In the 9th chapter of 1 Samuel, we have an account of a high festival in the city of Zuph, at which Samuel, the chief judge and ruler in Israel, presided.  None sat down at the feast but those that were bidden.  And only “about thirty persons” were invited.  Quite a select party!—­the elite of the city of Zuph!  Saul and his servant arrived at Zuph just as the party was assembling; and both of them, at Samuel’s solicitation, accompany him as invited guests. "And Samuel took Saul and his SERVANT, and brought THEM into the PARLOR(!) and made THEM sit in the CHIEFEST SEATS among those that were bidden." A servant invited by the chief judge, ruler, and prophet in Israel, to dine publicly with a select party, in company with his master, who was at the same time anointed King of Israel; and this servant introduced by Samuel into the PARLOR, and assigned, with his master, to the chiefest seat at the table!  This was “one of the servants” of Kish, Saul’s father; not the steward or the chief of them—­not at all a picked man, but “one of the servants;” any one that could be most easily spared, as no endowments specially rare would be likely to find scope in looking after asses.

Again:  we learn from 1 Kings xvi. 8, 9, that Elah, the King of Israel, was slain by Zimri, one of his chief officers, at a festive entertainment, in the house of Arza, his steward, or head servant, with whom he seems to have been on terms of familiarity.  Without detailing other cases, we refer the reader to the intercourse between Gideon and his servant.—­Judges vii. 10, 11.—­Jonathan and his servant.—­1 Samuel xiv. 1-14.—­Elisha and his servant.

3. The condition of the Gibeonites, as subjects of the Hebrew commonwealth, shows that they were neither articles of property, nor even INVOLUNTARY servants.  The condition of the inhabitants of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim, under the Israelites, is quoted in triumph by the advocates of slavery; and truly they are right welcome to all the crumbs that can be gleaned from it.  Milton’s devils made desperate snatches at fruit that turned to ashes on their lips.  The spirit of slavery raves under tormenting gnawings, and casts about in blind phrenzy for something to ease, or even to mock them.  But for this, it would never have clutched at the Gibeonites, for even the incantations of the demon cauldron, could not extract from their case enough to tantalize starvation’s self.  But to the question.  What was the condition of the Gibeonites under the Israelites?

(1.) It was voluntary.  It was their own proposition to Joshua to become servants.  Joshua ix. 8, 11.  Their proposition was accepted, but the kind of service which they should perform, was not specified until their gross imposition came to light; they were then assigned to menial offices in the tabernacle.