1Samuel vii. is
continued in chap. viii., and chap. viii. again in x. 17-xii.
25. Samuel, after setting the land free from foreign tyranny,
conducts a quiet and successful reign till old age comes upon him.
His sons, however, whom he has made his assessors, do not walk in
his steps; and the elders of Israel make this the occasion to ask
him to give them a king. But this is a mere pretext for their
sinful desire to shake off the divine rule and to be like the
heathen round about them. Samuel is extremely indignant at their
ingratitude, but is directed by Jehovah to comply with their
request.
"They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected
Me, that I should not reign over them; according to all the works
that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of
Egypt, wherewith they have forsaken Me and served other gods. so
do they also unto thee."
It is in vain that Samuel exhibits to them an alarming catalogue
of the rights of the king: they are not to be moved from their
determination, and he accordingly summons a general convention of
the people at Mizpeh (viii. 22, x. 17). There, after the
opening lecture, lots are drawn for the king, and Saul is chosen,
whereupon Samuel has still to write down the law of the kingdom and
lay it up before Jehovah.
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