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1. But Samuel the prophet, when he had ordered the affairs of the
people after a convenient manner, and had appointed a city for
every district of them, he commanded them to come to such cities,
to have the controversies that they had one with another
determined in them, he himself going over those cities twice in a
year, and doing them justice; and by that means he kept them in
very good order for a long time.
2. But afterwards he found himself oppressed with old age, and
not able to do what he used to do, so he committed the government
and the care of the multitude to his sons, - the elder of whom
was called Joel, and the name of the younger was Abiah. He also
enjoined them to reside and judge the people, the one at the city
of Bethel, and the other at Beersheba, and divided the people
into districts that should be under the jurisdiction of each of
them. Now these men afford us an evident example and
demonstration how some children are not of the like dispositions
with their parents; but sometimes perhaps good and moderate,
though born of wicked parents; and sometimes showing themselves
to be wicked, though born of good parents: for these men turning
aside from their father's good courses, and taking a course that
was contrary to them, perverted justice for the 'filthy lucre of
gifts and bribes, and made their determinations not according to
truth, but according to bribery, and turned aside to luxury, and
a costly way of living; so that as, in the first place, they
practiced what was contrary to the will of God, so did they, in
the second place, what was contrary to the will of the prophet
their father, who had taken a great deal of care, and made a very
careful provision that the multitude should be righteous.
3. But the people, upon these injuries offered to their former
constitution and government by the prophet's sons, were very
uneasy at their actions, and came running to the prophet, who
then lived at the city Ramah, and informed him of the
transgressions of his sons; and said, That as he was himself old
already, and too infirm by that age of his to oversee their
affairs in the manner he used to do, so they begged of him, and
entreated him, to appoint some person to be king over them, who
might rule over the nation, and avenge them of the Philistines,
who ought to be punished for their former oppressions. These
words greatly afflicted Samuel, on account of his innate love of
justice, and his hatred to kingly government, for he was very
fond of an aristocracy, as what made the men that used it of a
divine and happy disposition; nor could he either think of eating
or sleeping, out of his concern and torment of mind at what they
had said, but all the night long did he continue awake and
revolved these notions in his mind.
4. While he was thus disposed, God appeared to him, and comforted
him, saying, That he ought not to be uneasy at what the multitude
desired, because it was not he, but Himself whom they so
insolently despised, and would not have to be alone their king;
that they had been contriving these things from the very day that
they came out of Egypt; that however. in no long time they would
sorely repent of what they did, which repentance yet could not
undo what was thus done for futurity; that they would be
sufficiently rebuked for their contempt, and the ungrateful
conduct they have used towards me, and towards thy prophetic
office. "So I command thee to ordain them such a one as I shall
name beforehand to be their king, when thou hast first described
what mischiefs kingly government will bring upon them, and openly
testified before them into what a great change of affairs they
are hasting."
5. When Samuel had heard this, he called the Jews early in the
morning, and confessed to them that he was to ordain them a king;
but he said that he was first to describe to them what would
follow, what treatment they would receive from their kings, and
with how many mischiefs they must struggle. "For know ye," said
he, "that, in the first place, they will take your sons away from
you, and they will command some of them to be drivers of their
chariots, and some to be their horsemen, and the guards of their
body, and others of them to be runners before them, and captains
of thousands, and captains of hundreds; they will also make them
their artificers, makers of armor, and of chariots, and of
instruments; they will make them their husbandmen also, and the
curators of their own fields, and the diggers of their own
vineyards; nor will there be any thing which they will not do at
their commands, as if they were slaves bought with money. They
will also appoint your daughters to be confectioners, and cooks,
and bakers; and these will be obliged to do all sorts of work
which women slaves, that are in fear of stripes and torments,
submit to. They will, besides this, take away your possessions,
and bestow them upon their eunuchs, and the guards of their
bodies, and will give the herds of your cattle to their own
servants: and to say briefly all at once, you, and all that is
yours, will be servants to your king, and will become no way
superior to his slaves; and when you suffer thus, you will
thereby be put in mind of what I now say. And when you repent of
what you have done, you will beseech God to have mercy upon you,
and to grant you a quick deliverance from your kings; but he will
not accept your prayers, but will neglect you, and permit you to
suffer the punishment your evil conduct has deserved."
6. But the multitude was still so foolish as to be deaf to these
predictions of what would befall them; and too peevish to suffer
a determination which they had injudiciously once made, to be
taken out of their mind; for they could not be turned from their
purpose, nor did they regard the words of Samuel, but
peremptorily insisted on their resolution, and desired him to
ordain them a king immediately, and not trouble himself with
fears of what would happen hereafter, for that it was necessary
they should have with them one to fight their battles, and to
avenge them of their enemies, and that it was no way absurd, when
their neighbors were under kingly government, that they should
have the same form of government also. So when Samuel saw that
what he had said had not diverted them from their purpose, but
that they continued resolute, he said, "Go you every one home for
the present; when it is fit I will send for you, as soon as I
shall have learned from God who it is that he will give you for
your king."
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