A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 2 · Commentary on 1 Samuel · Chapter 10
1 Sam. CHAP. X.
IN Chapter the Tenth follows the Election, Ʋnction and Inauguration of Saul to the Kingdom, which is twofold. (1.) Private. (2.) Publick. Remarks upon the private Unction firſt.
The Firſt Remark is, Samuel after this Third private Conference with Saul (as above) Anointed him King by Divine Direction, ver. 1. [Samuel takes a Vial of Oyl, and poured it upon Saul's Head.]
N. B. Note here, (1.) It was not an Horn of Oyl (as when David and his Poſterity were Anointed) but a Vial, or Glaſs, to ſignifie (ſay ſome) the ſhort continuance of Saul's Kingdom. (2.) His Head was Anointed to ſhew his Superiority over his Subjects. (3.) With Oyl (which will ever work it ſelf up to the top of other Liquors) to ſet forth the pouring forth the Gifts of God's Spirit upon him to enable him for the Adminiſtration of his Regal Office. (4.) Oyl, being of a ſoft and ſmooth Nature, was a Symbol of Clemency and Candid Lenity, which he ought to exerciſe towards his Subjects in the diſcharge of his Duty.
N. B. Then Samuel kiſſed him, in token both of his Affection and of his Subjection to him, not grudging to reſign the Office of Supream Magiſtracy to Saul, which he had held in his hands for many Years, and now not diſenabled to manage it himſelf, but only diſpoſſeſs'd of it by the meer Humours of the Mobile.
N. B. And ſome ſuppoſe that Saul ſeemed in Modeſty to refuſe Samuel's Anointing him, till Samuel pacified and perſwaded him, ſaying, ['Tis the Lord that Anointeth thee to be Captain over his Inheritance,] as the Baptiſt ſaid to Chriſt, [Suffer it to be ſo now, &c.] Matth. 3.14, 15. telling Saul, that he was but God's Miniſter, and that Saul muſt govern God's People according to God's Will (whoſe they were) and not according to his own Will.
The Second Remark is, The Three Oracles, or ſignificant Signs, whereby Samuel confirmed Saul's Faith concerning the truth of his Call to the Kingdom, when he ſaw thoſe ſeveral Circumſtances (all caſual and contingent Matters, which none but the true Jehovah could foreſee, and none but his true Prophet could foretel) came to paſs, v. 2, 3, 4, 5. to v. 14.
The firſt Sign was the Tidings he ſhould take from the Mouth of two Men at Rachel's Sepulchre, immediately (ſaith he) after thy departure from me, [That thy Father's Aſſes are found again,] v. 2.
N. B. 1. Samuel ſends Saul (newly Anointed) to Rachel's Sepulchre, to mind him of his Mortality, and to keep him humble, that he might not be too much tranſported with this new Honour which he was now entring upon.
The ſecond Sign was, The kind Courteſie of three Strangers to him meeting him in the Plain of Tabor, &c. v. 3, 4. [They will (ſaith he) preſent thee with two Loaves, by way of Homage to thee as their King, being ſtirred up hereto by a ſtrange Motion of God's Spirit, who knows thy Bread is ſpent, chap. 9.7.]
N. B. 2. Samuel had ſent him away unfurniſh'd with needful Food for his Journey, partly becauſe he would not ſeem to curry favour with this new King by ſuch Bribes of Bread; and partly becauſe he foreſaw thoſe ſtrangers would furniſh him with enough.
The third and moſt certain Sign to aſſure him of his call from God to Kingly Office, was the Inſpiration of God's Spirit upon him in the end of his Journey, v. 5, 6. &c. 9, 10, 11, &c.
N. B. Note well. Firſt, The Accompliſhment of the two former Signs are not expreſly related, but certainly ſuppoſed; for 'tis affirmed in the General, that [all thoſe Signs came to paſs that day,] v. 9. and the reaſon why no more is mentioned of them may well be, becauſe they were only two tranſient Acts which paſſed between ſome few Perſons meeting together, and paſſing by one another, but the accompliſhment of this third Oracle is largely inſiſted upon, and related in a more ſolemn manner, becauſe it was a more permanent Sign, and of greater Importance, being more pertinent to Saul's Perſon and his preſent private Condition.
The Second Note, Here is Stupenda Dei Dignatio, moſt marvelous Divine Condeſcenſion, that God ſhould thus vouchſafe to give Men Signs for fortifying their Faith from future Events; this the Lord hath uſually done, as Exod. 3.12. 2 Kings 19.29. Iſa. 7.13, 14. Thus the Lord ſtooped ſo low to Saul as to aſſure him of his extraordinary Call to be a King by many Signs which he ſaw fulfilled, but more eſpecially in this Third Sign.
Note Thirdly, This Third Sign was a complication of many Signs. As, (1.) His meeting with the Prophets. (2.) His own Prophecying. (3.) His being turned into another Man. And (4.) According as ſome give the ſenſe, [Thou ſhalt go down before me to Gilgal, where thou ſhalt tarry for me Seven Days, &c.] v. 8. How a Company of Prophets (both Tutors and Pupils) met him, we are told in, v. 10. as likewiſe, how the Spirit of Prophecy came upon him and cauſed him to Prophecy among them, ſo that he could ſpeak of Divine and Spiritual Matters both above his Natural Abilities and his Civil Education; and hereby he became another Man, as Samuel had foretold, v. 6. he now appeared not like a Rude Ruſtick (fitted only to feed his Fathers Aſſes) but like a Learned Prophet, yea, and a Spirit of Government came upon him alſo, to fit him for the Calling of a King: He was changed into another Man, but not into a New, or Spiritual Man.
N. B. God gave him another Heart, v. 9. yet not a new Heart; 'twas only a Civil, but not a Sanctifying Change; God gave him not that free and Noble Spirit that David pray'd for, Pſal. 51.12. but only common Gifts of a Princely Port, Prudence, Courage and Conduct, &c. had it been Saving Grace wrought in him by the Spirit of Holineſs, that fearful Defection into Outragious Wickedneſs had not appeared in him afterwards: However it was ſuch a Change from a Ruſtick to a Ruler, as made all his Spectators marvel, v. 11, 12. Inſomuch that it became a Vulgar Proverb, [Is Saul alſo among the Prophets?] when they ſaw any Rude Man raiſed up and ranked among Men of Eminency far above his Birth and Breeding: Thus the People wondered at this change in Saul, whom they look'd upon as fitter to look to his Fathers Aſſes, than to bear his part in the Holy Exerciſes of the Prophets, until one wiſer than the reſt ſuppoſed to be the Provoſt of the Colledge) ſaid to them, Wonder not, my Sons, at this Change, for thoſe Gifts come not by Nature, or Art, but by Grace; they come from God who is a free Agent, and inſpires whom he pleaſeth.
N. B. Thus another Saul was as much wondered at, when of a Perſecutor, the Lord made him a Preacher, Acts 9.21. and the other Apoſtles were no leſs wondered at, when Illiterate Fiſhermen were changed into Learned Fiſhers of Men▪ Acts 2.7, 8. and 4.13. and no leſs was our Lord himſelf wondered at, Mark 6.2, 3. John 7.15.
As to the fourth Signal of Saul's tarrying for Samuel Seven Days at Gilgal, (which probably was propounded as a ſtanding Law to him in caſes of Emergency, as Invaſion of Enemies, &c. v. 8, 9. Though Saul kept this Rule of Samuel exactly, chap. 11.14, 15. yet he baſely broke it in chap. 13.8. in not ſtaying to the laſt hour of the Seventh Day, for which Fooliſh Action Samuel ſharply reproves him, ver. 13. chap. 13, &c. Joſephus ſaith, He fail'd in this conſtant Rule.
The Third Remark is, Both the Piety and the Modeſty of Saul in his Introduction to Royal Dignity, &c.
N. B. Firſt, His Piety appeareth, v. 13. no ſooner were his Prophetick Raptures over, but he reſorts to the Synagogue or place of Divine Worſhip, with his Fellow-Prophets, both to Praiſe God for his Divine Call to ſuch an High Advancement, and to Pray unto him for his Protection and Direction therein, &c.
N. B. Secondly, His Modeſty in his Taciturnity and Reſervedneſs towards his Uncle, who being there preſent, and obſerving this unexpected alteration in his Nephew, made him the more inquiſitive about his Journey; ſuſpecting ſomething extraordinary had happened to him, that had cauſed this ſtrange change. Saul anſwers his Ʋncle, that Samuel told him the Aſſes were found, but not a word of his finding a Kingdom, v. 14, 15, 16. Joſephus renders two very good Reaſons of Saul's ſilence in this buſineſs.
Firſt, Leſt if his Uncle had believed it, Saul had then been matter of envy to his Superior; ſeeing the Nephew preferr'd before him.
Secondly, If be had not believed it, then would he have jeared Saul for a Proud, Ambitious and Imperious Fool. I Add,
Thirdly, Saul might be moved to ſilence in obedience to Samuel who had obliged him to ſecrecy, Chap. 9.25, 26, 27.
Fourthly, This was Sauls Humble modeſty, as was that afterward of Hiding himſelf behind the ſtuff, when choſen King, v. 22.
Fifthly, And it was certainly Saul's Prudence to be ſilent in ſuch a caſe and on good grounds, not to divulge it before the due time.
The Fourth Remark is, Sauls Publick Call to the Kingdom after all thoſe Private Tranſactions betwixt Samuel and Saul ſo ſecretly in order thereunto,
This Publick Work is expreſſed in Antecedents, Concomitants and Conſequents.
Firſt, the Antecedents be two, (1.) Samuel the Judge calls a Parliament at Mizpeh, v. 17. where all Iſrael had met before upon a ſolemn ocaſion, Chap. 7.5. and ſome ſuppoſe that the Ark was carryed thither, and the High Prieſt with the Ʋrim and Thummim was preſent to conſult about the New King, becauſe it is ſaid here, [ Ʋnto the Lord, &] But God is preſent in all the Aſſemblies of his Saints, 2 Chron. 19.6. Pſal. 82.1, &c. (2.) Samuel's Expoſtulation with this Parliament in the Name of the Lord, wherein he oppoſeth the tranſcendent favours of God (who had hitherto been their King both Governing and Defending Iſrael) with the Ingratitude, Incredulity, and Folly of Iſrael, v. 18, 19. As if he had ſaid thus, [What a Company of Fools are ye, that will rather place your confidence in a Man, whom you know not how he will prove, than in God, whoſe power and goodneſs you have ſo much and ſo long experienced; and you ſtill perſiſt in rejecting Gods Government, refuſing to be ruled by any Reaſon, but ſtill call for a King upon any condition.]
Secondly, The Concomitants. (1.) Lots (of the Lord's ordering, Prov. 16.33.) are caſt upon the Tribes; and Benjamin was taken, though God had promiſed it to Judah; to whom the Kingdom was after given by God in love, yet now it is given to Benjamin in Anger, Hoſ. 13.11. The Fooliſh People (as it were) did now force it from God, ſo it was given to this obſcure Tribe, to an obſcure Family, to an obſcure Houſhold, and to an obſcure Perſon, v. 20, 21. Saul was pitched on by Lot, as Achan had been, Joſh 7.14. but for another end. (2.) When Saul ſhould have been preſented, great out-cries were made for him, but he could not be found, until either the High-Prieſt by the Urim (if the Ark was there) or rather Samuel the Prophet obtained by Prayer a diſcovery where he lay lurking; the Oracle told him [He lay hid among the Carriages] V. 22. which Saul did, both Modeſtly, as ſenſible of his own unworthineſs; and Prudently as one that would be Paſſive in his own preferment, which (he well knew) would ſo much, the more commend him to the People. Who (3.) Ran to fetch him forth, and received their new King with loud Acclamations; and the louder when they ſaw him more perſonable and overtopping than any of the People, v. 23, 24. (4.) Samuel then drew up a Magna Charta to keep the Beam even betwixt Soveraignty and Subjection, ſhewing not the manner of a King, of which he had ſpoken before, Chap. 8, 9, 10, &c. what a King would commonly prove to be, when he degenerates into a Tyrant, thinking it not enough to be above man only, but to be above all Mankind alſo, ruling ſo abſolutely as if they were Gods: But here it is, The manner of the Kingdom, v. 25. Namely, the Laws of God limiting Kingly power in Man, and declaring what a King ought to be, according to Deut. 17.14, 15, 16, &c. Ezek 45.9, 10, and 46.16. Rom. 13.1. 1 Tim. 2.2.
Thirdly, The Conſequents hereof were (1.) The Diſſolution of this Parliament after they had concurred with both Samuel and the People in King Saul's Election. (2.) Saul's departure, and living privately at Gibeah, (having only a Royal Guard to conduct him thither,) where he waited for an opportunity of ſhewing himſelf a King rather by his Actions than by his Words, to the ſilenceing of thoſe Male-contents that oppoſed him at his Election: And …uch an opportunity Saul ſoon obtained, Chap. 11. (3.) The two factions among the P…e.
The Firſt, Was thoſe that owned Saul for their King, and the Reaſon is rendred, [Becauſe God had touched their Hearts,] v. 26. Thoſe were the moſt Conſcientious of Iſrael that had not been ſo over-deſirous of a King with the generality, but now when they ſaw God himſelf had ſet a King over them, they made Conſcience of their Duty in obeying him.
Secondly, The Second ſort were no men of Conſcience, therefore are they branded for Belialiſts, v. 27. that is, Awleſs, Lawleſs, Yokeleſs men, that taunted him as if a King of Clouts; ſaying, [quid faciet hic longolius? quid praeſtabit turris haec carnea, non eſt intanto corpore mica Salis:] This Long-ſhank and Lofty Lubber, An Inſipid lump, can never ſave us?
N. B. They therefore thought him, unworthy of any Homage, whereas the meaner he was in their Eyes, the more need he ſtood of their preſents.
The fourth and laſt Conſequent was, Saul's Remedy to thoſe Reproaches; 'tis ſaid, [Hebr. he turn'd the Deaf Ear to them] uſing no remedy but patience, well knowing what then could not poſſibly be cured, muſt patiently be endured; this was King-like indeed to ſee and ſay nothing: 'Twas his great prudence to hold his Peace, being no better ſettl'd in his Kingdom; had he now hector'd thoſe Male-contents, it might have bred a Mutiny, &c. his Humility here in the beginning of his Government, conduced much both to his Honour and Eſtabliſhment, &c.