SAUL KING OF ISRAEL.

13

made the first king of Israel. He was selected by Divine appointment, and anointed by Samuel.

was afterwards chosen by the sacred lot in a solemn assembly of the people at Mizpeh, and was received with universal acclamation by the multitude as their sovereign. No inauguration to the throne could be more formal, satisfactory, or complete.

The demand of the men of Israel for a king was, on their part, a rejection of Jehovah, and a breach of their covenant relation to Him. Had the king been rightly disposed, he might, to a great extent, have warded off the practical effect of this act of apostasy. Saul was well acquainted with the relation which his people held to the Almighty. He must have known of His numerous and wonderful interpositions on their behalf; and nothing could be more evident than that it was his wisdom, as it was his duty, to place himself through the appointed means in communication with heaven; and to guide and govern Israel under the direction of God, and as His vicegerent.

Unhappily for himself and for his people, Saul did not uniformly adopt this course. Not that he was guilty of any overt act of apostasy. He never tolerated any worship but that of Jehovah, and always professed to recognise His Divine authority; and, in some instances, enforced the Mosaic laws with great zeal and severity. But in his kingly rule, in many important cases, he acted as an independent sovereign, without reference to the Divine will; while, in other instances, he pursued a course in direct opposition to the declared will of God; so that he miserably failed in his duty as a ruler subject to Jehovah over the elect nation.

Although thus defective in his religious obedi

C

ence, Saul was undoubtedly one of the world's great men. Few persons raised suddenly from a private condition to royal dignity would have conducted themselves with the judgment and moderation manifested in his conduct. No state or splendour was immediately assumed, and he devoted himself earnestly to the duties of his high office. A few spirited men, moved by the solemn character of his appointment to the throne, attached themselves to him; and to these he added others, as opportunity offered. He then exerted himself to provide them with arms; and was successful in several wars of considerable magnitude. He not only defeated the Ammonites and Philistines, the ancient enemies of Israel, but also fought with success against the Amalekites, Moabites, and other neighbouring and powerful tribes.

But these warlike preparations and martial achievements did not absorb the attention and exhaust the energies of the new monarch. He gave careful attention to the internal arrangements of his kingdom; and although at first his sway seems to have been limited to a great extent to his own tribe of Benjamin, yet so effective was his administration, that on his death, although it took place under the most disastrous circumstances, a very large portion of the Hebrew people steadily adhered to his son,-a tolerable proof of his capacity and moderation in the direction of the affairs of the nation; especially so, when taken in connexion with the fact, that we hear of no complaint against his general conduct as a ruler.

Undoubtedly the grand defect in Saul's official character was, as has been already stated, his virtual rejection of the theocratic nature of the Hebrew constitution. Like the best of the Judges, Saul ought to have ruled in subjection to Jehovah. He could have

HIS UNWORTHY CONDUCT.

15

placed himself in continual and direct communication with the Divine Head of the elected nation, and have carried out His behests in all the acts of his government. He would thus have insured unfailing guidance and efficient support in every emergency. But, on the contrary, Saul, either distrusting the Lord, as he did in the Philistine war, (1 Sam. xiii. 2-15,) when he invaded the priest's office in violation of the law, or by departing from the express command of God, in the exercise of an independent self-will, as in the case of Amalek, (1 Sam. xv.,) altogether overlooked the fact that, although king of Israel, he was a vassal of Jehovah.

The punishment which these acts of disobedience brought on the king completed the ruin of his character. Samuel was commanded by God to announce to him fully and formally the certain transfer of the kingdom to another and a worthier man; and it soon became apparent that this man was David. The high hope of Saul that he would be succeeded by his valiant and noble-minded son Jonathan was therefore completely destroyed, and his proud spirit sank beneath the infliction into a state of complete melancholy, and an irritability bordering on frenzy. The prospect of the elevation to the throne, in his stead, of a young man who at the outset of his career was so unknown as David, so enraged him, that for some years he sought his life with the most violent rancour and perseverance. Living under the influence of these vile passions, the remainder of his life, as might be expected, was wicked and miserable.

The facts already stated convey a tolerably correct impression of the state of the Hebrew people at the close of this reign. From these, it seems evident, that they were better organized and armed for aggression

or defence than they had been since the days of Joshua. The state of subjection to which they had been reduced by the Philistines had deprived them almost entirely of the army and warlike means which they had before possessed; and these were, it is presumed, but scanty and inferior. Thus the reign of Saul must have made a great improvement in the military resources of the country, since the numerous victories obtained over the Philistines and other nations must have resulted in the acquisition of great spoil, a very considerable portion of which would consist of arms and armour. There is also reason to believe that some improvement had taken place in the union of the people. A sovereign rule of forty years, extending to all the tribes, and felt in every part of the country, would be sure, in some measure at least, to have this effect.

There can be no doubt that the social condition of Israel had also made considerable progress during this reign. A settled government and increased union among the people would certainly tend to this result. Nor is there any reason for doubting that the eulogy pronounced on Saul by David was founded in truth: "Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel." This language indicates a great progress, not only in the acquisition of the necessaries and comforts of life, but also in respect to elegance and luxury.

We have fewer means of estimating the religious condition of the Israelites at this period. During the half century from the beginning of Samuel's administration to the death of Saul, various powerful and conflicting influences were brought to bear on the religion of the Hebrews. The pious example and

EFFECT OF SAUL'S REIGN.

17

equitable government of Samuel, his revival and extension of the prophetic institute, and, above all, the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit which we are assured rested in rich measure on the services of these prophets, must have largely contributed to the religious improvement of the people. It also appears that throughout this period the services of the Mosaic sanctuary were continued in the prescribed manner, and the precepts of the law enforced. The severe edict of Saul against persons pretending to have intercourse with familiar spirits, would seem to indicate that he was very zealous in the application of the Mosaic code, and, as far as possible, caused all its provisions to be respected and obeyed. All these circumstances would be favourable to the promotion of religion among the people, and would tend to their progress in piety.

On the other hand, however, there were adverse influences brought to bear on the public mind, The brutal ferocity with which this infatuated king persecuted David, and sought his life; the well-known fact that all his resources were employed for a considerable time in an endeavour to cut off a young man who was not only guiltless of any crime, but who had entitled himself to the gratitude of his king and his country by the greatest heroism, must have had a damaging effect on public morals; and this effect would be rendered more intense by the bloody vengeance with which Saul punished all who were but suspected of favouring the young fugitive, as instanced in the case of the priests and inhabitants of Nob. In this particular case, however, it is observable that no Hebrew could be induced to raise his hand against the priests of the Lord, although urged thereto by the personal presence and command of the king.