=The messengers with the raw meat.=—­One day messengers came hurrying through the towns and villages of central Canaan bearing sacks or baskets of raw beef chopped into small squares.  To the leading men of each village, they handed a piece of the bloody flesh with this message:  “This piece of ox flesh is from Saul, the son of Kish, of Gibeah in Benjamin.  As this flesh is cut into small pieces so will the flesh of the men of your village be chopped up if you do not come at once, armed for battle, to help our brothers in Jabesh in Gilead east of the Jordan, which is besieged by the Ammonites.”  “Who is Saul?” many asked, and few could answer.  Some perhaps were able to explain that he was a brave and able young farmer, a friend of a prophet named Samuel, in the tribe of Benjamin.  But it was the raw meat that persuaded them to obey the summons.  Here is a real leader, they said, a man who means what he says.  And two or three nights later an army of Hebrews, with Saul in the lead, came dashing in among the tents of the Ammonites who were besieging Jabesh and put them to flight.  The Gileadites were saved; and for years to come they remembered Saul with gratitude.

THE KINGDOM OF SAUL

Shortly after this victory there was a great gathering of the Hebrews of Benjamin and some of the neighboring tribes and Saul was elected as king.  Would he also become a tyrant?  Would he make their children slaves and take the best of their flocks and herds and wheat and oil, leaving them in poverty while he lived in luxury?  There were many who thought so.  The prophet Samuel, himself Saul’s friend, warned them of the danger although he helped to make Saul king.  But the danger from the Philistines was so great and they had suffered so much from their enemies on account of their lack of unity that they were willing to take the risk of organizing themselves as a kingdom under Saul.

=The first victories over the Philistines.=—­Soon there came a summons to battle.  The first encounter turned out well for the Hebrews.  One of Saul’s sons named Jonathan was especially brave and skillful as a leader, and was much loved by the people.  Other victories followed.  More and more clans and tribes flocked to Saul’s standard.  A young man from Judah, named David, became famous as a captain and was made the chief commander of Saul’s armies.  The Philistines were not driven out from their forts, but they were held in check and the sky seemed brighter.  There was a chance now for victory and peace.  Everyone was hopeful for better things.  When the soldiers came back from fighting the Philistines, the women would go to meet them with songs and dances.  One of their songs ran like this: 

    ="Saul has slain his thousands
    And David his ten thousands."=