battles that made
David renowned as fighting king; the
two battles that aided essentially in
raising Israel from an obscure nation to
one of the great powers of the earth, to
be classed with Babylon and Egypt;
nation with a domain, occupied and
tributary. extending from Egypt on the
south to beyond Damascus on the
north and from the Mediterranean to
the Euphrates.
When we have become slightly ia
miliar with the unusual names to be
found in these brief narratives, we shall
find them plain accounts of dramatic
and decisive martial events.
L. Israel's Victory over the
Ammonites and their Allies,-vs.
STA
David had been, in the days of his
outlawry, favored by Nahash. the king
of Ammon, who ruled over large do
main east of Israel. When therefore
Nahash died, and his son Hanun sue
ceeded him on the throne. David with
good will and peaceful intentions, sent
ambassadors to express to the new king
coincidence and congratulations. When
the ambassadors reached Rabbah, the
capital of the Ammonites, and we're
naturally expecting gracious recep-
ton, they were instead received as OBJ
jects OF suspicion, as spies seeking how
they could enable David to overthrow
and capture the capital of Ammon.
The ambassadors were treated with ex.
IRENE and outrageous indignity. One
half their boards was shaved off; this
among the Orientals. whose personal
honor is largely vested in their Boards
was deadly affront. and was intended
to be, which could mean only contempt
uous defiance of the king of Israel
There was an addition to even this out
rage. The robes of the ambassadors
were cut off at the middle. In this ex-
traordinary and indecent plight the am
bassadors of David were sent back to
Jerusalem. We can assume that the
foolhardy Ammonites made themselves
merry over the grotesque appearance of
the ambassadors of the great David.
The news of this insult stirred David
to instant action. He sent swift mes
sengers to his approaching ambassa-
doris telling them, larry at Jericho until
your boards be grolonj which saying is
to this day an expressive proverb signi.
flying that one should have patience in
the endurance of any temporary shame.
David hastily gathered a great army of
his experienced soldiers, and placing his
nephews Joab and A bishai in command,
sent it to the country of Ammon.
David could not maintain his standing
among the kings if he did not avenge
such insult.
Hanun. king of Ammon. knew that
his act toward Israel meant immediate
war. He therefore with immense
treasure hired as allies the soldiers of
Syria, who, under the lead of the great
warrior Hadarezer Tor Hadadezer), had
become veterans in aggressive warfare.
The price paid by Ammon 10 the Sy-
rians is stated to be thousand talents
of silver; an almost fabulous sum.
The Syrian allies Of Ammon are repre-
sented as coming from all the tribes now
confederated as Syria; from Rehob aud
lob and Maacah, and Zobath, the prin-
cipality of king Hadarezer. The Syrian
force is represented as more than $1,000;
and these soldiers were amply supplied
with war chariots and cavalry. OF
course the Ammonities summoned all