1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:1 THE LORD HAS ANOINTED YOU. This is a private anointing. Later Samuel will demonstrate publicly, by casting lots, that Saul has been chosen by the Lord (see vv. 1 Samuel 10:17). The Hebrew for HIS HERITAGE appears six times in Samuel and can refer either to the Lord’s l... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:4 The TWO LOAVES OF BREAD were probably intended for the sacrificial meal (see note on 9:24), because the men were “going up to God at Bethel” (1 Samuel 10:3). Saul’s authority as divinely anointed king is acknowledged through this act. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getEl... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:6 In 1 Samuel 1:1 and 2 Samuel 1:1, the phrase “the Spirit of the LORD” appears only in connection with Saul and David (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 23:2). The expression THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WILL RUSH UPON (someone) appears only in Judges 1:1 and... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:9 Saul is given ANOTHER HEART and he prophesies. This is possible because the SPIRIT OF GOD RUSHED UPON HIM (see v. 1 Samuel 10:6; 1 Samuel 11:6). Later the Spirit of the Lord “departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Samuel 18:12). ⇐ [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:11 The people who KNEW HIM PREVIOUSLY were shocked to see Saul PROPHESYING. Their response, IS SAUL ALSO AMONG THE PROPHETS? became a PROVERB, that is, an often-repeated saying in Israel (compare “Thus it is said”; 1 Samuel 19:24). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:12 WHO IS THEIR FATHER? The man’s question may simply be about leadership, since “father” elsewhere describes the leader of a group of prophets (2 Kings 2:12; 2 Kings 6:21; 2 Kings 13:14). If so, the man may have been implying that no good leader would permit someone lik... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:14 SAUL’S UNCLE, probably Abner (see 1 Samuel 14:50), asks where he has been and WHAT SAMUEL SAID to him. Saul’s fate would be of great concern to Abner, since he was probably next in line after Kish and Saul to inherit Abiel’s estate (see 1 Samuel 9:1). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:22 Saul had HIDDEN HIMSELF, perhaps for fear of accepting his new responsibilities. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:24 LONG LIVE THE KING! At last Saul is publicly and officially presented and accepted by the people as the king. Here Samuel says that THE LORD HAS CHOSEN Saul, while in 1 Samuel 12:13 he says to the people, “you have chosen.” ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTa... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:25 THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE KINGSHIP represent the agreement between the people and the king about the king’s privileges and responsibilities. Here SAMUEL was the intermediary and witness. He also LAID the document BEFORE THE LORD, that is, deposited it in a sanctuar... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 10:26 GIBEAH (“hill”), Saul’s home, was about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Jerusalem. It had a panoramic view and a north-south road nearby. This is probably the same as “Gibeath-elohim, where there was a garrison of Philistines” (v. 1 Samuel 10:5). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = documen... [ Continue Reading ]