such as ancient Israel is represented to have been, cut to the pattern of Judaism, such a man must take his place at the head of the whole.  His influence must have prevailed to exclude idolatry and unfaithfulness to Jehovah on the part of the people; and the general character of the time must on the whole have answered to the type he set before it.  But here a very unpleasant difficulty suggests itself.  If the fact of Samuel being at the head is sufficient guarantee that all was as it should be within the state, how can there have been such great pressure externally, so as to endanger the very existence of the people?  If men do their part, how can Jehovah fail to do His?  On the contrary, it must be believed that the righteousness which prevailed within had its counterpart in the external vindication of His people by Jehovah.  Even under Samuel the Philistines were with God’s help driven across the border, and as long as he lived they were not seen within it again.  The piety of a praying assembly was suitably acknowledged by Jehovah, who dropped into its lap a success such as in after times the sword of warlike kings sought long and in vain to achieve.

But this example of history corrected does not stand alone, and becomes completely intelligible only when taken in connection with the similar pieces which belong to it. 1Samuel vii. is continued in chap. viii., and chap. viii. again in x. 17-xii. 25.  Samuel, after setting the land free from foreign tyranny, conducts a quiet and successful reign till old age comes upon him.  His sons, however, whom he has made his assessors, do not walk in his steps; and the elders of Israel make this the occasion to ask him to give them a king.  But this is a mere pretext for their sinful desire to shake off the divine rule and to be like the heathen round about them.  Samuel is extremely indignant at their ingratitude, but is directed by Jehovah to comply with their request.  “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them; according to all the works that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, wherewith they have forsaken Me and served other gods. so do they also unto thee.”  It is in vain that Samuel exhibits to them an alarming catalogue of the rights of the king:  they are not to be moved from their determination, and he accordingly summons a general convention of the people at Mizpeh (viii. 22, x. 17).  There, after the opening lecture, lots are drawn for the king, and Saul is chosen, whereupon Samuel has still to write down the law of the kingdom and lay it up before Jehovah.  The people are then dismissed; “and Saul also went home to Gibeah, and with him the warriors whose heart God had touched, but the children of Belial despised him, and said ‘How shall this man save us!’”