ESSAY

ON THE BOOKS OF

SA

VII.

MUE L.

A

PLEASING digreffion of family Anecdotes have a little interrupted the Jewish History, but they were intended to settle a very important Genealogy, afterwards diftinguishingly glo

rious.

A Prophet now, the wifeft and beft of men refumes the Hiftory, defcribes the Events in a highly pleafing manner, and illuftrates his characters with beautiful fimplicity and elegance. Samuel appeared a Prophet, when the spirit of Pro

phecy

phecy was little known, and he was called a Seer, but fo confpicuous were his talents, and fo exemplary his life, that " all Ifrael from Dan to "Beersheba(the two extremities of the Kingdom) "knew Samuel to be a Prophet of the Lord."

The first book contains a space of near a century reckoning from the birth of Samuel, to the death of Saul in the year 2948, as Samuel died at the age of ninety-eight, and Saul about two years after him.

The two books give the concluding history of the two laft Judges Eli and Samuel, and the Reigns of the two firft Kings, Saul and David, together with the life and fatal end of Ifhbofheth.

During the inter-regnum and ceffation of all order and government which fell out upon the death of Eli, the Ifraelites were forely harraffed by the Philiftines, a tyranny and perfecution which grew more and more oppreffive and infufferable. Samuel the Prophet became their Deliverer, He iffued out a proclamation, blew the trumpet for war, and affembled all Ifrael at Mizpeh their conftant place of Worship. Samuel, and all the People here kept a folemn moft religious faft, and while he was making ready his facrifice, after He had killed a fucking lamb, and was preparing to

offer

offer it up, upon the Altar for a burnt-offering, the Philiftines, jealous and enraged at their meeting, marched out in battle array with a numerous Hoft and encamped within fight of the Ifraelites; while in high confternation and forely intimidated Ifrael ftood viewing this immenfe multitude, a violent tempeft with thunder, lightning and hail poured down from Heaven and deftroyed the Philiftine Hoft, Camp and People were all fimitten, and thrown into the utmoft horror and distraction. Ifrael thus infpirited fell fiercely on them as they fled, and purfued the Philiftines even to their own Cities, the very gates of Bethcar and Gath,

On this Divine interpofition and glorious fuccefs, the Ifraelites invefted Samuel with the Su preme Authority, and proclaimed him Judge over Ifrael. By this total overthrow Samuel refcued his country from the Philiftine yoke, and put an end to a tyranny and fervitude which had lafted more than forty years. The Philiftines came no more into the boundaries and coafts of Ifrael, but reftored them all the Cities they had taken, from Ekron even unto Gath. Feace was now established alfo with the Amorites,

Samuel to perpetuate the memory of this very ignal interpofition and glorious Deliverance

Vol. I.

D d

erected

erected on the field of battle, a monument of ftone, infcribing it

"The Stone of Help."

Samuel was a child granted to the devout and very fervent prayers of his Mother, on which account by a moft folemn vow, Hannah dedicated her fon from his earliest life to God, and fhe brought him to the Altar, and entered him into its fervice when he was only three years old; as he grew up he miniftered to the High-Priest in the Holy Functions, girded round with a linen Ephod a loose upper Garment wore by the Priefts, and he was first employed to open and fhut the doors of the Tabernacle. Very early indeed Samuel received his first directions and manifeftation from God, and it refpected the house of Eli and Judgment against him, "his Sons had made them"felves vile, and Eli reftrained them not.". A very signal display and intimation of God's reproof and intentions were told by the child to Eli, and the High-Prieft mildly replied. "It is the Lord "let Him do what feemeth him good."

Samuel's refidence was at Ramah, from whence He made a yearly Circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal; and Mizpeh, and judged Ifrael in all their Cities. By a wife and diligent Adminiftration He restored

the

the purity of their religious worship, maintained order, peace and fubordination, advancing his People to wealth honour and refpectability.

Samuel with dignity maintained his Government over Ifrael twenty years, at which time, though they were thus diftinguishingly profpered and bleffed by his unwearied affiduity, his pious and amiable example, the People became corrupt and debauched, pride and ambition fewed its rancorus feed among all ranks, attracted by the falfe glare, and Pageanty of a Court the ma ny lucrative places in the Houfe-hold or the State, naturally fond of change and eager in the pursuit of diftinction and honours, the People tumultuoufly affembled at Ramah and demanded of Samuel to elect them a King; in order to relieve himself, Samuel had placed Joel and Abiah, his two Sons, at Beersheba, the extremity of his Kingdom, to adminifter Juftice and be his representative, the People alledged against his Sons, that they were corrupt and had accepted a bribe, the Elders and Rulers availing themselves of this report complained loudly of their baseness and misconduct, crying out Joel and Abiah shall never fucceed to the Government, we will have a King, your Sons are unworthy to rule over us.

Samuel