The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 228

of Gad and Gilead," i. e. to the mount-0inous signs. He knew, moreover, how much de- district in which the Jordan rises. 0 pended upon his waiting, and that obedience SAl'L S I:A~H SACRIFICE (vers. 8 -14). to the prophet's command was nn essential Yer. S.-Seven days, according to the set condition of his appointment. Nevertheless, time. See on eh. x. 8. The lapse of time in his impatience and distrust of J ehovnh he between Samuel's appointment of the seven cannot bide the set time ; not really bec~uso? days during which Saul was to wait for him of any wish to propitiate God, but becausc to inaugurate the war of independence, and of the effect to be produced upon the mint! the present occasion, was probably not so of the people. It was tedious to remain great as m.~ny commentators suppose; for eh. inactive ; his position in the plains was xiii. l is, as we have seen, wrongly trans- untenable; at any moment his retreat to the lated, and everything else leads to the con- mountains might be cut off; and so he prefers clusion that the defeat of the Ammonites, the part of a prudent general to that of an the choice of the 3000, and Jonathan's attack obedient and trustful servant of God. And on the garrison at Geba followed rapidly we may notice that there is no confession of upon one another. As the Philistines would wrong on his part. His mind rather seems rightly regard Israel's choice of a king as an entirely occupied with his duty as a king, act of rebellion, we cannot suppose them to without having regard to the higher King, have been so supine and negligent as not whom it ought to have been his first duty to. at once to have prepared for war. Rad ap- obey. pointed. The Hebrew word for this has Ver. 14.-J'ehovah he.th sought him a been omitted by some accident. It is given man after his own hee.rt. The language of in the Septu3@nt and Chaldee and some prophecy constantly describes that as already MSS. The whole importance of the occur- done which is but just determined upon. rence arose out of its having been appointed As David was but twenty-three years of age by Samuel on his selection of Saul as king. at Saul's death, he must now have been a Ver. 9.-A burnt offering, &c. The He- mere child, even if he was born, (see vcr. 1). brew has the definite article, the burnt But the Divine choice of Saul, which upon offering and the peace offerings, which were his obedience would that day have been con- there ready for Samuel to offer. He offered. firmed, was now annulled, and the succrssiou Not with his own hand, but by the hand of transferred elsewhere. Years might elapse the attendant priest, Ahiah, who was, we before the first earthly step was taken to know, with him. Possibly, nevertheless, the appoint his successor (eh. xvi. 13); nay, had Levitiee.l law was not at this period strictly Saul repented, we gather from eh. xv. 26 observed. that he might have been forgiven: for God's· Ver. 10. - That he might se.lute him. threatenings, like his promises, are con- Literally, "bless him," but the word is often ditional. There is no fatalism in the Bible, nsed of a solemn salutation (2 Kings iv. 29). but a loving discipline for man's recovery. It is evident that Samuel came on the seventh But behind it stands the Divine foreknow- day, and that Saul in his impetuosity could ledge and omnipotence ; and so to the pro- not stay the whole day out. phetic view Saul's refusal to repent, his Ver. 11.-What he.at thou donel The repeated disobedience, and the succession of question implies rebuke, which Saul answers David were all revealed as accomplished by pleading his danger. Each day's delay facts. made his small force dwindle rapidly away, CONTINUANCE OF THE WAR (vers. 15-- and the Philistines might at any hour move 18). Ver. 15.-Samuel , . . gat him UJ> down from Michmash •upon him at Gilgal from Gilgal to Gibee.h of Benjamin. Samuel and destroy him. But it was the reality of would pass by Gibeah on his way to his own the danger which put his faith and obedience home at Ramah ; but he seems to have tarried. to the trial. there to encourage the people ; and probably Ver. 12.-1 have not me.de supplication he carried instructions from Saul to J onathnn unto 1ehove.h. Literally, " I have not to unite his forces with him, as we next stroked the face of Jehovah," but used of find the father and son there in company. making him propitious by prayer (Exod. Even if thi~ be not so, yet friendly relations xxxii 11 ; Jer. xxvi. 19). I forced myself. must have continued between Saul anti: Saul pleads in his justification the imminence Samuel, 11.~ the latter would otherwise cer- of the danger, and perhaps there are few who tainly not have chosen Saul's home fo~ 111,; have faith enough to "stand still arnl see halting-place; nor would he ;o. tlutl!cr the salvation of Jehovah" (Exod. xiv. 13). without seeing Jonathan, and givmg !um Ver. 13.-Thou he.at done foolishly. Saul aid and counsel. Saul numbe1ed. See on had not only received -an· express command eh. xi. 8. After summoning the ,-..hole to wait seven days, but it had been given nation thtre did not remain with him ever him under special circumstances, and con• as many as a third of his selected bnud. Jirmed by the fulfilment of the appointed Ver. 16.-ln Gibee.h of Benjamin Thi, {)H. XIII, 1-23.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 229