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Chapter CIV.

THE CALL OF SAUL TO BE KING OVER ISRAEL

CONFIRMED BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE.

AFTER Samuel had anointed Saul to be king over Israel, he called together all the children of Israel unto the Lord to Mizpeh. Then he said to all the people, "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you; and ye have this day rejected your God, who Himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto Him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands."

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, he cast their lots before the Lord to know which tribe the Lord would take; and the tribe of Benjamin was taken. Then he caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their

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families, and the family of Matri was taken; and of the family of Matri, the lot fell upon Saul, the son of Kish. And when they sought for Saul he could not be found. Then they inquired of the Lord, if Saul should yet come there; and the Lord showed them the place where he was; for he had hidden himself. So they ran and brought him forth from the place where he was hidden. "And when Saul stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders upwards.”

Then Samuel said to all the people, "See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people ?" And all the people shouted and said, "God save the king!"

Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom; he explained the duties of the king, and the rules according to which he should govern them. And he wrote the words in a book, and laid it up before the Lord.

Then Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his own house. And Saul also went to

his own home in Gibeah in the tribe of Benjamin. "And there went with Saul a band of men whose hearts the Lord had touched;" they were moved by God to love and honour him, whom He had chosen to be their king. But the children of Belial, the evil and lawless among the men of Israel, mocked at Saul, and said, "How shall this man save us?" And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But Saul held his peace; he behaved wisely, and did not answer them nor complain.

man.

1 Samuel x.

Belial is a Hebrew word which means a wicked or worthless Hence bad or worthless persons were called sons of Belial, or children of Belial. The sons of Eli are called sons of Belial, 1 Sam. ii. 12. See also Deut. xiii. 13. 1 Sam. i. 16; xxv, 17; xxx. 22. 1 Kings xxi. 10, &c.

Chapter CV.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SAUL'S KINGDOM, AND
THE SPEECH OF SAMUEL TO THE MEN OF ISRAEL.
AFTER Saul had been chosen to be king over
Israel, Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, came

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up into the land of the tribe of Gad, and encamped against the city of Jabesh-Gilead. Then the men of Jabesh-Gilead sent messengers throughout the land of Israel, to call the children of Israel to come and help them against Nahash, the Ammonite. For Nahash had said, that he would thrust out all their right eyes, and make them serve him. And the messengers came to Gibeah, where Saul was.

And when Saul heard the tidings of the men of Jabesh, the Spirit of God came upon him, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and cut them in pieces, and sent the pieces throughout all the land of Israel, by the hands of messengers, saying, "Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen." Then the fear of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out with one consent. And when they were gathered together in Bezek, Saul took the number of the men of Israel; and there were thirty thousand of the tribe of Judah, and of the other tribes three hundred thousand.

On the morrow Saul divided his army into three companies, and early in the morning he attacked the host of the Ammonites, and slew them until the heat of the day. And those who remained alive fled away in fear to their own land.

Then the men of Israel said to Samuel, "Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death." But Saul said, "There shall not a man be put to death this day for to-day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel."

Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there." "And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord. And Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly."

And when Saul had been made king over all the people of Israel, Samuel gave up into the hands of Saul the power which he had as chief judge in Israel. And he stood up before all

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