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The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
The Antiquities of the Jews
Written by Flavius Josephus
Translated by William Whiston
Book Six
Chapter 8
How, Upon Saul's Transgression Of The
Prophet's Commands, Samuel Ordained Another Person To Be King
Privately, Whose Name Was David, As God Commanded Him
1. Now Saul being sensible of the miserable condition he had
brought himself into, and that he had made God to be his enemy,
he went up to his royal palace at Gibeah, which name denotes a
hill, and after that day he came no more into the presence of
the prophet. And when Samuel mourned for him, God bid him leave
off his concern for him, and to take the holy oil, and go to
Bethlehem, to Jesse the son of Obed, and to anoint such of his
sons as he should show him for their future king. But Samuel
said, he was afraid lest Saul, when he came to know of it,
should kill him, either by some private method or even openly.
But upon God's suggesting to him a safe way of going thither, he
came to the forementioned city; and when they all saluted him,
and asked what was the occasion of his coming, he told them he
came to sacrifice to God. When, therefore, he had gotten the
sacrifice ready, he called Jesse and his sons to partake of
those sacrifices; and when he saw his eldest son to be a tall
and handsome man, he guessed by his comeliness that he was the
person who was to be their future king. But he was mistaken in
judging about God's providence; for when Samuel inquired of God
whether he should anoint this youth, whom he so admired, and
esteemed worthy of the kingdom, God said, "Men do not see as God
seeth. Thou indeed hast respect to the fine appearance of this
youth, and thence esteemest him worthy of the kingdom, while I
propose the kingdom as a reward, not of the beauty of bodies,
but of the virtue of souls, and I inquire after one that is
perfectly comely in that respect; I mean one who is beautiful in
piety, and righteousness, and fortitude, and obedience, for in
them consists the comeliness of the soul." When God had said
this, Samuel bade Jesse to show him all his sons. So he made
five others of his sons to come to him; of all of whom Eliab was
the eldest, Aminadab the second, Shammall the third, Nathaniel
the fourth, Rael the fifth, and Asam the sixth. And when the
prophet saw that these were no way inferior to the eldest in
their countenances, he inquired of God which of them it was whom
he chose for their king. And when God said it was none of them,
he asked Jesse whether he had not some other sons besides these;
and when he said that he had one more, named David, but that he
was a shepherd, and took care of the flocks, Samuel bade them
call him immediately, for that till he was come they could not
possibly sit down to the feast. Now, as soon as his father had
sent for David, and he was come, he appeared to be of a yellow
complexion, of a sharp sight, and a comely person in other
respects also. This is he, said Samuel privately to himself,
whom it pleases God to make our king. So he sat down to the
feast, and placed the youth under him, and Jesse also, with his
other sons; after which he took oil in the presence of David,
and anointed him, and whispered him in the ear, and acquainted
him that God chose him to be their king; and exhorted him to be
righteous, and obedient to his commands, for that by this means
his kingdom would continue for a long time, and that his house
should be of great splendor, and celebrated in the world; that
he should overthrow the Philistines; and that against what
nations soever he should make war, he should be the conqueror,
and survive the fight; and that while he lived he should enjoy a
glorious name, and leave such a name to his posterity also.
2. So Samuel, when he had given him these admonitions, went
away. But the Divine Power departed from Saul, and removed to
David; who, upon this removal of the Divine Spirit to him, began
to prophesy. But as for Saul, some strange and demoniacal
disorders came upon him, and brought upon him such suffocations
as were ready to choke him; for which the physicians could find
no other remedy but this, That if any person could charm those
passions by singing, and playing upon the harp, they advised
them to inquire for such a one, and to observe when these demons
came upon him and disturbed him, and to take care that such a
person might stand over him, and play upon the harp, and recite
hymns to him. (16) Accordingly Saul did not delay, but commanded
them to seek out such a man. And when a certain stander-by said
that he had seen in the city of Bethlehem a son of Jesse, who
was yet no more than a child in age, but comely and beautiful,
and in other respects one that was deserving of great regard,
who was skillful in playing on the harp, and in singing of
hymns, [and an excellent soldier in war,] he sent to Jesse, and
desired him to take David away from the flocks, and send him to
him, for he had a mind to see him, as having heard an
advantageous character of his comeliness and his valor. So Jesse
sent his son, and gave him presents to carry to Saul. And when
he was come, Saul was pleased with him, and made him his
armor-bearer, and had him in very great esteem; for he charmed
his passion, and was the only physician against the trouble he
had from the demons, whensoever it was that it came upon him,
and this by reciting of hymns, and playing upon the harp, and
bringing Saul to his right mind again. However, he sent to
Jesse, the father of the child, and desired him to permit David
to stay with him, for that he was delighted with his sight and
company; which stay, that he might not contradict Saul, he
granted.
Continue on to
Book
Six,
Chapter 9,
The Antiquities of the Jews
by
Flavius Josephus
Return to
The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
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