Page 203 - Bible History

176 GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE DER KINGS
anointed thee to be the king of His people, and thou shalt deliver His people out of the hands of their ene­ mies that are round about them.''
Saul con­ When Saul returned to Gabaa, his father asked him ceals his where he had been. Saul said that he had been in
appoint­ Ml
search of the lost animals and on his way had met Samuel. His father asked what Samuel had said to him. Saul said, ''He told us that the asses were found.'' But Saul did not tell how Samuel had anointed him king. He waited for Samuel to reveal God's choice.
Not long after Saul's anointing, Samuel gathered to­ gether the twelve tribes of the Israelites at Maspha, near Gabaa, and told them that God had chosen a king from ong them, but that they must discover him by lot. They cast lots, and the choice fell upon Saul. In vain they looked for Saul among the crowd. Then the Lord spoke and said, ''Behold, he is hidden at home.'' There they found him and brought him to the place of the election, where the people were all gath. ered together. And Saul stood head and shoulders a ve any man in Israel. Samuel said to the people,
''Surely you see him om the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people.'' All the people cried out, "God save the king!" I
2. SAUL LEADS Hrs PEOPLE To VICTORY, BuT Is RE­ JECTED BY GoD
Saul and I
Ammo­ attacked the city of Jabes Galaad. The city was on
nites
Soon after Saul was anointed king, the Ammonites
the point of surrendering, when the people thought of