The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 183
SECT. CLXXXIII.
IShboſheth being dead, the Elders and Heads of the ſeveral Tribes of Iſrael, and the Captains, and many thouſands of the people that bare armes came unto David to Hebron, to ſettle the Kingdom of Saul upon him, as God had appointed; and ſome of them addreſſing themſelves to him in the name of the reſt, ſpake after this manner, We are thy bone and thy fleſh, that is, Iſraelites as thou art, and therefore doubt not but we ſhall find favour with thee. And when Saul was King over us, thou waſt our Captain, and didſt lead forth our Armies againſt our enemies, and broughteſt them back again crowned with victory, and laden with ſpoil. And therefore the experience we have had of thy wiſdom and proweſs moves us to deſire thee for our King. And further God did by Samuel appoint thee to rule over us, and ſaid unto thee, Thou ſhalt feed my people Iſrael, and be a Captain over them. And we are bound to accept him for our King, whom God ſhall chuſe for us. Deut. 17.15. upon all theſe accounts we are willing to accept of thee, and ſubmit to thee as our King. David graciouſly received them and their addreſs, and declar'd himſelf ready to forget all that was paſt, and to receive them as his ſubjects into his protection. And ſo he made a league with them, promiſing to govern them according to the rule preſcribed in Gods Law, and they promiſed to obey him as his loyal and liege people. And this being done with invocation of God as a witneſs of their league, it is ſaid to be done before the Lord; and ſo they anointed *David now a third time anointed.David King over all Iſrael. He was thirty years old at this time; he had reigned ſeven years and ſix months over Judah in Hebron before; and after this he reigned over all Iſrael thirty three years, ſo that his whole reign was almoſt forty years. In the 1 Chron. 12.23. we have the number of thoſe who out of the ſeveral Tribes came to Hebron upon this ſolemn occaſion: Of the Children of Judah, ſix thouſand and eight hundred ready armed; they had before anointed David King over them, therefore it was not neceſſary they ſhould appear in greater numbers at this time. Of Simeon, ſeven thouſand one hundred mighty men of valour. Of Levi, four thouſand and ſix hundred; though this Tribe was ſet apart peculiarly for the ſervice of God, yet many of them (being men of valour) did (it ſeems) go out into the wars, and David being now to be inaugurated and anointed King, the Levites were willing to ſhew their forwardneſs alſo to eſtabliſh him in his Kingdom. Of the Aaronites or Prieſts, three thouſand and ſeven hundred, with Jehojada their leader. And Zadok (a)This Zadok ſeems to be the man who in Davids reign was joined with Abiathar, 2 Sam. 8.17. and by Solomon was put into Abiathars room, and made High-Prieſt, 1 King. 2.35.a young man of great valour was another leader among the Sons of Aaron, and with him came twenty two Captains that were Prieſts, and of his Fathers houſe. Of the Chilren of Benjamin, three thouſand; no more of them (it ſeems) appeared, becauſe they being of the ſame Tribe with Saul, a multitude of them endeavoured to continue the Kingdom in Sauls race(b)V. 29. Obſervabant obſervationem domus Saulis: i. e. adhaerebant domui Saulis, capeſſentes mandata Iſhboſhethi. Piſc., and were unwilling the Royal dignity ſhould go from them. Of the Children of Ephraim, twenty thouſand eight hundred, mighty men of valour, and famous in their Tribe. Of the half Tribe of Manaſſeh that was ſeated within Jordan, eighteen thouſand, which were choſen by name to be imployed in this ſervice. Of the Children of Iſſachar, that were ſingularly prudent, and able to give advice for the doing of any thing that was to be done in the fitteſt time *Vide Eſth. 1.13., and ſeaſon (c)They had much given themſelves to obſerve ſeaſons wherein matters of moment were meeteſt to be done., and whoſe brethren were at their command, out of the high eſteem they had of their prudence and wiſdom; of theſe the Heads or Captains were two hundred, and therefore undoubtedly had divers thouſands under their command who came along with them. Of Zebulon no leſs than fifty thouſand, (the greateſt number that came out of any one Tribe) men expert in war, and arm'd with all Military inſtruments, and who could keep rank and order, and were not of a divided or double heart, but men of great ſingleneſs and ſincerity. Of Naphtali, a thouſand Captains, and with them thirty ſeven thouſand, armed with Shield and Spear. Of the Danites, twenty eight thouſand, and ſix hundred expert Soldiers. Of Aſher forty thouſand. Of the Reubenites, Gadites, and half Tribe of Manaſſeh an hundred and twenty thouſand, furniſht with all manner of weapons and military inſtruments. All theſe (which are reckoned to be in all three hundred, twenty two thouſand, two hundred twenty two) being men of war, (who knew how to keep rank, and obſerve Military order and diſcipline) are ſaid to have come with an upright heart to Hebron to make David King over all Iſrael; and thoſe that came not up with them, yet joined in heart and affection with them therein. And there they ſtayed with David, eating and drinking and feaſting three days together, their brethren of Hebron making what preparations for them they could, and others that were nigh unto them ſending in proviſions; yea as far as from Iſſachar (a)V. 40. Uſque ab Iſſachar, &c. ſic Jun. & Tremel., Zebulon and Naphtali, they brought bread and other proviſions, ſome on Aſſes and Camels, and Mules, and ſome drawn by Oxen, and meat, and meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raiſins, wine and oyl; they brought alſo oxen and ſheep in great abundance to make the Feaſt, for there was then great joy in Iſrael.
2 Sam. Ch. 5. from v. 1. to 6.
1 Chron. Ch. 11. from v. 1, to 4.
1 Chron. Ch. 12. from v. 23, to the end.