salute thee； and speak kindly to thee； and will give thee two of
their loaves； which thou shalt accept of。 And thence thou shalt
come to a place called Rachel's Monument； where thou shalt meet
with those that will tell thee thy asses are found； after this；
when thou comest to Gabatha； thou shalt overtake a company of
prophets； and thou shalt be seized with the Divine Spirit； （8）
and prophesy along with them； till every one that sees thee shall
be astonished； and wonder； and say； Whence is it that the son of
Kish has arrived at this degree of happiness？ And when these
signs have happened to thee； know that God is with thee； then do
thou salute thy father and thy kindred。 Thou shalt also come when
I send for thee to Gilgal； that we may offer thank…offerings to
God for these blessings。〃 When Samuel had said this； and foretold
these things； he sent the young man away。 Now all things fell out
to Saul according to the prophecy of Samuel。
3。 But as soon as Saul came into the house of his kinsman Abner；
whom indeed he loved better than the rest of his relations； he
was asked by him concerning his journey； and what accidents
happened to him therein； and he concealed none of the other
things from him； no； not his coming to Samuel the prophet； nor
how he told him the asses were found； but he said nothing to him
about the kingdom； and what belonged thereto； which he thought
would procure him envy； and when such things are heard； they are
not easily believed； nor did he think it prudent to tell those
things to him； although he appeared very friendly to him； and one
whom he loved above the rest of his relations； considering； I
suppose； what human nature really is； that no one is a firm
friend； neither among our intimates； nor of our kindred； nor do
they preserve that kind disposition when God advances men to
great prosperity； but they are still ill…natured and envious at
those that are in eminent stations。
4。 Then Samuel called the people together to the city Mizpeh； and
spake to them in the words following； which he said he was to
speak by the command of God： … That when he had granted them a
state of liberty； and brought their enemies into subjection； they
were become unmindful of his benefits； and rejected God that he
should not be their King； as not considering that it would be
most for their advantage to be presided over by the best of
beings； for God is the best of beings； and they chose to have a
man for their king； while kings will use their subjects as
beasts； according to the violence of their own wills and
inclinations； and other passions； as wholly carried away with the
lust of power； but will not endeavor so to preserve the race of
mankind as his own workmanship and creation； which； for that very
reason； God would take cake of。 〃But since you have come to a
fixed resolution； and this injurious treatment of God has quite
prevailed over you； dispose yourselves by your tribes and
scepters； and cast lots。〃
5。 When the Hebrews had so done； the lot fell upon the tribe of
Benjamin； and when the lot was cast for the families of this
tribe； that which was called Matri was taken； and when the lot
was cast for the single persons of that family； Saul； the son of
Kish； was taken for their king。 When the young man knew this； he
prevented ＇their sending for him＇； and immediately went away and
hid himself。 I suppose that it was because he would not have it
thought that he willingly took the government upon him； nay； he
showed such a degree of command over himself； and of modesty；
that while the greatest part are not able to contain their joy；
even in the gaining of small advantages； but presently show
themselves publicly to all men； this man did not only show
nothing of that nature； when he was appointed to be the lord of
so many and so great tribes； but crept away and concealed himself
out of the sight of those he was to reign over； and made them
seek him； and that with a good deal of trouble。 So when the
people were at a loss； and solicitous； because Saul disappeared；
the prophet besought God to show where the young man was； and to
produce him before them。 So when they had learned of God the
place where Saul was hidden； they sent men to bring him； and when
he was come； they set him in the midst of the multitude。 Now he
was taller than any of them； and his stature was very majestic。
6。 Then said the prophet； God gives you this man to be your king：
see how he is higher than any of the people； and worthy of this
dominion。〃 So as soon as the people had made acclamation； God
save the king； the prophet wrote down what would come to pass in
a book； and read it in the hearing of the king； and laid up the
book in the tabernacle of God； to be a witness to future
generations of what he had foretold。 So when Samuel had finished
this matter； he dismissed the multitude； and came himself to the
city Rainah； for it was his own country。 Saul also went away to
Gibeah； where he was born； and many good men there were who paid
him the respect that was due to him； but the greater part were
ill men； who despised him and derided the others； who neither did
bring him presents； nor did they in affection； or even in words；
regard to please him。
CHAPTER 5。
Saul's Expedition Against The Nation Of The Ammonites And Victory
Over Them And The Spoils He Took From Them。
1。 After one month； the war which Saul had with Nahash； the king
of the Ammonites； obtained him respect from all the people； for
this Nahash had done a great deal of mischief to the Jews that
lived beyond Jordan by the expedition he had made against them
with a great and warlike army。 He also reduced their cities into
slavery； and that not only by subduing them for the present；
which he did by force and violence； but by weakening them by
subtlety and cunning； that they might not be able afterward to
get clear of the slavery they were under to him； for he put out
the right eyes （9） of those that either delivered themselves to
him upon terms； or were taken by him in war； and this he did；
that when their left eyes were covered by their shields； they
might be wholly useless in war。 Now when the king of the
Ammonites had served those beyond Jordan in this manner； he led
his army against those that were called Gileadites； and having
pitched his camp at the metropolis of his enemies； which was the
city of Jabesh； he sent ambassadors to them； commanding them
either to deliver themselves up； on condition to have their right
eyes plucked out； or to undergo a siege； and to have their cities
overthrown。 He gave them their choice； whether they would cut off
a small member of their body； or universally perish。 However； the
Gileadites were so affrighted at these offers； that they had not
courage to say any thing to either of them； neither that they
would deliver themselves up； nor that they would fight him。 But
they desired that he would give them seven days' respite； that
they might send ambassadors to their countrymen； and entreat
their assistance； and if they came to assist them； they would
fight； but if that assistance were impossible to be obtained from
them； they said they would deliver themselves up to suffer
whatever he pleased to inflict upon them。
2。 So Nabash； contemning the multitude of the Gileadites and the
answer they gave； allowed them a respite； and gave them leave to
send to whomsoever they pleased for assistance。 So they
immediately sent to the Israelites； city by city； and informed
them what Nabash had threatened to do to them； and what great
distress they were in。 Now the people fell into tears and grief
at the hearing of what the ambassadors from Jabesh said； and the
terror they were in permitted them to do nothing more。 But when
the messengers were come to the city of king Saul； and declared
the dangers in which the inhabitants of Jabesh were； the people
were in the same affliction as those in the other cities； for
they lamented the calamity of those related to them。 And when
Saul was returned from his husbandry into the city； he found his
fellow citizens weeping； and when； upon inquiry； he had learned
the cause of the confusion and sadness they were in； he was
seized with a divine fury； and sent away the ambassadors from the
inhabitants of Jabesh； and promised them to come to their
assistance on the third day； and to beat their enemies before
sun…rising； that the sun upon its rising might see that they had
already conquered； and were freed from the fears they were under：
but he bid some of them stay to conduct them the right way to
Jabesh。
3。 So being desirous to turn the people to this war against the
Ammonites by fear of the losses they should otherwise undergo；
and that they might the more suddenly be gathered together； he
cut the sinews of his oxen； and threatened to do the same to all
such as did not come with their armor to Jordan the next day； and
follow him and Samuel the prophet whithersoever they should lead
them。 So they came together； out of fear of the losses they were
threatened with； at the appointed time。 And the multitude were
numbered at the city Bezek。 And he found the number of those that
were gathered together； besides that of the tribe of Judah； to be
seven hundred thousand； while those of that tribe were seventy
thousand。 So he passed over Jordan； and proceeded in marching all
that night； thirty furlongs； and came to Jabesh before
sun…rising。 So he divided the army into three companies； and fell
upon their enemies on every side on the sudden； and when they
expected no such thing； and joining battle with them； they slew a
great many of the Ammonites； as also their king Nabash。 This
glorious action was done by Saul； and was related with great
commendation of him to all the Hebrews； and he thence gained a
wonderful reputation for his valor： for although there were some
of them that contemned him before； they now changed their minds；
and honored him； and esteemed him as the best of men： for he did
not content himself with having saved the inhabitants of Jabesh
only； but he made an expedition into the country of the
Ammonites； and laid it all waste； and took a large prey； and so
returned to his own country most glorious