Harmony Upon 1 Samuel, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
1. Quest. v. 2. Of the place where Samuel appointed his sonnes to be Iudges.
1. BEcause Beersheba onelyonly is named, some thinke, that both his sonnes were appointed to be Iudges; either because that citie was in the remote corner in the South part of the land, whether Samuel by reason of his old age could not trauaile in person: Borr. or for that it was situate in the confines and borders of the Philistims, and so had more need of the presence of the Iudge: Osiand. or they beeing vniust Iudges, might choose that place to wearie the people with long trauaile. Pellican. But seeing they were deputed by their father, it is like that he would hauehave assigned them to some conuenient place, whether the people might resort with more ease, and not set them in the vtmost corner of the land: and to what ende should his two sonnes be limited to one place? they beeing diuided, might better dispatch the causes of the people.
2. Iosephus therefore thinketh, that one of them was appointed Iudge in Bethel, the other in Beershebah: but seeing no mention is made of Bethel in the text, that coniecture hath no warrant or certentie.
3. Therefore Iunius opinion is more probable, that the meaning is, they were set Iudges ouer the whole land from Dan to Beershebah, which were the two extreame townes of the land: and Dan is to be supplied out of the like place, Iud. 20.1. here beeing omitted, by a certaine synecdoche, one opposite part comprehending the other.
4. Samuel in making his sonnes Iudges, offendeth two waies, both because he consulted not with God, and he had no example for it: for neither Moses, nor Gedeon, or any of the Iudges appointed their sonne. Mar.
2. Quest. v. 6. Whether the people sinned in asking a King.
1. If they had simply desired a King to be giuen them, according to the law of God, Deut. 17.15. that should gouerne them in equitie, and such an one as feared God, they then had not offended: but now they doe aske a king of a preposterous desire, onelyonly that they might be like vntounto other nations. Borr. 2. Yet God hauing purposed to erect among his people a kingly throne, and to raise vntounto them a king, of whose seede the Messiah should come, tooke this occasion to accomplish his purpose, so turning their euill and inordinate desire vntounto a good ende: as God can conuert the euill thoughts and actions of men, to serue for his glorie. Borr. 3. Now the people in asking a king, failed in diuers circumstances: 1. in their curiositie, that pretending the iniustice of Samuels sonnes, yet indeede desired an innovation of the very gouernment it selfe: for they might hauehave otherwise requested of Samuel, to admonish his sonnes, that the fault might be amended, not the person remooued. Pellican. 2. Their impietie appeareth toward God, who had hitherto raised vp vntounto them Iudges and deliuerers, they beeing not contented therewith, because their Iudges shifted from one tribe to an other, and many times were of meane parentage, and not so fearefull or terrible to their enemies, they desire to hauehave a certaintie of the kingdome, as other nations had, and so they offended in their distrust and diffidence toward God: Osiand. as the Lord himselfe saith, they had reiected him, v. 7. 3. Their ingratitude also was great toward Samuel, by whose meanes, they had receiued so many and great benefits, that they would shake off his gouernment, euen while he liued: in these respects, the petition of the people for a King seemed euill vntounto Samuel.
3. Quest. v. 7. Whether by asking of a King, the people indeede cast off the Lords gouernment.
1. Simply it is not true, that the gouernment vnderunder kings, is a shaking off the Lords yoke. For the Lord is with kings, and ruleth his people by them: they are the ordinance of God. Wisdome saith, Proverb. 8. By me Kings rule. The Lord blessed the gouernment of Dauid, Iehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Iosias. But yet the people, as much as in them lay, reiected the Lords gouernment: because they misliked that form of administration, which the Lord had set them, and desired a chaunge and innouation, without any direction from God. 2. But it will be further questioned, whether God also doe raigne together with bad kings: the answer is, that euen the authoritie of wicked Kings is of God, which they abuse to tyrannie: and they shall giuegive account vntounto God for abuse of their gouernment. And although the persons be euill, which gouerne, yet the authoritie is lawfull and good: and euen vnderunder tyrants there are many good things: as enacting of politike lawes, administration of iustice, punishment of offenders. Mart.
4. Quest. v. 11. Of Samuels description of the King, whome the Israelites desired.
1. Samuel describeth such manners and fashions, which are incident, not to true Monarchies, but such as decline rather vntounto a Tyrannie: Osiand. he setteth not downe here the office of a King, what he ought to be, but foresheweth by the spirit of prophesie, what manner of king they should hauehave: that they either hereby might be perswaded to desist from their enterprize, or they might more willingly beare these inconueniences, when they fell vponupon them, beeing thus forewarned of them, and beeing the cause thereof themselues. Pellican. And thus the Lord to their owne cost graunteth their desire, that for the most part, they had such kings, as gouerned them rather by will, then law, as the kings of the Gentiles did. 2. Samuel sheweth how their King should hauehave power ouer their children and seruants, their goods and lands. In all which the King hath a soueraigne right: mens seruants and children are to doe the king seruice in time of warre, and of peace: the necessitie of the Crowne is to be supported for the publike good of the Commonwealth: but the manner is vnlawfull: the King must rule by law, not by lust, nor lay vnnecessarie burdens vponupon his subiects, knowing that he hath also a Lord aboue him, the great king of heauen, to whome he must giuegive account. 3. In these three things Samuel sheweth, that their King should faile: first in the manner, that he should not by order or law, but by violence and compulsion take from them their sonnes and daughters, their lands and goods, whereas yet Iezabel, would not but by colour of iustice take Nab…oths vineyard from him. Pellican. Secondly, he should faile in the ende: abusing these things to his pleasure, and giuing them to his seruants and fauorites, not applying them to the common profit and benefite of the Commonwealth. Borr. Thirdly, in respect of their persons, he should vse them altogether, as seruants, v. 17. (putting them to base and seruile offices) not as free subiects, such as they were in time of the Iudges, and their other gouernours. Borr.
5. Quest. v. 19. Why the people would not hearken to Samuel.
1. God had decreed by this occasion to set a King ouer his people, as he promised to Abraham, that Kings should come of his seede, Gen. 17.17. yet God did not force their wills: but God vseth their wills and desire, whereunto they were enclined, to effect his counsell. Pellican. 2. Therefore iustly notwithstanding the Lord by his Prophet telleth them, that he will not heare them afterward, when they shall crie vntounto him, because of the oppressions of their King, for that they now wilfully cast off the counsell of God, and refuse to hearken vntounto his voice. Pellican. 3. And thus we see how many times men are snared in their owne desires, and obtaine their requests vntounto their owne hurt: as the Lord tooke the people short in their hastie wishes: Numb. 14.28. As I liue, saith the Lord, I will surely doe vntounto you, as ye hauehave spoken in mine eares, your carkesses shall fall in this wildernes, &c. 4. Now in this their petition the people offended, because they asked him after a preposterous manner, not expecting the authoritie of God: therefore the Lord is said, to hauehave giuen them a King in his anger, Hosh. 13.11. their request was then against the reuealed will of God, though God in his secret counsell had so determined. Mar.