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founded, and on which the national property and privileges depended, and therefore according to the prin ciples of every established government in the world, it merited and received capital punishment. This government would have rendered the Israelites the most prosperous and happy nation in the world, had they not continually rebelled against their Lord, and thus excited the just visitations of his anger. And even as it was, during the period of between four or five hundred years while this form of government existed, by far the largest proportion was spent in tranquillity and repose. It is a gross mistake to consider the period of the Judges, as one of unremitted calamity and uninterrupted national oppression. During at least three-fourths of this time, the people were at rest; and neither the idolatrous tribes who were so unwisely permitted at the time of the conquest of Canaan to remain in the midst of the people, nor the warlike nations who existed on the frontier of the country, would even have been permitted to extend the devastations of their fury, or to impose the yoke of their oppressions, had it not been requisite to inflict these calamities as a species of moral discipline upon the Israelites, to reclaim them from their ingratitude, their idolatries, and their crimes.

Qualify the preceding statements.

It must be observed, that the direct superintendence of God over the nation of the Israelites, by no means implies that he either prompted or approved all the actions and proceedings of the persons who were rendered the instruments in accomplishing his designs. Some of the proceedings of these men were decidedly sinful, such as the idolatry of Gideon, the licentiousness of Samson, the negligence of Eli, and the profanity and abominations of Solomon. The influence by which they were enabled to effect their wonderful and mighty achievements was from God; their errors and inconsistencies were from themselves. And instead of arraigning the government of God, because of some improper actions committed by the persons whose agency he employed, rather ought the mind to be kindled into the highest admiration in perceiving, that by instruments so prone to human errors, as well

as influenced by human passions, the purposes of the Almighty could be so effectually and so gloriously accomplished.

Did the interference of God in the affairs of the Jews cease with the establishment of the regal government?

The interference of God in the affairs of the Jews, did not cease with the establishment of the regal government. This is demonstrable from the mode in which the first king was elected. It was by the express declaration of God through Samuel; and no doubt the reason why the first king of Israel was raised from a family comparatively unknown was, that he and all his subjects might ascribe his appointment to the divine will and direction. The rules and forms of the regal government also were prescribed by the prophet, which proves that the executive power alone was confided to this vicegerent of Jehovah, who still reserved to himself all legislative authority. In consequence of this, in all the changes of their dynasties, and in all the succession of their kings, God continued still to make the Israelites the objects of his incessant regard, and to determine their affairs by the dispensations of his special and ever-vigilant providence.

What then was the sin of the Israelites in asking for a king?

The sin of the Israelites in asking for a king was, according to the divine testimony itself, because they attempted to "forsake" their heavenly king, and to effect a resemblance in their government first, and afterwards in their manners, customs, institutions, and, perhaps, idolatries, to the nations by which they were surrounded.

CHAPTER VI.

FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REGAL GOVERNMENT TO THE DEATH OF SOLOMON.

SECTION I.

THE REIGN OF SAUL.

WHO was Saul?

THE son of a person of some possessions in the tribe of Benjamin, followed the asses of his father which had been lost to the vicinity of Ramah. The reputation of Samuel induced SAUL to visit him for the purpose of obtaining the aid of the prophet for the recovery of the animals. Saul was hospitably and honourably received; he was presented, at an entertainment, to some of the chiefs of the people; he was privately anointed king by Samuel prior to his return; and as he passed by a company of the prophets, a new spirit came upon him, his character was changed, and the astonishment of the spectators was so excited by the extraordinary scene, that the proverb was handed down to succeeding generations, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

How was Saul elected the king of Israel?

An assembly of the people was convened at Mizpeh for the important object of choosing a king; A. C. 1095. the lot fell upon Saul, the tallest and most

comely young man among the Israelites; the acclamations of the multitude ratified the appointment; and when some seditious persons began to murmur against the election, Saul displayed his magnanimity and prudence, by treating their displeasure with silent contempt.

Over what nation did Saul gain his first victory?

The sword of the new king was soon drawn for the defence of his subjects. Jabesh-Gilead was besieged by Nahash, the sovereign of the Ammonites, who demanded as the price of mercy, that the right eyes of the inhabitants should be put out. At the head of three hundred thousand warriors of Israel, and thirty thousand of Judah, Saul totally defeated the cruel and insolent invaders; and his moderation after his victory, in refusing to put to death the men who had murmured at his advancement to the throne, redounded far more to his honour, than the splendours of his triumph. After this event the elevation of Saul to the regal dignity was confirmed at Gilgal, and one feeling of joy and exultation pervaded the whole nation of the Israelites. On this occasion the venerable Samuel, having obtained the testimony of the people to his disinterested integrity, and considering that the election of a king was the virtual termination of his judicial authority, in the genuine spirit of noble patriotism, pathetically exhorted the people to seek the favour of God as the basis of their national prosperity, and the voice of Jehovah, in thunder from heaven, confirmed the testimony, and established the conviction.

Did Saul long justify the expectations of his subjects?

The hopes which were excited by the commencement of the reign of Saul were soon disappointed. By an act of impious presumption, and by a flagrant violation of the Hebrew constitution, he made himself obnoxious to the wrath of God, and his family were excluded from the inheritance of the throne. A mighty army of the Philistines invaded the country, and the Israelites were so oppressed by the numbers and skilful disposition of their enemies, that they were compelled to disperse and to conceal themselves in thickets, in caverns, or any asylum they could find. So great also was the destitution of weapons which prevailed among them, that Saul and Jonathan his son, alone were armed with sword and spear. In the mean time, Saul remained at Gilgal, waiting for the arrival of Samuel; and perceiving that the prophet did not

come, and that his followers were every day abandoning him, he adopted the desperate resolution of sacrificing burnt-offerings and peace-offerings himself. This proceeding was not only the illegal assumption of the sacerdotal office, but it is highly probable that these sacrifices were offered, more for the animation of the people, than from any pure principle of religion. The punishment of this desecration of sacred things immediately followed the crime. Samuel denounced that Saul should be the only individual of his family who should reign over Israel.

Describe the defeat of the Philistines by Saul and Jonathan.

A. C. 1093.

While the king with only six hundred men was beleaguered by the enemy in Gibeah, his son Jonathan, indignant at the insults and the pride of the Philistines, and accompanied only by his armour-bearer, ascended to the summit of a rock upon which a body of them were stationed; rushing upon them with desperate valour, and ably supported by his gallant companion, he soon killed twenty of his opponents. The whole army of the Philistines became a mass of confusion; with a blind fury, they drew their swords upon each other; their condition was soon perceived by the Hebrews; Saul and his men came up to the attack, and the king, in the expectation of a decisive victory, and that his soldiers might not be delayed in the pursuit, pronounced a curse upon any one who should stop to partake of a morsel of food. The impolicy of such an anathema soon became apparent. The men became so faint, that the vigour of the pursuit relaxed; and when in the evening they came upon the spoil, their craving hunger induced them to transgress the law, by eating the flesh while it was polluted with blood. Jonathan by tasting some honey on the march, had incurred the malediction of his father; and the inexorable monarch would infallibly have put his heroic son to death, had he not been prevented by the interposition of the troops, who justly ascribed to his enterprising valour all the glory of the day. After this triumph, Saul made head against his enemies on every side; he diligently laboured to form a brave and a disciplined army; and the Moabites, the Ammonites,

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