The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 160 – Section 161
SECT. CLX.
THE people of Iſrael being ſo earneſt for a King,King Saul. and ſeeming to themſelves ſo undone without one, the Lord now reſolves to give them one; but he gave him in his anger, and took him away in his wrath, Hoſ. 13.11. The Hiſtory of this King we come now to ſet forth: There was a man of the Tribe of Benjamin (a)The Tribe of Benjamin thorough the deſolation they brought upon themſelves, Judg. 26.46. was now become the leaſt and moſt obſcure Tribe, yet yields to Iſrael her firſt King, and in the victories of this King, Jacob's Propheſie was was in part fulfilled, Gen. 49.27. Benjamin ſhall ravine like a wolf, &c. And this ſhews that the Kingdom was not to be ſetled upon the Poſterity of this firſt King, but on one of the Tribe of Judah.whoſe name was Kiſh, a man of great authority and power, and (as it ſeems) of great eſtate and ſubſtance among them(b)Nulla hic mentio patriae Saulis quae erat Gibeah, forte quia infamis erat propter illud ſtuprum, Jud. 19., who had a Son whoſe name was Saul, a goodly and comely perſon, taller by the head and ſhoulders than any of the people, a man fit to make a Prince, and to be honoured of his Subjects when he was ſet over them. It happened at this time that ſome of the Aſſes of Kiſh were gone aſtray, of which 'tis like he had an excellent breed, and ſuch as were of great value (c)Aſini in Syria ſunt praeſtantiores Europaeis unde filii Principum iis vehebantur, Jud. 10.4. & 12.14. Hebraei enim equis vix utebantur, id que ex Dei monitu, Deut. 17.16. non ergo mirum ſi ad aſinas quaerendas Saul a parente deſtinetur. Quemadmodum viri Principes venatoriam nunc exercent, ita olim & exercere poterant Paſtoritiam.in that Country where perſons of the greateſt rank and condition uſed to ride upon them, [ſee Judg. 10.4. & 12.14.] Kiſh bids his Son Saul to take a ſervant with him, and to go and ſeek for them. Saul in obedience to his Fathers command went in queſt of them through the Mountainous Country of Ephraim, and through Shaliſha (a plain Country in the Tribe of Benjamin) and through the land belonging to the City called Salim, Joh. 3.23. but he found them not; and when they were come to the land of Zuph (namely the Counrry where Ramah, Samuel's City was ſituate, which thereupon was called Ramahthaim-Zophim, Ch. 1. 1.] Saul ſaid to his ſervant, come let us return, leſt my Father leave caring for the Aſſes and take thought for us. The ſervant replied, Sir, there is in this City of Ramah a venerable perſon, highly eſteemed for his ſupernatural and wonderful knowledg of ſecret (d)God gave the gift of Propheſie to his Servants to be employed in directing them in weightier matters than ſuch as theſe. But perhaps he did permit them to exerciſe it in theſe alſo, that he might keep his people from ſeeking to Witches, or to the Oracles of the Heathens, 2 King. 1.3. God would not have his people think that he had leſs care of them as to their private concerns than the Idols of the Heathen had, who being conſulted with, did by the Miniſtry of Satan (ſpeaking in their Oracles) return them Anſwers, though oftentimes very frivilous and ambiguous. v. 9. Credo hunc verſum ab Eſdra huic loco inſertum qui Prophetico ſpiritu afflatus erat.things, inſomuch that all that he foretelleth ſurely cometh to paſs; now let us go to him, peradventure he can ſhew us the way we ſhould walk in for the finding out the Aſſes we ſeek after. But Saul reply'd, If we go to him, what ſhall we preſent him with, as a civil and honourary gratuity, to teſtifie our reſpect and thankefulneſs to him? See 1 King. 14.2, 3. 2 King. 4.42. For our proviſions that we brought with us in our Wallet are ſpent, and we have nothing left that is fit or worthy to be preſented unto him. The ſervant ſaid he had the fourth part of a ſhekel (which makes about ſeven pence half-penny of our money, (ſee Gen. 23.15.) a ſmall preſent indeed to be preſented to a Prophet or Seer, who by ſpecial revelation is acquainted with the mind and will of God, and foreſees things to come, and from God reveals them to the people. However (ſays he) let us preſent it as a token of our reſpect and thankefulneſs to him. Saul agrees hereunto; ſo they went to Ramah where Samuel dwelt; as they drew near to the City they met ſome young maidens going out to draw water, and enquiring of them for the Seer, they told them he was newly returned to the City, (having been out upon ſome occaſion) and there was a ſacrifice (e)It was lawful for Prophets immediately inſpired to offer Sacrifices, eſpecially Peace-offerings upon Altars erected in other places beſides the Tabernacle, eſpecially at this time when the Ark was ſeparated from it.to be that day in the high place (f)Fuit haec domus quaedam in qua haec Sacrificia fieri ſolebant, & boni viri illuc confluxerunt, pranſuri cum Samuele., that is, a Peace-offering, or Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, after which was to follow a Feaſt to be made of the remainders of the Sacrifice, at which the Seer would be preſent. It ſeems Samuel had purpoſely appointed this Feaſt, and invited gueſts unto it, God having revealed to him by the ſecret inſpiration of his Spirit, [ſee v. 15.] that he would ſend that day to him the man who he intended ſhould be their King, and that he ſhould anoint him to be Captain over his people, and to ſave them out of the hands of the Philiſtines (g)The Iſraelites had not in all Sauls time a full deliverance from the Philiſtines, but he gave them many defeats, and ſo blunted their ſtrength that they could not keep the Iſraelites under as they formerly did; therefore he may be ſaid in ſome degree to have ſaved them though their deliverance was not compleat, but reſerved till Davids reign., and therefore Samuel was willing to expreſs his reſpects to him by providing for him ſome honourable entertainment, though the reſt of the gueſts knew not ſo much. The maidens further tell them that if they made haſt, they might poſſibly meet with him before he went up to the high place; for beſure the people would not eat before he came, for he uſed to bleſs(a)Solebant Hebraei epulas a precibus inchoare, & precibus claudere, juxta Deut. 8.10. vide Mat. 14.19. & 26.30. & Luc. 9.16. & 24.30. Act. 27.35. He that bleſſed the Table did alſo divide and diſtribute the meat. by prayer and thanksgiving the fleſh that was offered, (whereof the Feaſt was to be made) and afterwards they did eat that were bidden. Saul and his ſervant going accordingly to the City, Samuel met them juſt as he was going up to the high-place. As ſoon as he ſet his eyes on Saul, the Lord by ſecret inſpiration told him, that was the man of whom he had before given him intimation that he ſhould reign over his people. Then Saul drew near to Samuel, (being within the Gate and in the midſt of the City, v. 14.) and (as it ſeems not knowing him) asked him where the Seers houſe was? Samuel anſwered, that he himſelf was the Seer, and was now going up to a Feaſt that was to be kept at the high-place, therefore he deſired him to favour him ſo far as to go up thither with him and to eat with them, and if he pleaſed to ſtay with him that night, and on the morrow he would be ready to tell him any thing that was in his mind to ask of him. And (ſays he) leſt thou ſhouldeſt be unwilling to ſtay by reaſon of the occaſion thou cameſt out upon, I tell thee that as for thy Fathers Aſſes (that were loſt three days ago) they are found again, therefore trouble not thy ſelf any more about them; thou haſt greater matters and of greater concernment to mind, as I ſhall ſhew thee before we part; thou art not ignorant that it is the general deſire of Iſrael to have a King to reign over them, and this royal dignity is like to be placed (by Gods ſpecial Providence) on thee, and thy fathers houſe, Saul was exceedingly ſurprized at theſe words, and as one aſtoniſhed at the ſtrangeneſs of them, replied, Alas what am I? Am not I a Benjamite (b)When this Tribe kept faithful to the houſe of David in the days of Jeroboam, as well as the houſe of Judah, the Scripture ſpeaks but of one Tribe that did cleave to the houſe of David, 1 King. 11.32. Benjamin not being mentioned becauſe of their paucity, but comprehended under the men of Judah:, and of that ſmall Tribe which not many years ago was almoſt utterly deſtroyed? [Judg. 20.] and are not my family the feweſt in number of all the ten families in my Tribe, wherefore then doſt thou mention ſuch a thing to me? However when they were come to the high-place where the Feaſt was to be kept, Samuel took Saul and his ſervant, and bringing them into the Parlour made them ſit down in the chiefeſt place among thoſe that were bidden, who probably were the Elders and chief of the City, and in number about thirty; and Samuel having given order to the Cook to provide one ſpecial extraordinary Meſs that ſhould be ſet by, and reſerv'd as for ſome extraordinary gueſt, and not ſent up till he ſent for it, he now accordingly calls for it, that it might be ſet before Saul; and the Cook took up the Shoulder (which was accounted a chief Joint) with ſome other meat that was laid upon it, or ſome ſawce to make it more acceptable and grateful, and ſet it before Saul; and Samuel ſaid, Take this diſh that is provided for thee, ſet it before thee, and eat of it, for I gave charge that this portion of meat ſhould be reſerved for thee, when I ſaid unto the Cook I have invited ſome to eat with me, make ready for them. So that Saul might ſee hereby that God had revealed his coming to Samuel before hand. Saul accordingly did eat with Samuel that day. And when they were come down from the high-place into the City, the next morning Samuel communed with Saul about this great matter upon the roof of his houſe, which being flat, as the manner of their houſes was, it was a fit place for them to be private in. After which Saul and his ſervant departing, Samuel accompanied them ſome part of the way, and as they were going out of the City, Samuel deſired Saul to ſend his ſervant before, that he might not hear what they ſaid, nor ſee what they did, but that he himſelf would ſtay with him, and he would then declare to him what he had in commiſſion from God further to ſay and do unto him. Samuel thought good to uſe ſuch ſecreſie in this matter that it might not be thought when Saul was choſen King that there had been any plotting or contrivance between Samuel and him about it, and that it might not be ſuſpected to be Samuel's choice, but plainly the Lords. Samuel and Saul being now alone, Samuel (as God had commanded him*See Ch. 15.1.) took a viol of oyl, and poured it upon his head (c)It had bin a conſtant cuſtom among other Nations to anoint their Kings, whence it is that Cyrus King of Perſia was call'd the Lords Anointed, Iſa. 45.1. It is thought that Saul was anointed with ordinary oyl (as was alſo Jehu, 2 King. 9 1, 6.) which Samuel brought with him in a Viol from his own houſe, though David and Solomon, and other Kings that ſucceeded them were anointed with the holy oyl of the Sanctuary., whereby he ſignified that God had choſen him to that high Office, and would pour upon him an extraordinary meaſure of his Spirit (figured by oyl) thereby to inable him for that great ſervice whereunto he had called him, which accordingly Saul had ſoon experience of, as we may ſee v. 9. Then Samuel kiſſed(d)In times of Idolatry they kiſſed their Idols by way of adoration and religious worſhip, 1 King. 19.18. Hoſ. 13.2. him, not only to teſtifie his great love and kindneſs to him, and to congratulate his advancement to this high dignity, but to ſignifie alſo his willing homage and ſubjection to him, ſee Pſal. 2.12. And Samuel tells him he us'd theſe Ceremonies towards him becauſe it was not he but the Lord that had choſen him to be King, and it was Gods inheritance over whom he was to reign, ſee Deut. 32.9. Theſe things being done, Samuel now by a Prophetical ſpirit giveth unto Saul certain ſigns (a)Omnia ſunt de rebus libere futuris ac proinde quae a ſolo Deo praeſciuntur, & a ſolo vero Prophaeta infallibiliter evulgantur.which ſhould occur to him in his return homeward, that when he ſaw them accordingly happen as he foretold him, his faith might be ſtrengthned, that other things likewiſe foretold him concerning his Kingdom would certainly come to paſs, and ſo he might be encouraged with confidence to undertake the Charge which God had called him unto, truſting in his power and help, notwithſtanding the difficulties he was like to meet with in his way. Firſt, he tells him that when he came to Rachels Sepulchre near Bethlem in the border of Benjamin *Or near it, for theſe two Tribes, viz. Benjamin and Judah, bordered upon, and were intermingled one with another., there he ſhould meet two men, who would tell him that the Aſſes which he went to ſeek were found, and that his Father was full of care and ſollicitude about him, ſaying, what ſhall I do for my Son? Secondly, when going on he ſhould come to the Plains of Tabor, he ſhould meet three men going up to ſacrifice to God at Bethel (b)Either the place properly ſo called where Jacob ſaw the Viſion, Gen. 18.19. or appellatively the houſe of God, and that either Shiloh where the Tabernacle was, or Kirjath-jearim where the Ark was., one carrying three Kids, and another carrying three Loaves of bread, and a third carrying a bottle of Wine; theſe men though ſtrangers to him, would ſalute him, and preſent him with two loaves of bread, which he adviſes him to receive at their hands. The more wonderful this thing was which Samuel foretold, the more it muſt needs confirm Saul's faith when he ſaw it come to paſs; and eſpecially that Strangers ſhould thus carry themſelves towards him, and their hearts ſhould be thus ſecretly mov'd to honour him, and as it were to do him homage, though they knew nothing of the dignity to which God had advanc'd him. Thirdly, he tells him he ſhould come at laſt to the hill of God where is the Garriſon of the Philiſtines (c)In conditionibus pacis nuper inter Hebraeos & Philiſtinos initae ita urbes redditae ſunt Hebraeis ut praeſidium in Gabaa & fortaſſe in aliis locis relinqueretur. Meliores erant Philiſtini quam nunc multi Chriſtanorum. Parcebant enim iis locis in quibus degebant viri ſtudiis divinis dediti., that is to Gibeah; for there was a Garriſon of the Philiſtines kept, ſee Ch. 13.3. 'twas call'd the Hill of God, becauſe there was in that place a Colledg of Prophets conſecrated to the ſervice of God, as alſo becauſe of the high-place there wherein the people uſed to offer Sacrifices. He tells him that when he was come thither he ſhould meet a company of the Prophets coming down from the high-place. There were as it ſeems in thoſe times many Colledges erected(d)Licet ante Samuelem erant Prophetae, is tamen primus Prophetarum collegia, fundavit ſecundum. Gerebradum., wherein many holy men lived, being conſecrated to God, whoſe continual imployment was to ſtudy the Law, and other holy writings, to teach and inſtruct others therein, to ſing in a ſolemn manner Pſalms and Hymes of praiſe to God, and to train up other young Students (who ſtudied this way of Propheſying) under them. One of theſe Colledges was here, another at Bethel, and a third at Jericho, 2 King. 2.3. a fourth at Naioth in Ramah (over which Samuel himſelf was Preſident, Ch. 19.19, 20.) and upon many of theſe Prophets the Lord alſo beſtowed that extraordinary gift of foretelling things to come (e)Prophetae proprie dicuntur qui futura praedicunt. Hic autem Prophetae ſunt qui erant Sacrarum literarum ſtudioſi, vide Numb. 11.25. Prophetae hic dicuntur qui laudibus divinis celebrandis vacabant, & quod quibuſdam quaſi canticis vaticinati ſunt; quod a Sibillis etiam factum & a Daemone in Oraculis, apud Herodotum & alios; & ipſi Poetae Prophetae dicti. Hi Prophetae Hymnos & Laudes Deo concinebant tum voce, tum inſtrumentis muſicis. Horum autem Prophetarum fuerunt quaedam collegia inſtituta, ut in illis ad Dei Laudes concinendas exercerentur & ut in arte Muſica & Harmonica occuparentur, vid. Cap. 19.20. 2 Reg. 2.3. & Cap. 6. pracedeban… eos varia muſica inſtrumenta quod ſpiritus Dei non inſiliat in eos qui maeſto ſunt corde, ſed in hilares ut Kimki docet. His utebantur pro incitamentis ut pacet ex 2 Reg. 3.15. & quando Deo gratiae de beneficio aliquo agebantur, vid. Jud. 11.34. praeterea ea vis eſt quorundam ſonorum ut animum concitatum …ranquillent, 1 Sam. 16.16., as appears 2 King. 2.3, & 5. and ſuch as theſe were the Prophets that met Saul, for they had a Pſaltery, Tabret, Pipe and Harp, playing before them; and poſſibly they made uſe of this Muſick to tune and rightly temper and excite their hearts, and the hearts of the people before they Propheſied, as Eliſha did, 2 King. 3.15. and to make them more chearful in Religious duties. Now Samuel tells Saul that when he met theſe Prophets, the Spirit of the Lord ſhould come upon him, and he ſhould Propheſie with them, that is the Spirit of Propheſie ſhould come upon him, inabling him to join with theſe Prophets in ſinging Gods praiſes, though he had not been taught and trained up in thoſe Spiritual Exerciſes; and poſſibly he might alſo for that time (f)Credo hoc donum fuiſſe in Saule per modum actus tranſeuntis, non per modum habitus permanentis. Ex Ruſtico ſcil. & pecudum cuſtode Pſaltes factus.have the gift of foretelling things to come. See Numb. 11.25. Further he tells him he ſhould be turned into another man, that is, not only be endued with the preſent gift of Propheſying, but with the ſpirit of wiſdom and magnanimity and courage, and other qualifications befitting his Kingly calling; ſo that he ſhould not as before ſet his heart on Husbandry and Cattel, &c. but upon ſuch things as tended to the good Government of his Kingdom, both in Peace and War. And Samuel tells him that if he found all theſe things to fall out juſt as he had foretold him, he might from thence aſſure himſelf that he was choſen of God to be King over Iſrael, and when any occaſion or opportunity was offered him of doing any thing for the benefit of his Kingdom, he need not fear to undertake it, for God would be with him, (while he walked in his wayes) to aſſiſt and proſper him. Samuel alſo injoins him that when he was to make war againſt the Philiſtines, upon ſuch a weighty buſineſs he ſhould go down to Gilgal, and there wait for him ſeven days, that he might offer Sacrifices for him, and direct him from the Lord what he ſhould do. And 'tis probable this ſeven days waiting was injoined becauſe Samuel might be hindred from coming ſooner by ſome neceſſary intervenient occaſion, or rather for the trial of Saul's faith and obedience to God in waiting his appointed time, upon which condition, and not otherwiſe, he was to be eſtabliſhed in the Kingdom, and poſſibly Samuel expreſſed his Charge more fully and amply to Saul than is here related. Theſe things having paſſed between them, Saul now took his leave of him, and when he was gone from him, God gave him another heart, that is, wrought in him a ſenſible change, taking him off from his former thoughts and deſigns about private Country-affairs, and endowing him with magnanimous thoughts, and Heroical gifts fit for a King, and the Government of a Kingdom. And all the ſigns Samuel foretold him of exactly came to paſs; as particularly when he came to the Hill of God before mentioned, he met a company of Prophets, and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he propheſied among them, and ſpake of Divine matters above his former abilities, and ſang the praiſes of God (as 'tis probable) with muſical skill as they did; and the inhabitants of Gibeah, his friends and acquaintance, who had known him and his education were amaz'd to ſee this ſudden and extraordinary change in him, and ſaid one to another, what is this that is come to the Son of Kiſh? Is Saul alſo among the Prophets? How comes Saul on a ſudden to be furniſhed with ſuch gifts and abilities of Muſick and Propheſying, who has not been trained up among the Sons of the Prophets, but in his Fathers Country-affairs. Unto whom one of the ſame place (who it ſeems was wiſer than the reſt) made anſwer by asking another queſtion, But who is their Father? As if he ſhould have ſaid, wonder not at this, ſeeing all theſe whom ye hear and ſee thus Propheſying have not theſe gifts from their Parents, but from God, who is a free agent, and inſpireth whom he pleaſeth; and having conferred theſe gifts on them, is alike able (if he pleaſe) to confer them on Saul alſo; therefore it became a Proverb when they ſaw any man raiſed to parts and abilities above his birth and breeding to ſay of him, Is Saul among the Prophets? And when Saul had made an end of Propheſying, he went to the high-place to praiſe God for his ſingular favour unto him, and his high advancement, and to pray to him for the further aſſiſtance, and guidance of his holy Spirit; and for his protection and bleſſing upon his endeavours. Next Saul's Uncle (the Father of Abner, Ch. 14.15.) meeting him either in this place of Religious worſhip, or elſe as he was coming down from it into the City, and hearing how he had Propheſied among the Prophets, inquir'd of him where he had been, and how he came to be endued with this extraordinary gift and underſtanding? He had been with Samuel. He askt him what he ſaid to him? He told him that Samuel acquainted him that the Aſſes were found; but he forbear to tell him what he ſaid to him concerning his Election to be King, being unwilling (as 'tis like) to give to his Ʋncle or any of his kindred any occaſion to envy him the honour to which God had advanc'd him; and Samuel having been ſo private in the carriage of the buſineſs, it was an intimation to him not to diſcover it till God ſhould himſelf openly make it known.
1 Sam. Ch. 9. whole Chapter. Ch. 10. from 1, to 17.
SECT. CLXI.
SAmuel now calls the people together to appear before the Lord at Mizpeh in order to the chuſing of a King; when they were met he ſpake to them after this manner: Thus ſaith the Lord, I brought you up out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hands of the Egyptians, and out of the hands of all Kingdoms and Nations that oppreſſed you. And you have this day rejected your God who himſelf ſaved you out of all your adverſities and tribulations, and you have rejected his Prophet, and ſaid unto him, Nay but ſet a King over us; ſo that by asking a King you have as it were ſhaken off Gods Government over you. Well therefore ſeeing you are ſo bent upon it, and reſolved to have a King, preſent your ſelves before the Lord by your Tribes and your Families (a)The Tribes of Iſrael were divided into certain companies, each company conſiſting of a thouſand men. Mich. 5.2.this day, that by caſting lots it may be known whom God will make choice of for this purpoſe. Accordingly they caſting lots the Tribe of Benjamin was taken, then the Family of Matri, then the houſhold of Kiſh, and laſtly the perſon of Saul. Saul (as it ſeems) underſtanding how things went, out of modeſty withdrew and hid(b)Modeſte & prudenter fecit Saul ut apparerer, eum, vocante Domino, non malis artibus aut ambitu ad regnum veniſſe. Et cum audiviſſet Samuelem Iſraelitas objurganeem quod Regem poſtularunt, inde novum quendam timorem accedendi ad regnum concepit. himſelf, ſo that they could not find him. Therefore they inquired of the Lord either by the High-Prieſt, and by Ʋrim and Thummim, or poſſibly by Samuel whether the perſon choſen would come thither to them, or elſe how they ſhould find him? The Lord anſwered, he hath hid himſelf among the ſtuff; that is, among the furniture of his own Tent. Immediately they ran and fetched him thence, and when he ſtood among the people, he was higher than any of them by head and ſhoulders; Samu…l then ſaid to them, Behold the perſon whom God hath choſen to be your King, there is not ſo goodly and proper a perſon(c)Nota hic Samuelem nullis invidentiae acultis ſtimulari, imo e…m laudat, & commendat. among you all. The people hereupon gave a great ſhout, and ſaid, God ſave the King. Then Samuel told them the manner of the Kingdom *V. 25. Aliqui intelligunt bene regnandi praetepta foreign quales habet egregrias Socrates & Stobaeus., that is ſhewed them the duty of a King towards his Subjects, and of his Subjects towards him, and theſe fundamental Laws of the Kingdom he wrote in a Book (d)Hic liber periit cum multis aliis., and laid it up before the Lord, that is before the Ark, or in the Tabernacle, for the ſure preſervation of it, and to intimate that God would take care of th…ſe Laws to uphold and maintain them, and to puniſh thoſe that ſhould violate or break them. Theſe things being done, Samuel diſmiſſed this great Aſſembly, and Saul went to Gibeah his own City, and there went with him a band of men (e)Quos ſcil. divinus ſpiritus ad obſequium illud novo Regi exhibendum impulit., ſuch whoſe hearts God had touched, and moved to think it fit, that they ſhould attend him, and as a Royal guard wait upon him, and conduct him in his return home. But all the people were not ſo well pleaſed with this Election, though it plainly appeared to be of God; there were ſome rude and wretched fellows, Sons of Belial that deſpiſed him, and look d upon him as a perſon unfit to be King, and unlikely to govern them well, and defend them againſt their enemies as a King ſhould do; whereupon they refuſed to bring him any preſents (f)That was the cuſtom of thoſe times as is noted concerning Jehoſhaphat, 2 Chron. 17.5. ſee Mat. 2.11. ſine muneribus Reges orientis adi…i non ſolebant., as it ſeems the reſt of the people did, to teſtifie their ſubjection, and that they did acknowledg him to be their King. But Saul held his peace, not ſeeming to take notice(g)Novum imperium inchoantibus utilis clementiae fama, ait Tacitus. of their unworthy carriage towards him, but ſeeking to win them by lenity and love.
1 Sam. Ch. 10. from v. 17. to the end.