The new-kindled zeal had for its object, not the abolition of Baal worship, but resistance to the enemies of Israel.  Religion and patriotism were then identical.  This spirit of the times was understood by an old man, Samuel ben Elkanah, who lived at Ramah in south-western Ephraim.  He was not himself one of the Nebiim; on the contrary, he was a seer of that old type which had for a long time existed amongst the Hebrews much as we find it amongst the Greeks or Arabs.  Raised by his foreseeing talent to a position of great prominence, he found opportunity to occupy himself with other questions besides those which he was professionally called on to answer.  The national distress weighed upon his heart; the neighbouring peoples had taught him to recognise the advantages which are secured by the consolidation of families and tribes into a kingdom.  But Samuel’s peculiar merit lay, not in discovering what it was that the nation needed, but in finding out the man who was capable of supplying that need.  Having come to know Saul ben Kish, a Benjamite of the town of Gibeah, a man of gigantic form, and swift, enthusiastic nature, he declared to him his destiny to become king over Israel.

Saul very soon had an opportunity for showing whether Samuel had been a true seer or no.  The city of Jabesh in Gilead was besieged by the Ammonites, and the inhabitants declared themselves ready to surrender should they fail in obtaining speedy succour from their countrymen.  Their messengers had passed through all Israel without meeting with anything more helpful than pity, until at last tidings of their case reached Saul as he was returning with a yoke of oxen from the field.  Hewing his cattle in pieces, he caused the portions to be sent in all directions, with the threat that so should it be done with the oxen of every one who should refuse to help in relieving Jabesh.  The people obeyed the summons, fell suddenly one morning upon the Ammonites, and delivered the beleaguered city.

Having thus found Saul the man for their need, they refused to let him go.  In Gilgal, Joshua’s old camp, they anointed him king.  The act was equivalent to imposing upon him the conduct of the struggle against the Philistines, and so he understood it.  The first signal for the attack was given by his son Jonathan, when he slew the necib of the Philistines at Gibeah.  These in consequence advanced in force towards the focus of the revolt, and took up a position opposite Gibeah on the north, being divided from it only by the gorge of Michmash.  Only a few hundred Benjamites ventured to remain with Saul.  The struggle opened with a piece of genuine old heroic daring.  While the Philistines were dispersed over the country in foraging expeditions, Jonathan, accompanied by his armour-bearer only, and without the knowledge of Saul, made an attack upon the weak post which they had left behind at the pass of Michmash.  After the first had been surprised