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terribleness of the judgment, its publicity in the sight of all Israel, who knew of his
Divine call, and in whose presence Samuel, acting as Divine messenger, had
appointed him, - all these thoughts "kindled within him" feelings which it would be
difficult to analyze, but which led to a "cry" all that long night, if perchance the Lord
would open a way of deliverance or of pardon. With the morning light came calm
resolve and the terrible duty of going in search of Saul on this errand of God. Nor
did the stern Nazarite now shrink from aught which this might imply, however
bitterly he might have to suffer in consequence. Saul had returned to Gilgal, as if in
his infatuation he had intended to present himself in that place of so many sacred
memories before the God Whose express command he had just daringly set aside.
By the way he had tarried at Carmel,^147 where he "had set him up a monument"^148 of
his triumph over Agag. And now as Samuel met him, he anticipated his questions by
claiming to have executed Jehovah's behest.
But the very bleating of the sheep and lowing of the oxen betrayed his failure, and
the excuse which he offered was so glaringly untrue,^149 that Samuel interrupted
him^150 to put the matter plainly and straightforwardly in its real bearing: "Was it not
when thou wast small in thine own eyes thou becamest head of the tribes of Israel?"
- implying this as its counterpart: Now that thou art great in thine own eyes, thou art
rejected, for it was God Who appointed thee, and against Him thou hast rebelled.
Once more Saul sought to cloak his conduct by pretense of greater religiousness,
when Samuel, in language which shows how deeply the spiritual meaning of ritual
worship was understood even in early Old Testament times,^151 laid open the mingled
folly and presumption of the king, and announced the judgment which the Lord had
that night pronounced in his hearing.
And now the painful interest of the scene still deepens. If there had been folly,
hypocrisy, and meanness in Saul's excuses, there was almost incredible weakness
also about his attempt to cast the blame upon the people. Evidently Saul's main
anxiety was not about his sin, but about its consequences, or rather about the effect
which might be produced upon the people if Samuel were openly to disown him. He
entreated him to go with him, and when Samuel refused, and turned to leave, he laid
such hold on the corner of his mantle that he rent it. Not terrified by the violence of
the king, Samuel only bade him consider this as a sign of how Jehovah had that day
rent the kingdom from him. At last the painful scene ended. Saul gave up the
pretense of wishing Samuel's presence from religious motives, and pleaded for it on
the ground of honoring him before the elders of his people. And to this Samuel
yielded. Throughout it had not been a personal question, nor had Samuel received
directions about Saul's successor, nor would he, under any circumstances, have
fomented discord or rebellion among the people. Besides, he had other and even
more terrible work to do ere that day of trial closed. And now the brief service was
(^)