consult him as to "the way" they "should go" in order to find the she-asses.88

Having ascertained that the seer was not only in the city, but that the people had had "a sacrifice" on the

"height" outside, where, as we know (1 Samuel 7:17), Samuel had built an altar, the two hastened on, in the

hope of finding him in the city itself, before he went up "to bless," or speak the prayer of thanksgiving, with

which the sacrificial meal would begin. For, amidst the guests gathered there, the two strangers could have

little expectation of finding access to the president of the feast. They had just entered the city itself, and

were "in the gate," or wide place inside the city-entrance, where the elders used to sit and popular

assemblies gathered, when they met Samuel coming from an opposite direction on his way to the "Bamah,"

or sacrificial "height." To Saul's inquiry for "the seer's house," Samuel replied by making himself known.89

He had expected him - for the day before the Lord had expressly intimated it to him. Indeed, Samuel had

prepared for it by ordering the choicest piece of that which was to be eaten of the sacrifice to be set aside

for his guest - so sure was he of his arrival. And now when he saw before him in the gate the stateliest and

finest-looking man in all Israel, the same voice which had led him to expect, indicated that this was the future

leader of God's people.

The bearing of Samuel towards Saul was precisely such as the circumstances required. Moreover, it was

consistent throughout, and dignified. An entirely new office, involving the greatest difficulties and

responsibilities, was most unexpectedly to be almost thrust upon Saul; an office, besides, the reality of

which would not only be soon tested by such enemies as the Philistines, but to which he had neither family

nor personal claims, and which would be sure to excite tribal jealousies and personal envies. To prepare

Saul, it was necessary to call forth in him expectations, it might be vague, of great things; to inspire him with

absolute confidence in Samuel as the medium through whom God spake; and finally, by converse on the

deepest concerns of Israel, to bring out what lay inmost in his heart, and to direct it to its proper goal.

Accordingly, Samuel invited Saul first to the feast and then to his house, at the outset intimating that he

would tell him all that was in his heart (ver. 19). This assuredly could not have reference to the finding of the

she-asses, since he immediately informed Saul about them, as evidence that he was "a seer," whose words

must, therefore, be received as a message coming from God. Mysterious as was the allusion to what was in

Saul's heart, the remark which accompanied his intimation of the finding of the she-asses sounded even

more strange. As if treating such a loss as a very small matter, he added (ver. 20). "And whose is all that is

desirable in Israel? Is it not thine and thy father's house?"90

The remark was so strange both in itself and as coming from "the seer," that Saul, feeling its seeming

incongruity, could only answer by pointing to the fact that Benjamin was the smallest tribe, and his own

family among the least influential in it. Saul was undoubtedly aware that Israel had demanded and were

about to receive from Samuel a king. His reply leaves the impression on us, that, although, probably he did

not exactly formulate it in his own mind, yet Samuel's words had called up in him thoughts of the kin gdom.

Else why the reference to the size of his tribe and the influence of his family? And this was exactly what

Samuel had wished: gradually to prepare him for what was coming. Apparently the "seer" made no answer

to what Saul had said. But at the sacrificial feast he pursued the same course towards his guest. To the

Ephraimites there assembled he was, of course, unknown. But even they must have been surprised at

finding that, while the mass of the people feasted outside, among the thirty principal guests who were

bidden into "the parlor," not only was the chief place given to this stranger, but that the principal portion of

the sacrifice had, as a mark of special honor, been reserved for him.

The feast was past, and Saul followed his host to his house. There on the flat roof,91 so often the scene of

private converse in the East, Samuel long "communed" with Saul, no doubt of "all that was in his heart;"

not, indeed, of the office about to be conferred on him, but of the thoughts which had been called up in Saul

that day: of Israel's need, of Israel's sin, of Israel's help, and of Israel's God. After such "communing,"

neither of them could have found much sleep that night. It was gray dawn when they rose; and as the

morning broke, Samuel called up to Saul on the roof that it was time to depart. He himself convoyed him

through the town; then, sending forward the servant, he stopped to deliver the message of God. Taking a

vial of oil,92 he "anointed" Saul, thus placing the institution of royalty on the same footing as that of the