1 Samuel 10:25

the manner of the kingdom A charter establishing and defining the position of the king in relation to Jehovah, and to the people. It must be distinguished from the "manner of the king" in 1 Samuel 8:11 ff., which describes the arbitrary exactions of an oriental despot; but it can scarcely be said to be "the first example of a limited constitutional monarchy." In substance at any rate, it probably resembled the law of the king in Deuteronomy 17:14-20.

wrote it in a book, and laid it up before theLord] Lit. in the book. Possibly this important charter was added to "the book of the law" kept by the side of the ark "before the Lord" (Deuteronomy 31:26). This book contained not only the record of the Mosaic legislation (Exodus 24:7; Deuteronomy 28:61), but historical narratives (Exodus 17:14), and other records of importance, such as the solemn renewal of the covenant at Shechem under Joshua (Joshua 24:26). See Smith's Dict. of the Bible, Art. Canon, Vol. 1. p. 251.