[previous CHAPTER]CHAPTER IV. Of the Electors, Who Were to Apply the Foresaid Qualifications in the Choice of Rulers, and the Manner of Election. The law of God required not only due qualifications in the ruler, but an orderly call by such who had right so to do: None being to take that honour upon himself, but he that was called, Heb. 5:4. And that, whoever honoured himself, his honour was nothing, John 8:54. Therefore to avoid ambition and usurpation on the one hand, and confusion and disorder on the other, the Lord appointed some to choose, others to confirm persons chosen; and also something as to the manner of the choice.
1. The persons choosing were to be their brethren, the people over whom they were to rule, and that either in their own persons, or by their elders and deputies. Take you wise men, and known amongst your tribes, one from amongst thy brethren: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, Deut. 17:15. Their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governors shall proceed from the midst of them, Jer. 30:21. And the elders of Gilead said, come and be our captain: Then Jephthah went with the elders, and the people made him captain, Judg. 11:6,11. And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and made Abimelech king, Judg. 9:6. And the men of Judah made David king, 2 Sam. 2:4. The people made Saul king, 1 Sam. 11:15. Nay, but whom God and this people, and all the men of Israel choose his will I be, and with him will I abide, 2 Sam. 16:18. Which wholesome orders when any went to invert, and to thrust themselves upon a people, and by fraud or force to usurp the rule, they became tyrants, and were said to take to themselves horns by their own strength, Amos 6:13, and to possess that which was not theirs.
2. The manner of their elections were sometimes by vote, mostly by lot,[1] wherein the Lord also was called into the choice, which was much their way of decision in all doubtful cases, Numb. 17, Numb. 33:54, Jos. 7:14. The 70 elders were so chosen, Numb. 11:26. Saul was chosen by lot, though anointed before, 1 Sam. 10:1, &c. [next CHAPTER]
Footnote: [1] Prov. 16:33[back]
Return to Homepage