And Abimelech particularly is called king, though at most he was but
their general. And when, being weary of the ill-conduct of Samuel's
sons, the children of Israel desired a king, "like all the nations, to
judge them, and to go out before them, and to fight their battles"
(1 Sam. 8. 20), God, granting their desire, says to Samuel, "I will
send thee a man, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my
people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hands of the
Philistines" (ch. 9. 16). As if the only business of a king had been
to lead out their armies and fight in their defence; and, accordingly,
at his inauguration, pouring a vial of oil upon him, declares to
Saul that "the Lord had anointed him to be captain over his
inheritance" (ch. 10. 1). And therefore those who, after Saul being
solemnly chosen and saluted king by the tribes at Mispah, were
unwilling to have him their king, make no other objection but this,
"How shall this man save us?" (ch. 10. 27), as if they should have
said: "This man is unfit to be our king, not having skill and
conduct enough in war to be able to defend us." And when God
resolved to transfer the government to David, it is in these words:
"But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought Him a
man after His own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain
over His people" (ch.
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