Westminster Annotations, 1 Samuel (1 Kings) · Chapter 10 – Chapter 12
CHAP. X.
Vers. 1. Avial of oil] Three sorts of men, as the most conceive, were solemnly ordained by anointing with oil, in the old Testament; to wit, priests, prophets and kings: whereby was signified the gifts of the holy Ghost which were necessary for their callings, 1 King. 9. 15, 16.
and kissed him] To wit, in token of congratulation, homage and subjection. So Gen. 41, 40. 1 King. 19. 18. Psal. 2. 12.
inheritance] That is, his own peculiar people Israel, Ex. 19. 5. Deut. 9. 26. 32. 9.
Rachels sepulchre] Gen. 35. 20. Which was neer Beth-l…hemjudah, Gen. 35. 19. in the confines of both the tribes.
the care] Hebr. the businesse.
V. 3. to Beth-el] That is, either the place so called Gen. 28. 19. or the house of God at Kirjath-jearim, where the ark now was, Chap. 7. 1, 2.
V. 4. salute thee] Heb. ask thee of peace.
V. 5. hill of God] That is, an high place neer Oibeah consecrated to divine service, and is therefore called the hill of God, in which was a school of the prophets.
the garison] See Chap. 7. 13.
with a psalterie] These instruments were used to chear and raise up the spirits, and thereby to fit them for prophecie. So 2 King. 3. 15.
shall prophesie] That is, shall speak and sing of spirituall and divine matters.
V. 6. thou shalt prophesie] That is, have for the time the gift of prophecying, Num. 11. 25.
be turned into another man] Both in respect of the present gift of prophesying, and of the spirit of valour and government which shall be inspired, to fit thee for the calling of a king.
V. 7. let it be when these signes] Hebr. and it shall come to passe that when these signes, &c.
do as occasion shall serve thee] Hebr. do for thee as thine hand shall finde. That is, as God shall give thee opportunity, so demean thy self in all things befitting a king, for the good of the common-wealth.
V. 8. Gilgal] To wit, after thou art elected king at Mizpeh, as it is v. 17. thou shalt go to Gilgal, to have the election confirmed, Chap. 11. 14.
offer burnt offerings] To wit, after the ark of God is brought thither. See Chap. 11. 15. 13. 9.
seven dayes thou shalt …arry] Chap. 13. 8.
V. 9. back] Hebr. shoulder.
gave him another heart] Hebr. …ned. That is, wrought in him a sensible change, by infusing into him heroick gifts, and kingly abilities.
V. 10. a company of prophets] That is, both the prophets themselves, and their disciples and scholars, who gave themselves to divine studies; and he prophesied. See Chap. 19. 23, 24.
V. 11. one to another] Hebr. a man to his neighbour.
Is Saul] Chap. 19. 24. As who should say, It is so strange, that it may well be wondered at.
V. 12. And one] To wit, amongst those prophets.
of the same place] Hebr. from thence.
But who is their father?] That is, the father of those other prophets; as who should say, They have not these gifts by patrimony, but from God: and the same father of Spirits that hath inspired them with the gift of prophecie, is alike able to infuse the same gifts into Saul.
a proverb] To wit, used when a man had spoken or done any rare thing, above all expectation.
V. 23. to the high place] That is, where was the school of the prophets.
no where] That is, not in any place whither we went to seek them.
V. 16. he told him not] Either out of modesty and humility, on to avoid his unkles envie, or, as it is most likely, because Samuel had forbidden him to reveal it: for, to the end that it might be kept secret, he would not suffer his servant to hear of it, Chap. 9. 27.
V. 17. unto the Lord] Both to declare unto them their fault in asking a king, and also to shew Gods sentence therein. See Judg. 11. 11. and 20. 1.
to Mizpeh] Whither he had appointed the ark to be brought, and the high priest to come with Urim and Thummim, to ask counsell of God, and by casting lots to finde out who should be their king, v. 22. See Judg. 20. 1.
V. 19. rejected your God] See Chap. 8. 6, 7.
said unto him] That is, to wit, in thus saying to me who am his prophet and vice-gerent, Chap. 8. 19. 12. 12.
by your thousands] The tribes of Israel were divided into thousands, as appeareth, Mic. 5. 2. and elsewhere.
V. 20. to come neer] To wit, before the ark, that they might first joyn in prayer for Gods direction, Prov. 16. 33. and then cas… lots: for those were joyned, v. 22. Act. 1. 24. See the like example, Josh. 7. 14.
was taken] That is, by lot.
V. 22. they enquired] To wit, by Urim and Thummim, and by prayer, desiring Gods answer and direction.
hid himself] Which he did out of modestie and prudence, to make it appear, that he did not ambitiously affect the kingdom, nor use indirect means to aspire unto it, but was called unto it by Gods immediate and free choice.
V. 24. all the people] That is, the generality, or greatest part; for some amongst them did despise him, v. 27.
God save the king] Hebr. Let the king live.
V. 25. the manner of the kingdom] That is, not as it is commonly practised, Chap. 8. 9, 10, 11. but as it ought to be and hereby understand the fundamentall laws of a lawfull and right monarchie appointed by God himself, teaching both kings how to rule, and subjects how to obey. See Deut. 17. 18. Ezek. 45. 9, 10. 46. 16. Rom. 13. 1. 1 Tim. 2. 2.
wrote in a book] Which is not now extant.
before the Lord] That is, in the tabernacle, where also were reserved the standards of just weights and measures.
V. 26. a band of men] That is, a voluntary guard.
God had touched] That is, by his Spirit enclined to yeeld willing obedience to their new king.
V. 27. children of Belial] See Judg 19. 22.
they despised him] See Chap. 11. 12.
no presents] To wit, as subjects were won… to do, to testifie their homage and obedience to their king, 1 King. 10. 25. 2 Chron. 17. 5. Matth. 2. 11.
he held his peace] Or, he was as though he had been deaf. Out of his modestie and prudence, both to avoid sedition, and also to win them by patience and gentlenesse.
CHAP. XI.
Vers. 1. JAbesh-gilead] See Judg. 21. 10. and here he expresseth the occasion why the people desired a king, Chap. 8. namely, To defend them against Nahash the king of Ammon, as he sheweth more plainly, Chap. 12. 14.
V. 2. your right eyes] This he required not onelyonly as ignominious, but also to disable them for taking arms; for carrying their shields on their left arm, the use of their left eye was hindered: and so their right eyes being put out, they become little better then blinde.
V. 3. the elders] That is, the rulers and governours.
Give us] Hebr. forbear us.
we will come out] That is, yeeld our selves to dispose of us at thy pleasure.
Gibeah of Saul] Called before, Gibeah of Benjamin, as lying in that tribe; and now, Gibeah of Saul, either because Sa…l was born there, or was now their king and deliverer.
V. 5. came after the herd] For though he were chosen king, yet he did not presently administer his office, but lived privately till an occasion were offered for shewing his heroicall valour, and kingly abilities.
V. 6. the Spirit of God] In…using into him wisedom, magnanimity and valour, fit for a king and captain.
anger was kindled] To wit, against Nahassi, for propounding such insolent and dishonourable conditions.
V. 7. hewed them in pieces] In imitation of the Levite, who thus divided, and sent the pieces of his wife to all the tribes, to encrease their indignation, and whet their courage.
and after Samuel] Who accompanied this new unsetled king as a judge to assist him, and as a prophet to direct him, v. 12.
of the Lord] That is, which the LORD wrought in them by this threatning.
with one consent] Hebr. as one man.
V. 8. in Bezek] See Judg. 1. 5.
V. 9. they said] That is, Saul and Samuel.
help] Or, deliverance.
V. 10. Jabesh said] To wit, to Nahash and the Ammoi…tes that beleaguered them.
Tomorrow we will] To wit, if we have no help, dissembling their hope of aid, that Saul might finde them secure, and so obtain a more easie victory.
V. 11. on the morrow] That is, the eighth day after their truc… taken, on which they had promised to surrender themselves, if in no day of the seven they were relieved.
of the host] That is, of the Ammonites.
morning watch] That is, when they begin to withdraw the watches.
V. 12. reign over us] Chap. 40. 27.
V. 13. The…e shall not a man] So David, 2 Sam. 19. 22.
wrought salvation] To wit, by giving us victory over our enemies, thereby confirming my calling, which these men doubted of.
V. 14. and renew the kingdom] That is, confirm Saul in his kingdom (to prevent all future rebellion) by universall consent, seeing now, having experience of his wisedom and valour, none will question his calling, of which formerly some doubted. Chap. 10, 27.
V. 15. before the Lord] That is, in a solemn manner, as in Gods presence, represented by the ark, before which it was done.
peace-offerings] To wit, in signe of thanksgiving for the victory.
CHAP. XII.
Vers. 1. MAde a king] To wit, at Gilgal. Chap. 11. 15.
V. 2. walketh before you] That is, is setled in his kingly office, to govern you, and to go before you to the wa….
I am old] And therefore unfit any longer to undertake the the publike affairs of the kingdom.
my sons are with you] Not as rulers, but as private men, to do you service, and to give an account to you and your king of what they have done.
V. 3. Behold, here I am] Ecclus. 46. 19. To wit, ready to give an account to you and your king of all my actions in the government of the common-wealth, since I first undertook it.
before his anointed] That is, Saul, whom, by Gods appointment, I have anointed to be king over you. So v. 5. and Chap. 24. 7.
whose ox] God would that Samuels example should be a patern for all them that have any charge or office.
bribe] Hebr. ransome.
blinde mine eyes therewith] Or, that I should hide mine eyes at him. That is, that I might not take notice of their faults, to punish them according to their demerits, being corrupted with their bribes.
V. 5. ought in my hand] To wit, which I have taken to pervert justice.
V. 6. advanced] Hebr. made. Making Moses the governour of his people, and Aaron high priest.
V. 7. righteous acts] Heb. righteousnesses, or, benefits. To wit, as well benefits as punishments, in both which he justifieth God against them.
to] Heb. with.
V. 8. When Jacob was come into Egypt] Gen. 46. 5, 6. That is, when he and his posterity had long continued in Egypt, and were exceedingly multiplied. See Exod. 1. 13, 14. 2. 23, 24.
sent Moses and Aaron] Exod. 4. 16.
In this place] Moses setling them in the land of the Amorites beyond Jordan, and Joshua, by his direction, according to Gods will, in the land of Canaan.
V. 11. and Bedan] That is, as some understand, Samson of the tribe of Dan: or, as others, Jair the Gileadite, Judg. 10. 3. of the tribe of Manafleh; of whom, see 1 Chron. 7. 17.
Jephthah] Judg. 11. 1.
V. 12. Nay, but a king] See Chap. 8. 5, 19.
was your king] With whose government you should have been contented.
V. 14. commandment] Heb. mouth.
continue following] Heb. be after. To wit, as your king and leader, and be still safe under his protection.
V. 16. this great thing] That is, this strange miracle of thunder and sudden rain.
V. 17. wheat-harvest] To wit, a season in which it seldome rains in the land of Canaan, Prov. 26. 1.
is great] To wit, in refusing the immortall and Almighty God to be your king, and desiring to be ruled by a mortall man.
V. 18. sent thunder] To wit, in an unusuall and terrible manner, to convince them of their sin, Ezr. 10. 9.
feared the Lord] Unto whom thunder, rain and tempests obey, and Samuel, who had obtained them by his prayers.
V. 20. yet turn not aside] q. d. Though you have grievously sinned, yet there is no sin so great, but shall be forgiven, if the sinner turn unto God by repentance.
V. 21. vain things] That is, idolls; which being vain, and of no worth, 1 Cor. 8. 4. do lead men to vanity, Jer. 10. 8, 14. Hab. 2. 18.
V. 22. make you his people] To wit, of his free grace, and not your merits, and therefore he will not forsake you.
V. 23. sin against the Lord] Who commandeth his prophets and ministers to pray and preach, 1 Cor. 9. 16. and therefore I will not cease to perform my duty, though you have ungratefully rejected me.
in ceasing] Heb. from ceasing.
V. 24. how great things] Or, what a great thing, &c.