He does not bring help; he only
descries help and the helper. The very event which, according
to chap. viii. seq., involved the removal of Samuel from his
place and his withdrawal to the background of the history, is
here the sole basis of his reputation: the monarchy of Saul,
if not his work, is his idea. He announces to the Benjamite his
high calling, interpreting in this the thoughts of the man's own
heart (ix. 19). With this his work is done; he has no commission
and no power to nominate his successor in the government.
Everything else he leaves to the course of events and to the
Spirit of Jehovah which will place Saul on his own feet.
In the great difference which separates these two narratives we
recognise the mental interval between two different ages. In the
eyes of Israel before the exile the monarchy is the culminating
point of the history, and the greatest blessing of Jehovah. It
was preceded by a period of unrest and affliction, when every man
did what was right in his own eyes, and the enemies of Israel
accordingly got everything their own way. Under it the people
dwell securely and respected by those round about; guarded by
the shelter of civil order, the citizen can sit under his own
vine and his own fig-tree.
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