The Contrast Between Good and Bad Men (Volume 1); Illustrated by the Biography and Truths of the Bible (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X. iol. THE first king of Israel was selected from the smallest of its tribes, and from the most abject family in that tribe. Yet were there traits of courage and enterprise in this obscure family. Abner, Saul's uncle, was made the general of his armies after he came to the throne, and Saul himself was a courageous and brave king. He was a young man of commanding person; "a choice young man, and a goodly; and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he." When he first made his appearance to the assembled tribes, "Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people " It was an interesting period in the history of the Hebrew state when he came to the throne. Samuel was the prophet of Israel, and the last of those judges, or chiefs, who presided over the republic from the days of Moses until the change in their government, from the republican to the monarchical form. The dynasty of the Judges had been marked by oppression and invasion from the surrounding nations; by the wickedness and idolatry of Israel; by great and frequent internal changes and convulsions; and by signal expressions of God's justice and mercy. The prophet Samuel was now an old man; and his two sons, to whom he intrusted the administration of the government, instead of walking in the steps of their father, "turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment." This was the specious pretext to the people for a, change in the form of their government. It was not the most welcome thought to this venerable man, that, after he had been for forty years the faithful servant of this people, he should be thus rejected on account of the infirmities "of age. Beside the ingratitude toward h...