Gregory the Dialogist : When wicked pastors are in charge, their principal aim is the plundering of their subjects. For because they know not how to look upon the abundance of eternal goods, the more ardently they desire present things, the more greedily they receive what is offered, and what is not offered they seize by violence. They lay snares for the innocent, oppress the weak, accept bribes, and pervert justice. Concerning these pastors, the Lord reproaches Judea through the prophet, saying: "Your pastors are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning" (Zeph. 3:3). He likewise strikes the slanderers of the innocent and the oppressors of the weak, saying: "If anyone does not put something into their mouths, they declare holy war against him. Therefore night shall be to them instead of vision, and darkness instead of divination" (Mic. 3:5–6). For while they recognize the iniquity they commit, through the audacity of their most wicked work they fall into blindness of heart, so that through love of present things they no longer see the light of truth, by which they might recover from their wickedness. Likewise Isaiah rebukes the acceptance of bribes, saying: "They all love bribes, they pursue rewards" (Isa. 1:23). The holy man therefore, while he shows the simplicity of his innocence, appeared exalted by the height of his merits. This commendation of virtue is indeed shown in him alone, so that the same conformity of goodness may be shown to all chosen teachers. But he who so peacefully leaves the summit of office shows what kind of man he was while he remained at that same height. For because he did not practice the violence of plunder, he says: 'Speak concerning me before the Lord and before His Christ, whether I have taken anyone's ox or donkey.' Likewise, because he sought no occasion of harming anyone, he added, saying: 'If I have falsely accused anyone.' Likewise, because he was not burdensome to the weak, he says: 'If I have oppressed anyone.' Likewise, because from his prelacy he sought not earthly things but heavenly, he says: 'If I have received a gift from anyone's hand, I will despise it today and restore it to you.' — Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 5, Chapter 2 Irenaeus : In this way, too, Samuel, who judged the people so many years, and bore rule over Israel without any pride, in the end cleared himself, saying, "I have walked before you from my childhood even unto this day: answer me in the sight of God, and before His anointed; whose ox or whose ass of yours have I taken, or over whom have I tyrannized, or whom have I oppressed? or if I have received from the hand of any a bribe or [so much as] a shoe, speak out against me, and I will restore it to you." And when the people had said to him, "Thou hast not tyrannized, neither hast thou oppressed us neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand," he called the Lord to witness, saying, "The Lord is witness, and His Anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they said to him, He is witness." In this strain also the Apostle Paul, inasmuch as he had a good conscience, said to the Corinthians: "For we are not as many, who corrupt the Word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ;" "We have injured no man, corrupted no man, circumvented no man." — AGAINST HERESIES 4.26.4 Jerome : That a priest must avoid covetousness even Samuel teaches when he proves before all the people that he has taken nothing from any one. — LETTER 69.9 John Chrysostom : For Samuel also put together a high panegyric upon himself, when he anointed Saul, saying, "Whose ass have I taken, or calf, or shoes? or have I oppressed any of you?" And yet no one finds fault with him. And the reason is because he did not say it by way of setting off himself; but because he was going to appoint a king, he wishes under the form of a defence [of himself] to instruct him to be meek and gentle. And observe the wisdom of the prophet, or rather the loving kindness of God. For because he wished to turn them from [their design,] bringing together a number of grievous things he asserted them of their future king, as, for instance, that he would make their wives grind at the mill, the men shepherds and muleteers; for he went through all the service appertaining to the kingdom with minuteness. But when he saw that they would not be hindered by any of these things, but were incurably distempered; he thus both spareth them and composeth their king to gentleness. Therefore he also takes him to witness. For indeed no one was then bringing suit or charge against him that he needed to defend himself, but he said those things in order to make him better. And therefore also he added, to take down his pride, "If ye will hearken, ye and your king," such and such good things shall be yours; "but if ye will not hearken, then the reverse of all." — HOMILIES ON 2 CORINTHIANS 24.3