Chapter 4.
THE APPOINTMENT OF A KING OVER THE ISRAELITES, WHOSE NAME
WAS SAUL; AND THIS BY THE COMMAND OF GOD.FJAJ 6.20
1. THER was one of the tribe of Benjamin, a man of a good family, and
of a virtuous disposition; his name was Kish
He had a son, a young man
of a comely countenance, and of a tall body, but his understanding and
his mind were preferable to what was visible in him: they called him Saul.
Now this Kish had some fine she-asses that were wandered out of the pasture
wherein they fed, for he was more delighted with these than with any other
cattle he had; so he sent out his son, and one servant with him, to search
for the beasts; but when he had gone over his own tribe in search after
the asses, he went to other tribes, and when he found them not there neither,
he determined to go his way home, lest he should occasion any concern to
his father about himself
But when his servant that followed him told him
as they were near the city of Ramah, that there was a true prophet in that
city, and advised him to go to him, for that by him they should know the
upshot of the affair of their asses, he replied, That if they should go
to him, they had nothing to give him as a reward for his prophecy, for
their subsistence money was spent
The servant answered, that he had still
the fourth part of a shekel, and he would present him with that; for they
were mistaken out of ignorance, as not knowing that the prophet received
no such reward (6) Of
this great mistake of Saul and his servant, as if true prophet of God would
accept of a gift or present, for foretelling what was desired of him, see
the note on B. IV. ch. 6. sect. 3.
So they went to him; and when they were before the gates, they lit upon
certain maidens that were going to fetch water, and they asked them which
was the prophet's house
They showed them which it was; and bid them make
haste before he sat down to supper, for he had invited many guests to a
feast, and that he used to sit down before those that were invited
Now
Samuel had then gathered many together to feast with him on this very account;
for while he every day prayed to God to tell him beforehand whom he would
make king, he had informed him of this man the day before, for that he
would send him a certain young man out of the tribe of Benjamin about this
hour of the day; and he sat on the top of the house in expectation of that
time's being come
And when the time was completed, he came down and went
to supper; so he met with Saul, and God discovered to him that this was
he who should rule over them
Then Saul went up to Samuel and saluted him,
and desired him to inform him which was the prophet's house; for he said
he was a stranger and did not know it
When Samuel had told him that he
himself was the person, he led him in to supper, and assured him that the
asses were found which he had been to seek, and that the greatest of good
things were assured to him: he replied, "I am too inconsiderable to
hope for any such thing, and of a tribe to small to have kings made out
of it, and of a family smaller than several other families; but thou tellest
me this in jest, and makest me an object of laughter, when thou discoursest
with me of greater matters than what I stand in need of." However,
the prophet led him in to the feast, and made him sit down, him and his
servant that followed him, above the other guests that were invited, which
were seventy in number (7) It
seems to me not improbable that these seventy guests of Samuel, as here,
with himself at the head of them, were a Jewish sanhedrim, and that hereby
Samuel intimated to Saul that these seventy-one were to be his constant
counselors, and that he was to act not like a sole monarch, but with the
advice and direction of these seventy-one members of that Jewish sanhedrim
upon all occasions, which yet we never read that he consulted afterward.
and he gave orders to the servants to set the royal portion before Saul.
And when the time of going to bed was come, the rest rose up, and every
one of them went home; but Saul staid with the prophet, he and his servant,
and slept with him.FJAJ 6.21
2. Now as soon as it was day, Samuel raised up Saul out of his bed,
and conducted him homeward; and when he was out of the city, he desired
him to cause his servant to go before, but to stay behind himself, for
that he had somewhat to say to him when nobody else was present
Accordingly,
Saul sent away his servant that followed him; then did the prophet take
a vessel of oil, and poured it upon the head of the young man, and kissed
him, and said, "Be thou a king, by the ordination of God, against
the Philistines, and for avenging the Hebrews for what they have suffered
by them; of this thou shalt have a sign, which I would have thee take notice
of: - As soon as thou art departed hence, thou will find three men upon
the road, going to worship God at Bethel; the first of whom thou wilt see
carrying three loaves of bread, the second carrying a kid of the goats,
and the third will follow them carrying a bottle of wine
These three men
will salute thee, and speak kindly to thee, and will give thee two of their
loaves, which thou shalt accept of
And thence thou shalt come to a place
called Rachel's Monument, where thou shalt meet with those that
will tell thee thy asses are found; after this, when thou comest to Gabatha,
thou shalt overtake a company of prophets, and thou shalt be seized with
the Divine Spirit, (8) An
instance of this Divine fury we have after this in Saul, ch. 5. sect. 2,
3; 1 Samuel 11:6. See the like, Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; and 14:6.
and prophesy along with them, till every one that sees thee shall be astonished,
and wonder, and say, Whence is it that the son of Kish has arrived at this
degree of happiness? And when these signs have happened to thee, know that
God is with thee; then do thou salute thy father and thy kindred
Thou
shalt also come when I send for thee to Gilgal, that we may offer thank-offerings
to God for these blessings." When Samuel had said this, and foretold
these things, he sent the young man away
Now all things fell out
to Saul according to the prophecy of Samuel.FJAJ 6.22
3. But as soon as Saul came into the house of his kinsman Abner, whom
indeed he loved better than the rest of his relations, he was asked by
him concerning his journey, and what accidents happened to him therein;
and he concealed none of the other things from him, no, not his coming
to Samuel the prophet, nor how he told him the asses were found; but he
said nothing to him about the kingdom, and what belonged thereto, which
he thought would procure him envy, and when such things are heard, they
are not easily believed; nor did he think it prudent to tell those things
to him, although he appeared very friendly to him, and one whom he loved
above the rest of his relations, considering, I suppose, what human nature
really is, that no one is a firm friend, neither among our intimates, nor
of our kindred; nor do they preserve that kind disposition when God advances
men to great prosperity, but they are still ill-natured and envious at
those that are in eminent stations.FJAJ 6.23
4. Then Samuel called the people together to the city Mizpeh, and spake
to them in the words following, which he said he was to speak by the command
of God: - That when he had granted them a state of liberty, and brought
their enemies into subjection, they were become unmindful of his benefits,
and rejected God that he should not be their King, as not considering that
it would be most for their advantage to be presided over by the best of
beings, for God is the best of beings, and they chose to have a man for
their king; while kings will use their subjects as beasts, according to
the violence of their own wills and inclinations, and other passions, as
wholly carried away with the lust of power, but will not endeavor so to
preserve the race of mankind as his own workmanship and creation, which,
for that very reason, God would take cake of.FJAJ 6.24
"But since you have
come to a fixed resolution, and this injurious treatment of God has quite
prevailed over you, dispose yourselves by your tribes and scepters, and
cast lots."FJAJ 6.25
5. When the Hebrews had so done, the lot fell upon the tribe of Benjamin;
and when the lot was cast for the families of this tribe, that which was
called Matri was taken; and when the lot was cast for the single
persons of that family, Saul, the son of Kish, was taken for their king.
When the young man knew this, he prevented [their sending for him], and
immediately went away and hid himself
I suppose that it was because he
would not have it thought that he willingly took the government upon him;
nay, he showed such a degree of command over himself, and of modesty, that
while the greatest part are not able to contain their joy, even in the
gaining of small advantages, but presently show themselves publicly to
all men, this man did not only show nothing of that nature, when he was
appointed to be the lord of so many and so great tribes, but crept away
and concealed himself out of the sight of those he was to reign over, and
made them seek him, and that with a good deal of trouble
So when the people
were at a loss, and solicitous, because Saul disappeared, the prophet besought
God to show where the young man was, and to produce him before them.
So when they had learned of God the place where Saul was hidden, they sent
men to bring him; and when he was come, they set him in the midst of the
multitude
Now he was taller than any of them, and his stature was very
majestic.FJAJ 6.26
6. Then said the prophet, God gives you this man to be your king: see
how he is higher than any of the people, and worthy of this dominion."
So as soon as the people had made acclamation, God save the king, the
prophet wrote down what would come to pass in a book, and read it in the
hearing of the king, and laid up the book in the tabernacle of God, to
be a witness to future generations of what he had foretold
So when Samuel
had finished this matter, he dismissed the multitude, and came himself
to the city Rainah, for it was his own country
Saul also went away to
Gibeah, where he was born; and many good men there were who paid him the
respect that was due to him; but the greater part were ill men, who despised
him and derided the others, who neither did bring him presents, nor did
they in affection, or even in words, regard to please him.FJAJ 6.27