212 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

would dare to do them any harm. Then did the king
_go wandering up the Mount of Olives barefooted like a
slave, and his head covered like a mourner, and as he
went he wept; and the people who were with him
covered their heads and wept too.

George. It was very silly for so great a warrior as
David to be crying like a child.

Johnnie. He could not help crying when he was ob-
liged to leave his palace ; he did not know if he might
ever get back again, and he had no other house to go to.

Marianne. I think it was not that which made him
cry, it was because his son that he liked so well was
so wicked as to rebel against him.

Grandfather. Nor was that either the cause of David’s
weeping ; it was sorrow for his sin that weighed upon
him so heavily. His grief teaches us always to do right
if we wish to be happy. The king of Israel was, how-
ever, a sincere penitent. He really hated his sin, and
therefore God sent him comfort even in this time of
trouble. The third psalm was written at this time, and
it breathes a spirit of trust in God which cannot be
exceeded. “I will not be afraid,’ he says, “of ten
thousands of people that have set themselves against me
round about.”

George. But was he not to do anything ? was he just
to run away and leave Absalom to take the kingdom ?

Grandfather. He did something. When he heard
that Ahithophel, a very wise man, was among the con-
spirators, he prayed that the Lord would turn Ahitho-