Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-13

thy house. thy holy temple
Psalm, 65,4.
David left his headquarters at Xix
| lag, near the southern desert, which
| was the center of his operations, as
an outlaw and exile, following the
receipt of the message concerning the
death of Saul and his three sons on
| the battlefield of the slopes of Gilboa.
| He laid the foundation for his king
dom while he was a feudal lord under
| the Philistine King of Gath. He
ruled with an unlimited freedom and
| independence the men who had joined
| his outlaw forces with their families.
Many of Israel's most noted warriors
had been trained by David during the
exile. These returned with him 20
Hebron when David made the ancient
city his headquarters, following d.
vine directions.
Here he was chosen King of Judah
and ruled the tribe of Judah for a
period of more than seven years.
Part of that time he was compelled
to defend his nations right to exist
ence as a separate unity among the
nations against the armies of Israel,
under the command Of Abner, who
had united the 10 tribes into a nation
under Isboseth, the fourth son of
Saul. as a puppet King. The treach-
erous assassination of both Abner
and the King, which David con-
demned, removed all opposition to tho
consolidation Of Israel and Judah into
united kingdom under David as
King. Recognizing his kinship to
them, his deliverance of the nation as
a commander Of their armies against
their enemies and his appointment by
the Lord to be their shepherd and
commander, the people of Israel
elected David as their King. The
elders and representatives Of all the
tribes assembled at Hebron and an
nointed David as King for the third
time. In assuming the kingship Da-
vid entered into o covenant with the
whole nation, just as he did with
Judah, before Jehovah.
David's policy Of patient waiting in
Hebron and his spirit Of Cancellation,
shown in his recognition Of the serv-
ice of the men of Jabesh gilead and
his desire to obey God in all things
was rewarded when the nation pledged
it's allegiance to him as Its King
The craftsmanship of the soldier,
shepherd and singer was seen in his
decision to secure q new capital that
would help strengthen the nations
life. While Hebron was hallowed by
the memories Of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, the continuation of it as the
nations capital would have a ten
dency to perpetuate tribal animosi-
ties. Although Abram had pitched
his tent under the oak at Mamre.
Isaac and Jacob were born there,
Sarah and Rebecca were buried there,
as were also Abraham, Isaac and
&c. eit, IN Tn nd q
use by David as the capital Of that
commonwealth, contained the germs
of division. He selected Jerusalem, a
city. controlled by the Jebusites and
hitherto unconquered. 1t was located
partly in the territory Of Benjamin
Joseph, and its capture was a neces.
sity, for an organized government for
all Israel was impossible with a strong
hostile citadel and city within it's
midst.
Developing Political Unity.
When David gathered the forces of
the united nation about the famous
citadel, preparatory to attempting it's
capture, the Jebusites ridiculed and de-
fed him. The hooking challenge, Eek
cept thou take away the lame and the
blind thou shalt not come in hither,"
1t
ars to solve. It has been taken to
mean that their confidence in the
strength Of their citadel and strong
hold was so great that they had man
ned the walls with no defenders. ex-
cept the lame and blind Of the city.
Another suggestion, which is prob.
ably the correct one, Is that at some
time David had referred to their gods
as being lame and blind gods, and filled
with confidence in their impregnable
position, they defied him by recalling
his words in an effort to destroy the
morale Of David and his forces.
Two ravines-the Kidron and the
Hinnon-separate ancient Jerusalem
from the hills about the city. They
are so formed that the impression is
given to an observer that these two
valleys were bitches dug at the foot
Of the fortress 600 feet above on n
promontory.; Between these two val
leys, carved out by nature, is another
the Tyropoeon (cheesemakers) Valley
| that divides Jerusalem into two parts
Upon the north the city was protected
| by a wall that extended across the
western hill. 1t had been unconquer-
| ed, but David under divine guidance
| captured it. He first took the strong
hold on Ophe1, the eastern hill. ;" which
was within the boundaries of Benja-
min. He made his home there and
, Jerusalem has been called from that
| day to this the city Of David. Inspired
| by his offer, which may have been
made by him as q diplomatic way to
secure another commander-in-chi
since he was displeased with Joab's
assassination of Abner, Joab captured
! the stronghold on the western ridge
which was within the boundaries of
! Joseph. He went up the ditch, called
''the gutter" and hurled down this
steep water way, or fall, 'the lame and
| blind" probably idols, which David
hated with all his soul, for they had
| been poWerless to prevent the army OF
| Jehovah from conquering their almost
| impregnable fortress.
| The capture of Jerusalem marked
| the turning point in David's history.
He showed his skill as military engi-
neer by improving it's defenses and re.
| terrifying its weak points. The unit
| ing Of the tribes into one nation and
the capture Of Jerusalem stirred the
Philistines to war. He not only de-
feated them and captured Gath, but
he made a treaty with them that made
them q tributary power. This brought
him an allegiance with Hiram, King OF
Tyre, who, securing a safe passageway
for his goods to Egypt, gave David tim
Der and furnished him skilled work
men to build the new capital. From
this city "his army swept the whole
horizon, subduing and concluding
treaties and receiving tribute" for God
was with David. Recognizing that
tho nation ueeded the strong tie of re.