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command the respect and admiration of the mass of the people and so counter the
"children of Belial" referred to in verse 27.
"Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and
laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house"
(10: 25).
Just as Samuel had told the people what the "manner of the king" would do to them in
chapter 8:, so now here he gives them the "manner of the kingdom". This was
probably in the form of a Magna Carta, limiting the prerogatives of the monarch, and
doubtless drawing attention to the words of the Lord to Moses in Deut. 17: 14-20.
This would be the basis upon which the administration of the kingdom should be
operated in the years to come. There is no doubt that in this respect Samuel was a man of
great discernment and intellect: a truly great man. After the election of Saul as king,
Samuel dismissed the representatives of the twelve tribes who had been gathered together
for this purpose, and they returned to their homes. There is no doubt that he continued to
be the guiding power behind the throne thereafter until the time of his death. As for Saul,
we read that he also "went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men,
whose hearts God had touched" (I Sam. 10: 26).
Here is an insight into the character of God. Despite the rejection of Him by the
people as their King, He nevertheless does not entirely withdraw His mercy and care for
them, so a band of men accompanied Saul to his home who had sworn allegiance to him
and would serve as a loyal bodyguard through thick and thin. This was because God had
"touched their hearts". He knew that Saul would need much support and encouragement
in the days ahead by men prepared to lay down their lives in his service. There is no
doubt that God had warmed their hearts to Saul, recognizing him as the king appointed by
Jehovah, and thus willing to dedicate their lives to him. The Lord knew full well that
Saul would need this support and strengthening in the early days of the establishment of
his reign.
If ever a man had need of such loyalty, Saul did right now. His dramatic rise to fame
and elevation to the kingship was bound to cause misgivings and jealousy in the hearts of
not a few. One can imagine the feelings of some of the princes and rulers of tribes such
as Judah and Ephraim, mighty tribes in Israel who had continually taken the lead in
matters of national importance. How would they react to a king from the insignificant
tribe of Benjamin? If Jehovah Himself had been rejected, how could Saul count on their
loyalty to him? Those who considered themselves more fitted for the crown would
moreover have their admirers and hangers-on to support them in their claims.
"But the children of Belial said, `How shall this man save us?'. And they despised
him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace" (10: 27).
"Children of Belial" here signifies evil or worthless men (or women) who care nothing
for their God. Hannah used the phrase when she had been accused by Eli of drunkenness
in the house of Jehovah, "Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial"
(I.Sam.i.16). As regards Eli's sons, they are referred to as "sons of Belial; they knew not
the Lord" (2: 12). It occurs once only in the N.T. where the apostle Paul warns the