1 Samuel
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1 Samuel 10
1 Samuel 10
1Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not that Jehovah hath anointed thee to be prince over his inheritance?
2When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found; and, lo, thy father hath left off caring for the asses, and is anxious for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the oak of Tabor; and there shall meet thee there three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: 4and they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread, which thou shalt receive of their hand.
5After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they will be prophesying: 6and the Spirit of Jehovah will come mightily upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion shall serve thee; for God is with thee.
8And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come unto thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.
1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
2When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth–el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
6And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
8And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
Commentary · verses 1-8
Commentary · verse 2
1st sign: Two men would say that the donkeys had been found.
Commentary · verse 3
2nd sign: Saul would meet three men carrying offerings.
Commentary · verse 6
3rd sign: Saul would meet a company of prophets and the Spirit of God would come upon him. It also stated that Saul would "be turned into another man." What would that process be?
Commentary · verse 7
These signs confirmed to Saul that God was with him.
9And it was so, that, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
9And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
Commentary · verse 9
Saul left Samuel. God gave Saul another heart. This was the process of Saul turning into another man. What comes out of your heart is an effect of what you believe. Physically, Saul was the ideal king. However, his heart would have resulted in bad actions. God gave another heart to Saul so he would have the best possible opportunity to be a successful king. If God had not given Saul another heart, we could make the case that God was unjust, that God knew Saul's heart would hinder him and Israel. Remember, Pharaoh had a hard heart and every interaction with a Right and Just God only resulted in Pharaoh choosing to make his heart harder. Everything that goes wrong for Saul from this point on was caused by Saul, it was his choice.
10And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them.
10And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
Commentary · verse 10
All the signs came to pass that day. Saul prophesied among the prophets!
11And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
12And one of the same place answered and said, And who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
13And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
11And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
12And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
13And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
Commentary · verses 11-13
The people were aware of the change in Saul's heart and it became a proverb: a popular saying that people knew. The people were aware that Saul had the heart to be a right and just king.
14And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses; and when we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.
15And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.
16And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But concerning the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
14And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.
15And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.
16And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
Commentary · verses 14-16
Saul's uncle asked him what Samuel said. Saul told him that the donkeys were found but did not tell him about the kingdom. Saul didn't facilitate his becoming king. That was Saul's choice.
17And Samuel called the people together unto Jehovah to Mizpah;
17And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
Commentary · verse 17
Samuel gathered the people together at Mizpeh.
18and he said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you: 19but ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saveth you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before Jehovah by your tribes, and by your thousands.
18And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
19And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
Commentary · verses 18-19
Samuel reiterated that they had rejected God by asking for a king. This would have removed Israel's ability to complain about their king if/when the king became a "boss" to the people.
20So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
21And he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families; and the family of the Matrites was taken; and Saul the son of Kish was taken: but when they sought him, he could not be found.
22Therefore they asked of Jehovah further, Is there yet a man to come hither? And Jehovah answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the baggage.
20And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
21When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
22Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.
Commentary · verses 20-22
That was Saul's choice to hide himself. However, it again showed Saul had a leader's heart because he refused to facilitate becoming king in his own strength.
23And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
24And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom Jehovah hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, Long live the king.
23And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
24And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
Commentary · verses 23-24
Samuel presented Saul before the people. God specifically told the people to look at his appearance.
25Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before Jehovah. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
25Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
Commentary · verse 25
What "book" was this that Samuel wrote?
26And Saul also went to his house to Gibeah; and there went with him the host, whose hearts God had touched.
27But certain worthless fellows said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.
26And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
27But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
Commentary · verses 26-27
Notice, in verse 26 the people who supported Saul were men "whose hearts God had touched." Again, in verse 27 the KJV translated "worthless fellows" as "the children of Belial." This is not a translation error but a difference in perspective. The "children of Belial" were an example of a group of men who were "worthless fellows." The ASV translated the cause while the KJV translated an effect/application. These men despised Saul but Saul remained calm. Israel now looked to a man for leadership, instead of God. From this point on in the Bible, notice how the role of women went from being valued and excellent, to being treated like property.
Verses 1-8: Samuel anointed Saul, which was confirmed by three signs. Notice, Saul didn't facilitate his own purpose and progress. Saul was declared king by Samuel. Saul didn't state he wanted to be king or try to convince the people he ought to be king. When a leader facilitates their own attainment of a leadership role, they prove they are not a leader, they are a boss.