ilistines were the chief at that time. They overran the country, and
brought the Israelites into captivity. They tyrannized over them, and
to make sure that they should never be free, they even took away from
them the means of forging weapons to fight with. "There was no smith
found through all the land of Israel," says the chapter, "for the
Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews (i.e. the Israelites) make them
swords or spears. But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines,
to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his ax, and his
mattock." Saul was raised up to throw off this heavy yoke, and to
destroy the cruel oppressors of his people. He "chose him three
thousand men, and with a third of them Jonathan, his son, smote the
garrison of the Philistines which was in Geba."

Upon this, as was naturally to be supposed, these powerful enemies the
Philistines became highly incensed, and assembled together a great army
to chastise the insurgent people, their subjects as they would call
them, who were making head against them. They had "thirty thousand
chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on
the sea-shore in multitude." On the other hand, Saul on his part,
"blew the trumpet through all the land," and summoned all Israelites to
him. They came together to him at Gilgal. And the Philistines came
with their great host, and pitched over against him. Thus the two
armies remained in sight of each other, and then it was that Saul's
trial began.

Before Saul went to battle, it was necessary to offer a burnt sacrifice
to the Lord, and to beg of Him a blessing on the arms of Israel. He
could have no hope of victory, unless this act of religious worship was
performed. Now priests only and prophets were God's ministers, and
they alone could offer sacrifice. Kings could not, unless they were
specially commanded to do so by Almighty God. Saul had no leave to
offer sacrifice; yet a sacrifice must be offered before he could fight;
what must he do? He must wait for Samuel, who had said that he would
come to him for that purpose. "Thou shalt go down before me to
Gilgal," says Samuel to him, "and behold, I will come down unto thee,
to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace
offerings; seven days shalt thou tarry till I come unto thee, and show
thee what thou shalt do[2]." Saul, you see, was told to wait seven
days till Samuel came; but meanwhile this great trial