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Read these sentences from the excerpt:

If the first king was taken by lot, it establishes a precedent for the next, which excludes hereditary succession. Saul was by lot, yet the succession was not hereditary, neither does it appear from that transaction there was any intention it ever should.

How does Paine's use of allusion to Saul being chosen king advance his point that history is against the hereditary succession of kingship?


It supports the idea that the English king has a stronger right by hereditary succession than Saul did by lot.


It lets him present a supporting example from the Bible that his readers would greatly respect.

It shows that people who are well-versed in the Bible tend to oppose hereditary kingship.

It means the piece of evidence he is currently presenting will be stronger than his opponents' evidence.

1 Answer

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The answer should be B. During this time period, many people believed that kingship was determined by God and therefore the kingship should be hereditary. However, Paine is trying to argue here that the Bible shows that a king can be taken by lot and it is not a person's divine right to be king. 
User Kiran Biradar
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