9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said P one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? 12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.

22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD farther, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye

14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were nowhere, we came to Samuel.

15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.

17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;

18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:

19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.

Heb. shoulder.- Heb. turned-m Ver. 5.-n Ch. 19. 20-o Ver. 6-p Heb. a man to his neighbour -q Chap. 19. 24. Matt. 13. 54, 55. John 7. 15. Acts 4. 13. r Heb from thences Is 54 13 John 6. 45. & 7. 16.- Judg. 11. 11. & 20. 1. Ch. 11. 15-n Chap. 7. 5, 6-v Judges 6. 8, 9.-w Chap. 8. 7, 19. & 12 12-x Joshua 7. 14, 16, 17. Acta 1. 24, 25.

from the Lord, and deliver them to thee. It is likely that these seven days referred to the time in which Samuel came to Saul to Gilgal, offered sacrifices, and confirmed the kingdom to him, after he had defeated the Ammonites: see chap. xi. 14, 15.

Verse 10. Behold, a company of prophets] See on ver. 5, &c.

Verse 12. But who is their father?] The Septuagint, in its principal editions, adds, ov Kes; is it not Kish? This makes the sense more complete.

Verse 13. He came to the high place.] I suppose this to mean the place where Saul's father lived; as it is evident the next verse shows him to be at home.

Verse 14. Saul's uncle] The word dod, signifies a beloved one, love, a lover, friend, &c.; and is the same as David. It is supposed to mean uncle here; but I think it means some familiar friend.

Verse 18. I brought up Israel out of Egypt] These are similar to the upbraidings in chap. viii. 7, &c.

Verse 19. Present yourselves by your tribes] It appears that, in order to find out the proper person who should be made their king, they must determine by lot: 1. The tribes. 2. The thousands, or grand divisions, by families. 3. The smaller divisions by families. And, 4. The individual. When the lot was cast for the tribe, Benjamin was taken; when for the thousand, the division of Matri was taken; when for the family, the family of Kish was taken; when for the individual, Saul, the son of Kish, was taken.

Verse 21. When they sought him, he could not be found.] Through modesty, or fear, he had secreted himself. Verse 22. The LORD answered What a continual access to God! and what condescension in his attention to all their requests!

The stuff among which he had secreted himself may mean the carts, baggage, &c. brought by the people to Mizpeh.

Verse 24. God save the king!] There is no such word here; no, nor in the whole Bible: nor is it countenanced by any of the versions. The words which we thus translate here, and elsewhere, are simply on `n yechi ham

none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king! 25 Then Samuel told the people & the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

26 ¶ And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

CHAPTER XI.

Nahash, king of the Ammonites, besieges Jabesh-gilead; and proposes to its inhabitants the most degrading conditions of peace, 1, 2. They apply to their brethren for help, 3, 4. Saul hears of their distress; takes a yoke of oxen, hew's them in pieces, and sends them throughout the coasts of Israel, with the threat that all who did not come to his standard, should have his cattle served in like manner; in consequence of which, he is soon at the head of an army of three hundred and thirty thousand men, 5-8. He sends to Jabesh-gilead, and promises help, 9, 10. Saul attacks the Ammonites next morning, and gives them a total overthrow, 11. The people are greatly encouraged, and propose to put to death those who were opposed to Saul's government; but this he prevents, 12, 13. Samuel leads the people to Gilgal; they offer sacrifices, and renew the kingdom to Saul, 14, 15.

y Chap. 23. 2, 4, 10, 11-z Chap. 9. 2-a 2 Samuel 21. 6.-b 1 Kings 1. 25, 39.

2 Kings 11. 12-c Heb. Let the king live-d See Deut 17, 14, &c. Chap. 8. 11. e Judg. 20. 14. Chap. 11. 4.- Chap. 11. 12-g Deut. 13. 13.-h 2 Sam. 8. 21 Kings 4. 21 & 10 25. 2 Chron. 17. 5. Psa 72 10. Matt. 2. 11.-i Or, he was as though he had been deaf.-k Ch. 12 12-1 Judg. 21. 8.

melech, "May the king live;" and so all the versions, (the Targum excepted,) which says, May the king prosper!

Verse 25. The manner of the kingdom] It is the same word as in chap. viii. 9; and doubtless the same thing is implied as is there related. But possibly there was some kind of compact, or covenant, between them and Saul; and this was the thing that was written in a book, and laid up before the Lord, probably near the ark.

Verse 26. A band of men] Not a military band, as I imagine, but some select friends, or companions, who were personally attached to him. Others think, that all the men fit to bear arms are intended: but this seems inconsistent with the life that Saul led for some time afterward; for he appears to have gone into his agricultural concerns, and waited for a call from the divine providence. See the next chap. ver. 5.

Verse 27. Brought him no presents.] They gave him no proofs that they acknowledged either the divine appointment, or his authority. The Arab chiefs are to this day, when on a march, or excursion of any kind, supplied with every necessary by the free-will offerings, or presents, of the people, in the villages or places where they encamp. Saul was now a public character, and had a right to support from the public. These sons of Belial refused to bear their part; they brought him no presents. He marked it; but, at present, held his peace: he was as if he were deaf; so says the text. He was prudent, and did not immediately assume all the consequence to which his office entitled him. It is probable, however, that tribute is meant by the word present. The people, in general, finding they had now a king, took it for granted that they must pay tribute or taxes to him. This was a part of the manner of the king which Samuel had shown them; the great majority had done so, but certain refractory people refused to pay any thing, on the pretence that such a person as Saul could not be a deliverer of Israel. How, say they, shall this man save us?

NOTES ON CHAPTER XI. Verse 1. Nahash the Ammonite] In the Vulgate this chapter begins thus: Et factum est quasi post mensem,

m

unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for "a reproach upon all Israel.

3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, • Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

4 Then came the messengers P to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out " with one consent.

8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred

m Gen. 26. 23. Exod. 23. 32. 1 Kings 20. 34. Job 41. 4. Ezek. 17. 13.-n Gen. 34. 14. Ch. 17. 25.-0 Heb. Forbear us.-p Ch. 10. 26. & 15. 34. 2 Sam. 21. 6-q Judg. 2. 4. & 21. 2-r Judges 3. 10. & 6. 34. & 11. 29. & 13. 25. & 14. 6. Chap. 10. 10. & 16. 13. Judges 19. 29.

"And it came to pass about a month after." This addition appears also in the principal copies of the Septuagint; though it is wanting in the Complutensian edition, both in the Greek and Latin, and is not acknowledged by any of the Oriental versions. But it is in Josephus; and probably was inserted from him into some copies of the Septu agint, and thence into the Vulgate. It appears to be of very little authority.

We know little about Nahash; there was a king of this name among the Ammonites in the time of David, 2 Sam. x. 2. but probably not the same person. Nahash might have been a common name of the Ammonitish kings. Make a covenant with us] They found they were in no condition to risk a war; and they wish to have peace, and desire to know his conditions.

Verse 2. I may thrust out all your right eyes] This cruel condition would serve at once as a badge of their slavery; and a means of incapacitating them from being effective warriors. Theodoret observes, "He who opposes his shield to the enemy with his left hand, thereby hides his left eye, and looks at his enemy with his right eye: he, therefore, who plucks out that right eye, makes men useless in war." Josephus gives the same reason.

Verse 3. Give us seven days' respite] Promises of this kind are frequently made by besieged places; "We will surrender if not relieved in so many days;" and such conditions are generally received by the besiegers.

Verse 4. Then came the messengers to Gibeah] It does not appear that the people of Jabesh-gilead knew any thing of Saul's appointment to the kingdom: for the message is not directed to him, but to the people.

The people lifted up their voices and wept.] They saw no hope of deliverance; and they expected that their reproach would be laid on all Israel.

Verse 5. Saul came after the herd] He had been bred up to an agricultural life: and, after his consecration, he returned to it, waiting for a call of divine providence, which he considered he had now received in the message from Jabesh-gilead.

It has often been remarked, that mighty kings, and accomplished generals, have been chosen from among those who were engaged in agricultural concerns. In these observations one fact is lost sight of: viz. That in ancient times, agriculture was the only employment. Trade and commerce were scarcely known; therefore, all descriptions of official dignities must be chosen out of this class; there was none other to choose them from. We need not wonder at these words of the poet :

Jura dabat populis, posito modo consul aratro ;
Pascebatque suas ipse senator, ones.

The consul, having now laid aside his plough, gives laws to the people;
And the senator himself feeds his own sheep.

Ovid, Fast. lib. i. v. 204, 207.

Verse 6. The Spirit of God came upon Saul] He felt

thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To-morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

11 And it was so on the morrow, that Śaul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

d

13 And Saul said, a There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to-day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings before the LORD; and there Saul, and all the men of Israel, rejoiced greatly.

t Judg. 21. 5, 8, 10-u Heb. as one man. Judg. 20. 1.- Judg. 1. 5-w 2 Sain 24. 9.-x Or, deliverance-y Verse 3-2 See Chap. 31. 11-a Judg. 7. 16-b Ch 10. 27. c See Luke 19. 25- 2 Sam. 19. 27.-e Exod. 14. 13, 30. Ch. 19. 5.- Ch 10. 8.-g Ch. 10. 17.-h Ch. 10. 8.

himself strongly excited to attempt the relief of his brethren.

And his anger was kindled greatly.] I believe this means no more than that his courage was greatly excited: he felt himself strong for fight, and confident of success.

Verse 7. He took a yoke of oren] The sending the pieces of the oxen was an act similar to that of the Levite, Judg. xix. 29. where see the note. And both customs are similar to the sending about of the bloody cross, to call the clans to battle, practised by the ancient Highlanders of Scotland. See end of this chapter.

Verse 8. The children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.] This was a vast army; but the Septuagint make it even more“All the men of Israel were εξακοσίας χιλιαδας, six hundred thousand; and the men of Judah, eßdoμnkovra xidiadas, SEVENTY thousand. Josephus goes yet higher with the number of the Israelites: "He found the number of those whom he had gathered together to be Booμnora pupiadas, SEVEN hundred thousand." Those of the tribe of Judah he makes seventy thousand, with the Septuagint. These numbers are not all right; and I suspect even the Hebrew text to be exaggerated, by the mistake or design of some ancient scribe.

Verse 10. To-morrow we will come out unto you] They concealed the information they had received of Saul's promised assistance. They did come out unto them; but it was in a different manner to what the Ammonites expected.

Verse 11. Put the people in three companies] Intending to attack the Ammonites in three different points; and to give his own men more room to act.

In the morning watch] He probably began his march in the evening, passed Jordan in the night, and reached the camp of the Ammonites by day-break.

That two of them were not left together.] This proves that the rout was complete.

Verse 12. Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign] Now flushed with victory, and proud of their leader, they wish to give him a proof of their attachment, by slaying, even in cool blood, the persons who were at first averse from his being intrusted with the supreme power! The common soldier is scarcely ever inspired by his victory to acts of magnanimity; he has shed blood, he wishes to shed more!

Verse 13. There shall not a man be put to death] This was as much to Saul's credit, as the lately proposed measure was to the discredit of his soldiers.

Verse 14. Renew the kingdom] The unction of Saul, in the first instance, was a very private act; and, his being appointed to be king, was not known to the people in general. He had now shown himself worthy to command the people; and Samuel takes advantage of this circumstance to gain the general consent in his favour. Josephus says,

CHAPTER XII.

Samuel, grown old, testifies his integrity before the people; which they confirm, 1--5. He reproves them for their ingratitude and disobedience; and gives a summary of the history of their fathers, 6-12 He exhorts them to future obedience; and

calls for a sign from heaven to confirm his authority, and to show them their diso.

bedience: God sends an extraordinary thunder and rain, 13-16. He warns them against lolatry; and exhorts to obedience, and promises to intercele for them, 2-23 Suns up their duty, ani concludes with a solemn warning, 24, 25.

An. Exod. 1. 336.

Apno ante

I. Olymp. 319.

3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed; P whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

१

4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand.

5 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught "in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

t

i Ch. 85, 19, 20.-k Ch. 10. 21. & 11. 14, 15.-1 Numb. 27. 17. Ch. 8. 20.m Cli. 8.1, 5-n Ecclus. 46, 19-o Ver. 5. Ch. 10. 1. & H. 6. 2 Sam. 1. 14, 16-p Numb. 16. 15. Acts 20. 33. 1 Thess. 2. 5.-9 Heb ransom-r Or, that I should hide mine eyes at him- Deut. 16. 19.- John 18. 38. Acts 23. 9. & 24. 16, 20.-u Exod. 24- Mie. 6. 4.

that Saul was anointed a second time at this convocation.

Verse 15. There they made Saul king] It is likely, from these words, that Saul was anointed a second time: he was now publicly acknowledged, and there was no gainsayer. Thus far Saul acted well, and the kingdom seemed to be confirmed in his hand; but soon, through imprudence, he lost it.

On the custom referred to in ver. 7. I am favoured with the following observations by a learned correspondent:

"It is considered that the authenticity of records respect ing a peculiar people cannot be better illustrated, or the fidelity of the historian more clearly ascertained, than by proving that the manners and customs recorded are in unison with, or bear resemblance to, the manners and customs of ancient nations of the same antiquity; or, what may be more correct, in a similar state of improvement; and the records of such rites and customs may possibly acquire an additional mark of authenticity, when the similarity is not so exact as to admit a presumption, that the customs of one nation were merely copied from the other.

"Mr. Walter Scott, in the third canto of the Lady of the Lake, describes the rites, incantations, and imprecations, used prior to the fiery cross being circulated, to summon the rough warriors of ancient times to the service of their chief; and, in the first note of this canto, he alludes to this ancient custom, which, in comparatively modern times, has been practised in Scotland; and proves that a similar punishment of death or destruction of the houses for disobeying the summons, was inflicted by the ancient Scandinavians, as recorded by Olaus Magnus, in his History of the Goths. A custom, still more in point than the one cited, may be found to have existed in a more ancient nation; whose history is supposed the most, if not the only, authentic narrative of deeds of ancient times; and which also records the sanguinary manners of uncultivated_nations. See the preceding chapter; eight first verses. The similarity of the custom is to be found in the seventh verse: with the Highlanders, a goat was slain; with the Israelites, an ox. The exhibition of a cross, stained with the blood of the sacrificed animal, was the summons of the former, while part of the animal was the mandate of the latter. Disobedience in the one nation was punished with the death of the parties; and burning of their dwellings in the other; the punishment more simple, and more allusive to the sacrificed emblem, the forfeiture or destruction of their oxen. It is not difficult to judge whether the comparison be correct.

"The first verses record the sanguinary practice of ancient times; which, to many, appear merely as the gratification of revenge, or as proofs of victory; yet, when it is considered that the right eye must chiefly aid the warrior in aiming at his adversary, whether the weapon be of ancient or modern warfare; here arises a military reason corroborative of the truth of history for the deprivation, and

to your fathers.

8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

e

9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and m Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

12 And when ye saw that • Nahash, the king

w Or, made.-x Isaiah 1. 18. & 5. 3, 4. Mic. 6. 2, 3-y Heb. righteousness, or benefits. Judg. 5. 11-2 Heb. with-a Gen. 46. 5, 6-b Exod. 2. 23-c Exod. 3 10. & 4. 16-d Judges 3. 7-e Judges 4. 2-f Judges 10. 7. & 13. 1.-g Judges 3. 12. h Judges 10. 10.-i Judges 2 13-k Judges 10. 15, 16.—1 Judges 6. 14, 32- Judges 11. 1.-n Ch. 7. 13-0 Ch. 11. 1.

in some degree lessening the cruelty of the mutilation, which would be increased if it were caused by revenge or wantonness; though Nahash declares it to be a reproach upon all Israel."

NOTES ON CHAPTER XII.

Verse 1. And Samuel said] It is very likely that it was at this public meeting that Samuel delivered the following address: no other time seems to be given for it; and this is the most proper that could be chosen.

Verse 2. My sons are with you] It is generally agreed that these words intimate that Samuel had deprived them of their public employ; and reduced them to a level with the common people.

Have walked before you from my childhood] He had been a long, steady, and immaculate servant of the public. Verse 3. Witness against me] Did ever a minister of state, in any part of the world, resign his office with so much self-consciousness of integrity, backed with the universal approbation of the public? No man was oppressed under his government; no man defrauded! He had accumulated no riches for himself; he had procured none for his friends: nor had one needy dependant been provided for out of the public purse. He might have pardoned his own sons, who had acted improperly, before he quitted the government: but, though he was the most tender of parents, he would not; but abandoned them to national justice, with only a tacit solicitation of mercy: Behold, my sons are with you! They have acted improperly; I deprived them of their authority; they are amenable to you for their past conduct: I have walked uprightly and disinterestedly among you; they have not followed my steps,-but can you forgive them for their father's sake? As a minister of justice, he abandons them to their fate; as a tender father, he indirectly and modestly pleads for them, on the ground of his own services. Had he not acted thus, in both these relations, he would have been unworthy of that character which he so deservedly bears.

Verse 4. They said, Thou hast not defrauded] Of what minister or governor can any nation under heaven say such things!

Verse 7. Now therefore stand still] I have arraigned myself before God and you: I now arraign you before God."

Verse 8. The LORD sent Moses and Aaron] He shows them that, through all their history, God had ever raised them up deliverers, when their necessities required such interference.

Verse 9. The hand of Sisera] See these transactions in the Book of Judges, as marked in the margin: and see the notes on those passages.

Verse 11. Jerubbaal] i. e. Gideon, and Bedan: instead of Bedan, whose name occurs nowhere else as a judge or deliverer of Israel, the Septuagint have Barak; the same reading is found in the Syriac and Arabic. The Targum has Samson. Many commentators are of this

15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.

b

16 Now, therefore, stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not a wheat-harvest to-day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and d all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

20 T And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness; yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain:

22 For the LORD will not forsake his people i for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

23 Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

24 P Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

8

25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, "both ye and your king. CHAPTER XIII.

Saul chooses a body of troops, 1, 2 Jonathan smites a garrison of the Philistines, 3,4

The Philistines gather together an immense host against Israel, 5. The Israelites are afraid; and some hide themselves in caves, and others flee over Jordan, 5, 7. Samuel delaying his coming, Saul offers sacrifice, 8, 9. Samuel comes and reproves him, and Saul excuses himself, 10-12 Samuel shows him that God has rejected him from being captain over his people, 13, 14. Samuel departs; and Saul and Jonathan, with six hundred men, abide in Gibeah, 15, 16. The Philistines send out foraging companies, and waste the land, 17, 18. Desolate state of the Israelitab army, having no weapons of defence against their enemies, 19–2.

386.

he had reigned two years over

:

opinion but Calmet thinks that Jair is intended, who judged Israel twenty-three years, Judg. x. 3.

Instead of Samuel, the Syriac and Arabic have Samson: and it is most natural to suppose that Samuel does not mention himself in this place. St. Paul's authority confirms these alterations: the time would fail me, said he, to tell of Gideon, of Barak, of Samson, of Jephthah, of David, &c.

Verse 12. When ye saw that Nahash] This was not the first time they had demanded a king; see chap. viii. 5. But at the crisis mentioned here, they became more importunate; and it was in consequence of this that the kingdom was a second time confirmed to Saul. Saul was elected at Mizpch; he was confirmed at Gilgal.

Verse 14. If ye will fear the LORD, &c.] On condition that ye rebel no more, God will take you and your king under his merciful protection; and he and his kingdom shall be confirmed and continued.

Verse 16. This great thing] This unusual occurrence. Verse 17. Is it not wheat-harvest to-day?] That is, this is the time of wheat-harvest. According to St. Jerom, who spent several years in the promised land, this harvest commenced about the end of June, or beginning of July; in which he says he never saw rain in Judea. Nunquam enim in fine mensis Junii, sive in mense Julio, in his provinciis, maximèque in Judeâ, pluvias vidimus. HIER. in Amos iv. 7. where he refers to this very history. What occurred now, hardly ever occurs there but in the winter months.

Verse 18. The LORD sent thunder and rain that day] This was totally unusual; and, as it came at the call of Samuel, was a most evident miracle.

Greatly feared the LORD] They dreaded his terrible majesty and they feared Samuel, perceiving that he had so much power with God.

:

Verse 19. Pray for thy servants-that we die not] As they knew they had rebelled against God, they saw that they had every thing to fear from his justice and power.

We have added unto all our sins this evil] It is no sin to have a king; a good king is one of the greatest blessings of God's providence: but it is a sin to put a man in the place of God. Is it not strange that they did not now attempt to repair their fault! They might have done it, but they did not: they acknowledged their sin, but did not put it away. This is the general way of mankind. "God help us, we are all sinners!" is the general language of all people: but, though to be a sinner is to be in the most solemn and awful circumstances; yet they are contented to bear the character, heedless of the consequences!

Verse 20. Ye have done all this wickedness] That is, although ye have done all this wickedness: what was

Anno ante 1. Olymp. 312

h 1 Kings 6. 13. Psa. 94. 14.-i Josh. 7. 9. Psa. 106. 8. Jer. 14. 21. Eack. 20. 9, 14 k Deut. 7. 7, 8. & 14. 2. Mal. 1. 2.-1 Heb. from ceasing -m Acts 12. 5. Rom. 1. 9. Col. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 3.-n Psa. 34. 11. Prov. 4. 11.-0 1 Kings 8. 36. 2 Chron. 6. 27. Jer. 6. 16.-p Eccles. 12. 13-q Isai 5. 12-r Or, what a great thing, &c-s Deut. 10. 21. Psa. 126. 2, 3-t Joshua 24. 20.-u Deut. 23. 36.-v Hebrew, the son of one year in his reigning.

past God would pass by, provided they would be obedient in future.

Verse 21. After vain things] That is, idols; which he calls here n ha-tohu, the same expression found Gen. i. 2. The earth was n tohu; it was waste, empty, and formless: so idols; they are confusion, and things of nought; for an idol is nothing in the world.

Verse 22. The LORD will not forsake his people] He will not, as yet, cast you off, though you have deserved it. His purpose, in preserving them in their land and religion, was not yet accomplished. It was not, however, for their sake that he would not cast them off, but for his own great name's sake. He drew his reasons from himself.

Verse 23. God forbid that I should sin] They had earnestly begged him, ver. 19. to pray to God for them, that they might not die; and he tells them that he should consider himself a sinner, should he cease to be their in

tercessor.

But I will teach you the good and the right way] I will show you, as long as I am with you, what true religion is: it is the way to happiness and heaven. It is right, there is no crookedness in it: it is good, there is no evil in it.

Verse 24. Only fear the Lord] Know, respect, and reverence him.

Serve him] Consider him your Lord and Master; consider yourselves his servants.

In truth] Be ever honest, ever sincere:—with all your heart: have every affection engaged in the work of obedience; act not merely from a principle of duty, but also from a pious, affectionate sense of obligation. Act toward your God as an affectionate child should act toward a tender and loving parent.

Consider how great things] Review the history of your fathers; review your own life; see what interpositions of power, mercy, goodness, and truth, in your behalf! Has he not daily loaded you with his benefits?

Verse 25. Ye shall be consumed] If ye do wickedly, you shall be destroyed; your kingdom destroyed, and your king destroyed. Here they had set before them life and death, good and evil. Never was a people more fully warned; and never did a people profit less by the warning: and they continue to this day monuments of God's justice and forbearance. Reader, What art thou? Perhaps

An. Exod. Isr. 398 Anno ante

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tent.

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3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba; and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude; and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan

w Ch. 10. 25.- Ch. 10. 5-y Or, the hill-z Heb. did stink. Gen. 34. 30. Exod. 5. 21-a Judges 6. 2.

preceding chapter; either as a part of the whole, or a chronological note added afterward. As if the writer had said, These things (related in chap. xii.) took place in the first year of Saul's reign: and then he proceeds in the next place to tell us what took place in the second year; the two most remarkable years of Saul's reign. In the first, he is appointed, anointed, and twice confirmed-viz. at Mizpeh, and at Gilgal. In the second, Israel is brought into the lowest state of degradation by the Philistines; Saul acts unconstitutionaily, and is rejected from being king. These things were worthy of an especial chronological note.

And when he had reigned] This should begin the chapter, and be read thus: "And when Saul had reigned two years over Israel, he chose him three thousand," &c. The Septuagint has left the clause out of the text entirely, and begins the chapter thus: "And Saul chose to himself three thousand men out of the men of Israel."

Verse 2. Two thousand were with Saul] Saul, no doubt, meditated the redemption of his country from the Philistines; and, having chosen three thousand men, he thought best to divide them into companies, and send one against the Philistine garrison at Michmash; another, against that at Beth-el; and the third, against that at Gibeah: he perhaps hoped, by surprising these garrisons, to get swords and spears for his men; of which we find, (ver. 22.) they were entirely destitute.

Verse 3. Jonathan smote] He appears to have taken this garrison by surprise; for his men had no arms for a regular battle, or taking the place by storm. This is the first place in which this brave and excellent man appears; a man who bears one of the most amiable characters in the Bible.

Let the Hebrews hear] Probably this means the people who dwelt beyond Jordan; who might very naturally be termed here nyn ha-abarim, from ¬y abar, "he passed over," those who are beyond the river Jordan: as Abraham was called ay Abery, because he dwelt beyond the river Euphrates.

Verse 4. The people were called together] The smiting of this garrison was the commencement of a war; and, in effect, the shaking off of the Philistinian yoke; and now the people found that they must stand together, and fight for their lives.

9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt-offering to me, and peace-offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering.

10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

d

11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 Therefore, said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself, therefore, and offered a burnt-offering.

13 And Samuel said to Saul, f Thou hast done foolishly thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

b Heb. trembled after him.-e Ch. 10. 8.-d Heb. bless him-e Heb. entreated the face.-f 2 Chron. 16. 9.-g Ch. 15. 11.

Verse 6. The people did hide themselves] They, being few in number, and totally unarmed as to swords and spears, were terrified at the very numerous and well-appointed army of the Philistines. Judea was full of rocks, caves, thickets, &c. where people might shelter themselves from their enemies. While some hid themselves, others fled beyond Jordan; and those who did cleave to Saul followed him trembling.

Verse 8. He tarried seven days, according to the set time] Samuel, in the beginning, had told Saul to wait seven days; and he would come to him, and show him what to do, chap. x. 8. What is here said cannot be understood of that appointment, but of a different one. Samuel had at this time promised to come to him within seven days; and he kept his word, for we find him there before the day was ended: but, as Saul found he did not come at the beginning of the seventh day, he became impatient, took the whole business into his own hand, and acted the parts of prophet, priest, and king; and thus he attempted a most essential change in the Israelitish constitution. In it the king, the prophet, and the priest, are, in their nature, perfectly distinct. What such a rash person might have done, if he had not been deprived of his authority, who can tell? But his conduct on this occasion sufficiently justifies that deprivation. That he was a rash and headstrong man, is also proved by his senseless adju ration of the people about food, chap. xiv. 24; and his unfeeling resolution to put the brave Jonathan, his own son, to death, because he had unwittingly acted contrary to this adjuration, ver. 44. Saul appears to have been a brave and honest man; but he had few of those qualities which are proper for a king, or the governor of a people.

Verse 9. And he offered the burnt-offering.] This was most perfectly unconstitutional: he had no authority to offer, or cause to be offered, any of the Lord's sacrifices.

Verse 10. Behold, Samuel came] Samuel was punctual to his appointment; one hour longer of delay would have prevented every evil, and by it no good would have been lost. How often are the effects of precipitation fatal!

gone contrary to the counsel of the Lord.

Verse 12. I forced myself] It was with great reluctance that I did what I did. In all this Saul was sincere: but he was rash, and regardless of the precept of the Lord; which precept or command he most evidently had received, ver. 13. And one part of this precept was, that the Lord should tell him what he should do. Without this information, in an affair under the immediate cognizance of God, he should have taken no step. 697