[156]
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.
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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