206 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

and in chariots of war, yet Israel gained the victory,
and forty thousand of Syria's horsemen, with seven
thousand of her chariot-fighting warriors, were slain.
The people of Syria were then glad to make their peace
with David, and to become tributaries of his, for “ they
feared to help the children of Ammon any more.” The
loss they suffered warns us against giving assistance
in a bad cause.

George. But what became of the Ammonites; did
they submit without more ado?

Grandfather. No, they resisted for a time, but were
obliged to yield after their chief city was taken by storm.
David’s cruelty to the children of Ammon is a great
blot upon his character. He caused multitudes of
them to be put to death in ways very painful and tor-
turing.

We must now stop for to-night, though David’s wars
are not yet ended. The one most distressing to him-
self will be the next we have to consider.

What does the miserable end of Saul teach us ?

What are we taught by the way in which David
speaks of Saul after his death ?

When the battle went against him, Abner could see
the evils of war,—What does this teach us?

Though a conqueror, Joab willingly agreed to propo-
sals for peace,—What does this teach us ?

David acknowledged that he had done wrong in
wishing for the water, when he found that his three