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appeared he would not change his mind； at break of day Samuel
came to Saul at Gilgal。 When the king saw him； he ran to him； and
embraced him； and said； 〃I return thanks to God； who hath given
me the victory； for I have performed every thing that he hath
commanded me。〃 To which Samuel replied； 〃How is it then that I
hear the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the greater
cattle in the camp？〃 Saul made answer； That the people had
reserved them for sacrifices； but that； as to the nation of the
Amalekites； it was entirely destroyed； as he had received it in
command to see done； and that no one man was left； but that he
had saved alive the king alone； and brought him to him；
concerning whom； he said； they would advise together what should
be done with him。〃 But the prophet said； 〃God is not delighted
with sacrifices； but with good and with righteous men； who are
such as follow his will and his laws； and never think that any
thing is well done by them but when they do it as God had
commanded them； that he then looks upon himself as affronted； not
when any one does not sacrifice； but when any one appears to be
disobedient to him。 But that from those who do not obey him； nor
pay him that duty which is the alone true and acceptable worship；
he will not kindly accept their oblations； be those they offer
ever so many and so fat； and be the presents they make him ever
so ornamental； nay； though they were made of gold and silver
themselves； but he will reject them； and esteem them instances of
wickedness； and not of piety。 And that he is delighted with those
that still bear in mind this one thing； and this only； how to do
that； whatsoever it be； which God pronounces or commands for them
to do； and to choose rather to die than to transgress any of
those commands； nor does he require so much as a sacrifice from
them。 And when these do sacrifice； though it be a mean oblation；
he better accepts of it as the honor of poverty； than such
oblations as come from the richest men that offer them to him。
Wherefore take notice； that thou art under the wrath of God； for
thou hast despised and neglected what he commanded thee。 How dost
thou then suppose that he will respect a sacrifice out of such
things as he hath doomed to destruction？ unless perhaps thou dost
imagine that it is almost all one to offer it in sacrifice to God
as to destroy it。 Do thou therefore expect that thy kingdom will
be taken from thee； and that authority which thou hast abused by
such insolent behavior； as to neglect that God who bestowed it
upon thee。〃 Then did Saul confess that he had acted unjustly； and
did not deny that he had sinned； because he had transgressed the
injunctions of the prophet； but he said that it was out of a
dread and fear of the soldiers； that he did not prohibit and
restrain them when they seized on the prey。 〃But forgive me；〃
said he； 〃and be merciful to me； for I will be cautious how I
offend for the time to come。〃 He also entreated the prophet to go
back with him； that he might offer his thank…offerings to God；
but Samuel went home； because he saw that God would not be
reconciled to him。
5。 But then Saul was so desirous to retain Samuel； that he took
hold of his cloak； and because the vehemence of Samuel's
departure made the motion to be violent； the cloak was rent。 Upon
which the prophet said； that after the same manner should the
kingdom be rent from him； and that a good and a just man should
take it； that God persevered in what he had decreed about him；
that to be mutable and changeable in what is determined； is
agreeable to human passions only； but is not agreeable to the
Divine Power。 Hereupon Saul said that he had been wicked； but
that what was done could not be undone： he therefore desired him
to honor him so far； that the multitude might see that he would
accompany him in worshipping God。 So Samuel granted him that
favor； and went with him and worshipped God。 Agag also； the king
of the Amalekites； was brought to him； and when the king asked；
How bitter death was？ Samuel said； 〃As thou hast made many of the
Hebrew mothers to lament and bewail the loss of their children；
so shalt thou； by thy death； cause thy mother to lament thee
also。〃 Accordingly； he gave order to slay him immediately at
Gilgal； and then went away to the city Ramah。
CHAPTER 8。
How； Upon Saul's Transgression Of The Prophet's Commands； Samuel
Ordained Another Person To Be King Privately； Whose Name Was
David； As God Commanded Him。
1。 Now Saul being sensible of the miserable condition he had
brought himself into； and that he had made God to be his enemy；
he went up to his royal palace at Gibeah； which name denotes a
hill； and after that day he came no more into the presence of the
prophet。 And when Samuel mourned for him； God bid him leave off
his concern for him； and to take the holy oil； and go to
Bethlehem； to Jesse the son of Obed； and to anoint such of his
sons as he should show him for their future king。 But Samuel
said； he was afraid lest Saul； when he came to know of it； should
kill him； either by some private method or even openly。 But upon
God's suggesting to him a safe way of going thither； he came to
the forementioned city； and when they all saluted him； and asked
what was the occasion of his coming； he told them he came to
sacrifice to God。 When； therefore； he had gotten the sacrifice
ready； he called Jesse and his sons to partake of those
sacrifices； and when he saw his eldest son to be a tall and
handsome man； he guessed by his comeliness that he was the person
who was to be their future king。 But he was mistaken in judging
about God's providence； for when Samuel inquired of God whether
he should anoint this youth； whom he so admired； and esteemed
worthy of the kingdom； God said； 〃Men do not see as God seeth。
Thou indeed hast respect to the fine appearance of this youth；
and thence esteemest him worthy of the kingdom； while I propose
the kingdom as a reward； not of the beauty of bodies； but of the
virtue of souls； and I inquire after one that is perfectly comely
in that respect； I mean one who is beautiful in piety； and
righteousness； and fortitude； and obedience； for in them consists
the comeliness of the soul。〃 When God had said this； Samuel bade
Jesse to show him all his sons。 So he made five others of his
sons to come to him； of all of whom Eliab was the eldest；
Aminadab the second； Shammall the third； Nathaniel the fourth；
Rael the fifth； and Asam the sixth。 And when the prophet saw that
these were no way inferior to the eldest in their countenances；
he inquired of God which of them it was whom he chose for their
king。 And when God said it was none of them； he asked Jesse
whether he had not some other sons besides these； and when he
said that he had one more； named David； but that he was a
shepherd； and took care of the flocks； Samuel bade them call him
immediately； for that till he was come they could not possibly
sit down to the feast。 Now； as soon as his father had sent for
David； and he was come； he appeared to be of a yellow complexion；
of a sharp sight； and a comely person in other respects also。
This is he； said Samuel privately to himself； whom it pleases God
to make our king。 So he sat down to the feast； and placed the
youth under him； and Jesse also； with his other sons； after which
he took oil in the presence of David； and anointed him； and
whispered him in the ear； and acquainted him that God chose him
to be their king； and exhorted him to be righteous； and obedient
to his commands； for that by this means his kingdom would
continue for a long time； and that his house should be of great
splendor； and celebrated in the world； that he should overthrow
the Philistines； and that against what nations soever he should
make war； he should be the conqueror； and survive the fight； and
that while he lived he should enjoy a glorious name； and leave
such a name to his posterity also。
2。 So Samuel； when he had given him these admonitions； went away。
But the Divine Power departed from Saul； and removed to David；
who； upon this removal of the Divine Spirit to him； began to
prophesy。 But as for Saul； some strange and demoniacal disorders
came upon him； and brought upon him such suffocations as were
ready to choke him； for which the physicians could find no other
remedy but this； That if any person could charm those passions by
singing； and playing upon the harp； they advised them to inquire
for such a one； and to observe when these demons came upon him
and disturbed him； and to take care that such a person might
stand over him； and play upon the harp； and recite hymns to him。
（16） Accordingly Saul did not delay； but commanded them to seek
out such a man。 And when a certain stander…by said that he had
seen in the city of Bethlehem a son of Jesse； who was yet no more
than a child in age； but comely and beautiful； and in other
respects one that was deserving of great regard； who was skillful
in playing on the harp； and in singing of hymns； ＇and an
excellent soldier in war；＇ he sent to Jesse； and desired him to
take David away from the flocks； and send him to him； for he had
a mind to see him； as having heard an advantageo