s This, though now mentioned and commanded, yer was not im» mediately to be performed; as is evident, partly from the whole courſe ot the Story, which ſhews, That Saul and Samuel, and the people, firſt met at Mizpeh, v. 17, 8c. where Saul was choſen by God, and accepted by the people as King ; and afterwards went to Gilgal once before the time here ſpoken of, chap. 11. 14, 15; and partly, by comparing this place with chap. 13: 8, &c. where we find Saul charged with the violation of this Command, two years af rer the giving of it, as appears from chap. 13: 1, 2, Quef. How then is this ro be underſtood ? Anſwer, 1, This may be given as aſtand< ing Rule for Saul toobſerve while Samuel and he lived ; That in caſe of any great future Difficulties, as che Invaſion of Enemies, Saul ſhould reſort to Gilgal, and call : he people thither, and tarry there ſeven Days, which was bur a reaſonable and neceſſary time forthe gathering of the people, and for the coming of Samuel thither. For rhough this be relared but as once done, chap. 13 ye Joſephus af- firms, that it was-to be conſtanry praQtiſed upon all ſuch occaſions. And Gilgal was choſen for this purpoſe asa very fit place; partly, becauſe chit place was famous for the ſolemn renewing of the Co- venant between God and 1/rael, Joſh. 4. and for other eminent Inſtances of Gods Favour to tem, the remembrance whereof was a notable Confirmation of their Faith ; and partly; becauſe it was a very convenient place for the Tribes within and without Jordan ro aſſ:mble, and conſult, and unite their Forces rogether upon ſuch occaſions. If you ask, Why then Sau! did nor praQiſe this Precept upon the firſt Invaſion of the Ammonites? Fr may be an- ſwered, That this was a Rule for Szul, when he and Samul were aſunder, whereas they were together in that Expedition. Chap. t x- 7 And further, That neceſhicy did excuſe the violation of this Precept then, becauſe Say! could not wait for Samuel, nor forbear his Aftion for ſeven Days, as is evident from chap. 11. 3, 9, 10. Or, 2. ( which I propoſe with ſubmiſſion to the Learned andJudict- ous) This may be here added as another ſign to confirm his Faith. which having ſtrengthened by three foregoing ſigns, he now forti-
ry uſual for God to give Mea fig: 's to confirm their Faith from fu« ture Events; as Exod. 2: 12; 2 Kings 19: 29; Iſas 7: 13, 14+ 80 che meaning may be this; Another ſign E will add to ſtrengthen thy Faith ; Too ſhale in due time, ar d upon a great occaſion which ſhail then bappen, go down before me to Gilgal, and there 1 will come down unto thre 10 offer mmwammms: Sacrifices, &c. Bur when thou
ſtrange che preſent was, the more fit it was for a ſign of Gods ex- traordigary Providence 1n Sauls Affaicrs, %
, Fd
2 U 3 comeſt
fies it by another ſign which was to follow afterwards; it being ve«'
| » if thee, | that thou do as occaſion ſhall ſerve thee x, for = | 50 paſs chat s Which were certain Evidences of Gods calling of him to the ry theſe ns, but God could infall'/bly know or foretel. t H<b. do what thy hand tf Heb» do fmadeth todo; (i.e. ) As thou ſhalt have aCall and Opportunity. for thee #2 He doth not intend that he ſhould take the Kingly Government vpon # him, before his Callto it was known to, and owned by the people, ſball finds
* ſeven days ſhalt thou tarry till Icome tothee s, and * Chap.
13: $3
&c.
A
x.
tt
'thither, be ſure thou tarry there ſeven days, and then 1 will donenng ,2 hoon ſaid, and give thee neceſſary Inftructions and Af-
fiftance, as the matter ſhall require. : CT And it was/o that when he hadturned his # back
to go from Samuel, God | gave him another heart : *
and all thoſe ſigns came to paſs that day.
ro 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 prophefied among chem. :
» Then the accompliſhment of the two former ſigns 15 ſuppoſed and this only of the third is expreſſed, becauſe this was more emi- nent and publick than the former ; the other were only tranſient Ads, which paſſed in oy between two or three perſons meet- ing together, and paſſing by one another ; but this was a more 'permanent and more notorious ſign, done in 2 more ſolema man- ner, and before many, and very conſiderable Witneſſes. :
it And it came to paſs, when all that knew him be-
fore-time, ſaw, that behold, he propheſied among the
+ Heb. prophets, then the people ſaid + one to another, What —_— # this rhat is come unto the &.., 2 alſo among the prophets ?
Chap.
+ Heb. ſhoulder. T Heb. turned. F See on V. 6G,
>» _ y What means this ſtrange and prodigious Event? z A Man _ "*®. jnftrufted, nor exerciſed in, nor inclinedto theſe matrers; a Man. ever thought firter to look to his Farher Aſſes, than to bear a part in the Sacred Exerciſes of the Prophets. IP + Heb. 12 And one + oftheſame place a anſwered and laid, from But who « their father b 2 Therefore it became a pro- rhexce. yerb c, Is Saul alſo among the prophets ?
a Heb. one from thence ; ( i. e. ) One of the company there pre- ſenr, or one pf haProphers there propheſying- b Who 1s ores a- ther F all theſe Prophers of whom you ſpeak, and among waom Saul now is one? Who is it that inſtrutts and inſpires them with this holy Art, but God ? They have ir not from their natural Pa- rents, nor from their civil Education, bur by Inſpiration from ___s wio, when he pleaſeth, can inſpire Sau!, or any other Man wit the ſame $kill. And therefore wonder not ar this matter, but give God the glory of it. Farher 1s here pur for Teacher, or In- ſitruQor, as it is uſed ; as Gen. 4+ 20, 21, Matth. 23+ 9. 1 Cor. 4+ 15» And hence the Schollarsare called ſons of the Prophets. c Ulſed when any ſtrange, unlikely, or unexpeRted thing happeneds Gi
13 And when he had made anend of propheiying,
he came to the high place 4.
d Returning thither with the Prophets, there to praiſe God for theſe wonderful Favours, and to beg Counſel and He!p from God in this bigh Buſineſs. : ;
' 14 © And Sauls uncle e ſaid unto him, and to his ſer- vant, Whither went ye? and he ſaid, To ſeek the
aſſes : and when we ſaw that they were no where, WE
came to Samuel. Wo e Being there preſent; and obſerving this great aireration 1n his Nephew. 15 And Sauls uncle ſaid, Tell me, I pray thee, what
\ Samuel ſaid unto you. . 16 And Saul ſaid unto his uncle, He told us plainly
" that the affſes were found. But of the matrer of the