; Kings x :It, 25, sq.).
That presents of small value and humble nature were not despiscd or thought unfit for the ac ceptance of royalty may be learnt from that which Jesse sent to Saul (I Sam. xvi:2o), 'an ass, with bread and a bottle of wine, and a kid.' The in direct detail 'of the substance which was king David's,' found in Chron. xxvii :25, sq. (comp.
I Sam. viii :14; 2 Chron. xxvi:to, sq.), shows at how early a period the Israelitish throne was in possession of very large property, both personal and real. The royal treasury was replenished by confiscation, as in the case of Naboth °Kings xxi : 16; comp. Ezek. xlvi :16, sq.; 2 Sam. xvi :4). Nor were taxes unknown. Samuel had predicted (I Sam. will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards,' etc.; and so in other passages (I Kings v :13 ; ix :21) we find that levies both of men and money were made for the mon arch's purposes; and, in cases of special need, these exactions were large and rigorously levied (2 Kings xxiii:35), as when Jehoiakim 'taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh; he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation.' So long, however, as the native vigor of a young monarchy made victory easy and fre quent, large revenues came to the king from the spoils of war (2 Sam. Viii :2, sq.). Commerce also supplied abundant resources 0 Kings x:15).
(10) Oriental Ceremony. According to Ori ental custom, much ceremony and outward show of respect were observed. Those who were in tended to be received with special honor were placed on the king's right hand (i Kings ii:t9). The most profound homage was paid to the mon arch, which was required not merely by common usage, but by the voice of religious wisdom (Prov. xxiv :21)—a requirement which was not unnatural in regard to an office that was ac counted of Divine origin, and to have a sort of vice-Divine authority. Those who presented them selves before the royal presence fell with their face towards theground till their forehead touched it (t SaM. XXV :23 ; 2 Snit ix:6; xix: 18), thus worshiping or doing obeisance to the monarch, a ceremony from which even the royal spouse was not exempted (1 Kings i :16). A kiss was among the established tokens of reverence (i Sam. x: 1; Ps. ii :12), as were also hyperbolical wishes of good (Dan. ii:4; iii:9). Serious offenses against the king were punished with death (t Kings xxi :to).
(11) Hebrew Kings less Despotic than Others. Deriving their power originally from the wishes of the people, and being one of the same race, the Hebrew kings were naturally less despotic than other Oriental sovereigns, mingled more with their subjects, and were by no means difficult of access (2 Sam. xix :8; Kings xx: 39; Jer. xxxviii:7; r Kings iii :16 ; 2 Kings vi: 26; viii:3). After death the monarchs were in terred in the royal cemetery in Jerusalem: 'So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David' (1 Kings ii :to; xi:43; xiv:3i). But bad kings were excluded 'from the sepulchers of the kings of Israel' (2 Chron. xxviii:27). In Kings iv will be found an enumeration of the high officers of state under the reign of Solo mon (see also Kings x:5; xii:18 ; xviii :3; 2 Kings viii :16 ; x :22; xviii :18 ; xix :2; Chron.
xxvii :25 ; Is. xxii :15 ; Jer. :25). The misdeeds of the Jewish crown, and the boldness with which. they were reproved, may be seen exemplified in Jer. xxii :3. 'Thus saith the Lord, Execute judg ment and righteousness, and do no wrong; do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow; neither shed innocent blood. But if ye will not hear these words, this house shall be come a desolation,' etc. Reference on the subject here treated of may be made to Ewald, Ge schichte des Volkes Israel,iii. 381; Maurice, Kings and Prophets of the Old Testament.
J. R. B.
Figurative. 1. King is symbolically used in the scriptures, to men: as invested with regal authority by their fellows (Luke xxii:25; I Tim. ii:1; Pet. ii :15, t7) ; to God : as the sole proper sovereign and ruler of the universe (I Tim. i: 17; vi:I5, 16) ; and to Christ, as the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of the Jews, the sole Head and Governor of his church (I Tim. vi:I5, 16; Matt. xxvii ; Luke xix :38; John i:49; vi: 15 ; xviii :32-37).
2. Saints are "kings ;" they have the kingdom of God within them ; they are heirs of the king dom of glory; they war against and conquer sin, Satan, and the world ; they rule their own spirit, and govern their body, and have no small influ ence on God's government of nations and churches (Rev. i:6; v:Io; xx:4).
3. Leviathan is "king" over all the children of pride, or fierce-looking monsters ; in strength or bulk he exceeds all the animals (Job xli :34). (See HISTORY ; ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF.)