With whom did they make war? How did they think to de feat them? What became of the ark?

The fate of Eli's sons. Relate the circumstances of Eli's death? What did the Philistines do with the ark? What happened in Dagon's temple? Which were their chief cities ?

How were their people afflicted? How long did they keep the ark? What did their wise men recommend?

How was it sent away? Why did it not remain at Bethshemesh? How long was it in Kirjath-jearim? Where did Israel defeat

the Philistines? Where did Samuel set up his Ebenezer? At what places did he judge? Where was his own house? Where is Ramah? Who judged Israel when Samuel was old

CHAPTER XVII.

The rule of a King. Now the Lord had commanded Samuel that he should reason with the people, and say to them that their king would deal with them according to his own will, that he would take their sons and daughters to be his servants, and the best of their fields, and vineyards, and oliveyards, and they themselves should be his servants.

And they said, "Nay, but we will have a king to reign over us."

Saul anointed, B.C. 1095.-Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, and he had a son named Saul, who was taller by a head than any other man in Israel. And the asses of Kish being lost, Saul and his servant went to seek them, and came to Zuph, where Samuel then was; and Samuel brought him in, among the elders, and the next day he anointed him with a "vial of oil" as king over Israel, for the Lord had warned him of these things before Saul came.

Proofs of Divine appointment. And Samuel, to encourage Saul, gave him three tokens, for he said that he should meet two men by Rachel's sepulchre,

who would say, "Thy father hath left caring for the asses, and sorroweth for you; thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel; and they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; after that thou shalt come to the Philistine garrison and meet a company of prophets, and the Spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and thou shalt be turned into another man."

Then Samuel called the people together at Mizpeh, and cast lots for a king, and Saul was chosen, and when the people saw him, they said "God save the king."

Saul defeats the Ammonites.-Now Nahash, king of Ammon, besieged Jabesh-Gilead with a great army, and would make no treaty with the men of that city, but on condition that he should destroy their right eyes. And they asked for seven days to consider the condition, and they sent messengers to all Israel for help.

And Saul summoned the people, and went against Nahash with three hundred and thirty thousand men, and utterly defeated the Ammonites; and they returned to Gilgal in triumph.

And at Gilgal they made Saul king, and offered sacrifices of peace offerings to the Lord, and all Israel rejoiced greatly.

Samuel justifies himself.-And Samuel said to the people who were assembled at Gilgal, "I have made a king over you, and now behold I am old and greyheaded, and I have walked before you from my childhood until now. Behold here I am, witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: Whose ox, or whose ass have I taken? whom have I oppressed or defrauded? or of whom have I received any bribe, to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it to you."

And they said, "The Lord is witness that thou hast not defrauded nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man.'

Thunder and rain.-Then Samuel told the people that they had sinned against the Lord in asking for a king, and as a token of his displeasure, he called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain. And it was wheat harvest, and the people were greatly afraid, and they entreated Samuel to pray for them.

And Samuel exhorted them to serve the Lord in truth with all their heart, and said, "God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you."

Saul sins in offering sacrifice.-Now Saul abode in Michmash with two thousand men, and Jonathan, his son, had one thousand in Gibeah of Benjamin. And Jonathan smote a garrison of the Philistines. The Philistines, when they heard of it, gathered together to fight against Saul and Jonathan, with thirty thousand chariots and six hundred horsemen, and the people were greatly afraid, and hid themselves, so that Saul's little army was melting away from fear. And Saul waited anxiously six days for Samuel to come, and enquire of the Lord for him. And when he did not come on the seventh day, Saul offered a sacrifice himself, which was not lawful except to those who were priests. And when he had finished the sacrifice, Samuel came and rebuked him.

Jonathan's victory.-Now there were left with Saul and Jonathan only about six hundred men, and of these only the king and his son had proper weapons of war, because the Philistines had taken away all the smiths from Israel, "Lest the Israelites should make them swords and spears."

And Jonathan went out with the young man who carried his armour, and they came over against the

Philistine outpost. And they climbed up into the fort, and slew the men within it, about twenty in number, and the Philistine host was smitten with a panic fear, and they went on beating down one another. And the people of Israel followed them, and gained a great victory that day.

Saul's rash curse.-Now early on that day, Saul had forbidden the people to taste any food, under a curse; and when the battle was over, the people were so famished that they flew upon the spoil, and devoured sheep and cattle which had not been killed in the proper way. And Jonathan, being ignorant of his father's curse, took some honey to refresh himself, and when Saul discovered it, he would have killed his son, but the people rescued him.

Saul's victories.-So Saul took the kingdom, and fought against his enemies on every side; against Moab, and Ammon, against Edom and the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; moreover, he delivered Israel out of the hand of the Amalekites.

And it came to pass, that when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto himself. The destruction of Amalek. - And Samuel said unto Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint thee king over his people Israel; now, therefore, hearken to my voice. Go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not.”

And Saul warned the Kenites, the descendants of Jethro, to depart from among the Amalekites, and they did so.

And he smote the Amalekites, and destroyed the people, but he spared Agag, the king, and all the best of the cattle, though Samuel had strictly charged him to destroy all.

Saul rejected.-Now Samuel went to meet Saul on his return, and he met him in Carmel, and Saul said

unto him, "Blessed be thou of the Lord, I have performed the commandment of the Lord." And Samuel said, “What meaneth then this bleating of sheep in mine ear, and this lowing of oxen which I hear?” "Wherefore didst thou not obey the commandment of the Lord ?" "Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king."

And as Samuel turned away, Saul caught hold of his garment, and it rent; and he said, "The Lord hath rent the kingdom from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou."

Agag slain. And Samuel slew Agag, king of the Amalekites, in Gilgal, and went away to Ramah, to his own house, and came no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Yet he mourned for Saul, because the Lord had rejected him from being king.

EXERCISES ON CHAPTER XVII.

What was said of the sons of Samuel? What evils did they?
What did the people wish for? Who was offended at this?
What did God say to Samuel about it? Did they still wish it?
Who was the first king of Israel? When was he chosen ?
Of what tribe was Saul? What tokens did he receive?
Where was Saul elected? What did the people say when it
was over? Who was Nahash?

What cruel condition did he offer? Who rescued the men of
Jabesh-Gilead? How did he summon his army?

Who began an attack on the Philistines?

How did Saul disobey Samuel?

How had the Israelites sharpened their axes, &c.? Why? How did the defeat of the Philistines begin? How was Jonathan in danger? Against what people was Saul sent ?

Where did Amalek dwell? How did Saul succeed?

What did he do with the spoil?

How was Saul punished for disobedience? Who was Agag?