monites, and the kings of Edom and of Soba. The success of his warlike enterprises made him respected both at home and abroad, and he ruled with an absolute authority over his subjects. Having triumphed over those neighbouring nations that were hostile to Israel, he was ordered by Almighty God to extend his conquests, and to be the instrument of God's vengeance upon the Amalekites. The Amalekites were an idolatrous nation, the sworn enemies of the Hebrew people, whom they had attacked and attempted to destroy at the time of the march out of Egypt.* Samuel, therefore, in the name of God, commanded Saul to destroy their whole race, without sparing so much as the least thing that belonged to them. In obedience to this order, Saul put himself at the head of two hundred thousand men, and marched against the people thus doomed to destruction. But far from complying with the letter or with the spirit of the Divine command, he undertook to interpret it as he pleased. He defeated the forces of the Amalekites, and slew the common people of their nation, but spared their king Agag; he reserved moreover the fattest of the flocks, took to himself the most precious of the spoils, and destroyed only the refuse. Provoked at so glaring a prevarication, the Lord commanded Samuel to go to Saul and to declare that He was sorryt for having made him king. Saul, little solicitous about the glory due to God, had already erected to himself a triumphal arch on Mount Carmel, to celebrate the victory which he had tarnished by his disobedience. Being told that Samuel was coming to the camp, he advanced to meet him, and with the boldest assurance began to tell him how gloriously he had defeated the Amalekites, and how faithfully he had executed the orders of the Lord. "What mean, then," replied the prophet, "the sounds that I hear, the bleating of flocks, and the lowing of *See Note, p. 101. + As explained in one of the notes to the Douay version of the Old Testament, God being unchangeable, is, strictly speaking, incapable of repentance, grief, or any other passion. But such expressions are used in Scripture to declare the enormity of the sins of men, which so frequently determine God to visit with his severest chastisements, even those whom he has at first favoured with special blessings. REPROBATION OF SAUL. 205 herds ?" "These are what the people have reserved for sacrifice," answered Saul. "What!" said Samuel, in the ardour of his zeal, "will the Lord accept of sacrifice made in direct opposition to His commands? Obedience is better than victims: the fat of rams God will not regard when His word is disobeyed." The prophet represented to the unhappy king the great goodness which God had shown him, in raising him from a lowly station, and placing him upon the throne, in choosing him out of all the men of Israel, and raising him to honours which he never could have merited. "Forasmuch, therefore," he concluded, "as thou hast had so little regard to the word of the Lord, the Lord in His turn hath rejected thee; he hath taken from thee, this day, the kingdom of Israel, and transferred it to another who is more worthy." Saul, on hearing this terrible sentence, was touched with remorse, and cried out, "I have sinned." If his words had been the expression of an unfeigned sorrow, they might have softened the rigour of the sentence: but in the mouth of an impenitent prince, they were no more than an empty sound. Saul, more eager to receive honour from his fellow-men than pardon from God, desired the prophet to honour him before the ancients of the people, and to return with him that he might adore the Lord his God. Samuel, indignant at Saul's disobedience to the word of God, refused to return with him, and was about leaving him, when Saul hastily caught hold of his cloak to stop him, and begged of him not to depart in that abrupt manner. Samuel then consented to follow him to the place of sacrifice. When Saul had worshipped the Lord, Samuel ordered Agag, the Amalekite king, to be led forth; and pronouncing the terrible words, "As thy sword has made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women;" he hewed the fallen monarch into pieces before the Lord. After this stern act of retribution, he departed into Ramatha, sorely lamenting the doom of the unhappy Saul, whom from that time he visited no more unto the day of his death. Saul, even before this occurrence, had incurred the Divine displeasure by a similar act of disobedience, when, being eager for battle, and seeing the enemy approach, he presumed to set fire to the sacrifice which Samuel was about to offer. The holocaust was still smoking, when the prophet came to the camp. The king advanced to make his excuses, and pleaded that necessity had compelled him to act as he had done. Samuel reprehended him for his foolish presumption, and condemned the rashness of an action, in punishment of which, he announced, the Lord had decreed that the royal power of Saul should not descend to his children. So true it is, that no action, however plausible it may outwardly appear, can ever please God or deserve a reward in His sight, so long as it is done, either from a sinful motive, or in opposition to the order which He has established. A.M. 2934.] Election of David.—1 Kings, xvi. [A.C. 1070. Saul having forfeited his crown, as we have seen, by his disobedience, another king, also selected by God, was soon afterwards anointed as his successor. Samuel was the person whom God employed to perform the ceremony. He knew by revelation that Bethlehem was the place, and that Isai's was the family which was to furnish a king for Israel. Thither, then, he was to go, to consecrate the man whom God should show him. But as an undertaking of that nature seemed likely to give umbrage to the present king, and to provoke his resentment, the prophet was inspired to proceed with secrecy so as to prevent every dangerous consequence. Feigning that he was about to offer sacrifice at Bethlehem, he set out thither, bringing with him a calf as a victim. When he reached the place, he invited Isai to bring his sons, and to take part with him in the sacrifice. Isai was the son of Obed, and had eight sons; he took with him the seven eldest to wait upon the prophet. Samuel fixed his eyes upon each of them as they came, and took especial notice of the eldest, who, for his majestic figure, seemed worthy of a crown. It is not, however, the appearance of man, but the heart that God chiefly regards. The seven sons of Isai therefore passed before Samuel without any heavenly intimation being given in favour of any one of them. The prophet then asked Isai if he had no other son. Isai said there was one other, but he was young, and at that time employed ELECTION OF DAVID. 207 in tending sheep. Samuel desired to see him. David, for so he was called, was immediately sent for and introduced. Samuel at once recognising him as the prince whom God had chosen, rose up and poured the holy oil on his head. From that moment the spirit of God departed from Saul, and rested upon David. David was then in the flower of his youth. He was of a fair and comely countenance, and meek and gentle in his disposition. Saul being now abandoned by Almighty God, whom he first had abandoned by his disobedience, was possessed by an evil spirit which troubled him in a cruel manner, and at certain intervals worked him up into an excess of frenzy. This misfortune, which was the punishment of his past ingratitude, and the presage of his future downfall, proved the beginning of his rival's greatness. His frantic fits at times rose to such violence, that they became intolerable. His officers, out of compassion, advised him to look out for some skilful musician, who, by the strains of melody, might quell the rage of passion, and soothe his soul to peace. David, for his skill in music, as well as for his other qualifications, was preferred before all others; and such was his skill in the use of the talents with which he was endowed, that he soon stood high in the king's favour, and was promoted to be his armour-bearer. Whenever Saul was agitated by the evil spirit, David played upon the harp, With powerful and pleasing art the musician so tempered the sweet variety of his harmonious strains, that he soothed the affections of the soul, and charmed the transports of passion into reason. The melody of David's harp, as some of the Fathers remark, represents that sweet and engaging demeanour which should distinguish the minister of the Gospel. Pleasing and soothing as the strains of harmony should be their discourses, whether they strive to allay the agitation, or to dispel the fears of a troubled mind. The comfort which David administered to Saul by the melodious sounds of his harp, was but short; nor could it hinder that unhappy prince from attempting to take away the musician's life. The Psalms of the inspired king have at present an influence much more powerful, upon the soul that is well disposed to hear or to read them. For, as St. Augustine observes, nothing can excel the Divine harmony of those sublime truths which are contained in the Psalms of David; nothing can more powerfully contribute to drive away the spirit of pride from our hearts, and to awaken them to the voice of Heaven. A.M. 2942.] Victory of David over Goliath. [A.C. 1062. Some years after the victory over Agag, another war broke out between the Israelites and the Philistines. The two armies lay encamped upon two neighbouring hills, with a narrow valley between them. Saul commanded in person, but showed no anxiety to engage the enemy. Goliath, a Philistine of gigantic size, advanced each day between the armies, and in the most insulting terms challenged the bravest of the Israelites to come out, if he dare, and decide the war by single combat. The Israelites were stung with shame to see themselves treated with such contemptuous insolence; but so enormous was the giant's size, and so terrifying was the aspect of his armour, that no one had the courage to advance against him. At this time David had ceased to be in attendance upon Saul, and had resumed the care of his father's flocks: but three of his brothers having entered the king's service, he was sent by his father Isai to the camp with provisions for them. He |