The Israelites desire a king. Before CHRIST h Before CHRIST to battle against Israel: 'but the LORD | all that they say unto thee: for they cir. 1125. thundered with a great thunder on that have not rejected thee, but they have cir. 1095. See Josh. day upon the Philistines, and discomfit- rejected me, that I should not reign over 10.10. Judged them; and they were smitten before them. ch. 2. 10. Israel. 4. 15. & 5.20. x ver. 6. ch. 12. 11. Judg. 2. 16. Heb. and ke circuited. y ch. 84. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 And 'his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged 2 Judg. 21.4 Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD. cir. 1112. a Dent. 16. 18. 2 Chron. CHAP. VIII. 1 By occasion of the ill government of Samuel's sons, the Israelites ask a king. 6 Samuel praying in grief is comforted by God. 16 He telleth the manner of a king. 19 God willeth Samuel to yield unto the importunity of the people. AND it came to pass, when Samuel 19.5 judges over Israel. b See Judg. 10. 4. & 12. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. See Exod. 16. 8. h ch. 10. 19. &12. 17, 19. Hos. 13. 10, 11. | Or, not 9 Now therefore || hearken unto their ! Or, obey. voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly withstandunto them, and shew them the manner thou hast soof the king that shall reign over them. ing when lemnly protested athen thou 10 And Samuel told all the words gainst them, of the LORD unto the people that asked shalt shew, of him a king. &c. i ver. 11. 17. 16, &c. 11 And he said, 'This will be the man- k Se Deut. ner of the king that shall reign over you: ch. 10. 25He will take your sons, and appoint 1 ch. 14. 52. them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and was old, that he made his sons sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was compar-Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. 20 That we also may be like all the p ver. 5. nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. Hos. 13. 1 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make v them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. 1 SAMUEL. 1 Saul despairing to find his father's asses, 6 by the counsel of his servant, 11 and direction of young maidens, 15 according to God's revelation, 18 cometh to Samuel. 19 Samuel entertaineth Saul at the feast. 25 Samuel, after secret communication, bringeth Saul on his way. OW there was a man of Benjamin, a Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, || a Benjamite, Or, the son a mighty man of || power. of a man of Jemini. 1 Or, substance. 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of b ch. 10.23. Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. 1 Kings 13. 1. e ch. 3. 19. cometh to enquire of Samuel. Before CHRIST day 1in the high place: k Gen. 31. Or, feast. Likings 3.2 ye shall straightway find him, before he therefore get you up; for about this behold, Samuel came out against them, muel in his ear a day before Saul came, + Heb. to day. Heb. rem ch. 15. 1. Acts 13- 21. realed the ear of Sa 2. 3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, send thee a man out of the land of BenTake now one of the servants with thee, jamin, "and thou shalt anoint him to be a ch. 10. 1. 16 To morrow about this time I will muel. ch. 20. and arise, go seek the asses. 4 And he passed through mount E-may save my people out of the hand of phraim, and passed through the land of the Philistines: for I have looked upon captain over my people Israel, that he Shalisha, but they found them not: then my people, because their cry is come they passed through the land of Shalim, unto me. and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not. 5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us. 6 And he said unto him, Behold now, Deut. 33-1. there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go. See Jug 171 Kings 4. 12. & 8.8. 6. 18. & 13. 14.3.2 Kings + Heb. is gone out of, + Heb. is with us. 7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, 'what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what +have we? 8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at + Heb. there hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell is found in my hand. us our way. 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man g Gen. 25.22. went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforeh2 Sam. 24. time called a Seer.) 11. 2 Kings 17.13. 1 Chron. 26. 28 & 29. 29. 2 Chron. 16. 7, 10. Isai. 10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of 30. 10. Amos God was. 7.12. + Heb. Thy word is good. + Heb. in the 11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens ascent of the going out to draw water, and said unto i Gen. 24. 11. them, Is the seer here? city. 12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make 252 o Exod. 2.25 & 37,9 LORD said unto him, "Behold the man ch. 16. 12. where the seer's house is. said, I am the seer: go up before me unto lost three days ago, set not thy mind on not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the 21 And Saul answered and said, Am of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou tribes of Israel? and "my family the least †so to me? + Heb. restrain in. + Heb. to rcb. & 5.19. day three days. ver. 3. cha Judg sch. 13. 1761545, 17, 18 u See Judges + Heb. a cording to ant, and brought them into the parlour, x Lev. 7.3 33. Ezek. Bring the portion which I Samuel anointeth Saul. Before CHRIST CHAP. X. 25¶ And when they were come down | cir. 1095 from the high place into the city, Samuel Deut. 22 communed with Saul upon the top of Sam. 11. the house. 2. Acts 10.9. + Hob, to day a ch. a 16. & 16. 13. 2 Kings 9-3, 6 b Ps. 2. 12. e Acts 13. 21. d Deut. 32. 9. P. 78 71. e Gea. 3519, 20. 26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God. CHAP. X. 1 Samuel anointeth Saul. 2 He confirmeth him by prediction of three signs. 9 Saul's heart is changed, and he prophesieth. 14 He concealeth the matter of the kingdom from his uncle. 17 Saul is chosen at Mizpeh by lot. 26 The different affections of his subjects. THEN Samuel took a vial of oil, Tand poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? 2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of BenJosh. 18.28. jamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left Heb. the+the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? g Gen. 28. 22 & 35-1.39 7. + Heb. ask thee of peace: 3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: 4 And they will salute thee, and give as Judges 18. thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. 15. Saul prophesieth. 'seven days shalt thou tarry, till I to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. 9¶ And it was so, that when he had r ch. 13. 8. turned his back to go from Samuel, leb God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. 10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and "the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said tone to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? * Is Saul also among the prophets? 12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? also among the prophets? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul 13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. 14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel. 15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. 16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not. 17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; 18 And said unto the children of Is 19 And ye have this day rejected your & God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. 20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. e dJosh. 7. 14. 1. 24, 26. 16, 17. Acts 4, 10, 11. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they enquired of the ch; 23: 2, LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. 23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, 'he was higher than any of the ch.9.2. people from his shoulders and upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, 25 Then Samuel told the people 'the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in the king live. a book, and laid it up before the LORD. i See Deut. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 17. 14, &c. ch. 8. 11. k Judg. 20. 14. ch. 11. 4. 1 ch. 11. 12. 13. 261 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But the children of Belial said, m Deut. 13. How shall this man save us? And they 12 Sam. 8. despised him, "and brought him no pre21. & 10.95 sents. But he held his peace. 2. 1 Kings 4. 2 Chron. 17. 5. Ps. 72. 10. Matt. 2. 11. had been CHAP. XI. | Or, he was 1 Nahash offereth them of Jabesh-gilead a deaf. a ch. 12. 12. b Judg. 21.8. e Gen. 26. 28. Exod. 23. 32. 1 Kings 20. 34. Job 41.4. newed. gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answerEzek. 17. 13. ed them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out d Gen. 34.14. all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. ch. 17. 26. bear us. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto Heb. For him, + Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 11 And it was so on the morrow, that "Saul put the people in three companies; n See ch. 31. and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. 12 ¶ And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign P eh. 10. 27. over us? bring the men, that we may 1 put them to death. q See Luke r 2 Sam. 19 22 13, 30. ch. 13 And Saul said, "There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day 'the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. Exod. 14. 14¶ Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 19.5 1095 t ch. 10. S. u ch. 10. 17. 15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king "before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sa- × ch. 10. §. crificed sacrifices of peace offerings before. the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. CHAP. XII. 1 Samuel testifieth his integrity. 6 He re- AND Samuel said unto all Israel, Ber 20. hold, I have hearkened unto your ach. 8. 5, 19, voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. b ch. 10. 24 & 11. 14, 15 2 And now, behold, the king walketh e before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. you. Numb. 27 17. ch. 8. 20. d ch. 8. 1,5 19. Ecclus. 45 fver. 5. ch Sam. 1. 14 10. 1. & 24-6. 16. g Numb. 16. 15. Acts 20 33. 1 Thees. 3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or hhewed them in pieces, and sent them of whose hand have I received any + bribe 2.5throughout all the coasts of Israel by the||to "blind mine eyes therewith? and I + Heb.rashands of messengers, saying, 'Whosoever will restore it cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out † with one consent. 8 And when he numbered them in Judg. 1.5. Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand. 5. And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness. 6¶ And Samuel said unto the people, 'It is the LORD that || advanced Moses ! Mic. 6. 4. and Aaron, and that brought your fathers! Or, made. up out of the land of Egypt. Mic. 6. 2, 3. 6. †Heb. right- 8 "When Jacob was come into Egypt, Cousnesses, and fathers cried unto the LORD, or, benefits. your Judg. 51. then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, + Heb. with Gen. 4 which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. 9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, 'he sold them into the hand Jude 4.2. of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, * Judg 14.7. and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 15. • Exod. 2.23. pExod. 3.10. &4 16 q Judg. 3.7 & 13. 1Judg. 3.12. t 10 And they cried unto the LORD, and Judg.10.10. said, "We have sinned, because we have Judg. 2. 13. forsaken the LORD, and have served Judg.10.15, Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. m Exod. 14 12 31. a Prov. 6. 1. 12. • Josh. 18. ch. 7.9 10. Jam 16, 17, 18. peb. 8. 7. 16 Now therefore "stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not "wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18¶ So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that 31. See Ezra day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 4 Exod. 14. 10.9 Saul's selected band. ness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; Before CHRIST 1095 t Jer. 21 And 'turn ye not aside: for then Deut.11.16. should ye go after vain things, which can- Hab-16 19 not profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 1 Cor. 8. 4. 22 For "the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you P. 106. 8. his people. 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD +in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider || how great things he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, 'ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king. CHAP. XIII. u 1 Kings 6. 13. Ps. 94. 14. x Josh. 7.9. Jer. 14. 21. Ezek. 20. 9, 14 . & 14. 2. Deut. 7.7, Mal. 1. 2. + Heb from ceasing. Rom. 1.9. Acts 12.5. Col. 1. 9. Ps. 34. 11. b1 Kings 8. 36. 2 Chron. 2 Tim. 1.3. a Prov. 4. 11. 6. 27. Jer. 6. 1 Saul's selected band. 3 He calleth the Hebrews to Gilgal_against the Philistines, whose garrison Jonathan had smitten. 5 The Philistines' great host. 6 The distress of the Israelites. 8 Saul, weary of staying Ps. 126. 2, 3. for Samuel, sacrificeth. 11 Samuel re- g Deut. 28. proveth him. 17 The three spoiling bands 36. of the Philistines. 19 The policy of the Philistines, to suffer no smith in Israel. SAUL +reigned one year; and when + Heb. the 4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomi-Heb. did nation with the Philistines. And the 34-30. Exod. people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. 5¶ And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven. |