said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' bring the men out and we will kill them. But Saul said: "No man shall be killed in Israel this day, because the Lord this day hath wrought salvation in Israel."

Samuel appointed the whole people to come to Galgal for the solemn coronation of Saul as king. And when they were all assembled at Galgal, sacrifice was offered by Samuel; and Samuel brought Saul their king before the people, and spoke to them :

SPEECH OF SAMUEL AT THE CORONATION OF SAUL.

It is the Lord, who made Moses and Aaron, and brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt.

Now therefore stand up, that I may plead in judgment against you before the Lord, concerning all the kindness of the Lord, which He hath shewn to you, and to your fathers:

How Jacob went into Egypt, and your fathers cried to the Lord and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place.

And they forgot the Lord their God, and He delivered them into the hands of Sisara, captain of the army of Hasor, and into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hand of the King of Moab, and they fought against them."

But afterwards they cried to the Lord, and said: We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Astaroth: but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve Thee.

And the Lord sent Gedeon, and Samson, and Jephte, and Samuel, and delivered you from the hand of your enemies round about, and you dwelt securely.

But seeing that Naas king of the children of Ammon was come against you, you said to me: Nay, but a king shall reign over us: whereas the Lord your God was your king.

Now therefore your king is here, whom you have chosen and desired: Behold the Lord hath given you a king.

If you will fear the Lord, and serve Him, and hearken to His voice, and not provoke the mouth of the Lord: then shall both you, and the king who reigneth over you, be followers of the Lord your God.

But if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord, but will rebel against His words, the hand of the Lord shall be upon you, and upon your fathers.

Now then stand, and see this great thing which the Lord will do in your sight.

Is it not wheat harvest to-day? I will call upon the Lord, and He shall send thunder and rain and you shall know and see that you your. selves have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord, in desiring a king over you.

Samuel cried unto the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, so that the people feared greatly, and they said to Samuel: "Pray for thy servants, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, that we have asked for a king.' Samuel said to the people: "Fear not, you have done all this evil; but yet depart not from following the

Carl Clasen.

Schwertfuhrer, se.

SAMUEL PRESENTS SAUL TO THE PEOPLE AS THE KING AFTER THEIR OWN MIND. (B.C. 1099). Where is thy King of whom thou saidst, Give me Kings and P.inces' I will give thee a king in my wrath, and will take him away in my indignation

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SAUL'S DISOBEDIENCE.

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Lord, and the Lord will not forsake you; because the Lord hath sworn to make you His people; but if you will still do wickedly, both you and your king shall perish together.

§ 66. God rejects Saul for his disobedience.

Saul had been chosen king the year before, but had returned to private life. He now began the public acts of his reign, and for two years formed an army with a design against the Philistines. Israel had still their old servile dread of the Philistines; and when Saul declared war, they were afraid on all sides, and hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in dens, and in pits. And some of the people went over the Jordan, to be out of harm's way, in the land of Gad and Galaad.

come.

Saul was at Galgal, and daily expected Samuel to The people began to grow alarmed, and they slipt away and deserted. and deserted. What was Saul to do? He thought to himself: "If sacrifice is offered, the courage of the people will revive." But then, it was strictly forbidden in the law of Moses, that any one not of the seed of Aaron should approach to offer sacrifice to the Lord. On the other hand, the people were deserting the camp through fear; and Samuel did not keep his appointment. Saul therefore said: "Bring me the holocaust and the peace-offering." And he offered the holocaust. As he made an end of offering, Samuel came; and Saul went forth to meet him. Samuel said to him: "What hast thou done?" Saul pleaded: "The people slipt away from me, and, forced by neces

sity, I offered the holocaust." Samuel said to Saul: Thou hast done foolishly. If thou hadst not done thus, the Lord would now have established thy king

dom over Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord hath sought Him a man after His own heart, because thou hast not observed that which the Lord commanded.