of the battle, where the fight was hardest. And Uriah was killed,
and David married Bathsheba, who became the mother of Solomon.

So much for David's honour. Now for a sample of his humanity. I
quote from the twelfth chapter of the Second Book of Samuel:

And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought
against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and
encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city,
and it be called after my name.

And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah,
and fought against it, and took it.

And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight
whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it
was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the
city in great abundance.

And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them
under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron,
and made them pass through the brick kiln: and thus did he unto
all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the
people returned unto Jerusalem.

But nothing in David's life became him so little as his leaving of it.
I quote from the second chapter of the First Book of Kings. David, on
his deathbed, is speaking to Solomon, his son: