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The narrative also affords some interesting glimpses into the history of the time.
Thus we infer that Samuel had been in the habit of visiting various places in the land
for the purpose of sacrifice and instruction. The former was quite lawful, so long as
the ark was not in its central sanctuary.^156 On the other hand, it needs no comment to
show the importance of such periodical visits of the prophet at a time when religious
knowledge was necessarily so scanty, and the means of grace so scarce. It helps us to
understand how religion was kept alive in the land. Again, the narrative implies that
the family of Jesse must have occupied a leading place in Bethlehem, and been
known as devoted to the service of the Lord. Nor do we wonder at this, remembering
that they were the immediate descendants of Boaz and Ruth.
As we follow Samuel to Bethlehem, we seem to mark the same primitive simplicity
and life of piety as of old. When the, "elders" hear of Samuel's coming, they go to
meet him, yet with fear lest the unexpected visit betoken some unknown sin resting
on their quiet village. This apprehension is removed by Samuel's explanation, and
they are invited to attend the "sacrifice." But the sacrificial meal which usually
followed was to be confined to Jesse and his family, in whose house, as we infer,
Samuel was a welcome guest. It would appear that Samuel himself was not
acquainted with all that was to happen, the Lord reserving it for the proper moment
to point out to His servant who was to be Israel's future king. And this, as we judge,
partly because the aged prophet had himself a lesson to learn in the matter, or rather
to unlearn what of the ideas of his time and people unconsciously clung to him.
All this appears from the narrative. One by one the sons of Jesse were introduced to
Samuel. The manly beauty of Eliab, the eldest, and his rank in the family, suggested
to the prophet that he might be "Jehovah's anointed." But Samuel was to learn that
Jehovah's judgment was, "not as what man seeth" (looketh to), "for man looketh to
the eyes but Jehovah looketh to the heart."^157
And so the others followed in turn, with a like result. Evidently, Samuel must have
expressed it to Jesse that on that day one of his family was to be chosen by Jehovah,
but for what purpose seems not to have been known to them. Nor did Jesse himself,
nor even David, apparently understand what was implied in the rite of anointing. No
words of solemn designation were uttered by the prophet, such as Samuel had
spoken when he anointed Saul (1 Samuel 10:1). Besides, as Saul was the first king
anointed, and as none had been present when it took place, we may reasonably
suppose that alike the ceremony and its meaning were unknown to the people. Both
Jesse and David may have regarded it as somehow connected with admission to the
schools of the prophets, or more probably as connected with some work for God in
the future, which at the proper time would be pointed out to them.^158 And thus was
David in this respect also a type of our Lord, Whose human consciousness of His
(^)