The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-30

studied OCTOBER llth, was III tne SeNehth
chapter. Tho eight intervening chap
tiers treat David's sin with Bath-sheoa.
the murder Of uriah the preaching OF
David; the death Of his child, the BIRTH
of Solomon, the subjugation Of the Amo-
mites the sin and murder Of Ammor. the
flight Of A.bsalom to Geshur, his moth
ers home, his return to Jeru EN-
through tho intcrcess.o of Joab, and
his reconciliation with David. The evils
Of the polygamus system were beginning
TO appear in the household OF DaV Il,
who. as mentioned had followed the GUS
tom OF Eastern Kings, in violat on of the
law Of nature and of God. Gen ii:lS).
From this time forward he reaped d JUST
retribution in the rivalrles and jealousies
of numerous wives and their sons (Gal.
vi:T. It was apparent that In few
years the throne would BIO vacant. Many
aspirants, forgetful OF all propriety, wei
plotting for the succession and Jerusalem
was filled with factious whose movements
caused the King much unrest,
PREPARATlON.--Th first son or pa
vid, Ammon, was dead III Sam. xiii:2s-2D
and chIliah also, inasmuch as he was
never mentioned, the second son, had
probably deceased. This made Absalorrl,
the third son, heir to the throne. HIS
mother was Mancah. the daughter OF
Talmai, the King OF Geshur, Syrian dis
trict lying on the northeast OF the Holy
Land, CII Sam. iii:6). While fugitive
at his rather-.n-law's court Ql sam.
xiii 1857 he may have conceived the pur-
poses which afterward dominated him, or
he may have feared that unless early
and decisive measures were adopted
Bath.sheba's son might supplant MIN.
He therefore prepared while his fats er
was living to gain regal powers. AS sooa
O.. David had been reconciled (xiv:33). he
set promptly to work. His hrst act was
to secure chariots and horses, contrary
to the law (Deut. xviil:16), but no one
would know that he had .lav lurr So
contrary RI his fathers will. SnA: lie
engaged nifty men to run before him rs
an advanced guard. This invested Elm
with dignity, constituting him MIL
tary officer emitting MIN IT, RESPECT.
JUDGEMENT.-Havins thus place n
the government Absaloal sought opp.r.
tunlty for the exercise OF author!ty. Hao
there been war he nigh! have 'iIsunsnish-
ed himself In battle. l'ut az 1t was
time OF peace he was compelled 70 enter
into N. ordinary affal.s OF life. The
Administered ton OF Justice was loosely con-
Quoted David had given At!enth.I: TO Tor
eign wars and neglected dolnestl: inter-
ests. AS a result many came With com
plants and found no one to hear them.
And go "Absalom stood beside the way
of the gate" where all manner or IL
ferences were adjusted (ES. xvili:l6' the
courtroom OF those times and gave m
attentive ear to oil who came. II Was
a valuable service which ne renos.eo,
preclated by the people with whom he
came in contact. because he was ire
Kings SON, It was a service that might
have been rendered with a praiseW ortny
motive. deserving the thanks of his lath-
er But below every other consldctation
was the sinister desire for the tnrnas
NITRIC did not stand IN
the gate to Judge men. He had no rsht
to do that The King had not deputed
him to such business. He was there to
win the satisfaction, those who came
for justice and found 1t not. His method
was adroit. Oversees and A. He first
took sides with the complainant. After
hearing, he pronounced the cause Just
psalm Kill. 81 That was calculated 70
gain friendships. Next he declared that
there was no one authorized to sit on
the case, the same as to say that the
department OF justice was failure.
probably not far from the truth. That
assertion was designed to awaken cri-
ticism upon David. Then came the
third point for which the other two pre-
pared the way an earnest desire that
he might be made Judge. prov. XIV,
6.7) and a promise that he would do
ant. By these secret articles, feigning
to be the friend to the unfortunate, Alb
SALON. intrigued day after day In the
public places dedicated to the rights OF
men, seeking to bring the government OF
his father into contempt and to elevate
himself as the disinterested benefactor,
waiting and anxious to serve the people.
H Typ who would gain a
following among men must convince
them of his regard. Universal human
ity Is so intent on personal gain as never
to trust one who does not with unselfish
surrender become servant. IT was
therefore necessary for Absalom to 10
more than pronounce cause Just re-
greet that there was no one to judge 1t
and offer himself as willing 70 =, adjust ~,
the grieva nee. He must exhibit the dis
position of his heart. That he did with
consumate skill. When any one ap-
preached to do reverence to him. he put
forth his hand and kissed the person.
He knew what grace 1t puts upon the
great to be courteous and condescend-
Ing. and how much it wins the common
people. psalm X. 81 Absaiom was
typical office-seeker, and his kind has
been produced in this country In great
numbers. His hypocrisy was successful.
He stole the hearts OF the men OF Israel,
lust as now n schemer has been pre-
ferred to another OF greater worth.
(Rom xvi, $50
DECEIT.-At last the time came for
Absalom to take the decided step for the
throne OF his father. The chariots. the
forerunners. the admirers and followers
gained In the gate were only preliminary.
He resolved to retire to Hebron and
there be declared king. 1t is impossible
to state why he selected that city Some
think that Judah had become nleasurably
dissatisfied with David because they
were merged and overlooked In the large
empire he had established. Others think
that Absalom had gained the most fol-
lowers In that tribe, or that he resolved
to begin where his father did. III. Sam.
H., IL Whatever his motive, he re-
sorted to trick In It's execution. He
pleaded with David that while absent in
Geshur he had vowed to serve the Lord
If permitted to return to Jerusalem, and
now asked to go to Hebron for that
purpose. Ostensbly he put forth re-
iigious ezra nd. while actually he pros
posed rebellion, He knew that David