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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.

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.

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and 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?

When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin, at Zelzah, and they will say unto thee, The asses, which thou wentest to seek, are found; and lo thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

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 Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine. And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.

After that thou shalt come to the hill of GoD, where is the garrison of the Philistines; and it shall come to pass when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place, with a psalter, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp before them, and they shall prophesy.

VOL. II.

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And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

And let it be when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion shall serve thee, for God is with thee.

And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal, and behold I will come down unto thee, to offer burntofferings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

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And it was so, that when Saul had turned his back go from Samuel, GOD gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

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.

And it came to pass when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? is Saul also among the prophets? And one of the same place answered, and said, But who is their father? therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

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.

And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that

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the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

Saul, as his subsequent conduct shewed, was in his natural disposition like the kings Samuel had described to the Israelites; but he was distinguished by the height of his stature and the gracefulness of his person, which were sufficient recommendations to them, who wanted a king to go in and out before them, to fight their battles.

Saul's going himself to seek his father's asses, shews the simplicity of manners which prevailed in those times. His ignorance in respect to Samuel proves, that religion was then at a very low ebb, otherwise all Israel would have known the prophet of the LORD. The present which Saul meant to make him, was an offering of respect, to the chief magistrate; to whom it was customary to pay this kind of homage. SEER is another word of the same signification as PROPHET—ONG who sees in visions what the LORD reveals. The LORD had made known secretly to Samuel Saul's coming ; so we are to understand the expression, that the LORD told him in his ear.

Samuel, as an assurance to Saul that what he foretold would certainly come to pass, took him to a retired place, and there anointed him, saluting him with a kiss as a mark of honour and allegiance; the prophet then informed Saul of the nature and duty of the high office he was ordained to fill; that he was to consider himself as Captain over those who were called the LORD's inheritance, or God's peculiar people; and as ac

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countable to God for all his actions. In further con firmation to Saul, that he would certainly be placed on the throne of Israel, Samuel predicted some circumstances which would occur in his journey, which would by their completion prove, that Samuel was really inspired. He then told Saul, that "he should meet a company of prophets," &c.

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Saul immediately on his departure from Samuel felt that GOD had made him another man : * A new fire was kindled in his breast; his mind panted with ardent desire to perform great exploits, and from a husbandman he found himself changed to a general, a statesman, and a prince.' Full of these exalted thoughts, he arrived at a place called GOD's Hill (on account of its being the residence of the prophets); here he met a company of the sons or disciples of the prophets, with their sacred music; and the SPIRIT of the LORD came suddenly upon him, so that he was able to join, without any previous instruction, in exalting the name of the LORD with holy rapture.

Saul's neighbours might well be astonished at finding him engaged in such an employment; but one of them answered and said, who is their father?' which is supposed to mean, is not God their instructor? who could make Saul a prophet as well as the rest.

Before Saul returned home, he went to the high place, or place of public worship, to offer up his thanksgivings, and did not boast of the honour that had been conferred on him, being at that time filled with religious fervour.

There is something very wonderful in this transaction, which shews the over-ruling Providence of GOD,

* Henry's Annotations.

who

means.

who can bring about great events by the most trifling Saul sought his father's asses, and found a kingdom. How frequently does it happen in common life that those who are disappointed in some of their wishes, are recompensed by unexpected blessings.

SECTION LXXI.

SAMUEL ASSEMBLETH THE PEOPLE-CASTETH LOTS FOR A KING, AND SAUL IS CHOSEN-THE ISRAEL. ITES APPROVE HIM.

From 1 Samuel, Chap. x.

AND Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; and said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD GOD of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you.

And ye have this day rejected your God, who him. self 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.

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

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.

Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither: and the LORD answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff.

And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he

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