SATYR (sa'tEr), (Heb. saw-ccr', shaggy), a he-goat, and so rendered in Lev. iv:24; 2 Chron. xxix:23, etc., but Satyr in Is. xiii:21; xxxiv:14.
Satyrs were supposed to be wild men, or imagi nary animals, half man and half goat, poetically introduced by Isaiah, as dancing among the ruins of Babylon. It is remarkable that the present inhabitants of that country still believe in the existence there of Satyrs.
"Isaiah probably refers to the demons ('field devils,' Luther), which were supposed to inhabit the desert, and whose pernicious influence it was sought to avert by sacrifices. The Israelites had brought this superstition, and the idolatry to which it gave rise, from Egypt. They were the gods whom the Israelites worshiped and went whoring after in Egypt (Josh. xxiv :I.4; Ezek. xx :7; xxiii :8, to, 21, 27). Both the thing and the name were derived from the Egyptians, who worshiped goats as gods, particularly Pan, who was represented in the form of a goat, a personi fication of the male and fertilizing principle in nature, whom they called Mendes (K. and D., Coin., on Lev. xvii :7). (Barnes' Bib. Cyc.) SAUL (saul), (Heb. shaw-ool', asked for; Sept. and New Test. 7ao6X, Saul).
1. The son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin.
(1) First King of Israel. The corrupt admin istration of justice by Samuel's sons furnished an occasion to the Hebrews for rejecting that the ocracy of which they neither appreciated the value nor, through their unfaithfulness to it, en joyed the full advantages (I Sam. viii). An in vasion by the Ammonites seems also to have conspired with the cause just mentioned, and with a love of novelty, in prompting the demand for a king (I Sam. xii :I2)—an officer evidently alien to the genius of the theocracy, though contemplated as a historical certainty, and provided for by the Jewish lawgiver (I Sam. xii :13-13; Dem. xvii: 14-2o) ; on which see Grotius' note; also De Jure. Bell., etc., i, 4, 6, with the remarks of Gronovius, who (as Puffendorf also does) controverts the views of Grotius. An explanation of the nature of this request. as not only an instance of in gratitude to Samuel, but of rebellion against Je hovah. and the delineation of the manner in which their kings—notwithstanding the restrictions pre scribed in the law— might he expected to conduct themselves.
(2) Meeting of Saul with Samuel (I Sam.
ix :18 ; x :26). Having failed to move the people from their resolution, the Lord sent Saul, who had left home in quest of his father's asses, which had strayed, to Samuel, who having informed Saul of the divine purpose regarding him, and having at a feast shown him a preference, which, no doubt, the other guests understood, privately anointed him king, and gave him various tokens, by which he might be assured that his designa tion was from Jehovah. Moved by the authority of Samuel, and by the fulfillment of these signs, Saul's reluctance to assume the office to which he was called was overcome ; which may be the meaning of the expression (I Sam. x :9), "God gave him another heart." though his hesitation afterwards returned (verses 21, 22). On his way home, meeting a company of prophets, he was seized with the prophetic afflatus, and so gave occasion to a proverb afterwards in use among the Jews, though elsewhere a different origin is as signed to the saying (I Sam. xix :24).
(3) Chosen King. Immediately after, Saul was elected at NIizpah in a solemn assembly by the determination of the miraculous lot—a method of election not confined to the Hebrews (Aristot. Pohl. vi:11; and Virg. "En. 'Laocoon lectus Neptuni sorte sacerdos') ; and both previously to that election (i Sam. x :16), and subsequently, when insulted by the worthless portion of the Is raelites, he showed that modesty, humility and for bearance which seem to have characterized him till corrupted by the possession of power. (See SAM um..) The person thus set apart to discharge the royal function, possessed at least those corporeal advantages which most ancient nations desidera ted in their sovereigns (the form worthy of a sov ereign, Eurip.). His person was tall and com manding, and he soon showed that his courage was not inferior to his strength (1 Sam. ix :t ; x:23). His belonging to Benjamin also, the smallest of the tribes, though of distinguished bravery,prevented the mutual jealousy with which either of the two great tribes, Judah and Eph raim, would have regarded a king chosen from the other ; so that his election was received with general rejoicing, and a number of men, moved by the authority of Samuel (x :20), even attached themselves to him as a bodyguard, or as coun selors and assistants.