REBELLION AND SORROW. 227

Marianne: David’s wars would surely be all ended
now ?

Grandfather. No ; the Philistines came up to attack
the Israelites, and David himself went down at the head
of his army to meet them. A giant was there, called
Ishbibenob, who aimed at the life of David. The king
of Israel, less able for the fatigues of war than he had
been when he was young, was becoming faint, when
Abishai came to his assistance and killed the Philistine.
After their sovereign was rescued from this danger, the
subjects of David resolved that he should never expose
himself any more to the like. They said to him,
“Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that
thou quench not the light of Israel.” Some other
battles took place with the Philistines during the reign
of David; but we have no particular account of any of
them.

Marianne. Had he no more trouble in his family *

Grandfather. His son Adonijah endeavoured to sup-
plant Solomon as his successor, but the attempt was put
down without a battle.

What do we learn from the example of Ittai the
Gittite ?

Sorrow for sin caused David to weep,— What does
this teach us ?

David prayed that the Lord would turn the counsel
of Ahithophel into foolishness,— What do we learn from
this ?