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and the third a bottle of wine； for the sacrificial feast。 They gave Saul
the usual salutation and also presented him with two of the three loaves of
bread。 At Gibeah； his own city； a band of prophets returning from 〃the high
place〃 were singing the praise of God to the music of the pipe and the harp；
the psaltery and the tabret。 As Saul approached them the Spirit of the Lord
came upon him also； and he joined in their song of praise； and prophesied
with them。 He spoke with so great fluency and wisdom； and joined so
earnestly in the service； that those who had known him exclaimed in
astonishment； 〃What is this that is come unto the son of Kish？ Is Saul also
among the prophets？〃
As Saul united with the prophets in their worship； a great change was
wrought in him by the Holy Spirit。 The light of divine purity and holiness
shone in upon the darkness of the natural heart。 He saw himself as he was
before God。 He saw
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the beauty of holiness。 He was now called to begin the warfare against sin
and Satan； and he was made to feel that in this conflict his strength must
come wholly from God。 The plan of salvation； which had before seemed dim and
uncertain； was opened to his understanding。 The Lord endowed him with
courage and wisdom for his high station。 He revealed to him the Source of
strength and grace； and enlightened his understanding as to the divine
claims and his own duty。
The anointing of Saul as king had not been made known to the nation。 The
choice of God was to be publicly manifested by lot。 For this purpose Samuel
convoked the people at Mizpeh。 Prayer was offered for divine guidance； then
followed the solemn ceremony of casting the lot。 In silence the assembled
multitude awaited the issue。 The tribe； the family； and the household were
successively designated； and then Saul； the son of Kish； was pointed out as
the individual chosen。 But Saul was not in the assembly。 Burdened with a
sense of the great responsibility about to fall upon him； he had secretly
withdrawn。 He was brought back to the congregation； who observed with pride
and satisfaction that he was of kingly bearing and noble form； being 〃higher
than any of the people from his shoulders and upward。〃 Even Samuel； when
presenting him to the assembly； exclaimed； 〃See ye him whom the Lord hath
chosen； that there is none like him among all the people？〃 And in response
arose from the vast throng one long； loud shout of joy； 〃God save the king！〃
Samuel then set before the people 〃the manner of the kingdom；〃 stating the
principles upon which the monarchial government was based； and by which it
should be controlled。 The king was not to be an absolute monarch； but was to
hold his power in subjection to the will of the Most High。 This address was
recorded in a book； wherein were set forth the prerogatives of the prince
and the rights and privileges of the people。 Though the nation had despised
Samuel's warning； the faithful prophet； while forced to yield to their
desires； still endeavored； as far as possible； to guard their liberties。
While the people in general were ready to acknowledge Saul as their king；
there was a large party in opposition。 For a monarch to be chosen from
Benjamin； the smallest of the tribes of Israeland that to the neglect of
both Judah and Ephraim； the largest and most powerfulwas a slight which
they could not brook。 They refused to profess allegiance to Saul or to bring
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him the customary presents。 Those who had been most urgent in their demand
for a king were the very ones that refused to accept with gratitude the man
of God's appointment。 The members of each faction had their favorite； whom
they wished to see placed on the throne； and several among the leaders had
desired the honor for themselves。 Envy and jealousy burned in the hearts of
many。 The efforts of pride and ambition had resulted in disappointment and
discontent。
In this condition of affairs Saul did not see fit to assume the royal
dignity。 Leaving Samuel to administer the government as formerly； he
returned to Gibeah。 He was honorably escorted thither by a company； who；
seeing the divine choice in his selection； were determined to sustain him。
But he made no attempt to maintain by force his right to the throne。 In his
home among the uplands of Benjamin he quietly occupied himself in the duties
of a husbandman； leaving the establishment of his authority entirely to God。
Soon after Saul's appointment the Ammonites； under their king； Nahash；
invaded the territory of the tribes east of Jordan and threatened the city
of Jabesh…gilead。 The inhabitants tried to secure terms of peace by offering
to become tributary to the Ammonites。 To this the cruel king would not
consent but on condition that he might put out the right eye of every one of
them； thus making them abiding witnesses to his power。
The people of the besieged city begged a respite of seven days。 To this the
Ammonites consented； thinking thus to heighten the honor of their expected
triumph。 Messengers were at once dispatched from Jabesh； to seek help from
the tribes west of Jordan。 They carried the tidings to Gibeah； creating
widespread terror。 Saul； returning at night from following the oxen in the
field； heard the loud wail that told of some great calamity。 He said； 〃What
aileth the people that they weep？〃 When the shameful story was repeated； all
his dormant powers were roused。 〃The Spirit of God came upon Saul。 。 。 。 And
he took a yoke of oxen； and hewed them in pieces； and sent them throughout
all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers； saying； Whosoever
cometh nor forth after Saul and after Samuel； so shall it be done unto his
oxen。〃
Three hundred and thirty thousand men gathered on the plain of Bezek； under
the command of Saul。 Messengers were
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immediately sent to the besieged city with the assurance that they might
expect help on the morrow； the very day on which they were to submit to the
Ammonites。 By a rapid night march Saul and his army crossed the Jordan and
arrived before Jabesh in 〃the morning watch。〃 Like Gideon； dividing his
force into three companies； he fell upon the Ammonite camp at that early
hour； when； not suspecting danger； they were least secure。 In the panic that
followed they were routed with great slaughter。 And 〃they which remained
were scattered； so that two of them were not left together。〃
The promptness and bravery of Saul； as well as the generalship shown in the
successful conduct of so large a force； were qualities which the people of
Israel had desired in a monarch； that they might be able to cope with other
nations。 They now greeted him as their king； attributing the honor of the
victory to human agencies and forgetting that without God's special blessing
all their efforts would have been in vain。 In their enthusiasm some proposed
to put to death those who had at first refused to acknowledge the authority
of Saul。 But the king interfered； saying； 〃There shall not a man be put to
death this day： for today the Lord hath wrou