The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 159
SECT. CLIX.
THE Elders of Iſrael now gathering themſelves together, came to Samuel at Ramah, and repreſented to him that he was grown old, and ſo unable to execute the office of a Judge as he had done, and his Sons were very wicked, and walked not in his ſteps, therefore they were not willing to be any longer under that form of Government, but deſired him to ſet a King over them. It ſeems they were weary of that mild and Fatherly Government of Judges whom God immediately choſe and called to that office, and endued with extraordinary gifts and qualifications for their places, and were ambitious that their Nation might have the glory of being a Monarchy, and might enjoy all the Honours, Dignities and Offices belonging to it; and that they might be like other Nations, moſt of which had an abſolute Soveraign, and pompous King. And beſides there was another thing that much diſpos'd and induc'd them hereunto, viz. they underſtood the great preparations which Nahaſh King of the Ammonites made againſt them, ſee 1 Sam 12.12. therefore they deſired a King, and Captain to go before them, truſting and relying (as it ſeems) more on his Conduct, than on the Lord of Hoſts, who had given them ſo many ſignal and miraculous victories. Samuel underſtanding this was exceedingly troubled at it, not only becauſe of the ingratitude they hereby expreſſed towards himſelf in being ſo forward to caſt off his Government who had deſerved ſo well of them, but becauſe he knew their deſire was ſinful, and highly diſpleaſing unto God; for though God had promiſed to erect a Regal Throne among them, and to give them Kings out of whoſe loyns the Meſſiah ſhould come(a)See Gen. 17.6. & 49.10. & Deut. 17.18., yet they were to wait his leiſure for it, and to expect as well the time when, as the perſon whom he would chuſe, and were not to attempt any alteration in the Government themſelves without his direction; eſpecially they were not to go about it in ſuch a ſinful manner as they now did, diſtruſting God, and proudly affecting to be like other Nations. Samuel therefore being much perplexed at it, he humbly beſought the Lord to direct him what he ſhould do in this difficult and dangerous affair; the Lord bids him to hearken to them in this matter, and ſeemingly condeſcends to their ſuit, yet not in mercy, but in anger. Then ſpeaking to Samuel, he ſays, Be not thou troubled at their rejecting thee, for they have not indeed ſo much rejected thee as me, that I ſhould not reign over them. They will not (it ſeems) have me any longer to be their only King, but they will have another, under whom they will be; neither is their ingratitude to me or thee to be much wondred at, ſeeing they have been an inconſtant, diſcontented rebellious people againſt me and their Magiſtrates, and horribly given to Apoſtaſie and Idolatry, ever ſince they came out of Egypt to this day. However hearken to them in the thing they deſire, yet acquaint them with the miſchiefs th…y are like to bring upon themſelves hereby, that if they perſiſt in their deſign, they may be without excuſe, and may only condemn themſelves when they feel them. Shew them therefore the way and manner of the Kings of the earth(b)He deſcribes not here what Kings ought to do, or lawfully may do, but what they uſed to do, ſee Deut. 17. from 15, to the end, ſee Ezek. 46.18. & 45.7., that is, how they uſually treat and demean themſelves towards their ſubjects, that if they will have a King like other Nations, they may know what they are to expect from him: Firſt, he will take their Sons violently from them, and againſt their wills put them to ſervile Offices, and baſe drudgery not beſeeming free-born ſubjects(c)How ſoon the Iſraelites began to feel theſe grievances under their Kings we may ſee by that which is ſaid of Solomon, 1 King. 12.4.; namely he would put them to attend his Chariots of War to ſerve him as Horſemen, or to run before his Chariots as Footmen. Secondly, he will appoint him Captains over thouſands, and Captains over fifties, (honourable Offices indeed, and profitable to thoſe that ſhall enjoy them) but very burdenſome to the people who under them muſt drudge and labour, and plow his fields, and reap his harveſt without any conſiderable wages for their pains. Thirdly, he will appoint ſome to be his Smiths, others his Carpenters, or Chariot-makers, not giving them for their labour ſufficient recompence. Fourthly, he will take their Daughters forcibly from them to do his work, viz. to be his Confectioners, Cooks, and Bakers, not allowing them ſufficient wages for their work. Fifthly, he will take their fields, and their Vineyards, and Oliveyards, (even the beſt of them) and give them moſt injuriouſly to his ſervants and favourites. Sixthly, he will take the tenth of their ſeed, and of their Vineyards, either that which of right belonged to the Levites, or another tenth after theirs is paid, and give it to his Officers and Courtiers. Seventhly, he will take their men-ſervants, and and maid-ſervants, and their goodlieſt young men, their aſſes, and put them to his work. Eighthly, he will take the tenth of their ſheep as a tribute to himſelf, and they will he forc'd to be his ſervants and vaſſals, not living like free-born Iſraelites but in a ſervile and ſlaviſh condition; and then they will cry out in that day by reaſon of the grievous oppreſſions they are under, but the Lord will not regard their cryes or prayers, becauſe by their own obſtinate wilfulneſs they brought theſe evils upon themſelves. Samuel having received theſe words from the Lord, faithfully repreſented them unto the people, but they notwithſtanding like deſperate reſolute fellows cried out, they would have a King, that they might be like other Nations; they would have a pompous and royal Monarchy among them inſtead of the mean Government of Judges, which made ſo little noiſe or ſhew in the world; they would have a King that ſhould rule over them with Royal Authority in time of peace, and ſhould command their Armies as Generaliſſimo in time of war; and they had now more eſpecial need of ſuch a King, ſeeing Nahaſh King of the Ammonites was coming againſt them. Samuel hearing theſe words of the people, he ſpread them before the Lord in prayer, humbly deſiring directions from him what he ſhould do in this great and weighty buſineſs. The Lord anſwered him ſaying, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a King, as if he ſhould have ſaid, ſeeing no reaſons nor warnings will prevail with them, let them have their deſire, though it will be to their coſt. So Samuel having commiſſion from God to make them a King, he diſmiſſed the Aſſembly for the preſent to their own homes, that he might gain thereby ſome time to conſider of the manner and means how this weighty buſineſs might be beſt effected.
1 Sam. 8. from 4, to the end.