Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/147

History of the Israelites and their Religion. 129 ambitious gaze of the Phoenicians loomed the boundless horizons of the West, which they were free to use as they wished. Hence their attention towards Central Syria was confined to securing free access to marts of trade, and having no impediment placed upon their caravans. The friendly alliance with the Israelites afforded them all these advantages with little cost to themselves ; since they kept down the Philistines, and had a sharp outlook towards the Syrian waste ; whilst they were valuable as consumers and producers. What the Israelites did not manufacture at home, be it tissues, jewellery, art furniture, war and domestic implements, came from Phoenicia ; who in exchange purchased grain, stock, fruit, balm, and slaves captured in some expeditions against the tribes of Peraea. The position that David, with the instinct that marks a great statesman and which is seldom absent from the founder of a dynasty, secured for his native land by his alliance with King Hiram cannot well be over-estimated. 1 A similar alliance, publicly avowed, could not but benefit the young kingdom. The self-respect of the Israelites, too, was nattered at the regard shown to their sovereign by potentates who were supposed to own numberless islands and vast regions in the far shadowy West. For the first time, a Hebrew chief was surrounded with the pomp and state befitting his rank and power. Like Gideon, he desired to build a sanctuary to the Lord, as an earnest of his gratitude ; in that He had stood by him and saved him from so many perils ; and that he might consult Him and offer Him frequent sacrifices, he wished the new edifice to be near his own house. To this end the ark of the covenant was brought with great solemnity to Jeru- salem ; but the project so fondly cherished could not be carried out, and the ark was placed in his own city of Zion. 2 The reason for the delay in building the temple is given by Solomon, in the following words : " David could not build an house unto the Name of the Lord his God, for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord hath given me rest on every side." 3 Such wars, however, had brought rest to the kingdom ; whilst its boundaries had been extended beyond the wildest dreams of the former reign. The region comprised between Hamath, 1 Stade, Geschichte, torn. i. pp. 141, 142. 2 2 Sam. vi., vii. 2, 3. 3 1 Kings v. 2, 4. VOL. I. K