194 POPE SAMUEL. 



Thummim, the oracular shining stones. On the other 

 hand, the high priest could not issue laws ; he could only- 

 give decisions and replies. But now a Nazarite or 

 servant of the church, named Samuel, usurped the office, 

 or at all events the powers, of high priest which be- 

 longed to the family of Aaron, and also obtained the 

 dignity of President or Judge. He professed to be the 

 recipient of private instructions from Jehovah, and 

 issued laws in his name, and went round on circuit 

 judging the twelve tribes. 



In his old age he delegated this office to his sons, 

 who gave false judgments and took bribes. The elders 

 of the people came to Samuel, and asked him to 

 appoint them a King. 



Samuel had established a Papacy, intending to make 

 it hereditary in his house : and now the evil conduct 

 of his sons frustrated all his hopes. He protested in 

 the name of Jehovah against this change in the con- 

 stitution ; he appealed to his own blameless life ; he 

 drew a vivid picture of the horrors of despotism ; but 

 in vain. The people persisted in their demand ; they 

 were at that time in the vassal state ; and their liege 

 lords, the Philistines, did not permit them to have 

 smiths lest they should make weapons and rebel. 

 Samuel himself had united the tribes, and had inspired 

 them with the sentiments of nationality. They 

 yearned to be free ; and they observed that they lost 

 battles because their enemies were better officered than 

 themselves. They saw that they needed a military 

 chief who would himself lead them to the charge, 

 instead of sacrificing a sucking lamb, or kneeling on a 

 neighbouring hill with his hands up in the air. 



Samuel still protesting elected Saul to the royal 

 office. The young man was gladly accepted by the 



