this, they returned to Ekron. But the men of Bethshemesh, negligent and careless, looked upon the holy Ark. The punishment was instantaneous: fifty thousand and seventy persons were struck dead. The Bethshemites, awed and overwhelmed by terror, exclaimed, 'Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God, and to whom shall He go up from us?' Kirjath-jearim was a neighbouring settlement, mainly built on the hill-side. To the care of an inhabitant of this little town, to Abinadab, the Ark was confided; and his son Eleazar was sanctified as a priest, that he might guard the sacred treasure. the house of Abinadab for twenty years. of the Tabernacle was gone, and Shiloh holy place from the Biblical records.

It remained in Thus the pride disappears as a

By the events just narrated the hatred of the Philistines against the Hebrews was not diminished; on the contrary, it menaced, at any moment, to break out again in a fiercer blaze. So the people lived in trembling and despondency, and 'the whole house of Israel lamented after the Lord.'

78. SAMUEL THE JUDGE.
[1 SAM. VII.]

Nearly four hundred years had passed since the Hebrews had conquered Palestine, and their little commonwealth was as disunited as it had ever been, and as disobedient to God. Never was a great master-mind, strong to direct and to rule, so much wanted as at that time. The Israelites required more than a champion-they needed a teacher and a guide. Samuel was that master-mind; he became that teacher and guide; his word went out to all Israel,' and all Israel, even from Dan to Beer-sheba, knew that Samuel was appointed to be the prophet of the Lord.'

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His home was Ramah, his birthplace; but he went

yearly round to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, to judge and instruct the people. His life was pure and blameless; stern with himself as with others, he accepted no bribe, no gifts. He had long ceased to be a ministering priest in the House of God; he had become a 'seer,' an interpreter of God's will. His name was known throughout Israel, his command was feared, his intercession entreated. But imbued as he was with God's spirit, he wished to impart it to others, and to diffuse it throughout Israel. He established or improved schools for public teachers or prophets, who, by devotion and religious fervour, should promote the enlightenment, the piety, and patriotism of the people. Their influence was exceedingly important, and as a rule wholesome, although we hear constant complaints of false prophets.' As in all eastern institutions of a similar kind, music and dancing were usually employed as means for rousing religious enthusiasm. The prophets would seize the tabor and the harp, and their voice would burst into loud songs, whilst they performed fantastic dances. They were men remarkable for zeal and energy. They warned the people against idolatry and lawlessness, and rebuked the kings for their evil deeds. They announced punishment and predicted blessings. They exhorted to repentance and proclaimed the Divine forgiveness. They attempted to shield religion against the abuse of mere forms and ceremonials, and to strengthen the true piety of the heart. They advised the statesman, and strove to uphold the political dignity and independence of the country.1

Samuel longed to restore unity, peace, and safety to his nation; but he felt that this was impossible as long as idolatrous practices prevailed. Therefore he called the people together, and exhorted them to put away their

'See the first chapters of Vol. II.

strange gods, and to return to the Lord with their whole heart. The multitude listened to his earnest appeal, and they removed the images of Baal and Ashtarte, and served the Lord alone.' Then he summoned them to Mizpah for a great public sacrifice and a day of humiliation. The Philistines, hearing of their peaceful assembly, resolved to attack them in their defenceless state, hoping to crush the whole land in one battle. The affrighted Israelites bade Samuel pray for them. The prophet offered up a burnt sacrifice to the Lord, and invoked Him fervently for the people. As the smoke was rising from the altar, the Philistines approached in battle array; but a terrific storm burst over their heads, and discomfited their army. They turned to flight, and the Israelites pursued them to the southern frontier of the land, and utterly routed them. Samuel set up a memorial stone between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of the place Ebenezer, saying, 'Hitherto has the Lord helped us.' The Hebrews now easily reconquered all the towns which the enemies had before taken, and even wrested from them a portion of their own territory. Indeed, the Philistines were thoroughly subdued and weakened, and did not any more dare to attack the Hebrews during the lifetime of Samuel.

While this great and unweariedly active man was in his vigour, the affairs of the commonwealth prospered. But when, in the course of years, his powers diminished, he appointed his two sons Joel and Abiah, who dwelt in Beersheba, to assist him as judges. Reckless and utterly depraved, they proved unworthy of their father; they were eager for unjust gain, took bribes, and perverted judgThe people of Israel looked with grave apprehension into the future; should they entrust their welfare to leaders so unsafe and so contemptible? Their elders went to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, 'Behold,

ment.

thou art old and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king to judge us, like all the nations.'

This thought, expressed at last, must long have laid dormant in the minds of the Hebrews; ever inclined to imitate surrounding nations, wavering and deficient in self-reliance, the tribes of Israel desired one ruler or sovereign, who might enforce obedience, and keep the whole people together with a strong hand. Failing in steadfast faith, they sought a visible king; and desiring to secure for him absolute authority, they demanded him of Samuel. Full of anxious care and perplexity, himself doubting the wisdom of the people's request, and almost feeling that it involved a virtual rejection of God's rule and a swerving into pagan usages, the prophet sought guidance and enlightenment in prayer. Then God made known to him His will: Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be king over them. . . . Yet warn them solemnly, and show them the manner of the king that will reign over them.' Samuel called the people together, and repeated to them the words of the Lord. He then described plainly what they would have to expect from a monarchical rule. "This will be,' he said, the manner of the king that shall rule over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself for his chariots, and for his horsemen, and they will have to run before his chariots; and he will appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and will set them to plough his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots; and he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers; and he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his ser

vants; and he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his officers and to his servants; and he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your choicest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work; he will take the tenth of your sheep, and you shall be his servants; and you shall cry out in that day on account of your king whom you will have chosen for you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.' But not even this dark and alarming picture deterred the people from their purpose; they repeated their demand with petulant impatience: Nay, we will have a king over us, that we may be like all the other nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.' Samuel brought this reply of the people before God, who bade him do as they desired. He then dismissed them to their homes.

79. ELECTION OF SAUL.

[1 SAM. VIII.-X.]

In the small but valiant tribe of Benjamin, there lived a man named Kish, famous for his wealth. He had a son Saul, distinguished by a fine and manly appearance, a young man of tall and majestic stature, towering above the rest of his townsmen from his shoulders upwards. Kish was rich in herds, and Saul assisted in tending them. It so happened that some asses belonging to Kish had wandered astray and were lost, and that he bade Saul go with one of his servants to recover the animals. The two set out; and passing through Mount Ephraim and the surrounding country, they arrived after a three days' search in the land of Zuph. Their efforts had been fruitless, and Saul said to his servant, Come and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the asses, and