1 Samuel 10
1 Samuel 10 describes the process by which Saul is appointed as Israel’s first king. This chapter can be divided into three main parts. First, Samuel anoints Saul and establishes him as king (verses 1–8). Second, Saul experiences the signs that Samuel prophesied, and in that process he is confirmed as God’s choice (verses 9–16). Finally, it moves to the scene where the king is chosen officially at Mizpah through lots and announced to the people (verses 17–27).
1verseThen Samuel took the vial of oil and poured it on his head, then kissed him and said, “Hasn’t the LORD anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?
2verseWhen you have departed from me today, then you will find two men by Rachel’s tomb, on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will tell you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found; and behold, your father has stopped caring about the donkeys and is anxious for you, saying, “What shall I do for my son?”’
3verse“Then you will go on forward from there, and you will come to the oak of Tabor. Three men will meet you there going up to God to Bethel: one carrying three young goats, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a container of wine.
4verseThey will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hand.
5verse“After that you will come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is; and it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a lute, a tambourine, a pipe, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.
6verseThen the LORD’s Spirit will come mightily on you, then you will prophesy with them and will be turned into another man.
7verseLet it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do what is appropriate for the occasion; for God is with you.
8verse“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings. Wait seven days, until I come to you and show you what you are to do.”
9verseIt was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs happened that day.
10verseWhen they came there to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily on him, and he prophesied among them.
11verseWhen all who knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said to one another, “What is this that has come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
12verseOne from the same place answered, “Who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
13verseWhen he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.
14verseSaul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” He said, “To seek the donkeys. When we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.”
15verseSaul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.”
16verseSaul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys were found.” But concerning the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he didn’t tell him.
17verseSamuel called the people together to the LORD to Mizpah;
18verseand he said to the children of Israel, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says ‘I brought Israel up 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.’
19verseBut you have today rejected your God, who himself saves you out of all your calamities and your distresses; 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 thousands.”
20verseSo Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.
21verseHe brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families and the family of the Matrites was chosen. Then Saul the son of Kish was chosen; but when they looked for him, he could not be found.
22verseTherefore they asked of the LORD further, “Is there yet a man to come here?” The LORD answered, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”
23verseThey ran and got him there. When he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
24verseSamuel 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?” All the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”
25verseThen Samuel told the people the regulations of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
26verseSaul also went to his house in Gibeah; and the army went with him, whose hearts God had touched.
27verseBut certain worthless fellows said, “How could this man save us?” They despised him, and brought him no tribute. But he held his peace.
The Meaning of the Anointing and the Signs
The anointing (verse 1) is an act given to a person entrusted with a special calling in Old Testament times, such as a king or a priest, and it carries the meaning of God’s choosing and commissioning. After that, the three signs Samuel prophesied (verses 2–7) show that Saul is within God’s guidance. This emphasizes that the new king is appointed under God’s sovereignty, not under human selection.
The Official Selection of the King and Israel’s Response
Beginning at verse 17, Samuel summons all of Israel to Mizpah, asks what God’s will is, and through the casting of lots, Saul is officially selected as king (verses 20–24). However, some people doubt Saul and show jealousy (verse 27). Meanwhile, Saul follows God’s plan completely and responds in silence.
Points to Reflect On
- When God sets people in place and gives them a position and calling, we can reflect on the fact that He also provides the signs and abilities needed for that work.
- Through Saul’s humble attitude and his willingness to obey God’s work, consider whether you should also examine your own attitude.
Apply It to Yourself
- In the place of your life, reflect on what role or calling you have, and think about whether you can believe that your position is within God’s guidance and plan—and follow it.
- Just as Saul responded to people’s misunderstandings and accusations with silence, you can also check whether, in similar circumstances, you can trust God’s will and act with maturity.
