by their great and wise prophet Samuel. They supposed, therefore, that, even if he were not recognised as king of Israel by all the tribes, he must possess considerable power and influence. They arrived breathless in Gibeah, and told their tale of anguish to the people, who received it with a loud wail. Saul was absent, tending the herds of his father. When he returned in the evening from the fields, bitter cries of distress struck upon his ear. When he learnt the cause, his burning anger was aroused. His kingly nature awoke. He sent his summons round. He ordered a yoke of oxen to be hewn into pieces, one of which was sent to each of the tribes of Israel with this message: Whosoever comes not after Saul and after Samuel-so shall it be done to his oxen.' This was the muster-call, rude but powerful, a mirror of the age. The people responded nobly; they rose as one man, and assembled at Bezek, an army of three hundred and thirty thousand men. Saul, placing himself at their head, marched to the succour of Jabesh. The Ammonites were defeated with terrible slaughter, put to flight, and scattered.

This glorious victory secured the fame and authority of Saul. So great was the enthusiasm which it kindled among the people, that, anxious to show their devotion, they offered to put to death those who had formerly despised him. Saul rejected this revengeful proposal; his new reign should not be stained with the blood of any of his subjects. On the contrary, he ordered feasts of public rejoicing to be held, and sacrifices to be offered to God at Gilgal. All the people assembled round their king Saul and their prophet Samuel. There at Gilgal, the voice of the old leader was heard once more by the Israelites. In a forcible appeal, Samuel reviewed his past life, and called upon the nation to bear witness to his integrity and self-denial. He then gave a short sketch

of the dangers and misfortunes which, through God's help, they and their ancestors had overcome, from the time they left Egypt down to the recent discomfiture of Nahash and his army. He described their constant disobedience and sinfulness, which they had lately crowned by their obstinate demand for a visible monarch, whereas God should be their only ruler. To atone for all past failings, he implored both the king and the people to adhere firmly to their faith in God, and to act in submission to His behests. Honour, happiness, and prosperity were within their grasp, if they were obedient to Him. But if not, then His hand would be heavy against them, as it had often been against their fathers.

To prove to the people that he had spoken by Divine command, Samuel called down a sign from heaven. It was the season of the wheat-harvest, and the sky was a vault of serene, unbroken blue. Yet suddenly a terrific storm of thunder and lightning and rain burst forth. The affrighted people, thinking that this was a mark of Divine anger, expressed their repentance for having desired a king; but Samuel re-assured them, only exhorting them to revere God and to serve Him in truth. • But if you act wickedly,' he concluded, 'you shall be consumed, both you and your king.'

Before his campaign against the Ammonites, Saul appears as a young and simple husbandman living in his father's house; but now he is depicted as the true ruler of his people, with a body-guard of 3,000 men, and as the chief of a household of his own. We hear of his wife Ahinoam, of his three sons Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchishua, and of his two daughters Merab and Michal. He had made Abner his cousin, the son of Ner, the captain of his army. He himself shared the command with his eldest son Jonathan, for we are told that a thousand men were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin.' And this Jonathan,

thus casually mentioned, has become the darling hero of all readers of the Bible, the ideal of youthful excellence, the embodiment of unswerving devotion, of self-sacrificing friendship, of generous chivalry. He was rich in modesty and grace, endowed with the spirit of courage and enterprise, brave, loyal, tender-hearted, a lover of adventure and heroic feats, but above all, of a stainless purity of soul that shines, a bright star, through the night of those remote ages. He took an active part in the campaign that had now become urgent against the Philistines, the archenemies of the Israelites. They had succeeded in obtaining a firm footing in the land, they had established their encampments at Gibeah, at Geba, and at Michmash, and they had taken possession of the pass of Beth-horon. Saul was determined to expel them from the Hebrew territory. Among the first who achieved a success in this warfare was Jonathan, who defeated the enemy's garrison at Geba. The deed was loudly announced by the blast of the trumpet; for Saul exclaimed, 'Let the Hebrews hear!' The Philistines were by this defeat stung to vigorous action; they assembled a vast army at Michmash, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and other soldiers, numerous as the sand which is upon the seashore.' The Israelites, sorely afraid of the power of this immense host, left their homes and peaceful pursuits; women hid themselves in caves and thickets, among rocks and in mountain-clefts; others fled beyond the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead.

81. SAUL'S DISOBEDIENCE.

[1 SAM. XV.]

Saul was at Gilgal waiting for Samuel, who had promised to come in order to offer up the usual sacrifices previous to the march of the Hebrew army. Many reso

lute men had rallied round him. For seven days he expected the arrival of the prophet in vain. At last he grew impatient; the people, anxious and terrified, began to withdraw from him, and the Philistines were pressing hard for a battle. He could no longer tarry with safety; and reluctantly assuming the office of priest, he presented the burnt- and the peace-offering himself. While these ceremonies were being performed, Samuel appeared. He listened to Saul's explanation, but reproved him sternly for what he pronounced to be a violation of God's ordinances, and declared that the kingdom which had been granted to him and his house for ever, would, owing to his disobedience, be taken from him; for the Lord has selected for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him to be ruler over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.' Saul listened to this severe and unexpected announcement with unmurmuring resignation. He offered no word of reply. He had accepted his elevation from Samuel; he had now to bear from him rebuke and humiliation. Yet so little did he, even in this trying moment, think of himself, that his whole attention was centred in his duties as military leader against the menacing Philistines. He stood with his son Jonathan on the heights of Gibeah, surrounded by a little band of six hundred men; the Ark of the Lord had been brought into the camp, and was in the care of Achiah, a grandchild of Eli.

So despotic had been the rule of the Philistines in Canaan, that no smith had been allowed to ply his trade among the Hebrews, lest they make for themselves swords and spears.' The Israelites were obliged to come to the Philistines to sharpen their plough-shares and their axes, their spades, forks, and other iron implements. So it came to pass in the day of battle that there was

neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan; but with Saul and with Jonathan his son alone they were found.' How complete and how degrading does the dependence of the Hebrews appear in the light of this simple statement!

6

The Philistine forces were entrenched between steep and precipitous heights, divided from Gibeah by a narrow valley; rocks rose upon each side of this valley like a natural fortification. It occurred to the ardent and adventure-loving Jonathan to try and cause a panic among the Philistine soldiers by surprising them. It was a daring scheme, which he confided to his devoted armourbearer alone. Come and let us go over to the garrison of these heathens; it may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is no difficulty for the Lord to save by many or by few.' The servant's answer proves the faithful love he bore to his young master: Do all that is in thy heart; turn, behold, I am with thee, according to thy heart.' 6 'Behold,' said Jonathan, 'we will pass over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them.

If they

say thus to us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them. But if they say thus, Come up to us, then we will go up; for the Lord has delivered them into our hands, and this shall be the sign to us.'

Intrepid and dauntless, the two men secretly left the camp at Gibeah. They crept in silence along the projecting rocks, until at last they emerged from their shelter, and stood in full view of the Philistine garrison that was drawn up on the heights of Michmash. They were seen by the enemy, who naturally took them for some of those Hebrews who had been concealing themselves in the clefts and caves, and were now cautiously coming forth from their hiding-places. They shouted down mockingly, Come up to us, and we will show you a