returned to his own country most gloriously。 So the people were
greatly pleased at these excellent performances of Saul； and
rejoiced that they had constituted him their king。 They also made
a clamor against those that pretended he would be of no advantage
to their affairs； and they said； Where now are these men？ … let
them be brought to punishment； with all the like things that
multitudes usually say when they are elevated with prosperity；
against those that lately had despised the authors of it。 But
Saul； although he took the good…will and the affection of these
men very kindly； yet did he swear that he would not see any of
his countrymen slain that day； since it was absurd to mix this
victory； which God had given them； with the blood and slaughter
of those that were of the same lineage with themselves； and that
it was more agreeable to be men of a friendly disposition； and so
to betake themselves to feasting。
4。 And when Samuel had told them that he ought to confirm the
kingdom to Saul by a second ordination of him； they all came
together to the city of Gilgal； for thither did he command them
to come。 So the prophet anointed Saul with the holy oil in the
sight of the multitude； and declared him to be king the second
time。 And so the government of the Hebrews was changed into a
regal government； for in the days of Moses； and his disciple
Joshua； who was their general； they continued under an
aristocracy； but after the death of Joshua； for eighteen years in
all； the multitude had no settled form of government； but were in
an anarchy； after which they returned to their former government；
they then permitting themselves to be judged by him who appeared
to be the best warrior and most courageous； whence it was that
they called this interval of their government the Judges。
5。 Then did Samuel the prophet call another assembly also； and
said to them；〃 I solemnly adjure you by God Almighty； who brought
those excellent brethren； I mean Moses and Aaron； into the world；
and delivered our fathers from the Egyptians； and from the
slavery。 they endured under them； that you will not speak what
you say to gratify me； nor suppress any thing out of fear of me；
nor be overborne by any other passion； but say； What have I ever
done that was cruel or unjust？ or what have I done out of lucre
or covetousness； or to gratify others？ Bear witness against me；
if I have taken an ox or a sheep； or any such thing； which yet
when they are taken to support men； it is esteemed blameless； or
have I taken an ass for mine own use of any one to his grief？ …
lay some one such crime to my charge； now we are in your king's
presence。〃 But they cried out； that no such thing had been done
by him； but that he had presided over the nation after a holy and
righteous manner。
6。 Hereupon Samuel； when such a testimony had been given him by
them all； said； 〃Since you grant that you are not able to lay any
ill thing to my charge hitherto； come on now； and do you hearken
while I speak with great freedom to you。 You have been guilty of
great impiety against God； in asking you a king。 It behoves you
to remember that our grandfather Jacob came down into Egypt； by
reason of a famine； with seventy souls only of our family； and
that their posterity multiplied there to many ten thousands； whom
the Egyptians brought into slavery and hard oppression； that God
himself； upon the prayers of our fathers； sent Moses and Aaron；
who were brethren； and gave them power to deliver the multitude
out of their distress； and this without a king。 These brought us
into this very land which you now possess： and when you enjoyed
these advantages from God； you betrayed his worship and religion；
nay； moreover； when you were brought under the hands of your
enemies； he delivered you； first by rendering you superior to the
Assyrians and their forces； he then made you to overcome the
Ammonites and the Moabites； and last of all the Philistines； and
these things have been achieved under the conduct of Jephtha and
Gideon。 What madness therefore possessed you to fly from God； and
to desire to be under a king？ … yet have I ordained him for king
whom he chose for you。 However； that I may make it plain to you
that God is angry and displeased at your choice of kingly
government； I will so dispose him that he shall declare this very
plainly to you by strange signals； for what none of you ever saw
here before； I mean a winter storm in the midst of harvest； （10）
I will entreat of God； and will make it visible to you。〃 Now； as
soon as he had said this； God gave such great signals by thunder
and lightning； and the descent of hail； as attested the truth of
all that the prophet had said； insomuch that they were amazed and
terrified； and confessed they had sinned； and had fallen into
that sin through ignorance； and besought the prophet； as one that
was a tender and gentle father to them； to render God so merciful
as to forgive this their sin； which they had added to those other
offenses whereby they had affronted him and transgressed against
him。 So he promised them that he would beseech God； and persuade
him to forgive them these their sins。 However； he advised them to
be righteous； and to be good； and ever to remember the miseries
that had befallen them on account of their departure from virtue：
as also to remember the strange signs God had shown them； and the
body of laws that Moses had given them； if they had any desire of
being preserved and made happy with their king。 But he said； that
if they should grow careless of these things； great judgments
would come from God upon them； and upon their king。 And when
Samuel had thus prophesied to the Hebrews； he dismissed them to
their own homes； having confirmed the kingdom to Saul the second
time。
CHAPTER 6。
How The Philistines Made Another Expedition Against The Hebrews
And Were Beaten。
1。 Now Saul chose out of the multitude about three thousand men；
and he took two thousand of them to be the guards of his own
body； and abode in the city Bethel； but he gave the rest of them
to Jonathan his son； to be the guards of his body； and sent him
to Gibeah； where he besieged and took a certain garrison of the
Philistines； not far from Gilgal； for the Philistines of Gibeah
had beaten the Jews； and taken their weapons away； and had put
garrisons into the strongest places of the country； and had
forbidden them to carry any instrument of iron； or at all to make
use of any iron in any case whatsoever。 And on account of this
prohibition it was that the husbandmen； if they had occasion to
sharpen any of their tools； whether it were the coulter or the
spade； or any instrument of husbandry； they came to the
Philistines to do it。 Now as soon as the Philistines heard of
this slaughter of their garrison； they were in a rage about it；
and； looking on this contempt as a terrible affront offered them；
they made war against the Jews； with three hundred thousand
footmen； and thirty thousand chariots； and six thousand horses；
and they pitched their camp at the city Michmash。 When Saul； the
king of the Hebrews； was informed of this； he went down to the
city Gilgal； and made proclamation over all the country； that
they should try to regain their liberty； and called them to the
war against the Philistines； diminishing their forces； and
despising them as not very considerable； and as not so great but
they might hazard a battle with them。 But when the people about
Saul observed how numerous the Philistines were； they were under
a great consternation； and some of them hid themselves in caves
and in dens under ground； but the greater part fled into the land
beyond Jordan； which belonged to Gad and Reuben。
2。 But Saul sent to the prophet； and called him to consult with
him about the war and the public affairs； so he commanded him to
stay there for him； and to prepare sacrifices； for he would come
to him within seven days； that they might offer sacrifices on the
seventh day； and might then join battle with their enemies。 So he
waited （11） as the prophet sent to him to do； yet did not he；
however； observe the command that was given him； but when he saw
that the prophet tarried longer than he expected； and that he was
deserted by the soldiers； he took the sacrifices and offered
them； and when he heard that Samuel was come； he went out to meet
him。 But the prophet said he had not done well in disobeying the
injunctions he had sent to him； and had not staid till his
coming； which being appointed according to the will of God； he
had prevented him in offering up those prayers and those
sacrifices that he should have made for the multitude； and that
he therefore had performed Divine offices in an ill manner； and
had been rash in performing them。 Hereupon Saul made an apology
for himself； and said that he had waited as many days as Samuel
had appointed him； that he had been so quick in offering his
sacrifices； upon account of the necessity he was in； and because
his soldiers were departing from him； out of their fear of the
enemy's camp at Michmash； the report being gone abroad that they
were coming down upon him of Gilgal。 To which Samuel replied；
〃Nay； certainly； if thou hadst been a righteous man； （12） and
hadst not disobeyed me； nor slighted the commands which God
suggested to me concerning the present state of affairs； and
hadst not acted more hastily than the present circumstances
required； thou wouldst have been permitted to reign a long time；
and thy posterity after thee。〃 So Samuel； being grieved at what
happened； returned home； but Saul came to the city Gibeah； with
his son Jonathan； having only six hundred men with him； and of
these the greater part had no weapons； because of the scarcity of
iron in that country； as well as of those that could make such
weapons； for； as we showed a little before； the Philistines had
not suffered them to have such iron or such workmen。 Now the
Philistines divided their army into three companies； and took as
many roads； and laid waste the country of the Hebrews； while king
Saul and his son Jonathan saw what was done； but were not able to
defend the land； having no more than six hundred men with them。
But as he； and his s