Samuel

SAMUEL, Son of Elkanah, and of 1 Sam. i. 1,2,3,&c. 1 Chron. vi. 29.Hannah, of the Tribe of Levi, and of the Family of Kobath; he was a Prophet and Judge of Israel for several Years. The Dwelling of his Father was at Ramathaim- Zophim, or the City of Ramatha, inhabited by the Levites of the Family of Zophai or Ziph, one of the Descendants of Kohath. Samuel dwelt there himself for the greatest Part of his Time. Ramatha or Ramath was in the Mountains of Ephraim, between Bethel and Gibeah. See RAMATH. ‘Tis disputed whether Samuel was a Priest or no. Some of the Antients believed, that he was of the Race of Aaron,¹ and that he exercised the 1 Sam. ii. 18.Function of High-priest². He wore the Ephod; he consecrated two Kings, Saul and David; he offer’d Sacrifices, and that Ps. xcix. 6.out of the Tabernacle. The Psalmist places him in the Rank of Priests; Moses and Aaron among his Priests, and Samuel Joseph. Antiq. l. 7. c. 15.among them that call upon his Name. Josephus says, that Samuel appear’d to Saul in a Sacerdotal Habit. We find no one of the Family of the High-priest Eli, after the Death of Hophni and Phinehas, that could exercise the High-priest’s Office. It is therefore very probable, that Samuel perform’d the Duties of this Office, till such time as the Grandsons of Eli were of an Age to take it upon themselves.

But it is reply’d, that Samuel not being of the Race of Aaron, there is no likelihood that he should ever have been High-priest. If he had wore an Ephod, and anointed Kings, and even sacrificed in extraordinary Cases, that will not prove that he was a Priest. David wore the Ephod; Gideon 2 Sam. vi. 14. 1 Sam. xiii. 9, 10. xv. 12. Judg. vi. 18. 1 Kings xix. 15,16. 2 Kings xi. 1, 2, 6, 12, &c.and Saul had sacrificed; some of the Prophets consecrated Kings; Samuel is put in the Number of those who call upon the Lord, that is, the Levites. And if we will have him put in the Rank of Priests, we must take the Word Priest in its greatest Latitude and generical Sense, for all those that are imploy’d in the Service of the Lord, and who perform the Office of Mediators between God and the People. Lastly, in this Question, as well as in many others, we may oppose Authority against Authority; and both Antients and Moderns may be cited, who expressly deny that Samuel was a Priest³. As to the Age of the Children of Hophni and Phinehas, we have nothing certain upon that Matter; and if any one was to be employ’d to perform the Functions of the High-priest, they chose rather to take a Priest than a mere Levite.

But now let us come to the Life of Samuel. Elkanah his Father had two Wives, one of which was call’d Peninnah, and the other Hannah. Peninnah had Children; but Hannah was barren. Elkanah loved Hannah very tenderly, and was much concern’d that she had no Children. One Day when he went with all his Family to Shiloh, where the Ark of the Lord was deposited,⁴ he there offer’d Peace-offerings, and made an Entertainment for his Wives and Children. Hannah seeing herself alone, while Peninnah was surrounded with a Troop of Children, began to bewail herself; and rising from Table, she went to the Tabernacle, where she pour’d out her Heart before the Lord. Eli the High-priest being near, and hearing her speak pretty loud, thought she had been overcome with Wine; but Hannah soon discover’d to him the Occasion of her Affliction; and made a Vow, that if God would give her a Son, she would dedicate him to his Service all the Days of his Life; that she would cause him to profess the Order of a Nazarite, and suffer no Razor ever to come upon his Head. Eli blessed her, and begg’d of God to grant her her Petition. Hannah, being return’d to Ramatha, conceived and brought forth a Son, to whom she gave the Name of Samuel⁵, saying; Because I have asked him of the Lord⁶. Some Years after, when the Child was weaned, she brought him to Shiloh, into the House of the Lord, with an Offering of three Calves, of three Measures of Flour, and of three Baths of Wine. She made her Offering to God, and told the High-priest she was the same Woman, for whom he had pray’d some few Years ago. See the Article HANNAH. The young Samuel officiated in the Temple, as far as his Age 1 Sam. ii. 18, 19, 20.would allow. He was cloathed with a linen Ephod, and his Mother made him a little Coat of Linen, which she brought to him on the solemn Days, when she and her Husband came to offer their Sacrifices to the Lord.

But Eli was now become very old, and his Eye-sight was grown so dim, that he could hardly see at all. He heard of the Irregularities of his two Sons Hophni and Phinehas, but had not Courage to restrain them, nor the Power to make them remove that Scandal they caus’d to all the People of Israel. One Day as Samuel was in Bed in Eli’s Chamber, near the Tabernacle of the Lord,⁷ he heard a Voice calling him by his Name very early in the Morning, before they had extinguish’d the Lamps of the golden Candlestick, which burnt in the Holy Place over-against the Door of the Sanctuary. Samuel thinking it to be the Voice of Eli, ran hastily to him, and said; Here am I, for you call’d me. Eli bid him return, and lie down to sleep, for he did not call him. Samuel did so, and the same thing happen’d to him three times. The third time Eli, judging there must be something extraordinary in the Matter, sent Samuel back, and said to him; Go and sleep, and if you are call’d any more, say; Speak, Lord, for thy Servant heareth.

He return’d, and the Lord calling him again, Samuel answer’d; Speak, Lord, for thy Servant heareth. Then the Lord said to him; I am going to do a thing in Israel, that shall make the Ears tingle of all those that shall hear of it. I shall accomplish all that I have resolved against Eli, and against his House, because knowing the Iniquity of his Children, he has not restrain’d them. Wherefore I have sworn that the Iniquity of this House shall never be expiated, neither by Sacrifices nor Offerings. When Day was come, Eli call’d Samuel to him, and obliged him to discover what the Lord had said to him. Samuel told him the whole, and conceal’d nothing from him; to which Eli answer’d, It is the Lord, let him do what is pleasing in his own Eyes. Then it was known to all Israel, that Samuel was the chosen Prophet of the Lord; and whatever he declared, whether to Eli or the People, had always its due Effect.

We have elsewhere related a the Manner in which the Ark of the Lord was taken by the Philistines; the Death of the High-priest Eli, and that of his two Sons Hophni and Phinehas; the manner in which the Ark of the Lord was sent back to Bethshemesh, and from thence placed at Kirjath-jearim. This may be seen related at length in the first Book of Samuel, iv, v, vi.

After the Death of Eli the High-priest,⁸ Samuel was acknowledg’d as Judge by all Israel, and as Governor of the People. Probably this was done by that Assembly that met together, on the Occasion of removing the Ark from Beth-shemesh to Kirjath-jearim. Samuel then made this Declaration to the People; If you return to the Lord with all your Hearts, take away the strange Gods from among you, and prepare your Hearts to serve only the Lord, and he will deliver you from all your Enemies. Then the Children of Israel renounced all their strange Gods, and apply’d themselves wholly to the Service of the God of their Fathers. Afterwards Samuel convened another Assembly at Mizpeh, where all the People met in Arms. Samuel pray’d for them; they fasted and pray’d, they pour’d out Water before the Lord;⁹ they confess’d their Sins, and Samuel judged them in the same Place. The Philistines hearing that Israel was assembled at Mizpeh, took the Alarm, and came into the Field against them. Samuel call’d upon the Lord, and offered a sucking Lamb for a Sacrifice. No sooner was the Fight begun, but a dreadful Peal of Thunder was heard, that struck Terror and Consternation among the Philistines. They betook themselves to Flight, and Israel pursued them as far as Beth-car. This Defeat was so signal, that for a long Time they durst not any more appear upon the Frontiers of Israel; for the Hand of the Lord was over them as long as Samuel governed the People, and the Philistines were obliged to restore such Cities as they had taken from the Israelites.

Samuel was about forty Years of Age when he began to judge Israel. He judged 1 Sam. vii. 15.them the whole Time of his Life; for under the Reign of Saul he preserved a great deal of Authority, as well in respect of Saul himself, as the whole People. He went every Year to Bethel, thence to Gilgal, then to Mizpeh; afterwards he return’d to his House at Ramah, and so distributed Justice to all Israel. He also built an Altar at Ramah, as well for the Use of his own private Devotion, as to keep up the Religion of the People, who flock’d to him from all Parts, to consult him, and to have their Causes decided. When he grew old himself,¹⁰ he appointed his Sons as Judges over Israel, and they discharged this Office in Beer-shebah, a City lying upon the southern Limits of the Land of Canaan. But they, instead of walking in the Steps of their Father, were venal and mercenary Judges, and suffer’d themselves to be corrupted by Bribery and Avarice.

Then all the Elders of Israel came to Samuel, and said to him;¹¹ You see that you are grown old, and that your Children do not pursue your Steps; set a King over us, as all other Nations have, that he may judge us. This Proposal was not agreeable to Samuel, and he address’d himself to God by Prayer. The Lord said to him; Hear the Voice of the People, and give them what they ask for, for it is not you, but me, they have rejected, that I may not reign over them. But declare to them what are the Prerogatives of a King, and what are the Rights he will insist on. Samuel gave Answer to those that had made this Request to him, That the Lord was¹² not averse to their having a King, but they ought well to consider what would be the Consequences of kingly Power: That this King would take their Children from them, to make them serve in his Wars, and in his House: That he would force them to do his Drudgery and Labour, both in City and Country: That he would take their Daughters to make them serve as his Perfumers, Cooks, and Bakers, and in other menial Offices: That he would make them pay the tenth Part of the Profit of their Corn, Vines, and Flocks. That then they would cry unto the Lord, and the Lord would not hear them. But the Israelites were not moved with these Remonstrances; they persisted in desiring a King, and God told Samuel he would appoint them one.

A little while after a Saul the Son of Kish, of the Tribe of Benjamin, being sent by his Father to seek some Asses that were stray’d, came to advise with Samuel about the Asses; but the Prophet told him, that God had appointed him King over his People, and gave him the royal Unction, as we shall more amply relate hereafter, under the Article of SAUL. After which Samuel held an Assembly of the People at Mizpeh, that they might proceed to the Election of a King. The Lot was cast for all the Tribes separately, and fell upon the Tribe of Benjamin. Then it was cast for all the Families of this Tribe, and fell upon that of Matri. Lastly, it fell upon Saul, the Son of Kish. He was sought for immediately, but was not to be found. They ran therefore to the Place where the Baggage was deposited, where he had hid himself, and brought him forth among the People. Samuel then said to ‘em; You see who it is the Lord hath chosen, and that there is none like him among all the People. After this he writ down the Laws and Constitutions of this new Kingdom, and publish’d them to the People, and then dismiss’d them.

A Month was scarcely pass’d after Saul’s Election, but a War broke out between the Ammonites and the City of Jabesh, in the Country of Gilead.¹³ Saul, at the Head of all Israel, marched against the Ammonites, and set Jabesh at Liberty. See SAUL and JABESH. At their Return from this Expedition, Samuel said to the People; Let us go to Gilgal, and there let us confirm the Election of the King. They did so, and acknowledged Saul as King. They offer’d Peace-offerings, and made great Rejoycings. Then Samuel addres’d himself 1 Sam. xii. 1, 2, &c.to the People, and asked them, Whether they had had any Reason to find fault with his Conduct? The People answer’d, that he had given them no Reason of Complaint. Samuel proceeded, and said to ‘em, The Lord is therefore my Witness to Day, and so is also the King he has appointed, that you have nothing to reproach me with. To which the People answer’d; They are Witnesses. Samuel then told them, That God having granted them a King according to their Request, they ought to remain faithful and obedient to the Lord: That if they did so, God would shower down Blessings upon them and their King: That if, on the contrary, they forsook the Lord, the Hand of the Lord would be upon them, as it was upon their Fathers. To which he added, Is it not now Wheat-harvest? A Season in which it is very rare in Palestine to see Rain. Yet I shall call upon the Lord, and he will send out his Thunder, and shower down his Rain, that you may know how great an Evil it is in the Eyes of the Lord, that you have presumed to ask for a King.

At the same Time he cry’d to the Lord, and the Lord sent Thunder and Rain in great abundance. This put the People into such a Consternation, that they asked Pardon of God for the Fault they had committed, in asking him for a King. Samuel exhorted them to continue faithful to the Lord; and promised them, that he would not cease to intercede for them, and to instruct them in the right way. After which every one return’d to his House; and this was what pass’d in the first Year of the Reign of Saul.

In the second Year after his Election¹⁴, he made choice of three thousand Men that were good Soldiers,¹⁵ of which he kept two thousand about his own Person, to drive out the Garisons of the Philistines that were at Michmash and Bethel; and the other thousand Men were with Jonathan his Son, wherewith to drive out the Philistines that were posted at Gibeah. This Jonathan effected, and Saul being desirous to pursue this Advantage, call’d all the People together at Gilgal. The Philistines on the other Side took Arms, and assembled at Michmash, to the Number of thirty thousand Chariots, six thousand Horse, and an innumerable Multitude of Foot. These Preparations so terrified the Israelites that were got together with Saul at Gilgal, that they fled to hide themselves, every one where he best could. Saul staid at Gilgal six Days expecting Samuel¹⁶, and seeing he did not come, on the seventh Day, he had the Victims brought to him, and offer’d a Burnt-sacrifice.

He had hardly compleated his Sacrifice but Samuel came. Saul went out to meet him, and saluted him; Samuel says to him, 1 Sam. xiii. 8, 9, 10, &c.What have you been doing? Saul replies, That seeing himself press’d hard by the Philistines, and almost intirely abandoned by his own Soldiers, he had offer’d a Burnt-offering. Samuel told him again, That he had committed a piece of Folly. If, says he, you had obey’d the Commandment of the Lord, the Lord would have confirmed your Kingdom over Israel for ever; but now your Reign will not long continue. The Lord has found a Man after his own Heart, to place at the Head of his People. From thence Samuel went to Gibeah, and Saul follow’d him thither with his little Army, which was hardly above six hundred Men: Yet it was with this Handful of Men that Saul fought the Philistines, and beat them, as has been already observed under the Article of JONATHAN, and may be seen under SAUL; or may be read in the xiii and xiv Chapters of the First Book of Samuel.

After this Samuel came to Saul¹⁷, by an Appointment from God, to bid him make War with the Amalekites. Cut them in Pieces, says he, spare none, but destroy all; they are all devoted to the Curse of Extirpation, both Man, Woman and Child, even those that suck the Breast; even their Oxen, Camels, Sheep, and Asses. Saul therefore marched out against Amalek, cut them in Pieces, took and ravaged the whole Country; but, however, he thought fit to preserve such a Part of their Goods and Cattle as he thought deserved it best. Then God said to Samuel; I repent that I have made Saul King, because he has forsaken me, and done contrary to my Orders. Samuel was much afflicted at this, and cry’d to the Lord all Night. The Day following he came to Saul to Gilgal, where he was offering a Sacrifice of the Firstlings of the Flocks, that he had taken from Amalek. Saul saluted him, and told him; He had perform’d the Commands of the Lord. Whence then, says Samuel, is this Lowing of Oxen, and Bleating of Sheep in my Ears? Saul answer’d him, The People brought away what they thought best, to offer in Sacrifice to the Lord their God. Samuel upbraided him very vehemently with his want of Obedience; and Saul, to excuse himself, threw all the Blame upon the People; but Samuel reply’d to him, Is it Burnt-offerings and Sacrifices that the Lord requires? Obedience is more acceptable to him than any Sacrifice. To disobey him is equal to the Crime of Witchcraft, and to withstand him is as the Sin of Idolatry. As therefore you have rejected the Word of the Lord, so also the Lord has rejected you, and will not have you any longer for a King over his People.

1 Sam. xv. 35. 1 Sam. xvi. 1, 2, 3, 4, &c.Then says Saul to Samuel, I have sinned in having too great Complaisance for the People; but bear with my Iniquity, and come with me, that we may worship the Lord. Samuel answer’d him, I will not go with you, and at the same time turn’d hastily away from him to be gone. Saul having then hold of Samuel’s Garment, it tore in his Hands. On which Occasion Samuel said to him; Thus has the Lord tore the Kingdom out of your Hands, to give it to another, who is better than you. Saul reply’d, I confess I have sinn’d, but however do me the Credit of appearing with me before the Elders of the People, and before all Israel: Return with me, and let us worship the Lord. Samuel was then prevail’d with to follow him, and they return’d to the Camp at Gilgal. There Samuel caus’d Agag, King of the Amalekites to be brought out before him, whose Life had been saved, and who had been brought to Gilgal with the rest of the Booty. Samuel hew’d him to Pieces, and told him, That as his Sword had made so many Mothers childless, so likewise should his Mother be made childless among Women. Then Samuel return’d to Ramah, and Saul went to his House at Gibeah. From this Time Samuel saw Saul no more; but, however, he continually bewail’d him, because the Lord had rejected him, and repented that he had made Saul King of his People Israel.

Some Years after this,¹⁸ the Lord said to Samuel; How long will you mourn for Saul? Arise and go to Bethlehem, and give the Royal Unction to one of the Sons of Jesse, whom I have chosen to be the King of my People. Samuel made Answer; How shall I go? Saul will be inform’d of it, and will put me to Death. The Lord said to him; Go thither as if it were to sacrifice, and you shall invite Jesse to partake of the Sacrifice, and there I will shew you him you are to anoint. Samuel went therefore to Bethlehem, and all the Elders of the Place came to shew their Respect to him, whom he invited to the Solemnity of the Sacrifice. When he went into Jesse’s House, all the Sons of this venerable old Man came to salute him. And when they were before him, Samuel seeing Eliab the eldest, said within himself; Surely this is he the Lord has chosen for his Anointed. But the Lord answer’d him; Have no Regard to a good Appearance, or an advantageous Stature; for this is not he whom I have chosen: I judge not of Men by the outside, but by what is within the Heart. Then Jesse caused his seven Sons to come one after another; but Samuel told him, God has not chosen any of these. Jesse said, he had still a younger Son, but he was keeping the Sheep. Send for him, says Samuel, for we will not sit down to Table till he comes. This eighth Son of Jesse was David, who was fetch’d out of the Field; and as soon as he came in, the Lord said to Samuel, Anoint him quickly, for this is he. Samuel poured upon his Head the Oil he had brought with him; and from that very time the Spirit of the Lord rested upon David, and departed from Saul.

Samuel return’d to Ramah, and dwelt there all the rest of his Life among the Prophets, who lived under his Conduct in a kind of Community. Several Years after, a when David was in Disgrace with Saul, and had very hardly escaped out of his Hands, he came to take Refuge with Samuel at Ramah. He acquainted him with the manner of Saul’s Behaviour towards him, and they went together to Naioth, where they continued for some Time. Saul had Intelligence of this, who presently sent forth a Party to surprize David. But the Messengers finding Samuel, who was then prophesying in the midst of the Prophets, they were also seized by the Spirit, and began to prophesy among them; that is to say, they were surprized with certain irregular Motions and Agitations, and pronounced certain Words, as the Prophets were us’d to do in their Fits of Enthusiasm. When this was told Saul, he sent a second and a third Company of Messengers, who all were seized in like manner. Lastly, he went himself, and was seized with the Spirit of God, and prophesy’d among the rest. This gave David an Opportunity to escape, and to withdraw himself elsewhere.

Samuel died at the Age of ninety-eight, about two Years before the Death of Saul¹⁹. All Israel gathered together to mourn for him, and he was buried at his own House at Ramah. Jesus the Son of Sirach, Author of Ecclesiasticus, has consecrated this Eulogy to Ecclus. xlvi. 13, 17, 20.his Memory: Samuel the Prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord, established a Kingdom, and anointed Princes over his People. By the Law of the Lord he judged the Congregation, and the Lord had Respect unto Jacob. By his Faithfulness he was found a true Prophet, and by his Word he was known to be faithful in Vision. He called upon the mighty Lord, when his Enemies pressed upon him on every Side, when he offered the sucking Lamb. And the Lord thundered from Heaven, and with a great Noise made his Voice to be heard. And he destroyed the Rulers of the Tyrians²⁰, and all the Princes of the Philistines. And before his long Sleep, he made Protestations in the Sight of the Lord and his Anointed; I have not taken any Man’s Goods, so much as a Shoe: And no Man did accuse him. And after his Death he prophesied, and shewed the King his End, and lift up his Voice from the Earth in Prophecy, to blot out the Wickedness of the People.

What the Author of Ecclesiasticus here alludes to, happened about two Years after the Death of Samuel²¹. This is what we read 1 Sam. xxviii. 1, 2, 3, &c.of it in the first Book of Samuel: The Philistines, having invaded the Territories of Israel with a powerful Army, encamped at Shunem, in the Vale of Esdrelon, and Saul with his Troops took Possession of the Eminencies of Gilboa. This Prince being in great Consternation at the Multitude of his Enemies, and being not able to obtain any Answer, either by Dreams, or by the Priests, or by the Prophets, resolved at last to consult some Witch or Sorceress, to know what would be the Event of this War. It was told him, there was an Enchantress at En-dor, a Place at about two or three Leagues from Mount Gilboa. He disguised himself, and came hither with a small Attendance, that the Witch might not know him; for some Years before he had drove all those of her Profession out of the Country.

Coming then to this Woman, he desired her to raise the Ghost of Samuel to him. She had recourse to her Charms and Spells, and when she saw Samuel really to appear, she set forth a great Cry, and said to Saul; Why have you deceived me, for you are Saul? Saul gave her some Assurances to encourage her, and asked her what she saw? I see, said she, the Gods coming forth out of the Earth²². Saul asked her what Sort of a Man it was? She said, an old Man covered with a Mantle. Saul knew it to be Samuel, and bowed himself to the Earth. Samuel said to him, Why have you disturbed my Rest, and caused me to be raised up? Saul answered him, That being in great Straights, and not knowing to whom he should address himself, because God had not given him any Answer, he found himself necessitated to have Recourse to him by the Art of Magick. Samuel told him, that the Lord would deal with him as he had already told him, that the Kingdom should be taken from him, and given to David his Son-in-Law; that God would deliver Israel²³ into the Hands of their Enemies the Philistines. To which he added, To-morrow you shall be with me, you and your Sons, and the Lord shall abandon the Camp of Israel to the Philistines.

Upon this History, a very important Question has been moved, that has divided both Antients and Moderns, that is, Whether the Ghost of Samuel did really appear to Saul, or whether all that is here related of this Matter is only a Trick of the Sorceress, who herself spoke to Saul, and feigned the Voice of Samuel. ‘Tis asked also, whether this was done by the Power of the Devil, and by Art Magick; or, whether God permitted that Samuel should appear, by the miraculous Effect of his Power, and not by any Effect of Magick. Justin Martyr, Origen²⁴, Anastasius of Antioch believed the Justin. Dial. cum Tryphon. Anast. Antioch. in Odego. qu. 12.Demons had some Power over the Souls of the Saints, before Jesus Christ descended into Hell, and delivered them out of the Hands of this Prince of Darkness. St. Austin²⁵ finds no greater Inconvenience in saying, that the Devil caused the Soul of Samuel to appear, than in supposing him to present himself before the Lord among the Children of God, or in supposing him to place our Saviour upon a Pinacle of the Temple.

The Rabbin Manasseh-ben-Israel²⁶, according to the Principles of the Book Zohar, believes, there are Demons which have so much Power over the Souls of the Dead, for the first Year after their Death, that they do with them almost whatever they please, and oblige them to take whatever Bodies they think fit. We cannot agree that this happened the same Year as the Death of Samuel, but think it was about two Years after the Death of this Prophet: And besides, the Principles of this Rabbin are by no means supportable. But on the other hand, it is hard to oppose a positive Assertion of the Scripture, which expresly affirms, that Samuel appeared, that he spoke, that he foretold the Death of Saul, the Defeat of the Israelites, and the Victory of the Philistines.

Those that maintain that Samuel did not really appear to Saul, are divided among themselves. Some²⁷ think that the Devil assumed the Form of Samuel, and spoke thus to Saul. Others affirm²⁸, that the Witch saw nothing, but pretended to see the true Samuel, and spoke in his Name, and so imposed upon Saul and his Attendants. Lastly, others²⁹ maintain, that the Devil did not appear, nor took the Form of Samuel; but that God, of his own Will and Power, and independantly of the Art of Magick, took occasion from this Invocation of the Enchantress, to make the Figure of Samuel to appear to the Eyes of Saul, to pronounce to this Prince the Sentence of his Death, and his intire Destruction. The Rabbi Levi-ben-Gerson will have it, that all this passed only in the Imagination of Saul. He says, that this Prince being struck with the Apprehension of his present Danger, and with the Consideration of the Threats that God had made to him, believed he saw Samuel appear to repeat these Threats, and to foretel his approaching Destruction.

Of all these Opinions, that which seems to us the most probable, and the best founded, is, that Samuel really appeared to Saul. We are far from imagining that this could be effected by the magical Charms of the Sorceress, or by the Power of the Devil; it could only be by the Almighty Power of God, who, to punish Saul for his criminal Curiosity, might permit the real Samuel to appear to him, on the Occasion of the Witch’s Incantations, and discover to him his last and greatest Calamity. Upon this the Reader may consult Allatius, in his Notes upon the Treatise of Eustathius, called De Engastrimytho, as also the Commentators upon 1 Sam. xxviii. and our Dissertation upon this Subject, printed before the First Book of Samuel.

To Samuel are ascribed the Book of Judges, that of Ruth, and the first Book of Samuel. There is, indeed, great Probability that he composed the twenty-four first Chapters of the first of Samuel, since they contain nothing but what he might have written, and in which he had not a great Share. However, in these twenty-four Chapters there are some small Additions, which seem to have been inserted after his Death. We read in the Chronicles, that he 1 Chron. ix. 22.assisted in regulating the Distribution of the Levites made by David for the Service of the Temple. This may be explained by saying, that David pursued the Order already settled by Samuel, during the Time he was Judge of Israel, after the Death of the 1 Chron. xxvi. 28.High-Priest Eli. We read also in the same Book, that Samuel enriched the Tabernacle of the Lord, by magnificent Presents, and by rich Spoils, which had been taken from the Enemies of Israel during the Time of his Judicature. 1 Chron. xxix. 29.Lastly, it is there read, that he wrote the History of David in Conjunction with the Prophets Nathan and Gad. Probably he might write the Beginning of this History, and the two other Prophets might write the Continuation and Conclusion of it; for Samuel was dead before David came to the Throne. The two first Books of Kings bear the Name of the Books of Samuel; but it must be allowed that he could not be the Author of the Second of these Books, which contains Transactions that happened a long time after his Death. Neither could he write the latter End of the First, since his Death is mentioned in the Beginning of Chap. xxv. of this same Book.

It is said, Chap. x. 25. of the first Book of Samuel, that this Prophet wrote in a Book, the Manner of the Kingdom, which was nothing else but the Rights, Prerogatives, and Revenues of the King, and the Limits of his Power and Authority over the People. In a Word, it was a Repetition of what he had proposed, vivâ voce, a little before to the People. The Rabbin Levi-ben-Gerson affirms, that when he had finished it, he put it into the Ark; and Bodin assures us, upon Bodin. de Repub. l. 1. c. 10.the Credit of the Rabbins, that the Kings destroyed and suppressed this Book, that they might reign afterwards with less restraint, in what manner they pleased.

Samuel began the Chain of the Prophets, which was never broke or discontinued, from his Time, to that of Zechariah and Malachi. See Acts iii. 24. All the Prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these Days. The Body of Samuel was transported from Palestine to Constantinople, in the Time of the Emperor Arcadius. St. Hieron. cont. Vig.Jerome says, they carried the Ashes of this Prophet in a Golden Vessel, lapped up in Silk: That the Bishops and People every-where received them in Multitudes with a Joy not to be expressed, and with Honours almost infinite. The Roman Martyrology sets down his Festival on the Twentieth of August.

Besides the true History of Samuel, which we have given above, there are several Traditions subsisting concerning this Prophet, most of which are very uncertain. The Orientals D’Herbel. Bib.Orient p. 735. & 1021.relate, for Example, that Samuel having made his Report to God, that the Hebrews were resolved to have a King; God gave him two Things, one of which was, a Vessel or Horn full of Oyl, and the other was a Staff. He then revealed to him, that the Man in whose Presence the Oyl should boil in the Vessel, and whose Stature should be equal to that Staff, was the Person appointed by God for their King. No sooner was this Determination published among the People, but all the Chiefs of the Tribes came with great Eagerness to measure themselves by the Staff, and to try if the Oyl would boil in their Presence. But neither was any of them of the same measure as the Staff, nor would the Oyl boil before them.

Saul also, otherwise called Sharek, and surnamed Thalout, that is, the Tall, who was no more than a Carrier of Water, or Dresser of Leather, came also to the Prophet among the rest, and immediately the Water began to boil in the Vessel, and he was found to be just of the Heighth of the miraculous Staff. Upon these Tokens Samuel declared him to be King; but the Heads of the Tribes, especially that of Judah, to whom the Royal Dignity had been promised, expostulated with the Prophet, saying; How can this Man be our King, who has no Estate? How can he support the Expence and Dignity of the Royal State? But Samuel replied, ‘Tis the Lord who has chose him, and ‘tis he who disposes of Kingdoms without Controul, to whomsoever he pleases.

The Israelites would not yet submit, but insisted upon having a Sign from Samuel, that they might be assured from God, that this was his Will. Samuel answered them, This is the Miracle that God gives you to confirm this Choice, The Ark of the Lord, which was taken away by the Philistines, shall be brought back to you by Angels.

This Ark, according to the Description that the Musselmen give of it, was a Chest made of several Metals, round about which the Pictures of all the Patriarchs were engraven, and upon which the Shekinah, or the Majesty of God, rested. This Shekinah, or Sckinah, was the Cherubims, whose Eyes were like two Lamps, and whose dazzling Splendor cast Terror into the Hearts of all those that beheld it. He had the Shape of a Leopard, and in the Time of War he raised himself up, and put forth such a dismal Cry, as put all the Enemies of Israel to Confusion. Others imagine him to have the Figure of a Man, and say; That when the Ark was carried into the Army, he stood up upon his Feet, and came forth like a vehement Wind, that poured upon the Enemies of the People of God, and intirely defeated them.

In this Ark was kept, as they say, the Tables of the Law, the Bason in which the Angels washed the Hearts of the Prophets, the Rod of Moses, the High-Priest’s Mitre, the Pontifical Robes of Aaron, the Vessel full of Manna, and a Piece of the Wood Aluah, which sweetned the Waters of Marah.

When therefore the Election of Saul was proclaimed, the Philistines being resolved to conceal the Ark of the Lord, which had caused them so many Misfortunes by its Presence, they hid it in a Dunghil. But they were smote with a shameful Disease in their secret Parts, which made them resolve to send it back to the Confines of the Land of Israel. It was no sooner arrived at this Place, but the Angels of the Lord took it up, and carried it to the Tabernacle at Shiloh; and this Miracle secured Saul in his Kingdom. It is convenient sometimes even to know such Things that deserve neither Esteem nor Credit, if it were only by that, to obtain a Right of contemning them.

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