Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/258

 they resolved  to  go  to  the  city  of  Suph  in  order  to  consult  Samuel, the seer,  about  them. Now the  day  before  Saul’s  arrival,  the Lord had  spoken  to  Samuel:  “To-morrow,  about  this  same  hour,

I will send  to  thee  a man,  whom  thou  shalt  anoint  king  over my people  Israel.”  It  so  happened  that  Samuel  met  Saul  in  the midst of  the  city. And Samuel  said:  “Go  up  before  me,  that you may  eat  with  me  to-day,  and  that  I may  let  you  go  in  the morning; and  as  for  the  asses,  be  not  solicitous,  for  they  are found.” Next  morning,  when  the  day  began  to  dawn,  Samuel took a little  vial  of  oil,  and  poured  it  on  the  head  of  Saul,  and kissed him,  and  said:  “Behold,  the  Lord  has  anointed  thee  to  be prince  over  His  inheritance.”

Thereupon Samuel  assembled  the  people,  and  Saul  stood  in their  midst;  and  he  was  a choice  man,  being  taller  than  any  one else from  his  shoulders  and  upwards. Then Samuel  said:  “Behold him whom  the  Lord  has  chosen.”  And  the  people  cried  out: “God save  the  king!”

Now the  people  of  Amalec  were  very  bad,  and  the  measure of their  iniquity  was  full. God, in  His  wrath,  sent  Samuel  to Saul,  saying: “Go  and  smite  Amalec  and  all  that  he  hath. Spare him not,  nor  covet  anything  that  is  his,  but  slay  both  man  and woman and  child,  ox  and  sheep  and  camel.”

Saul, therefore,  waged  war  against  Amalec,  and  defeated  them along the  line  from  Hevila  till  Sur. The common  people  he  slew with the  edge  of  the  sword; but,  contrary  to  the  command  of God,  he  spared  Agag  the  king. The flocks  and  herds  of  little value he  also  destroyed,  but  spared  the  best  flocks  and  the  best herds. Moreover, filled  with  pride,  and  forgetting  that  success comes from  God,  he  erected  an  arch  of  triumph  in  memory  of his  victory.