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Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools


             and some as soldiers’ commanders. He  principles  to  direct  the  monarchy:  A
             would put them into forced labour. He  king must be subjected  to God’s will;
             further said the king would take their  he was to rule  in the  context  of the
             wives and daughters as performers,  covenant  laws. People  must accept
             cooks and  bakers.  Samuel  also  told  him; this implies democratic processes
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             them that the king would take by force  apply  in  obtaining  leaders.  The  king
             their men as servants for himself, and he  is the servant  of the  Lord (Yahweh).
             would take their land and vineyards for  Samuel shows that there was no room
             himself (1 Sam. 8:10-18).                for autocracy in Israel.


             The institution of the monarchy was a  With these conditions listed here, Samuel
             turning point in Israel’s  history. Israel  presents that, in good governance,
             now became  a society  with earthly  leaders  must be God-fearing people
             kings. This affected Israel so much that  and accountable to God’s will. A leader
             the society crumbled. The kingdom was  must have fear of God and have to rule
             divided, and later, the people were taken  according  to the  laws. He says that
             to Babylonian captivity.                 people  must  accept  a  king.  He shows
                                                      that, in good governance, leaders must
             Concerning good governance, the books  be chosen by the people democratically
             of Samuel teach us the following:        and accepted.
             As a kingmaker, Samuel teaches
             that  good governance  must consider  Samuel anoints Saul as the King of
             democratic  processes in obtaining  Israel (1 Sam. 9)
             leaders. We see in the institution of the  Saul was the first king of Israel (c. 1021–
             monarchy that Samuel used democratic  1000 BCE). Saul was chosen a king by
             processes  to  get  a  leader.  First,  he  God; he  was anointed  by Samuel  and
             brought all the tribes of Israel near, and  by public acclamation.  Saul was the
             the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot  son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin.
             to provide a king. Then, he brought the  Physically, he was  taller and more
             tribe of Benjamin with its families, and  handsome than anyone else in Israel (1
             then, the family of Matrites was taken  Sam. 9:1-2).
             by lot. Finally, he brought the family of
             Matrites nearly man by man; and thus,  The  first  meeting  between  Saul  and
             Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot (1  Samuel took place when some asses
             Sam. 10:1-24).                           (donkeys) belonging to Kish wandered
                                                      off.  Therefore, Saul’s father  sent his
             Principles of the monarchy               son (Saul) to the hill country to look for
             As a  kingmaker, Samuel  provides  them. In search of the asses, Saul passed


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