While he was thus amorously engaged, the Philistines hearing that he Was made king over all Israel, came and disturbed him; but David according to the usual term smote them;(6) and his strokes were always sufficiently felt.
The comic tale of David's bringing home the ark will not be long dwelt upon; it may only be remarked, that it was brought on a new cart, drawn by oxen; and that Uzzah some way or other lost his life, to, as the text reads, was smote by the Lord,(7) for his impiety in saving the ark from being overturned.(8)
* 2 Sam. v. 3, 1 Chron. xi. 3.
** 2 Sam. ii. 11.
*** Chap. v. 6. Josephus.
**** Ver. 7. 9., 1 Chron; xi. 5. 7.
(5) 2 Sam. v. 13.
(6) Ver. 20, 25., 1 Chron. xiv. 11.
(7) Query, whether the Lord did not sometimes smite
by the hands of the priest.
(8) Sam. vi. 7.
But if "the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looked on the outward appearance, but the Lord looked into the heart." the intention of Uzzah was indisputably good, and the alledged crime surely pardonable; the seeming exigency precluding all hesitation and reflection. Had the ark been really overturned for want of this careful prevention, Uzzah might then, it would be naturally imagined, have been rather smote for neglecting to save it. However, it was no longer trusted to prophane hands, but carried the remainder of the way upon the more holy shoulders of the Levites,* with great parade: attended by musicians, and by David himself who, dressed in a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might and this, in such a frantic indecent manner, that he exposed his nakedness to the bye-standers. Wherefore his wife Michal sneered at him: "How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself."** David, it seems, was of a different opinion; for he told her he would play before the Lord; and would be yet more vile than she had represented him;—adding, "and of the maid-servants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour."*** Some staunch zealots have very prudently spiritualized this part of David's answer, and given the mystical sense of it; the prophane, who are content with the evident signification of words, having construed it no otherwise than into an insinuation that he had no cause to be ashamed of what he exposed. Fie on them!
This story is concluded with a remark as odd as the rest of it:—"Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child until the day of her death.(5)
* 1 Chron. xv. 2, 15.
** 2 Sam. vi. 14.
*** Ver. 20.
**** Ver. 22.
(5) Ver. 23.
For, if Michal had hitherto borne no children, neither to David, nor to her immediate husband, her barrenness must have been constitutional; and, preceding her offence, could not be a punishment inflicted in consequence of it. Moreover, if, on the other hand, she had borne him children, and this disgrace to her was the consequence of a resolution made by her husband David, that she should have no more children by him: her quiet resignation, under this imposed widowhood, is by inference a high compliment on this poor woman's conjugal virtue! which was far from the historian's intention to bestow. Indeed there is great reason to credit Michal, and to believe that David really behaved with all the extravagance she ascribes to him: for she appeared before this affair as a discreet kind of a woman; no instance of folly being produced in her, unless the contrivances she made use of to save her husband from the effects of her father's rage may be allowed to bear such interpretation. Whatever judgment however is passed upon Michal's censure of David's behaviour in this procession, it showed great cruelty and ingratitude in him to fix so disgraceful a stigma on her; and not to make allowance for female indiscretion, the worst name that could be bestowed on her fault.
After this, David smote the Philistines, not sparing even Gath, that city which had so humanely protected him.* He then smote the Moabites, putting to the sword two-thirds of the nation, by causing them to lie prostrate on the ground, and measuring them by lines; "even with two lines measured he to put to death; and with one full line to keep alive:"** so systematic was his wrath! Hadadezar, king of Zobah, was the next whom he smote; who being assisted by the Syrians of Damascus, he next smote them.*** Yet all this smiting and slaying is so obscurely mentioned, that we know nothing of the offences committed against this mighty chief, to excite such blood-thirsty indignation.
* Sam. viii. 1., Chron. xviii. 1.
** 2 Sam. viii. 2.
*** Ver. 3. 5., 1 Chron. xviii. 3, 5.
Indeed, the cause is, without much difficulty, deducible from the produce of these wars, which sufficiently indicate the nature of David's thirst. Great quantities of gold, silver, and brass, are said to have been brought to Jerusalem;* and the priests may with reason be supposed to be the instigators to these wars; since we find all the plunder surrendered to them.** We have therefore no cause to wonder at the exalted praises they have bestowed upon the instrument of their wealth. He is said to have "gat him a name, when he returned from smiting the Syrians."*** —This may very easily be credited; but it is to be feared, that if the name he gat from the Jews, and that which he gat from the Syrians were compared, they would not accord extremely well together.