The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 142

distinguis~1ed amongst them fell, and smpassed them in the virtues they exhibited. He had higher conceptions of God and his law, held more intimate communion with him, nnd was altogether of a nobler type of human excellence. His constant aim was to do the will of God ; he was upright in heart and life, humble, patient g·ener• ons, and full of disinterested zeal and holy energy iu seeking the true welfare ~f men. In these respects he approached as nearly, perhaps, as any of the servants of God under the old covenant the perfection of him who ,vns II without sin." 2. The rnetlwd he pursued. As he eft'ected the deli-verance of Israel not by the sword but by "the word of God and prayer," so he continued to make use of the earn~ means as the most effective in preserving their liberty and increasing their strength and happiness. His method was moral rather than physical. , He taught them "to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God" (Micah vi. 8). His policy was one of peace, and he relied on God to restrain the aggression of surrounding- nations, and afford protection against their attacks. Nor was his trust misplaced. :3. The work he accomplished. Idolatry, which was rebellion against the. Divine ·King, was banished. The principles of the theocrncy were confirrued. Order, justice, and peace were established ; and closer unity prevailed among the tribes, based upon their common loyalty to their King. "This was the great achievement and crowning point of his service to Israel and the God of Israel ; the scattered and dis- united tribes became again a nation. The rival tribes Ephraim and.Judah make common cause against the common enemy, and the more distant tribes do not seem to withhold their allegiance" (Milman). The labours of Samuel as judge are here summed up in a few sentences, suggestive of some things wherein he was an in- structive example to ru·lers, statesmen, magistrates, and "all that are in authority.,. Notice- - I. His SUPREME CONCERN FOR ltEL!GION. Samuel was first a prophet, then a" faith- ful priest," finally a ruler and judge. "His judicial work not only proceeded from the prophetical, but was constantly guided by it. For we may presume not only that he ga,e legal decisions with prophetical wisdom, but also that, in general, ·he conducted the a:ffairs of the people as a man who had the Spirit of the Lord " (Kiigelsbach). At the different places to which "he went from year to year in circuit "-Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah-he probably taught the word of God and offered sacrifice, combining his prophetic and priestly with his judicial work. At Ramah he built an altar to the Lord, "testifying thereby the power from wh_ich alone he could receive either the authority or wisdom to judge." The position of Samuel was peculiar, and his work unusually comprehensive; but it may b_e observed of every good civil magistrate that-1. He is qualified for his office by hie possession of reverence for God. '' He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" (2 Sam. xxiii. 3). He feels his responsibility to the supreme King and Judge, by whose providence he has been placed in authority, and has constant regard to his will. 2. Hie personal piety pervades his public activity. The one is not separated from the other, but is its animating spirit, and thereby he seeks to afford in his judg- ments a reflection of the perfect judgmente of God. 3. Hie highest desire, knowing that "righteousness exalteth a nation," is to see the people all righteous. That end, he is persuaded, cannot be attained by force; but, as a godly man, he ever seeks it by moral means ; and, in his public capacity, he endeavours to do something towards it by restraining the violence of the wicked and protecting the good in their liibours " unto the kingdom of God." II. Hrs F.AITHFUL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. In the theocracy the laws were already given, and Samuel's judicial work consisted in arranging for their proper administration, in which he doubtless availed himself of the method formerly appointed (Deut. xvi. 18-20), reserving to himself the proper interpretation and application of them in more difficult and important cases. For this purpose he we11t tc different centres of the land at stated times, and "judged Israel in all those places." He has been not inappropriately called the Hebrew Aristidee. Like him, the faithful magistrate-I, Strives to bring justice within easy reach of every man. 2. Admin- isters it wisely, impartially, fearlessly, without respect of persons (Exod. xviii. 21, 22; 2 Chron. xix. 5-7; Jer. xxii. 3). 3. Devotee himself disinterestedly and dilige11tly to the common weal ( eh. xii. 3). "The Hebrew judges were not only simple in their  CH, Vll 1--17.] THE FinST BOOK 0¥ SAMUEL. 139 - - - · --------------------------- manners, moderate in their desires, and free from avarice and ambition, but they were noble and magnanimous men, who felt that whatever they did for their country was above all reward, and could not be recompensed ; who desired merely to be public benefactors, and chose rather to deserve well of their country than to be enriched by its wealth" (Jahn, 'Heh. Com.,' sect. 22). III. His WISE PROVISION FOR EDUCATION. D11ring the period of his judgeship Samuel appears to have established one or more "schools of the prophets," in which he taught young men sacred knowledge, and, in connection with it, reading, writing, and music, thus preparing them to give instruction to the people, which the Levites had failed to do (eh. x. 10 ; xix. 20). So a wise statesman, seeing that "for the soul to be without knowledge is not gooi1," and that "the people are destroyed for lack of knowledge," adopts proper means for the education of the young, the diffusion of knowledge, and the advancement of the race (Ps. lxxviii. 5-8). "Education is the debt which one generation owes to -another'' ( J. S. Mill). The schools of the prophets '' were hearths of spiritual life to Israel. Their aim was not to encourage a contemplative life (like the .cloisters), but to arou~e the nation to activity. Every prophetic disciple was a missionary" (Hengstenberg ). IV. HIS, CONSISTENT. CONDUCT AT HOME. "And his return was to Ramah; foi: th,e:re was. his house; and there he built an altar unto the Lord" (ver. 17). There, also, he continued his judicial labours. The faithful magistrate, whilst he does not allow his public duty·to interfere with proper attention to his d11ty to his own house- hold, seeks to make the latter helpful'to the fonner. He exemplifies in his private life the conduct he openly commends to others, and " walks in his house with a perfect heart" (Ps. ci. 2). Though he be not a Nazarite, he is simple, self-denying, and unostentatious in his habits; and though he be not wealthy, he is kind to the poor, hospitable to friends ( eh. ix. 24), and liberal towards the Lord (1 Chron. xxvi. 28 : " all that Samuel the seer had dedicated"). He recognises the presence and claims of God in his home, sanctifies it by prayer (Job i. 5), endeavours to make it a centre whence holy influences emanate to all, and does all things to the glory of Goel (1 pcir. x. 31). "The indispensable basis afforded by the home and its eternal sanctity no sup~i;:ior religion and legislation should seek to destroy, or even to disturb ; and, 011 a comprehensive survey, we cannot fail to recognise that there is no other ancient . nation in which, during the days of external power, domestic life remained for a long p'eriod so vigorous; and, secondly, during the gradual decline of the external power, became so little weakened and corrupted as was the case with Israel" (Ewalcl, 'An- tiquities'). V. HIB LONG CONTINUANCE IN OFFICE. "And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life" (ver. 15). "Simple words, but what a volume of tried f,.Lithfnlness is unrolled by them I" He pursued his course till he was II old and gray-headed" (eh. xii. 2)-nearly twenty years from the victory of Ebenezer. The appointment of a king relieved him of a portion of the burden ; but he still continued to exercise his pro- phetic office, and, "as last judge, he held in his hands the highest control of the theocracy and the kingdom." He devoted his last years to 1.he training of youthful disciples for future service; and when at length he died, " all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah" (eh. :xxv. 1). His protracted labour was an evidence of his public spirit, indomitable energy, ·and efficient service, and the principal means of raising th11 n:ition to its subsequent p0wer and glory.-D.