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1 Samuel
Chapter Ten
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 10
In
this chapter we read of Saul's being anointed king by Samuel
1 Samuel 10:1
and
of certain signs given as confirming the same
which should come to pass
and
did
before Saul got to his father's house
1 Samuel 10:2
of
his arrival at his father's house
and of what passed between him and his uncle
there
1 Samuel 10:14
of
Samuel's calling all Israel together at Mizpeh
and of the election of Saul by
lot to be king
and of his being declared such
1 Samuel 10:17
and
of his return to his city
being respected by some
and despised by others
1 Samuel 10:26.
1 Samuel 10:1 Then 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?[a]
YLT
1And Samuel taketh the vial
of the oil
and poureth on his head
and kisseth him
and saith
`Is it not
because Jehovah hath appointed thee over His inheritance for leader?
Then Samuel took a vial of oil
.... Out of his pocket
very probably
which he brought along with him on purpose for the use he made
of it: this
as the JewsF25T. Bab. Horayot
fol. 11. 2. & 12. 1.
say
was not the anointing oil that was in the tabernacle
which was at another
and distant place
and with which only the kings of the house of David were
anointed; but common oil
or
as they say
oil of balsam; and this was not an
horn
but a vial
which held a small quantity
and was brittle; and they
observe that Saul and Jehu
who were anointed with a vial
their reigns were
short
whereas David and Solomon
who were anointed with a horn
their reigns
were long; and as oil is a symbol of the gifts and graces of the Spirit
it may
denote a smaller measure conferred on Saul than on David and Solomon:
and kissed him; congratulating him on the dignity he was
raised to
and in reverence and respect to him
because of the high office he
was arrived to; and as a token of subjection and homage
and to testify his
well pleased in his being king
and that he readily
willingly
and with
pleasure resigned the government to him:
and said
is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be
captain over his inheritance? the people of Israel
so called
Deuteronomy 32:9
and which is observed here to show
that though Saul was anointed king over
them
they were the Lord's possession still
and he was accountable to him for
his government and usage of them
over whom he was to be a captain
leader
and
commander
to go before them
and fight their battles for them
of which his
being anointed with oil was a token; and therefore it is said
"is it not?"
or dost thou not see by this? or knowest thou not
as R. Isaiah supplies it
that this is of the Lord? for it was the Lord that anointed him
or Samuel by
his orders; and such questions as these
as Kimchi observes
are for the
greater confirmation of what is spoken; and if Saul had any doubt upon his
mind
as perhaps he might because of his meanness
and the high honour designed
hereby
not only this question is put
but three following signs are given him
whereby he might be assured of the truth of it.
1 Samuel 10:2 2 When
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?”’
YLT
2In thy going to-day from me
-- then thou hast found two men by the grave of Rachel
in the border of
Benjamin
at Zelzah
and they have said unto thee
The asses have been found
which thou hast gone to seek; and lo
thy father hath left the matter of the
asses
and hath sorrowed for you
saying
What do I do for my son?
When thou art departed from me today
.... Not as
soon as he was departed
for he had some few miles to go from Ramah to Rachel's
grave near Bethlehem:
thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre
in the border of
Benjamin
at Zelzah; the Jews move a difficulty here
that Rachel's sepulchre should
be said to be in the border of Benjamin
when it was by Bethlehemephrath
in
the tribe of Judah
Genesis 35:19 and
which they solve by observing
that these men were now
at the time Samuel was
speaking
by the grave of Rachel
but as they were coming on he would meet them
at Zelzah
in the border of BenjaminF26Bereshit Rabba
sect. 82.
fol. 71. 4. R. Isaiah
Jarchi
Kimchi
Abarbinel
& Abendana in loc. ; but
there is no need of this
Rachel's grave was not at Bethlehem
but in
the way
to it; and besides
as these two tribes were contiguous
and this city being on
the borders of both
it might be said at one time to be in the border of
Benjamin
and at another in the border of Judah
or in Judah
without any
contradiction. Of Zelzah we nowhere else read
but it is plain it was near the
sepulchre of Rachel
and perhaps nearer than Bethlehem. The Arabic geographerF1Chinat.
3. par. 5. speaks of Rachel's grave as in the midway between Jerusalem and
Bethlehem; and says there were twelve stones upon it
and a stone arched vault
over it; and the same is affirmed by Benjamin of TudelaF2ltinerar.
p. 47.
who makes it to be but half a mile from Bethlehem. Jarchi would have
Zelzah to be the same with Jerusalem
which is not probable:
and they will say unto thee
the asses which thou wentest to seek
are found; as Samuel had before told Saul they were
1 Samuel 9:20.
and
lo
thy father hath left the care of the asses; or had left
all thoughts about them
and concern for them
not minding whether he heard of
them or not
and this before they were found; or otherwise it would have been
no strange thing to drop all thoughts about them
when they were found:
and sorroweth for you; for Saul
and his
servant; such was the anxiety and distress of his mind lest any evil should
befall them
having been gone so long in quest of the asses
that he had as it
were forgot them
and lost all care and concern about them
in comparison of
his son and servant; but especially his sorrow rose high for his son
as
follows:
saying
what shall I do for my son? though he was concerned
for his servant
yet most for his son; he might have another servant
and not
another son
and Saul seems to be his only one
which made his grief for him
the greater
see 1 Chronicles 8:33.
Now as these were contingent events here foretold
as meeting with two men at a
certain place described
the words related expressly they should say to him
when he met them
and these exactly coming to pass
would most clearly prove
Samuel to be a true prophet
and confirm Saul in the belief of what he had said
and done to him concerning the kingdom. Another sign follows.
1 Samuel 10:3 3 Then
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.
YLT
3`And thou hast passed on
thence
and beyond
and hast come in unto the oak of Tabor
and found thee
there have three men going up unto God to Beth-El
one bearing three kids
and
one bearing three cakes of bread
and one bearing a bottle of wine
Then shall thou go on forward from thence
.... From
Zelzah and Rachel's sepulchre there:
and thou shall come to the plain of Tabor; not that
which lay at the bottom of the famous and well known mountain Tabor; for that
was in the tribe of Zebulun
at a great distance from hence: but a plain
so
called perhaps from the name of the owner of it:
and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel: the same with
Luz
where Jacob built an altar
and called upon God; and so Elohimbethel here
is the same with Elbethel
Genesis 35:6. Here
was an high place as at Ramah
whither in those times
when there was no fixed
place for worship
the tabernacle at one place
and the ark at another
the
people went up to worship; and they might the rather choose this
because it
was a place devoted to the worship and service of God by their father Jacob; so
the Targum paraphrases it
"going up to worship God in Bethel;'so JosephusF3Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 4. sect. 2.
they were going thither to pray
and
as it seems by
what follows
to sacrifice: one carrying three kids; which were used in
sacrifice
and were a pretty heavy load if carried far; though
according to
JosephusF4lbid.
it was but one kid:
and another carrying three loaves of bread; for the
minchah
the meat offering
or rather bread offering
Leviticus 2:4.
and another carrying a bottle of wine; for the drink
offering
the fourth part of an hin of wine being required for each kid
Numbers 15:5. This
bottle
Ben Melech says
was a bottle made of skin
a leathern bottle or bag
or a potter's vessel or pitcher; the Targum renders it
a flagon of wine.
1 Samuel 10:4 4 And
they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread
which you shall
receive from their hands.
YLT
4and they have asked of thee
of welfare
and given to thee two loaves
and thou hast received from their
hand.
And they will salute thee
.... Not as king
of
which they knew nothing
but in a common way; and though a stranger and unknown
to them
yet finding their hearts disposed and affected towards him
would
inquire of his welfare
and wish him all happiness
peace
and prosperity:
and give thee two loaves of bread; which was
pretty much that they should give him two out of three
and leave but one for
themselves
and especially if they were going to sacrifice; but perhaps they
knew they could buy more bread at Bethel
and so were disposed to give two of
their loaves to Saul
one for himself and another for his servant; though
Kimchi thinks that these are not the same before called loaves; and indeed the
word "loaves" is not in the text
but cakes of bread
which were
lesser than loaves
and which they carried for their own use
besides three
loaves of bread:
which thou shall receive of their hands; being sent
out by Samuel early that morning without eating any food
and having travelled
some miles
might become weary and faint
and which the three men might discern
and so had compassion on them
and relieved them; and Saul was not to refuse
the offer of them
but take them at their hands
though he was anointed to be
king; and this was to teach him humility
and to be kind to the poor and needy
and relieve them when he was in more elevated circumstances. All these actions
also were contingent
and when they came to pass
as they did
must be still
more confirming than the former sign.
1 Samuel 10:5 5 After
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.
YLT
5`Afterwards thou dost come
unto the hill of God
where the garrison of the Philistines [is]
and it cometh
to pass
at thy coming in thither to the city
that thou hast met a band of
prophets coming down from the high place
and before them psaltery
and tabret
and pipe
and harp
and they are prophesying;
After that thou shall come to the hill of God
.... The
Targum is
the hill in which was the ark of the Lord
and that was in the house
of Abinadab
on a hill in the city of Kirjathjearim
1 Samuel 7:1 and so
the Jewish commentators generally interpret this hill of God of Kirjathjearim;
but rather it was Geba
a city of Benjamin
partly because by this time he must
have got out of the tribe of Judah into the tribe of Benjamin
and even almost
to the end of his journey
and among those that were his relations
1 Samuel 10:11 and
partly because it is certain there was a garrison of the Philistines at Geba
1 Samuel 13:3 as
there was at this place
as follows:
where is the garrison of the Philistines; which they
were allowed by the terms of peace made between Israel and them; or which
through their growing power over them in the latter days of Samuel they placed
there
and which yet they kept
without giving the people any molestation in
their worship and service:
and it shall come to pass
when thou art come thither to the city; to the city
Geba
or near it:
that thou shall meet a company of prophets; of Scribes
as the Targum; which were
as Kimchi observes
disciples; for the disciples of
the wise men were called Scribes
and these were the disciples of prophets
the
same with the sons of the prophets; and the prophets that were at this time
as
he says
from Eli to David
were Elkanah
Samuel
Gad
Nathan
Asaph
Heman
and Jeduthun; here was a school or college of young prophets
where they were
trained up
under the care and tuition of one or other of the above prophets
in the knowledge of the word of God
in psalmody
and other religious
exercises; for though the word of the Lord was scarce and precious in the
beginning of Samuel's time
yet through his industry
influence
and
encouragement
divine knowledge was greatly promoted
and many were trained up
and qualified to instruct the people; who
though they had not the gift of
foretelling future events
or of the vision of prophecy
yet had gifts
qualifying for the edification of the people; and out of these schools and
colleges God sometimes raised up prophets in the highest sense
who foretold
things to come
and to whom the Lord appeared in dreams and visions. And this
company Saul would meet
coming down from the high place; where they had been to
worship
to sacrifice
or to pray
for here was an high place for such service
as well as at Ramah:
with a psaltery
and a tabret
and a pipe
and a harp
before them; which were
several instruments of "music" used in singing praises to God in
those times:
and they shall prophesy; or praise
as the
Targum
sing praises at the same time they played on their instruments of
music; and singing praises is one sort of prophesying
see 1 Chronicles 25:1
and in which sense it seems to be used in 1 Corinthians 11:4.
1 Samuel 10:6 6 Then
the Spirit of the Lord
will come upon you
and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another
man.
YLT
6and prospered over thee
hath the Spirit of Jehovah
and thou hast prophesied with them
and hast been
turned to another man;
And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee
.... As a
spirit of prophecy
so the Targum; whereby he would be enabled at once to
compose psalms and hymns of praise
and sing them in a proper manner
though he
had not been trained up in this exercise in the school of the prophets; which
made it more wonderful to those that knew him:
and thou shalt prophesy with them: or "praise"
with them
as the same Targum; join with them in singing praises
and perform
this service in an orderly manner
as if he had been instructed in it
and used
to it:
and shall be turned into another man; for the
Spirit of God would not only operate on him in that way
as to fit him for
composing and singing psalms and hymns
but inspire him with wisdom
and
prudence
and greatness of mind
and with every qualification necessary for a
king; so that he would appear quite another man than he was before
in his
outward behaviour
as well as in the endowments of his mind; and from a rustic
an husbandman
a farmer's son
would appear with the air of a prince
and in
the majesty of a king; and
as Procopius Gazaeus
have a royal mind or heart
given him.
1 Samuel 10:7 7 And
let it be
when these signs come to you
that you do as the occasion
demands; for God is with you.
YLT
7and it hath been
when
these signs come to thee -- do for thyself as thy hand findeth
for God [is]
with thee.
And let it be
when these signs are come unto thee
.... And are
all fulfilled
especially the last:
that thou do as occasion shall serve thee: as his
circumstances would require
and as he in his great wisdom and prudence
with
which he should now be furnished
would see necessary to prepare for his taking
upon him the kingdom he was anointed to
and would be in a little time openly
chosen to
and invested with. Some understand this of royal ornaments befitting
a king
or of preparing arms for the defence of the kingdom:
for God is with thee; or the Word of the Lord
is thy help
as the Targum
and therefore he need not fear engaging in any
enterprise that might be for the glory of God
and good of the kingdom.
1 Samuel 10:8 8 You
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.”
YLT
8`And thou hast gone down
before me to Gilgal
and lo
I am going down unto thee
to cause to ascend
burnt-offerings
to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings; seven days thou
dost wait till my coming in unto thee
and I have made known to thee that which
thou dost do.'
And thou shall go down before me to Gilgal
.... Not
immediately; for the first summons of the people
and of Saul
and the first
meeting of them by Samuel
were at Mizpeh
where Saul was chosen by lot; nor
the first time of Saul's being at Gilgal
when the kingdom was renewed; for
Saul had no need to wait seven days there
since he and Samuel went together
1 Samuel 11:14
rather at the second time of his being there
where not staying the time quite
up
was reproved for it
which was two years after this
1 Samuel 13:1
though it may be this was a general rule to be observed by Saul
that whenever
anything turned up of importance to the children of Israel
and was a
difficulty with him
he should go to Gilgal
and there wait seven days for
Samuel
from the time he gave him notice of it
who would come at the appointed
time
and would give him what advice and instructions were necessary; and this
place was the rather appointed
because it was the place where the Israelites
first pitched their camp when they came over Jordan
and where the tabernacle
first was; and where prayer and sacrifices were wont to be made; and where the
kingdom of Saul was renewed; and which lay convenient for all the tribes
both
on the one and the other side of Jordan:
and
behold
I will come down to thee to offer burnt offerings
and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings; so he did when the
kingdom was renewed
and Saul was confirmed in it
1 Samuel 11:15 but
two years after
Saul not staying the full time
he offered them himself by
another
for which he was reproved
1 Samuel 13:9.
seven days shalt thou tarry till I come to thee; either from
the time of the notice he should give to Samuel of his going thither
or from
the time of his arrival there; for it can by no means be understood as from the
time of his present departure from him
for the reasons before given:
and show thee what thou shalt do; in the then present
emergency or difficulty on his hands; and this he said to encourage him under
the weight and burden of government laid upon him.
1 Samuel 10:9 9 So 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.
YLT
9And it hath been
at his turning
his shoulder to go from Samuel
that God turneth to him another heart
and all
these signs come on that day
And it was so
that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel
.... When he
had taken his leave of him
and set forward on his journey:
God gave him another heart; not in a moral or
spiritual sense
not a new heart
and a new spirit
as in conversion
but in a
civil sense
a right heart
a heart fit for government; filled with wisdom and
prudence to rule a people; with courage and magnanimity to protect and defend
them against their enemies
and fight for them; a heart not taken up with the
affairs of husbandry
with care for his father's asses
and looking after his
herds
but filled with concern for the civil welfare of Israel
and with schemes
and contrivances for their good
and with warm resolutions to deliver them out
of the hands of their enemies:
and all these signs came to pass that day; the two
first
which are not particularly mentioned as fulfilled
being more private
as finding two men at Rachel's sepulchre
and meeting with three others going
to Bethel
which came to pass just as they were described; and the third
which
was more public
and gave Saul more reverence and respect among the people
is
next particularly observed.
1 Samuel 10:10 10 When 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.
YLT
10and they come in thither to
the height
and lo
a band of prophets -- to meet him
and prosper over him
doth the Spirit of God
and he prophesieth in their midst.
When they came thither to the hill
.... Or
to Gibeah
as
the Targum
and so JosephusF5Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 4. sect.
2.) :
behold
a company of prophets met him; as foretold
1 Samuel 10:5
and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him
and he prophesied among
them; the spirit of prophecy
as the Targum
and he sung praises among
them; he joined with them in their psalmody
and performed it as regularly as
if he had been brought up with them. The Jews sayF6Hieron. Trad.
Heb. fol. 75. H. he prophesied of the world to come
of Gog and Magog
and of
the rewards of the righteous
and of the punishment of the wicked.
1 Samuel 10:11 11 And 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?”
YLT
11And it cometh to pass
all
his acquaintance heretofore
see
and lo
with prophets he hath prophesied
and
the people say one unto another
`What [is] this hath happened to the son of
Kish? is Saul also among the prophets?'
And it came to pass
that when all that knew him before time
.... As there
must be many that personally knew him
and were acquainted with him
since
Gibeah
the place he was near to
was his native place:
saw that
behold
he prophesied among the prophets; or praised
among them
as the Targum
sung psalms and hymns with them:
what is this that is come unto the son of Kish? a rustic
a
plebeian
that never was in the school of the prophets
or learned music
and
yet is as dexterous at it as any of them:
is Saul also among the prophets? an husbandman
an
herdsman that looked after his father's farms
fields
and cattle
and now
among the prophets of the Lord
bearing his part with them
and performing it
as well as any of them: this was matter of wonder to those who knew his person
family
and education; and so it was equally matter of admiration that Saul the
persecutor
one of the same tribe
should be among the preachers of the Gospel
Acts 9:20.
1 Samuel 10:12 12 Then a man from there
answered and said
“But who is their father?” Therefore it became a
proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
YLT
12And a man thence answereth
and saith
`And who [is] their father?' therefore it hath been for a simile
`Is Saul also among the prophets?'
And one of the same place answered
and said
.... One of
the same city
and in the same company
that expressed their admiration at what
was come to Saul
and at what he did
and wondering how he came into such
company
and to have such a gift
who was of so mean an education:
but who is their father? the father of the prophets; their fathers
were not prophets
no more than Saul's was; their Father that taught them is
the Lord
and he was able to teach Saul
and bestow on him the gift of
prophecy
as well as on them; and so the Targum
who is their master or
teacher; for though they might have an undermaster or teacher
as Samuel
or
another prophet
yet their chief teacher was God; who could and did give men
the gift of prophecy
and even in the highest sense
who had neither prophets
for their fathers
nor were indeed trained up in any of the schools of the
prophets
which was the case of Amos:
therefore it became a proverb
is Saul also among the prophets? that when a
person of a mean parentage
and of a low life and education
was raised up to
any degree of dignity in sacred and civil things
they used to apply this
proverbial expression to him
or speak of him in this manner
is Saul among the
prophets?
1 Samuel 10:13 13 And when he had finished
prophesying
he went to the high place.
YLT
13And he ceaseth from
prophesying
and cometh in to the high place
And when he had made an end of prophesying
.... For
as
Procopius Gazaeus observes
he had not the gift of prophecy always; it did not
continue with him
but
like that of the seventy elders in the times of Moses
it was designed to make him respectable among the people
and to be taken
notice of as a person that God had honoured with a peculiar gift
that so
when
he should be chosen king
they would the more readily receive him:
he came to the high place; to return thanks to God
for the gift bestowed on him
and for that high honour and dignity he was
raised unto
of which he had private knowledge; and to pray God to fit him more
and more for government
and to
assist him in it
and help him to discharge
his office in a wise and faithful manner.
1 Samuel 10:14 14 Then 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.”
YLT
14and the uncle of Saul saith
unto him
and unto his young man
`Whither went ye?' and he saith
`To seek the
asses; and we see that they are not
and we come in unto Samuel.'
And Saul's uncle said unto him
and to his servant
whither went
ye?.... Since they had been absent so long a time. This was his
father's brother
as the Targum
and so Aquila; whose name was Ner
the father
of Abner
1 Samuel 14:50 who
met with him at the high place
or found him in the city
in his father's house
it may be. JosephusF7Ut supra
(Antiqu. l. 6. c. 4.) sect. 3. says
Saul went into the house of his kinsman Abner
whom he loved above all his
relations
and that it was he that discoursed with Saul
and asked him
the
questions before and after related:
and he said
to seek the asses: he first observes the
end of their going
the business they went upon
in which not succeeding
then
he answers more directly to the question:
and when we saw that they were nowhere; could not see
them
nor find them any where
or hear of them where they went:
we came to Samuel; at Ramah
to inquire of him
if he could
direct us which way to go
and what methods to take
to find the asses.
1 Samuel 10:15 15 And Saul’s uncle said
“Tell me
please
what Samuel said to you.”
YLT
15And the uncle of Saul
saith
`Declare
I pray thee
to me
what Samuel said to you?'
And Saul's uncle said
&c. l On hearing he
had been with Samuel
and perceiving so great an alteration in Saul
perhaps he
began to suspect something about the kingdom; it being what everyone was
talking of
and expecting every day to hear from Samuel who should be king
according to the Lord's appointment:
tell me
I pray thee
what Samuel said unto you; the
earnestness with which he put this question seems to confirm the above
conjecture.
1 Samuel 10:16 16 So 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.
YLT
16And Saul saith unto his
uncle
`He certainly declared to us that the asses were found;' and of the
matter of the kingdom he hath not declared to him that which Samuel said.
And Saul said unto his uncle
.... In answer to his
question:
he told us plainly the asses were found; or "in
telling told us"F8הגד הגיד "indicando indicavit"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c. ; not only plainly in so many words
but he affirmed it with the
greatest certainty that the asses were found
and we need not give ourselves
further trouble about them:
but of the matter of the kingdom
whereof Samuel spake
he told
him not; he said not one word about that
which is commonly ascribed to
his modesty; or he might conceal it
as JosephusF9Ut supra. (Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 4. scet. 3.) observes
because he thought it would not be believed by
his relations
or might create in them envy to him; and besides
he knew it was
the pleasure of Samuel that it should be kept a secret until the election by
lot was over
lest it should be thought to proceed from Samuel himself; and
Saul chose it should remain so
that it might not be thought to be of his own
seeking; and by keeping it from his relations and friends
it would be a clear
case that he did not make interest for it.
1 Samuel 10:17 17 Then Samuel called the
people together to the Lord
at Mizpah
YLT
17And Samuel calleth the
people unto Jehovah to Mizpeh
And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord at Mizpeh. Not that in
Gilead
but in the tribe of Benjamin
where the people had been before convened
on a certain occasion
1 Samuel 7:5 and
the people called together could not be every individual of the nation
but the
heads and elders of the people
their representatives
and who were summoned by
the orders of Samuel; perhaps by an herald making proclamation and cry of the
same
as the word signifies; and these were gathered together to the Lord
to
have the following affair transacted before him
and under his guidance and
direction; the priest perhaps being here with the Urim and Thummim
as Kimchi
thinks
and who also conjectures that the ark might be brought hither at this
time
the symbol of the divine Presence; though wherever the church and people
of God were gathered together in his name
in a solemn manner
there the Lord
was.
1 Samuel 10:18 18 and 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.’
YLT
18and saith unto the sons of
Israel
`Thus said Jehovah
God of Israel
I have brought up Israel out of
Egypt
and I deliver you out of the hand of the Egyptians
and out of the hand
of all the kingdoms who are oppressing you;
And said unto the children of Israel
.... In the
name of the Lord
using the phrase which the prophets used when they spoke in
the name of the Lord:
thus saith the Lord God of Israel; the great Jehovah
the
Being of beings
the covenant God of his people Israel:
I brought up Israel out of Egypt; when in bondage there
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm
by means of signs and wonders done by
the hands of Moses and Aaron; the Lord working mightily with them
and thereby
inclining Pharaoh and his people to let them go:
and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians; at the Red
sea
drowning them in it
when they threatened Israel with an utter
destruction:
and out of the hand of all kingdoms
and of them that
oppressed you; as the Arabic writers
the kingdoms of Og and Bashan in their
way to Canaan
and the Mesopotamians
Moabites
Canaanites
Midianites
Ammonites
and Philistines
in the times of the judges; all which is observed
to show their ingratitude
and aggravate their guilt.
1 Samuel 10:19 19 But 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.”[b]
YLT
19and ye to-day have rejected
your God
who [is] Himself your saviour out of all your evils and your
distresses
and ye say
`Nay
but -- a king thou dost set over us; and now
station yourselves before Jehovah
by your tribes
and by your thousands.'
And ye have this day rejected your God
.... As their
king
by desiring another to be set over them:
who himself saved you out of all your adversity and your
tribulations; that they had been in at any time in Egypt
in their passage
through the wilderness to Canaan
and after they were settled there:
ye have said unto him
nay
but set a king over us: they did as
good as say God should not be their King
but they would have one set over them
like the kings of the nations about them; Samuel reminds them of this their
request and resolution to have a king
which they had expressed some time ago
that it might appear to them that this was wholly of their own seeking; the
motion came from themselves
and not from the Lord
nor from Samuel
and
therefore
whatever ill consequences might follow upon it
they had none to
blame but themselves:
now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes
and by your thousands; by the heads of their tribes
and by the rulers of the thousands
into which their tribes were divided
that it might be known either by Urim and
Thummim
or rather by casting lots
out of which tribe
and out of which
thousand
house
and family in it
their king was to be chosen; which method
an it would clearly appear to be a choice directed by the Lord
so it would
prevent all contention and discord among themselves.
1 Samuel 10:20 20 And when Samuel had caused
all the tribes of Israel to come near
the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.
YLT
20And Samuel bringeth near
the whole tribes of Israel
and the tribe of Benjamin is captured
And when Samuel had caused all the tribes to come near
.... The heads
and representatives of them
to the place where the lots were cast:
the tribe of Benjamin was taken; the lot fell upon that
tribe for the choice of a king out of it; not the tribe of
Reuben
who was the
firstborn
nor the tribe of Judah
to whom the kingdom was promised
but the
tribe of Benjamin
the least of all the tribes
and which sprung from the
youngest son of Jacob
contrary
as it were probable
to the expectation of
all.
1 Samuel 10:21 21 When 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.
YLT
21and he bringeth near the
tribe of Benjamin by its families
and the family of Matri is captured
and
Saul son of Kish is captured
and they seek him
and he hath not been found.
And when he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their
families
.... By the heads of them
to have lots cast for them
out of
which of the families the king should be chosen:
the family of Matri was taken; that is
by lot; the lot
fell upon that family for the choice of a king out of them: in the account of
the families of the tribe of Benjamin
1 Chronicles 8:1 no
mention is made of this family
nor any where else
and yet no doubt there was
such a family
and Saul was of it; it seems to have its name from the butt or
mark arrows were shot at; some of the Benjamites being famous for their skill
in darting and slinging
and perhaps this family might be so:
and Saul the son of Kish was taken; the lot being cast upon
the men in the family of Matri
though it is not expressed
fell upon Saul; for
though he was not there
as Jarchi observes
the lot fell upon him; for their
names were written on a piece of paper
and put into a box
and the prophet put
in his hand and took out one
and on that was the name of Saul
and this was
the manner of the lot:
and when they sought him
he could not be found; because he
had hid himself
as in the next verse; it is very probable
and indeed plain
that he was in this assembly at the first opening of it; and knowing what
Samuel had said and done to him
and perceiving in what way the lot was going
concerning the same
the tribe of Benjamin being taken
he concluded how it
would issue
and therefore left the assembly
and hid himself
as follows.
1 Samuel 10:22 22 Therefore they inquired of
the Lord
further
“Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord answered
“There he is
hidden among the equipment.”
YLT
22And they ask again at
Jehovah
`Hath the man yet come hither?' and Jehovah saith
`Lo
he hath been
hidden near the vessels.'
Therefore they inquired of the Lord further
.... Or again
by lot
by which they knew who the person was the was chosen king
but they did
not know where he was
and therefore inquire further how they must come at him;
and this inquiry was made either before the high priest by Urim and Thummim
or
by Samuel the prophet of the Lord: and the inquiry was:
if the man should yet come thither; whether he was already
come
or would come there
and if not
what methods they must take to find him:
and the Lord answered
behold
he hath hid himself among the stuff the word signifies
household stuff
vessels
utensils
arms
&c. which the people had brought
along with them for their use
and were laid up in some one place; and among
these baggages Saul hid himself
hoping that if he was not found they would
proceed to another choice
so free from ambition was he
and such was his
modesty; nor does this seem to be affected and dissembled
but real; though
afterwards
when he was settled in the kingdom
he did not care to part with
it
and sought to kill David
whom he looked upon as his rival: there were many
things which now concurred
that made him uneasy and unwilling to assume the
government of the people; partly the envy and ill will of some of them
which
he must expect; chiefly the sense he had of his own unfitness for such an
office
being of a mean family
and having had so mean an education
and so
little knowledge of the maxims of government; and besides
must at once
as
soon as on the throne
enter into a war with the Ammonites; but what might most
of all distress him
he perceived by Samuel's speech to the people
that the
affair of a king was displeasing to the Lord
though he condescended to grant
the people's request; and therefore what comfort and happiness could he expect
in such a situation?
1 Samuel 10:23 23 So 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.
YLT
23And they run and bring him
thence
and he stationed himself in the midst of the people
and he is higher
than any of the people from his shoulder and upward.
And they ran and fetched him thence
.... Being in haste to
see their king elect
and proclaim him:
and when he stood among the people; being brought among
them
and presented to them:
he was higher than any of the people
from the shoulders
and
upwards; which made him look very graceful and majestic; height of
stature
and a comely form
as Kimchi observes
recommend to royal dignity; and
make the people stand more in awe of a prince
and have always been reckoned
among all other nations to make a prince venerable; see Gill on 1 Samuel 9:2.
1 Samuel 10:24 24 And 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!”
YLT
24And Samuel saith unto all
the people
`Have ye seen him on whom Jehovah hath fixed
for there is none
like him among all the people?' And all the people shout
and say
`Let the
king live!'
And Samuel said to all the people
see ye him whom the Lord hath
chosen
.... For the choice being made by lot
the disposal of which is
of the Lord
it is properly attributed to him
and the people could not object
to it
but must allow it was the Lord's doing. EupolemusF11Apud
Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 30. p. 447.
an Heathen writer
says
that
Saul was made king by Samuel by the counsel or will of God; and Samuel appeals
to their eyes for the goodness of the choice
a better could not have been
made:
that there is none like him among the people? so graceful
so stately
so prince like and majestic; they wanted to have a king like such
the nations had; and Saul was such an one
had all the outward appearance of
grandeur that could be wished for
and which in other nations recommended
persons to the imperial dignity:
and all the people shouted; made a general ado:
and said
God save the king; or "let the king
live"F12יחי המלך
"vivat rex"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c. ; they owned and saluted him
as their king
and prayed he might live long to reign over them; the Targum is
"let the king prosper"; let his reign be prosperous and glorious
and
let him enjoy all health and happiness
peace and prosperity.
1 Samuel 10:25 25 Then 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.
YLT
25And Samuel speaketh unto
the people the right of the kingdom
and writeth in a book
and placeth before
Jehovah; and Samuel sendeth all the people away
each to his house.
Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom
According to
Ben Gersom
he laid before them the power a king had over his people
and the
punishment he might inflict upon them
if they rebelled against him; and some
think this is the same he delivered in 1 Samuel 8:10
concerning the arbitrary power of their kings
and how they would be used by
them; and which he here repeated
and then wrote it
that it might be a
testimony against them hereafter; with which what JosephusF13Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 4. sect. 6. says pretty much agrees
that in the hearing of the king
he foretold what would befall them
and then wrote it
and laid it up
that it
might be a witness of his predictions; but that in
1Sa 8:10-17. Samuel said
was the manner of their king
or how he would use them
but this the manner of
the kingdom
and how the government of it was to be managed and submitted to
what was the office of a king
and what the duties of the subject; and yet was
different from
at least not the same with that in Deuteronomy 17:15
for that had been written and laid up already:
and wrote it in a book
and laid it up before the Lord; in the ark of
the Lord; as Kimchi; or rather by the ark of the Lord
on one side of it
as
Ben Gersom; or best of all
as JosephusF14Ibid.
in the tabernacle
of the Lord
where recourse might be had to it
at any time
at least by a
priest
and where it would be safe
and be preserved to future times:
and Samuel sent all the people away
every man to his house; for though
Saul was chosen king
he did not take upon him the exercise of government
directly
but left it to Samuel to dismiss the people
who had been for many
years their chief magistrate.
1 Samuel 10:26 26 And Saul also went home to
Gibeah; and valiant men went with him
whose hearts God had touched.
YLT
26And also Saul hath gone to
his house
to Gibeah
and the force go with him whose heart God hath touched;
And Saul also went home to Gibeah
.... His native place
where was his father's house
to which he retired; where were no royal palace
or princely court
nor any of the ensigns of kingly majesty; and whither it
does not appear that he was followed by the nobility or princes of the tribes
only accompanied by a few men
as next observed:
and there went with him a band of men; an army
or
part of one they seem to be military men
at least men of strength
valour
and
courage; gallant men
who
in honour to their king elect
freely offered
themselves to be his body guard
however
until he was come to his house at
Gibeah; the Targum is only
"some of the people"
whose heart God had touched; and inclined to show
honour and respect to their king; the Targum describes them
"men that
feared to sin
and in whose hearts the fear of God was put.'
1 Samuel 10:27 27 But some rebels said
“How
can this man save us?” So they despised him
and brought him no presents. But
he held his peace.
YLT
27and the sons of
worthlessness have said
`What! this one doth save us!' and they despise him
and have not brought to him a present; and he is as one deaf.
But the children of Belial said
.... Wicked
dissolute
lawless persons; men without a yoke
as the word signifies
who did not care to
be under the yoke of government
at least not under the yoke of Saul; and these
might be men of wealth
and of larger tribes
and better families than Saul was
of
and therefore envied him
and thought themselves better for government than
he was; and in a jeering scornful manner said:
how shall this man save us? whose family is so mean
and whose tribe is so small
that they can give but little assistance to
deliver us out of the hands of our enemies
the Philistines and Ammonites;
intimating
that a king ought to have been of a rich family
and a large tribe
and a prince in it
whose interest and influence were great
not only in his
own tribe
but in others
which would enable him to engage in war with an
enemy
and protect the people; but what
as if they should say
can be expected
from "this man?"
this mean contemptible man
of no birth nor
fortune
brought up in an obscure manner
and altogether inexpert in things
civil and military?
and they despised him; on account of the above
things
not only in their hearts
but spared not to speak out
and use
opprobrious language
and with which their actions and conduct agreed:
and brought him no presents; as others did
and as it
was usual when a king came to the throne; nor were any visits made unto him
in
token of their subjection to him
and complacency in him
and by way of
congratulation of him
see 1 Kings 4:21 the
Targum is
they did not salute him
or ask of his welfare:
but he held his peace
or "was as one that
is deaf and dumb"F15ויהי כמחריש "et fuit veluti surdus"
Pagninus
Montanus
Vatablus; "fuit quasi obmutescens"
Drusius; "veluti
tacens aut silens"
so some in Vatablus; so the Targum. ; took no
notice of what they said
as if he was deaf and heard it not
and was as silent
as if he had been a dumb man
which showed his wisdom and prudence; for had he
taken notice of them
he must have punished them
and he judged it more
advisable to use lenity and mildness
and not begin his reign with contention
and bloodshed.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)