EVENTS LEADING TO THE MONARCHY

1. Samuel was destined to be a man of very great influence in the history of Israel. The story of his mother's prayer for a son, her promise that he should be given to the service of the Lord, the regular journey of the family to worship at Shiloh, the annual visit of Hannah to the tabernacle, taking the coat she had made for the ministering Samuel, and the devout song of Hannah praising God for the answer to her prayer, give us a picture full of interest as showing the religious condition of the better part of Israel at this time. Elkanah was living in the territory of Ephraim, but was probably of the tribe of Levi. It may be that he belonged to the family of priests. Samuel assisted in the religious duties of the tabernacle.

Samuel was to be instrumental in guiding the people of Israel from the conditions prevailing during the time of the judges, when every man did what he pleased, to the time of the monarchy, when the tribes were united with a king to rule them. He performed the functions of a judge, of a prophet, and at times of a priest. After Saul was made king Samuel relinquished his duties as judge, but still controlled as prophet. His is one of the most worthy characters de scribed in the Old Testament.

2. It was intended that the priests should be pre-eminent in holiness, and that they should teach the people in religious matters (Deut. 31:9-13), so that they would be faithful in all that Jehovah demanded of them. The sons of Eli, acting as the priests at this time, fell very far short of what was expected of them. They not only neglected their obligations, but committed grievous sins against God. They thus made the people transgress. Though Eli rebuked his wicked sons, he did not punish them as he ought, and because of the dishonor brought upon the name of Jehovah a severe punishment was to come upon the family of Eli. His own descendants were to be removed from the priesthood, and another branch of the family of Aaron would be substituted. The prediction of this came through Samuel, and he was thus recognized as a prophet of Jehovah.

Aaron had two sons after the death of Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10)—Eleazar and Ithamar. Eli was a descendant of Ithamar, and his descendant, Abiathar, was deposed from the priesthood by Solomon; Zadok, of the family of Eleazar, took his place.

With Samuel began that long course of revelation from God by the prophets which was intended to keep Israel faithful to Jehovah. The priests failed in their work, and so prophets were raised up to perform the important work of teaching God's will. The so-called schools of the prophets became prominent about this time, though it is not certain that they were originated by Samuel. These seem to have been occasioned by a desire to counteract the evil tendencies of the times.

3. The Philistines had been irritated by the conduct of Samson, and they had made more galling their supremacy over Israel, and this in turn led to an attempt by Israel to throw off the yoke. A battle was fought, but Israel was defeated. The Israelite leaders seem to have thought that their defeat was due to the absence of Jehovah, and that his presence would be secured by having the ark in the army. But their mistake was shown in a worse defeat; the ark was taken by the enemy; thirty thousand Israelites were slain; Eli was killed by the shock of the report about the ark; Eli's sons died in the battle, and the people of the true God were put to shame. The Philistines were to be taught, however, that Jehovah could defend his ark; for this became a plague amid the Philistines, and they were glad to get rid of it. The ark, however, for some reason was not restored to its original position in the tabernacle at Shiloh. It was kept at Kirjath-jearim until David took it to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:12). Afterward Samuel induced the Israelites to turn to Jehovah, who then gave them a decisive victory over the Philistines.

4. The tribes of Israel were now becoming more united. This was due largely to the fact that most of them were affected by the invasion and oppression of the Philistines. They were not united, however, in trusting Jehovah. They began to want some leader to whom they could look at all times to successfully withstand their enemies. They did not have faith in the invisible power of Jehovah; they would have more confidence in a mighty warrior, some valiant Their request for a king was interpreted as a rejection of Jehovah. What they really wanted was some one who should take the place of Jehovah. Of couse they might have had a king and yet remained faithful to their God. Provision had been made for the time when they should set up a king. Their motive in asking for one now was sinful. man.

It is said sometimes that the fact that the request of the people at this time is condemned, furnishes proof that the law of the king given in Deuteronomy must have originated later. But the objection was not to their having a king; for we see in David's career the possibility of being ruled by both a king and Jehovah; they could have had a king with out rejecting Jehovah. The reason for their request must be remembered in order to understand the reign of Saul.

5. The king that was selected for Israel was one who exactly corresponded to their ideas, a man pre-eminent in physical qualities. They would put great confidence in such a man as Saul; he certainly could fight valiantly against their enemies. They believed that their success in conflicts with their enemies depended upon their being able to command greater physical strength than their enemies. Saul was the personification of their ideal. Now they thought themselves relieved from restraints that Jehovah put upon them; even if they should turn to other gods they could not be overcome with such a king. Thus, while Saul was selected for the people by the Lord, he was selected in accordance with the people's request, and it could be said that God gave them a king in his anger (Hos, 13:11). Saul's superior physical qualities need not have prevented him from being faithful to Jehovah, but the people's idea eventually came to be his also.

SUMMARY.

1. Samuel's early life. The important position he occupied.
2. The wickedness of the sons of Eli. Their line of descent. Samuel's place in the succession of prophets.
3. Battle with the Philistines; the ark taken; the ark returned.
4. Lack of trust in Jehovah; the people demand a king. No objection to a king, but the people's motive an evil one.
5. Saul chosen according to their ideal; pre-eminent in physical qualities.