The higher points of his character are brought out in instances such as the following: The first announcement of his elevation came upon him suddenly, but apparently without unsettling 30 him. He kept it secret, leaving it to Samuel, who had made it to him, to publish it. "Saul said unto his uncle, He" (that is, Samuel) "told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, 5 _he told him not_." Nay, it would even seem he was averse to the dignity intended for him; for when the Divine lot fell upon him, he hid himself, and was not discovered by the people, without recourse to Divine assistance. The appointment 10 was at first unpopular. "The children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? They despised him, and brought him no presents, _but he held his peace_." Soon the Ammonites invaded the country beyond Jordan, with the avowed intention of 15 subjugating it. The people sent to Saul for relief almost in despair; and the panic spread in the interior as well as among those whose country was immediately threatened. The history proceeds: "_Behold, Saul came after the herd out of 20 the field_; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? and they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God came upon Saul, and his anger was kindled greatly." His order for an immediate gathering 25 throughout Israel was obeyed with the alacrity with which the multitude serve the strong-minded in times of danger. A decisive victory over the enemy followed; then the popular cry became, "Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? 30 bring the men, that we may put them to death. And Saul said, _There shall not a man be put to death this day_, for to-day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel."[5] [5] 1 Sam. xi. 12, 13. Thus personally qualified, Saul was, moreover, a prosperous king. He had been appointed to 5 subdue the enemies of Israel, and success attended his arms. At the end of the fourteenth chapter, we read: "So Saul took the kingdom over Israel and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of 10 Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them. And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that 15 spoiled them."