The ancient Israelites
were as fully conscious as any other people of the gratitude
they owed to the men and to the institutions by whose aid they
had been lifted out of anarchy and oppression, and formed into an
orderly community, capable of self-defence. Of this the Books of
Samuel afford the most eloquent testimony. /1/
*****************************************
l In Balaam's view of the happy future of Israel (Numbers xxiii.
seq.), the monarchy is spoken of as one of Israel's chief
blessings. Generally (xxiii. 21): "Jehovah his God is with
him, and the shout of a king is among them." With reference to
Saul (xxiv. 7): "And his king triumphs over Agag. and his
kingdom shall be exalted." To David (xxiv. 17): "I see him,
though not now; I behold him, though not nigh: there rises (ZRX)
a star out of Jacob and a rod out of Israel, and smites in pieces
the temples of Moab and the skull of all the sons of Seth: and Edom
also becomes a conquest." According to Deuteronomy xxxiii. 4, 5,
the monarchy and the Torah are the two great gifts of God's grace
to Israel.
******************************************
The position taken up in the version of 1 Samuel vii.
Pages:
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575