(8) Saul Chosen. Saul, son of Kish. 'a choice young man and a goodly.' whom he had met un expectedly, was pointed out to him by Jehovah as the king of Israel, and by the prophet was anoint ed and saluted as a monarch. Samuel again con vaned the nation at Mizpeh, again with honest zeal condemned their project, but caused the sacred lot to be taken. The lot fell on Saul. The prophet now formally introduced him to the peo ple, who shouted in joyous acclamation, 'God save the king.' Not content with oral explanations, this last of the republican chiefs not only told the people the manner of the kingdom, 'but wrote it in a book and laid it up before the Lord.' What is here asserted of Samuel may mean that he extracted from the Pentateuch the recorded provision of Moses for a future monarchy, and added to it such warnings, and counsels, and safeguards, as his inspired sagacity might suggest. Saul's first battle being so successful, and the preparations for it displaying no ordinary energy and prompti tude of character, his popularity was suddenly advanced and his throne secured. Taking advan tage of the general sensation in favor of Saul, Samuel cited the people to meet again in Gilgal, to renew the kingdom, to ratify the new constitu tion, and solemnly install the sovereign (xi:t4). Here the upright judge made a powerful appeal to the assembly in vindication of his government. 'Witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed; whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.' The whole multitude responded in unanimous approval of his honesty and intrepidity (xii:3, 4). Then he, still jealous of God's prerogative and the civil rights of his people, briefly narrated their history, showed them how they never wanted chieftains to defend them when they served God, and declared that it was distrust of God's raising up a new leader in a dreaded emergency that excited the outcry for a king. In proof of this charge—a charge which convicted them of great wickedness in the sight of God—he appealed to Jehovah, who answered in a fearful hurricane of thunder and rain. The terrified tribes confessed their guilt, and besought Samuel to intercede for them in his disinterested patriotism.
It is said (vii:t5) that Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. The assertion may mean that even after Saul's coronation Samuel's power, though formally abdicated, was yet actually felt and exercised in the direction of state affairs (Havernick, Einleit. ire des A. T., Sec. 166). No enterprise could be undertaken without Samuel's concurrence. His was an authority higher than the king's. We find Saul, having mustered his forces, about to march against the Philistines, yet delaying to do so till Samuel consecrated the un dertaking. He came not at the time appointed, as Saul thought, and the impatient monarch pro ceeded to offer sacrifice—a fearful violation of the national law. The prophet arrived as the reli gious service was concluded, and rebuking Saul for his presumption, distinctly hinted at the short continuance of his kingdom.
(9) Saul Dethroned. Again we find Samuel charging Saul with the extirpation of the Amalek ites. The royal warrior proceeded on the expe dition, but obeyed not the mandate of Jehovah. His apologies, somewhat craftily framed, for his inconsistencies, availed him not with the prophet, and he was by the indignant seer virtually de throned. He had forfeited his crown by dience to God. (See Salm). Yet Samuel mourned for him. His heart seems to have been set on the bold athletic soldier. But now the Lord directed him to make provision for the fu ture government of the country (a Sam. xvi:i). To prevent strife and confusion it was necessary, in the circumstances, that the second king should be appointed ere the first sovereign's demise.
(10) Anoints David. Samuel went to Beth lehem and set apart the youngest of the sons of Jesse, 'and came to see Saul no more till the day of his death.' Yet Saul and he met once again at Naioth, in Ramah (t Sam. xix :22), when the king was pursuing David. As on a former occa sion, the spirit of God came upon him as he ap proached the company of the prophets with Sam uel presiding over them, and 'he prophesied and lay down naked all that day and all that night.' A religious excitement seized him, the contagious influence of the music and rhapsody fell upon his nervous, susceptible temperament, and overpow ered him.
(11) Death of Samuel. At length Samuel died (a Sam. xxv:a), and all Israel mourned for him, and buried him in his house at Ramah.
J. E.