patriarchs and prophets-第174节

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Lord；　and　He　answered　him　from　heaven　by　fire　upon　the　altar　of　burnt
offering。〃　〃So　the　Lord　was　entreated　for　the　land；　and　the　plague　was
stayed　from　Israel。〃

The　spot　upon　which　the　altar　was　erected；　henceforth　ever　to　be　regarded　as
holy　ground；　was　tendered　to　the　king　by　Ornan　as　a　gift。　But　the　king
declined　thus　to　receive　it。　〃I　will　verily　buy　it　for　the　full　price；〃　he
said；　〃for　I　will　not　take　that　which　is　thine　for　the　Lord；　not　offer　burnt
offerings　without　cost。　So　David　gave　to　Ornan　for　the　place　six　hundred
shekels　of

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gold　by　weight。〃　This　spot；　memorable　as　the　place　where　Abraham　had　built
the　altar　to　offer　up　his　son；　and　now　hallowed　by　this　great　deliverance；
was　afterward　chosen　as　the　site　of　the　temple　erected　by　Solomon。

Still　another　shadow　was　to　gather　over　the　last　years　of　David。　He　had
reached　the　age　of　threescore　and　ten。　The　hardships　and　exposures　of　his
early　wanderings；　his　many　wars；　the　cares　and　afflictions　of　his　later
years；　had　sapped　the　fountain　of　life。　Though　his　mind　retained　its
clearness　and　strength；　feebleness　and　age；　with　their　desire　for　seclusion；
prevented　a　quick　apprehension　of　what　was　passing　in　the　kingdom；　and　again
rebellion　sprang　up　in　the　very　shadow　of　the　throne。　Again　the　fruit　of
David's　parental　indulgence　was　manifest。　The　one　who　now　aspired　to　the
throne　was　Adonijah；　〃a　very　goodly　man〃　in　person　and　bearing；　but
unprincipled　and　reckless。　In　his　youth　he　had　been　subjected　to　but　little
restraint；　for　〃his　father　had　not　displeased　him　at　any　time　in　saying；　Why
hast　thou　done　so？〃　He　now　rebelled　against　the　authority　of　God；　who　had
appointed　Solomon　to　the　throne。　Both　by　natural　endowments　and　religious
character　Solomon　was　better　qualified　than　his　elder　brother　to　become
ruler　of　Israel；　yet　although　the　choice　of　God　had　been　clearly　indicated；
Adonijah　did　not　fail　to　find　sympathizers。　Joab；　though　guilty　of　many
crimes；　had　heretofore　been　loyal　to　the　throne；　but　he　now　joined　the
conspiracy　against　Solomon；　as　did　also　Abiathar　the　priest。

The　rebellion　was　ripe；　the　conspirators　had　assembled　at　a　great　feast　just
without　the　city　to　proclaim　Adonijah　king；　when　their　plans　were　thwarted
by　the　prompt　action　of　a　few　faithful　persons；　chief　among　whom　were　Zadok
the　priest；　Nathan　the　prophet；　and　Bathsheba　the　mother　of　Solomon。　They
represented　the　state　of　affairs　to　the　king；　reminding　him　of　the　divine
direction　that　Solomon　should　succeed　to　the　throne。　David　at　once　abdicated
in　favor　of　Solomon；　who　was　immediately　anointed　and　proclaimed　king。　The
conspiracy　was　crushed。　Its　chief　actors　had　incurred　the　penalty　of　death。
Abiathar's　life　was　spared；　out　of　respect　to　his　office　and　his　former
fidelity　to　David；　but　he　was　degraded　from　the　office　of　high　priest；　which
passed　to　the　line　of　Zadok。　Joab　and　Adonijah　were　spared　for　the　time；　but
after　the　death　of　David　they　suffered　the　penalty　of

750

their　crime。　The　execution　of　the　sentence　upon　the　son　of　David　completed
the　fourfold　judgment　that　testified　to　God's　abhorrence　of　the　father's
sin。

From　the　very　opening　of　David's　reign　one　of　his　most　cherished　plans　had
been　that　of　erecting　a　temple　to　the　Lord。　Though　he　had　not　been　permitted
to　execute　this　design；　he　had　manifested　no　less　zeal　and　earnestness　in
its　behalf。　He　had　provided　an　abundance　of　the　most　costly　materialgold；
silver；　onyx　stones；　and　stones　of　divers　colors；　marble；　and　the　most
precious　woods。　And　now　these　valuable　treasures　that　he　had　collected　must
be　committed　to　others；　for　other　hands　must　build　the　house　for　the　ark；
the　symbol　of　God's　presence。

Seeing　that　his　end　was　near；　the　king　summoned　the　princes　of　Israel；　with
representative　men　from　all　parts　of　the　kingdom；　to　receive　this　legacy　in
trust。　He　desired　to　commit　to　them　his　dying　charge　and　secure　their
concurrence　and　support　in　the　great　work　to　be　accomplished。　Because　of　his
physical　weakness；　it　had　not　been　expected　that　he　would　attend　to　this
transfer　in　person；　but　the　inspiration　of　God　came　upon　him；　and　with　more
than　his　wonted　fervor　and　power；　he　was　able；　for　the　last　time；　to　address
his　people。　He　told　them　of　his　own　desire　to　build　the　temple；　and　of　the
Lord's　command　that　the　work　should　be　committed　to　Solomon　his　son。　The
divine　assurance　was；　〃Solomon　thy　son；　he　shall　build　My　house　and　My
courts；　for　I　have　chosen　him　to　be　My　son；　and　I　will　be　his　Father。
Moreover　I　will　establish　his　kingdom　forever；　if　he　be　constant　to　do　My
commandments　and　My　judgments；　as　at　this　day。〃　〃Now　therefore；〃　David　said；
〃in　the　sight　of　all　Israel　the　congregation　of　the　Lord；　and　in　the
audience　of　our　God；　keep　and　seek　for　all　the　commandments　of　the　Lord　your
God：　that　ye　may　possess　this　good　land；　and　leave　it　for　an　inheritance　for
your　children　after　you　forever。〃

David　had　learned　by　his　own　experience　how　hard　is　the　path　of　him　who
departs　from　God。　He　had　felt　the　condemnation　of　the　broken　law；　and　had
reaped　the　fruits　of　transgression；　and　his　whole　soul　was　moved　with
solicitude　that　the　leaders　of　Israel　should　be　true　to　God；　and　that
Solomon　should　obey　God's　law；　shunning　the　sins　that　had　weakened　his
father's　authority；　embittered　his　life；　and　dishonored　God。　David　knew

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that　it　would　require　humility　of　heart；　a　constant　trust　in　God；　and
unceasing　watchfulness　to　withstand　the　temptations　that　would　surely　beset
Solomon　in　his　exalted　station；　for　such　prominent　characters　are　a　special
mark　for　the　shafts　of　Satan。　Turning　to　his　son；　already　acknowledged　as
his　successor　on　the　throne；　David　said：　〃And　thou；　Solomon　my　son；　know
thou　the　God　of　thy　father；　and　serve　Him　with　a　perfect　heart　and　with　a
willing　mind：　for　the　Lord　searcheth　all　hearts；　and　understandeth　all　the
imaginations　of　the　thoughts：　if　thou　seek　Him；　He　will　be　found　of　thee；
but　if　thou　forsake　Him；　He　will　cast　thee　off　forever。　Take　heed　now；　for
the　Lord　hath　chosen　thee　to　build　a　house　for　the　sanctuary：　be　strong；　and
do　it。〃

David　gave　Solomon　minute　directions　for　building　the　temple；　with　patterns
of　every　part；　and　of　all　its　instruments　of　service；　as　had　been　revealed
to　him　by　divine　inspiration。　Solomon　was　still　young；　and　shrank　from　the
weighty　responsibilities　that　would　devolve　upon　him　in　the　erection　of　the
temple　and　in　the　government　of　God's　people。　David　said　to　his　son；　〃Be
strong　and　of　good　courage；　and　do　it：　fear　not；　nor　be　dismayed；　for　the
Lord　God；　even　my　God；　will　be　with　thee；　He　will　not　fail　thee；　nor　forsake
thee。〃

Again　David　appealed　to　the　congregation：　〃Solomon　my　son；　whom　alone　God
hath　chosen；　is　yet　young　and　tender；　and　the　work　is　great：　for　the　palace
is　not　for　man；　but　for　the　Lord　God。〃　He　said；　〃I　have　prepared　will　all　my
might　for　the　house　of　my　God；〃　and　he　went　on　to　enumerate　the　materials　he
had　gathered。　More　than　this；　he　said；　〃I　have　set　my　affection　to　the　house
of　my　God；　I　have　of　mine　own　proper　good；　of　gold　and　silver；　which　I　have
given　to　the　house　of　my　God；　over　and　above　all　that　I　have　prepared　for
the　holy　house；　even　three　thousand　talents　of　gold；　of　the　gold　of　Ophir；
and　seven　thousand　talents　of　refined　silver；　to　overlay　the　walls　of　the
houses　withal。〃　〃Who　then；〃　he　asked　of　the　assembled　multitude　that　had
brought　their　liberal　gifts〃who　then　is　willing　to　consecrate　his　service
this　day　unto　the　Lord？〃

There　was　a　ready　response　from　the　assembly。　〃The　chief　of　the　fathers　and
princes　of　the　tribes　of　Israel；　and　the　captains　of　thousands　and　of
hundreds；　with　the　rulers　of　the　king's　work；　offered　willingly；　and　gave；
for　the　service　of　the　house　of　God；　of

752

gold　five　thousand　talents　and　ten　thousand　drams；　and　of　silver　ten
thousand　talents；　and　of　brass　eighteen　thousand　talents；　and　one　hundred
thousand　talents　of　iron。　And　they　with　whom　precious　stones　were　found　gave
them　to　the　treasure　of　the　house　of　the　Lord。　。　。　。　Then　the　people
rejoiced；　for　that　they　offered　willingly；　because　with　perfect　heart　they
offered　willingly　to　the　Lord：　and　David　the　king　also　rejoiced　with　great
joy。

〃Wherefore　David　blessed　the　Lord　before　all　the　congregation：　and　David
said；　Blessed　be　Thou；　Lord　God　of　Israel　our　father；　forever　and　ever。
Thine；　O　Lord；　is　the　greatness；　and　the　power；　and　the　glory；　and　the
victory；　and　the　majesty：　for　all　that　is　in　the　heaven　and　in　the　earth　is
Thine；　Thine　is　the　kingdom；　O　Lord；　and　Thou　art　exalted　as　head　above　all。
Both　riches　and　honor　come　of　Thee；　and　Thou　reignest　over　all；　and　in　Thine
hand　is　power　and　might；　and　in　Thine　hand　it　is　to　make　great；　and　to　give
strength　unto　all。　Now　therefore；　our　God；　we　thank　Thee；　and　praise　Thy
glorious　name。　But　who　am　I；　and　what　is　my　people；　that　we　should　be　able
to　offer　so　willingly　after　this　sort？　for　all　things　come　of　Thee；　and　of
Thine　own　have　we　given　Thee。　For　we　are　strangers　before　Thee；　and
sojourners；　as　were　all　ou