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| Chapter XXXII.
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Chapter XXXII.
At this time, Samuel the
priest300
| 300 Samuel was a Levite, but
not a priest. | ruled over the Hebrews; and there being a
cessation of all war, the people lived in peace. But this tranquillity
was disturbed by an invasion of the Philistines, and all ranks were in
a state of terror from their consciousness of guilt. Samuel, having
first offered sacrifice, and trusting in God, led his men out to
battle, and the enemy being routed at the first onset, victory declared
for the Hebrews. But when the fear of the enemy was thus removed, and
affairs were now prosperous and peaceful, the people, changing their
views for the worse, after the manner of the mob, who are always weary
of what they have, and long for things of which they have had no
experience, expressed a desire for the kingly name—a name greatly
disliked by almost all free nations. Yes, with an example of madness
certainly very remarkable, they now preferred to exchange liberty for
slavery. They, therefore, come in great numbers to Samuel, in order
that, as he himself was now an old man, he might make for them a king.
But he endeavored in a useful address, quietly to deter the people from
their insane desire; he set forth the tyranny and haughty rule of
kings, while he extolled liberty, and denounced slavery; finally, he
threatened them with the divine wrath, if they should show themselves
men so corrupt in mind as that, when having God as their king, they
should demand for themselves a king from among men. Having spoken these
and other words of a like nature to no purpose, finding that the people
persisted in the determination, he consulted God. And God, moved by the
madness of that insane nation, replied that nothing was to be refused
to them asking against their own interests.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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