Heroes of Israel Part 25

194 (--59). How did the father feel about his sons? What did he say to them? What ought he to have done to them? Why did he not do so?

195 (--59). What was happening to Samuel all this time? The linen ephod was a white dress such as a priest would wear. Who made the boy's garments? Think what those happy meetings of the parents and boy once a year must have been.

196 (--60). Imagine how the little church, or temple, was at night. There was a room in which the sacred box called the ark was kept. A lamp burned in this room all night. Samuel had a room near by, where he slept, and old Eli had another. What wonderful thing happened to Samuel one night? Tell it in your own words. Nearly all men and women who have become great have heard calls in some manner in their youth. Joan of Arc, the young girl who saved France from her enemies, thought that she heard G.o.d calling to her, though she was only thirteen years of age.

This was a vision that Samuel saw in the night. Do you remember the dreams of Joseph? It is often in conscience and in times of thoughtfulness that G.o.d speaks to us.

197 (--60). How did Samuel do as Eli had told him? Note that G.o.d tells the boy that a great punishment will come upon Eli's family. How was Eli to blame for the wickedness of his sons?

198 (--60). What did Samuel do as soon as he got up in the morning? What does this show us regarding his duties? What did he think about the vision? But old Eli knew that there was something very important that had happened. Tell in your own words the conversation between them. Note that the poor old man can simply say that he must bear what comes upon him. What do you think of Eli?

199 (--61A). With whom did Israel go to war? Locate the country of these enemies on the map. How did the battle come out? The people thought that if they could have the ark with them they could conquer. They thought the Lord would fight for them. Where did they go to get the ark? Who were with the ark?

200 (--61A). When the two priests brought the ark to the camp, what happened? What effect did this have upon the Philistines? What was the result? What happened to the two priests? What happened to the ark?

201 (--61B). When a Hebrew felt very sad he covered his head with dust and tore his dress. Tell the story of how the news of the defeat was brought to Eli. How old was the priest? What was he doing? Why did he care so much about the ark of G.o.d? What happened to him? Eli was a n.o.ble man himself, but could he not have done better for Israel than he did?

Remember that young Samuel was growing up while these things were going on.

WRITTEN REVIEW

Think of what paragraph 196 means to you. It is at Samuel's age that most young people come into the full members.h.i.+p of the church. Write what you think that means.

XIX. SAMUEL AND SAUL

THE STORY

=--62. The Meeting of Samuel and Saul= (I Sam. 9:1-25)

A. SAUL SEEKING THE DONKEYS

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, a mighty man of valor. And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

And the a.s.ses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the a.s.ses."

And he pa.s.sed through the hill country of Ephraim, and there they were not: and he pa.s.sed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not. When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, "Come and let us return; lest my father cease caring for the a.s.ses, and take thought for us."

And he said unto him, "Behold now, there is in this city a man of G.o.d, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he saith cometh surely to pa.s.s: now let us go thither; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go."

Then said Saul to his servant, "But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of G.o.d: what have we?"

And the servant answered Saul again, and said, "Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of G.o.d, to tell us our way."

Then said Saul to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go."

B. SAUL ENTERTAINED BY SAMUEL

So they went unto the city where the man of G.o.d was. As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, "Is the seer here?"

And they answered them, and said, "He is; behold, he is before thee: make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place: as soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for at this time ye shall find him."

And they went up to the city; and as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.

Now the Lord had revealed unto Samuel a day before Saul came, saying, "To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be prince over my people Israel, and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me."

And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, "Behold the man of whom I spake to thee! this same shall have authority over my people."

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is."

And Samuel answered Saul, and said, "I am the seer; go up before me unto the high place, for ye shall eat with me to-day: and in the morning I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. And as for thine a.s.ses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and for all thy father's house?"

And Saul answered and said, "Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou to me after this manner?"

And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest-chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. And Samuel said unto the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, 'Set it by thee.'"

And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul.

And Samuel said, "Behold that which hath been reserved! set it before thee and eat; because unto the appointed time hath it been kept for thee, for I said, 'I have invited the people.'"

So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. And when they were come down from the high place into the city, he communed with Saul upon the housetop.

=--63. Saul Anointed by Samuel= (I Sam. 9:26-10:7)

A. THE PROMISE OF THE KINGDOM

And they arose early: and it came to pa.s.s about the spring of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, "Up, that I may send thee away."

And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Bid the servant pa.s.s on before us, (and he pa.s.sed on,) but stand thou still at this time, that I may cause thee to hear the word of G.o.d." Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, "Is it not that the Lord hath anointed thee to be prince over his inheritance? When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin; and they will say unto thee, 'The a.s.ses which thou wentest to seek are found: and lo, thy father hath left the care of the a.s.ses, and taketh thought for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?' Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the oak of Tabor, and there shall meet thee there three men going up to G.o.d to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: and they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hand. After that thou shalt come to the hill of G.o.d, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pa.s.s, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a band 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: and the spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee: for G.o.d is with thee."

B. SAUL'S RETURN HOME

And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, G.o.d gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pa.s.s that day. And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the spirit of G.o.d came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it came to pa.s.s, when all that knew him before-time saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another, "What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?"

And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, "Whither went ye?"

And he said, "To seek the a.s.ses: and when we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel."

And Saul's uncle said, "Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you."

And Saul said unto his uncle, "He told us plainly that the a.s.ses were found." But concerning the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.