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opening of the second year, when he began to manifest those traits that darkened his
whole reign.
One further point is emphasized in the structure, and that is the thrice-repeated test of
"seven days".
The first test (I Sam. 10: 8):
"And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down unto
thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days
shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do."
Saul was warned that he could not start his reign with any hope of success, unless he
were wholly devoted to the Lord (the burnt offering) and fully reconciled to Him (the
peace offering)--and further, that this devotion and reconciliation were beyond his own
power to effect, and that he must humbly wait for the Lord Who, through Samuel, would
being it to pass.
The second test (I Sam. 11: 3-13).
The second test of seven days, occurs in chapter 11: The reader may remember that
in Judges 11: the people of Gilead were involved in a controversy with the Ammonites,
on account of a grievance felt by the Ammonites at the possession by Israel of the land
beyond Jordan. When Nahash the Ammonite heard of the possible appointment of a king
over Israel, he came and besieged Jabesh Gilead. When the men asked that they might
enter into a covenant with him as servants, Nahash consented upon the condition that
they should suffer the loss of their right eyes. They then asked for a seven days' respite,
and Saul responded to their call for help:
"And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them . . . . . by the
hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so
shall it be done unto his oxen" (I Sam. 11: 7).
As a result, Nahash was beaten, and the people said,
"Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them
to death" (I Sam. 11: 12).
The third test (I Sam. 13: 8 - 15: 19):
"As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. And he
tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel
came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring hither
a burnt offering."
Saul was sorely tried. We dare not condone his sin, but how many of us would not
have acted in the same way? The Philistines were gathered together to fight, and the
people, seeing they were in a strait, began to hide or fly. Those who followed Saul, did
so trembling. He waited with much anxiety until the seventh day, and then broke down.
Had he endured to the end the Lord would have established his kingdom (I Sam. 13: 13),