1 Samuel10
New King James Version
1Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: “Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?
2When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?” ’
3Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.
4And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands.
5After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.
6Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
7And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you.
8You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.”
9So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.
10When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
11And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
12Then a man from there answered and said, “But who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
13And when he had finished prophesying, he went to the high place.
14Then Saul’s uncle said to him and his servant, “Where did you go?” So he said, “To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel.”
15And Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me, please, what Samuel said to you.”
16So Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But about the matter of the kingdom, he did not tell him what Samuel had said.
17Then Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah,
18and said to the children of Israel, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all kingdoms and from those who oppressed you.’
19But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.”
20And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.
21When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they sought him, he could not be found.
22Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord answered, “There he is, hidden among the equipment.”
23So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.
24And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”
25Then Samuel explained to the people the behavior of royalty, 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.
26And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched.
27But some rebels said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Samuel anoints Saul. (1–8). Saul prophesies. (9–16). Saul chosen king. (17–27).
vv1-8
The sacred anointing, then used, pointed at the great Messiah, or Anointed One, the King of the church, and High Priest of our profession, who was anointed with the oil of the Spirit, not by measure, but without measure, and above all the priests and princes of the Jewish church. For Saul's further satisfaction, Samuel gives him some signs which should come to pass the same day. The first place he directs him to, was the sepulchre of one of his ancestors; there he must be reminded of his own mortality, and now that he had a crown before him, must think of his grave, in which all his honour would be laid in the dust. From the time of Samuel there appears to have been schools, or places where pious young men were brought up in the knowledge of Divine things. Saul should find himself strongly moved to join with them, and should be turned into another man from what he had been. The Spirit of God changes men, wonderfully transforms them. Saul, by praising God in the communion of saints, became another man, but it may be questioned if he became a new man.
vv9-16
The signs Samuel had given Saul, came to pass punctually; he found that God had given him another heart, another disposition of mind. Yet let not an outward show of devotion, and a sudden change for the present, be too much relied on; Saul among the prophets was Saul still. His being anointed was kept private. He leaves it to God to carry on his own work by Samuel, and sits still, to see how the matter will fall.
vv17-27
Samuel tells the people, Ye have this day rejected your God. So little fond was Saul now of that power, which soon after, when he possessed it, he could not think of parting with, that he hid himself. It is good to be conscious of our unworthiness and insufficiency for the services to which we are called; but men should not go into the contrary extreme, by refusing the employments to which the Lord and the church call them. The greater part of the people treated the matter with indifference. Saul modestly went home to his own house, but was attended by a band of men whose hearts God disposed to support his authority. If the heart bend at any time the right way, it is because He has touched it. One touch is enough when it is Divine. Others despised him. Thus differently are men affected to our exalted Redeemer. There is a remnant who submit to him, and follow him wherever he goes; they are those whose hearts God has touched, whom he has made willing. But there are others who despise him, who ask, How shall this man save us? They are offended in him, and they will be punished.
Key Words
שְׁמוּאֵל: Shemuel, the name of three Israelites
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
פַּךְ: a flask (from which a liquid may flow)
שֶׁמֶן: grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness
יָצַק: properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רֹאשׁ: the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
נָשַׁק: to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
מָשַׁח: to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint
Cross References
1 Samuel 10The Mosaic law regarding the duties and limitations of kingship which Samuel writes in a book.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The fateful command to wait seven days at Gilgal, which Saul famously fails to keep later.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The repeating origin of the proverbial question, 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Samuel's kiss of Saul represents the royal kiss of subjection and homage.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the location of Rachel's sepulchre, confirming the geographical path and sign Samuel predicted.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Links instrumental music and singing praises to the technical biblical term 'prophesying'.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Reiterates the fundamental theological critique that in demanding a king, Israel rejected Yahweh.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Re-emphasizes Saul's distinctive, towering physical stature first introduced during his search.
Supported by JFB
The critical subsequent event where Saul's supporters suggest executing the detractors who despised him.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Establishes the pattern of a prophet privately anointing a king from a vial of oil.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Bethel as the ancient sanctuary and place of Jacob's vision.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Demonstrates the judicial process of selection by lot, shifting from tribe to family to individual.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts God's warning to Samuel against looking at height, after Saul's towering height was praised.
Gibeah of Saul is identified as his home town to which he modestly returned.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reminds readers of the lost asses that initiated Saul's journey to Samuel.
Defines the term 'children of Belial' as worthless, rebellious, and lawless men.
Supported by Matthew Poole