a Whilſt they were aſſembled rogerher in Gilzal. And this is another inſtance of Samuels great Wiſdom and Integrity. He would nor reprove the people for their Sin in deſiring aking, whilſt Saul was raw, and weak, a:.d unſettled in his Kingdom, and inthe peoples Hearts; left through their accuſtomed Leviry, they ſhould as haſtily caſt off their King, as they had paſſionately deſired him, and fo add one fin to another ;. and-thercfore he chuſeth rhis Seaſon for it; partly, becauſe Sauls Kingdom was now confirmed and i!- luſtrated by an eminent Victory, and to the danger of zejetting him was out of doors 3 which Circumſtance was alſo confiderable for Samuels Vincication, that it might appear, that his following Reprocf did not proceed from any felfith ReſpeQs or Defires, which he might be tupp»olcd to have of retaining the power in his own Hand , bur mecrly from the Conſcience of his Duty, and a fincerc Deſire of all raeir Good ; and partly, becauſe the people rejoyced greatly, as is ſaid in the next foregoing Verſe; and upon this oc- caſion applauded themſclves for their deſires of a King; and: inter- preted the Succeſs which God had now given them, -as a Divine Approbation of thoſe defies ; whereby they. were liketo be harde- ned in their Impenitency, and,.might bedrawn to many other'ins Cconveniencies : Samuel therefore thinks fir to ters per their exceſlive Joys, and to excite them to that Repenta' ce and Ho'y Fear, which he ſaw wanting in them,, and which he knew to be abſolutely ne- cellary, to, prevent the Curle of God upon their new Kings and the
peri_
whole Kingdom. | NE ns
Chap. X11.
| i
12 And Saul ſaid, * There ſhall not a man be put to* ., Sam; |
hap. XII
2 And now, beh and I am old and gray-headed c, are with you d: and I have walke
1V childhood unto this day. : F Goerh out and cometh in before you ; (1. e- ) Ruleth over you, as that phraſe ſignifies, Numb. 27: 16: Dewt- 31: 2: 2 Chron+ 1: 12. To him I have fully reſigned all my Power and Authority, and do hereby renounce it, and own my ſelf for a private perton, and one of his Subje&s. c And therefore unable to bear the burden cf Go- vernment, and feel my ſelf greatly at eaſe to ſee ir caſt upon other Shoulders ; and therefore do not ſpeak what I am abour ro ſay, fromenvy of Sauls Advancement, or from diſcontent at the Dimr nution of my own Power. d Or, among you. inthe ſame ſtate and place, private perſons, as you are; if they have injured any of you in their Government, as you once complained, the Law is now oper againſt them ; any of you may accuſe them, your King can puuiſh them, I do not intercede ſor them, 1 have neither Power nor Will ro keep them from receiving the juſt Fruits of cheir Miſdemeanours- e i- e- Been your guide and Governour ; partly, as a Prophet; and
partly, as a Judge.
old, the king walketh before you 5: and behold, my ſons d before you e from
2 Behold, here I am, witneſs againſt me f before the * Numb. 7 opD and before his anointed : * Whoſe ox have [' I 15* taken ? or whoſe aſs have I taken ? or' whom have | 2 defrauded ? whom have I oppreſſed g? or of whole + Heb- hand have I received any Þ bribe 5 [| ro blind mine eyes ge ; therewith i? and ] will _—_— you 5 K : ld bide 1 | here preſent my ſelf _— e: -: = c wy + __ 4 ing,
being ready to give an accoun | wake ricQion for any Injuries that I have done. And this Pro-
teſtation Sammel makes of his Integrity, not our of Oſtentation or Vain-glory ; but partly, for his own juſt Vindication, that the people might nor hereafcer for the Defence of their own Irregula- rities, reproach his Government ; partly, that being publickly ac- quirted from all Faults in his Goverrment, he might more freely and boldly reprove the ſins of the people, and particularly, that ſin of theirs in deſiring a King, when they had 10. lirtle reaſon for ir, and they had ſo jult a Governour, from whom they might have promiſed themſelves an eff-&ual Redreſs of his Sons male-admini- itrations, if they had acquainted him therewith ; and partly. thar by his Example he might tacitly admoniſh Sas! of bis Dury, and prevent his miſunderſtanding of what he had formerly laid, chap. 8. v. 11, &c- and miſtake that for the Rule of his juſt Power, which was only a PrediCion of his evil prattices. g Whom have Iwrong- ed, cither by Fraud and falſe Accuſation, or by Might and Vio. Jence ? h Heb. Price of Redemption, given to Redeem an unjuſt and Joſt Cauſe or Perſon, from that Righreous Sentence which they de. ſerved. i Thar I ſhould not diſcern what was right and juſt, or diſſembleit as if I did nor ſee it» Or, that 1 ſhould hide or cover mine eyes ( ie e- wilfuliy wink at the plain truth ) forit; 3.e. for the Bribe ; or, for him ; i. e- for his ſake. & Or, and I will cover mine eyes for him; i. e. I will take ſhame to my ſelf, and cover my Face as one aſhamed to look upon him.
4 And they ſaid, Thou hait not defrauded us, nor oppreſſed us, neither haſt chou raken ought of any mans
hand. 5 And he ſaid unto them, The LORD #s witneſs
againſt you J, and his anointed # witneſs this day, that ve have not found ought mz in my hand : And they an-
{wered », He is witnels.
I Towit, if you ſhall at any time hereafter Reproach my Go- vernment or Memory. Or rather againſt you, that I gave you no Caule to be weary of Gods Government of you by Judges, or tode. fire a change of the Goverament ; and therefore the blame of it wholly reſts upon your ſelves. But this was only inſinuated, and therefore the people did not fully underſtand his drift in it. » 7. e. Any thing which I have gotten by Bribery or Opprefſion. # Heb. he anſwered ; i« e- the whole people, who are here ſpoken of as one Perſon, becauſe they anſwered thus with one Conſcnr.
6 q And Samuel ſaid unto the people, 1 ;s the LORD [Or, ae. that || advanced Moſes and Aaron o, and that brought 'your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
o Thar for your ſakes raiſed, conſtituted, and exalted Moſes and Aaron, to'that great Power and Reputation which they had, and uſed, to deliver you. : :
Now therefore ſtand ſtill, that I may reaſon with you p before the LORD, of all the + righteous Acts
q of the LORD, which he did # to you and your fa-
thers.