147 



to deliver the sentence af eloquent self-accasation, on the dra*- 

 matic picture of his represented criminality, and finally rati- 

 fied the condemnation, by tlie simple and sublime verdict, 

 " thou art the man/' ^ 



3dly. But even the expression^} of Scripture contradict the 

 conclusion of tliis system. Instead of supposing that th& 

 Philistines rose in the last year of Eli, to emancipate them- 

 selves, or to subjugate the Israelites to their dominion again, 

 as Vignoles alledges, it, on the contrary, represents Israel as 

 revolting, or assembUng against the Philistines. (Saml. 4. v. 1.)^ 

 " Now, Israel went out against the Pbrlistines to battle, and 

 pitched beside Ebenezer, and the Philistines pitched in 

 Aphek." In the whole series of the history of the Judgesy 

 Israel assembles its armies only to repel invasioQ, or to shake 

 off the yoke of oppression. In the first case, there would 

 have been preceding mention of the conduct of Israel, which; 

 had provoked thf wrath of Heaven, and also of the enemij whO' 

 was appointed the instrument of vengeance The denunci- 

 ations in the last chapters, delivered by a Prophet to Eli,, 

 (c. 2- 27.) and by a vision to Samuel, (c. 3- 11. and seq.) were 

 personal to Eli and his house, but the punishment was awfully 

 national. We must suppose, then, as the national vices arc 

 not mentioned as \\\e:i/nmediate cause of the severe vengeance- 

 of Heaven, that ^/ie^ were previously subjected to punishment,. 

 or that Israel was at that vej;y period under oppression, which. 

 Bwast be the same as thaty fooiBi whick Samsotni had. begun iO' 



deliver. 



