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A DEMON now arose in the assembly whose complexion was of a yellowish cast, and he was remarkably broad between the eyes. I understood he had been for three or four thousand years in the heart of the Chinese empire, and from his rapt attention it appeared that every part of Belial's narrative was entirely new to him.

"And now I suppose," said he, addressing Belial, "Saul and his sons being dead, David became king over all Israel without opposition."

"Not exactly," said Belial: "he went to Hebron, and was proclaimed king over the tribe of Judah; but Judah was only one tribe out of the twelve. One son of Saul, named Ishbosheth, was still living. Abner, the commander-in-chief of the army, was the most noted man, now remaining, who was strongly in the interest of the house of Saul. The officers of the government generally, had the same bias, for the popularity of Jonathan had been very great till the day of his death; and even Saul, though the people thought he had done many very foolish and very unjustifiable deeds, yet he had been patriotic and brave, and possessed in their estimation many redeeming qualities, so that on the whole he stood

well with the mass of the people. Abner had a deep dislike to David. He had been repeatedly out-generalled by David and his men; and particularly when David and Abishai had taken away Saul's spear and cruse of water from his bolster, while Abner was asleep. David, from the top of a neighboring hill, addressed Abner, in the hearing of both armies, in a tone of strong and biting irony: Abner, art thou not a valiant man? Who is like to thee in Israel? As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed.' This was a severe reflection on his honor, such as a soldier was not likely to forget.

"I now," said Belial, "suggested to Abner that he had influence sufficient to make Ishbosheth king over all the tribes, except Judah; that this would hugely disappoint and vex David; and that as Ishbosheth was a weak and inefficient man, Abner himself would have the control and administration of the government almost exclusively in his own hands. This exactly chimed with the views and feelings of Abner. So he took Ishbosheth and crowned him, and proclaimed him king over the eleven tribes that had not followed David.

"Abner was a great warrior, and had many veteran and valiant troops under his command; yet knowing the men that were around David, he occupied two whole years making himself strong; training and putting his army in the best condition, before he made any public move, to subdue the house of Judah.

"After this long and careful preparation, Abner left Mahanaim, with the choice of his forces, and crossed Jordan, and came to Gibeon, within a few miles of He

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bron. And now," said Belial, glancing his eye towards the Philistine demon, "you will hear again of the sons of Zeruiah-Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. On learning that Abner had invaded the dominions of David, they went out and met him at the pool of Gibeon. Both parties were reluctant to commence hostilities, for they were worshippers of the same God, and all belonged to the commonwealth of Israel; so the two companies sat down on opposite sides of the pool of Gibeon. At length, Abner, whose forces were by far the most numerous, said to Joab, 'Let the young men now arise and play before us.' And Joab said, 'Let them arise.' Twelve on each side first met, and commenced the affray ; but presently both armies became excited, and rushed into the engagement, ' and there was a very sore battle, and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.' In the flight, Abner was closely pursued by Asahel, the younger brother of Joab, who was exceedingly swift of foot. Abner, vexed at his persevering in the pursuit, turned and ran him through with his spear, that he died. When Abner was wearied in his flight, he called to Joab, and said, 'Shall the sword devour forever? Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long is it, then, ere thou bid the people to return from following their brethren?' Joab replied, 'Surely, if you had not given the challenge and dared us to the fight, we had all in the morning marched home again without bloodshed.' So Joab blew a trumpet, sounding a retreat, and all the people stood still. Whether Joab at this time knew of the death of Asahel, his brother, I cannot say. But it afterwards cost Abner his life. Joab slew him to avenge the death of

his brother Asahel. This battle was fought on the plain of Gibeon, where there were no fortifications, and the parties met in a fair field; and yet when they had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel, that is, twenty in all. But they had smitten of Abner's men, so that three hundred and sixty died, that is, Abner's loss over Joab's was eighteen to one. I mention this," said Belial, "as another instance of the astonishing discipline and valor of David's troops while Joab was their commander.”

Lucifer here turned to the speaker: "I would ask a question."

"Will your majesty be pleased to speak?" said Belial. "Have not many commentators," said Lucifer," given what the church considers a very favorable view of Abner's character?"

"If they have," answered Belial, "they have shown that their acquaintance with the subject was very imperfect. The following facts establish the true character of Abner :

"First. He went all lengths with Saul, in his violent and long-continued persecutions of David. Saul, in his jealousy and madness, neglected his public duties much, that he might accomplish the ruin of David. Jonathan remonstrated, and besought his father in David's behalf: many others, among the pious in Israel, pronounced Saul's conduct 'shameful and criminal in a high degree.' But Abner went into all of Saul's measures with perfect cordiality; coöperated and assisted him in all his efforts for David's destruction.

"Second. On the death of Saul, Abner, though he knew well that Jehovah had promised the kingdom to

David, and though he acknowledged Jehovah, as the true God, yet he set up Ishbosheth as king, and for a number of years exerted all his energies to sustain this rival kingdom. That he knew he was acting against the revealed will of Jehovah, is plain from his own words, after Ishbosheth had reproved him for his licentiousness. 'Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kindness this day to the house of thy father? God do so to Abner, and more also, except as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him, to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David, over all Israel and Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.' (2 Sam. iii. 6-10.) Abner, for seven years, had 'made himself strong for the kingdom of Ishbosheth. Yet here he acknowledges that he was fighting against the revealed and known will of God. There is, per

haps, not another such instance on record, of bold and daring opposition to Jehovah's acknowledged authority.

"Third. Abner renounced Ishbosheth and his kingdom, not because he repented of his conduct as wrong, but because that prince had rebuked him for his intimacies with an unchaste woman. Burning with resentment, he went to David, and proposed a league with him; but before his plans were carried out, he was slain by Joab, to avenge the death of his brother Asahel."

"It has been said by some," remarked Lucifer, "that Joab was jealous of Abner's great military reputation." "What?" said Belial; "jealous of the military reputation of one so lately defeated in battle by himself!" "Go on," said Lucifer: "I will not at present further interrupt your narrative."

"After the death of Abner," said Belial, "David

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