Page images
PDF
EPUB

than remarked how unreasonable his father's conduct was, since the troops might have extended their conquests, if their strength had been renewed by a little nourishment.

In the evening, when the restraint was taken off, the people were so eager for food, that they had not patience to stay till their meat was dressed; but, contrary to their law, and like a set of savage barbarians, they began to devour their food whilst the blood ran. When Saul was informed of it, he commanded that they should, for the future, kill their cattle at a place appointed by him: the people immediately complied. On this occasion, Saul built an altar, that he might offer sacrifice, either by way of atonement for the people's sin, or in acknowledgment of the late victory. He then desired to renew the pursuit of the Philistines: but the priest proposed that they should first enquire of GOD: he accordingly did so, but received no answer. Saul, unwilling to suppose himself in any fault, immediately concluded that there was some in the camp who had incurred his curse by eating food; he therefore made a rash vow that the offender should be put to death, even if it were Jonathan his son. The people would make no discovery; on which he proceeded to cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonathan, who readily confessed, that being overcome with faintness, he had tasted a little honey, not knowing of his father's interdiction. Saul, instead of expressing that grief which a discovery like this would naturally occasion in the breast of an affectionate father, and without one expression of tenderness and regret, condemned him to instant death; saying, GoD do so to me, and more also; but thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. The people however rescued him, for they were resolved that this vaJiant prince, who had been so eminently distinguished

by

by the favour of the LORD, in that day's signal victory, should not be put to death for an offence which he had ignorantly committed; not doubting but that the LORD would accept an atonement for his sin, if it were one. As for Saul, he certainly had exposed himself to the curse of God, and it afterwards fell upon him.

SECTION LXXVI.

SAMUEL SENDETH SAUL TO DESTROY, THE AMALEKITES-HE SPARETH THE KING AND THE BEST OF THE SPOIL-HE IS REJECTED BY GOD FOR HIS DIS

OBEDIENCE.

From 1 Samuel, Chap. xv.

THEN Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself he vexed them.

'And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel; now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt.

Now

Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

And Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get ye down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalękites.

[ocr errors]

And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah, until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel: and he cried unto the LORD all night.

And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said unto him,

Blessed

Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

[ocr errors]

And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice unto the LORD thy GOD, and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

But the people took of the spoil, sheep, and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy GOD in Gilgal.

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice; and to hearken, than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast

rejected

rejected the word of the LORD, he also hath rejected thee from being king.

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

And Samuel said unto him, the LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou.

And also the strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man that he should repent.

Then he said I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy GOD.

So Samuel turned again after Saul: and Saul worshipped the LORD.

Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

VOL. II.

Q

ANNOTA

« PreviousContinue »