Part 167 (1/2)

9:21. And Saul answering, said: Am not I a son of Jemini of the least tribe of Israel, and my kindred the last among all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then hast thou spoken this word to me?

9:22. Then Samuel taking Saul, and his servant, brought them into the parlour, and gave them a place at the head of them that were invited.

For there were about thirty men.

9:23. And Samuel said to the cook: Bring the portion which I gave thee, and commanded thee to set it apart by thee.

9:24. And the cook took up the shoulder, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said: Behold what is left, set it before thee, and eat; because it was kept of purpose for thee, when I invited the people. And Saul ate with Samuel that day.

9:25. And they went down from the high place into the town, and he spoke with Saul upon the top of the house: and he prepared a bed for Saul on the top of the house and he slept.

9:26. And when they were risen in the morning, and it began now to be light, Samuel called Saul on the top of the house, saying: Arise, that I may let thee go. And Saul arose: and they went out both of them: to wit, he and Samuel.

9:27. And as they were going down in the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul: Speak to the servant to go before us, and pa.s.s on: but stand thou still a while, that I may tell thee the word of the Lord.

1 Kings Chapter 10

Saul is anointed. He prophesieth, and is changed into another man.

Samuel calleth the people together, to make a king: the lot falleth on Saul.

10:1. And Samuel took a little vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said: Behold, the Lord hath anointed thee to be prince over his inheritance, and thou shalt deliver his people out of the hands of their enemies, that are round about them. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that G.o.d hath anointed thee to be prince.

10:2. When thou shalt depart from me this day, thou shalt find two men by the sepulchre of Rachel in the borders of Benjamin to the south, and they shall say to thee: The a.s.ses are found which thou wentest to seek: and thy father, thinking no more of the a.s.ses, is concerned for you, and saith: What shall I do for my son?

10:3. And when thou shalt depart from thence, and go farther on, and shalt come to the oak of Thabor, there shall meet thee three men going up to G.o.d to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine.

Bethel... Where there was at that time an altar of G.o.d; it being one of the places where Samuel judged Israel.

10:4. And they will salute thee, and will give thee two loaves, and thou shalt take them at their hand.

10:5. After that thou shalt come to the hill of G.o.d, where the garrison of the Philistines is: and when thou shalt be come there into the city, thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place, with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp before them, and they shall be prophesying.

The hill of G.o.d... Gabaa, in which there was also at that time, a high place or altar.-Prophets... These were men whose office it was to sing hymns and praises to G.o.d; for such in holy writ are called prophets, and their singing praises to G.o.d is called prophesying. See 1 Par. alias 1 Chr. 15.22, and 25.1. Now there were in those days colleges, or shcools for training up these prophets; and it seems there was one of these schools at this hill of G.o.d; and another at Najoth in Ramatha. See 1 Kings 19.20, 21, etc.

10:6. And the Spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be changed into another man.

10:7. When therefore these signs shall happen to thee, do whatsoever thy hand shall find, for the Lord is with thee.

10:8. And thou shalt go down before me to Galgal, (for I will come down to thee), that thou mayst offer an oblation, and sacrifice victims of peace: seven days shalt thou wait, till I come to thee, and I will shew thee what thou art to do.

Galgal... Here also by dispensation was an altar of G.o.d.

10:9. So when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, G.o.d gave unto him another heart, and all these things came to pa.s.s that day.

10:10 And they came to the foresaid hill, and behold a company of prophets met him: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he prophesied in the midst of them.

10:11. And all that had known him yesterday and the day before, seeing tha the was with the prophets, and prophesied, said to each other: What is this that hath happened to the son of Cis? is Saul also among the prophets?

10:12. And one answered another, saying: And who is their father?

therefore it became a proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets?