_A.M. 2909. B.C. 1095._ The anointing of Saul, 1 Samuel 10:1. Samuel gives him signs and instruction, 1 Samuel 10:2. The signs accomplished, 1 Samuel 10:9. His return to his father's house, 1 Samuel 10:14. He is elected, solemnly inaugurated, and returns to his own city, 1 Samuel 10:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And poured it upon his head_ We do not read of any order of God, given for the anointing of kings. But it was the usual rite in the designation, as of prophets and priests, so also of kings, as appears from the parable of Jotham, recorded Judges 9:8, and delivered two hundred years before this time... [ Continue Reading ]
_By Rachel's sepulchre_ In the way to Beth-lehem, which city was in Judah; her sepulchre might be either in Judah, or in Benjamin; for the possessions of those two tribes were bordering one upon another. The first place he directs him to was a sepulchre, the sepulchre of one of his ancestors. There... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt come to the plain_ Not that at the foot of mount Tabor, which was far from these parts; but another, belonging to some other place. _Beth-el_ Properly so called, which was in Ephraim, where there was a noted high place, famous for Jacob's vision there, (Genesis 28:19,) and where it is pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_They will salute thee_, &c. This may be considered as a third sign, or an appendix to the second. And it is the more remarkable, because this present, which they made him, was a figure of that honour which the people did him when he was declared their king.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt come to the hill of God_ So called, either because they were wont to sacrifice here; or, because here was a school of the prophets, who were called _men of God. A company of prophets_ By prophets here, he understands persons that wholly devoted themselves to religious studies and exercis... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee_ Hebrew, צלחה, _tsalcha, irruet in te_, (Buxtorf,) _shall rush upon thee._ This was the highest assurance of all the rest, that Samuel anointed him by God's authority. _Thou shalt prophesy with them_ Shalt break forth into the praises of God, and utter div... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do as occasion shall serve thee_ Hebrew, _Do what thy hand findeth to do;_ that is, as thou shalt have a call and opportunity. As if he had said, I cannot give thee particular directions about every thing that is to be done by thee: but God's Spirit shall guide thee to do that which the present occ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seven days shalt thou tarry till I come_ This, though now mentioned and commanded, was not immediately to be performed; as is evident, partly from the whole course of the story, (which shows that Saul and Samuel, and the people, first met at Mizpeh, 1 Samuel 10:17, &c., where Saul was chosen of God... [ Continue Reading ]
_God gave him another heart_ He immediately fulfilled the last and chief of these signs: for Saul was no sooner gone from Samuel than he felt another spirit coming into him, a spirit of holiness, wisdom, and fortitude, to qualify him for the government of God's people; which afterward God took from... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is Saul also among the prophets?_ A man never instructed, nor exercised in, nor inclined to these matters. It begat wonder in all those who knew his education, that he should, on a sudden, be inspired as those were, who were bred up in the school of the prophets. For, though it was in the power of... [ Continue Reading ]
_And one answered and said, But who is their father?_ This wonder was presently satisfied by a prudent person among them asking, Who is the father of all those prophets among whom Saul was now one? Who is it that instructs and inspires them but God? They have not this gift from their parents, nor fr... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he had made an end of prophesying_ Herein he differed from the prophets who met him, in that he prophesied but for a short time, this not being his office. And when he had done he went up to the high place from which they came down, they probably returning with him, to praise God for these won... [ Continue Reading ]
_He told him not_ In obedience to Samuel, who enjoined him to keep it secret, and from an humble modesty.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Your God, who himself saved you_, &c. By raising up judges whenever you cried to him for help, who never failed to conquer your enemies. _Ye have said unto him, Nay_, &c. When he desired you to continue under his government you refused, and would not be denied in what you asked. _Now, therefore_, &... [ Continue Reading ]
_Benjamin was taken_ Which tribe was now preferred before Judah, because the kingdom was freely promised by God to Judah, and was to be given to him in love; but now the kingdom was in a manner forced from God, and given them in anger, and therefore conferred upon an obscure tribe.... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they sought him, he could not be found_ Having withdrawn himself, either out of feebleness of spirit, as some think, or rather out of modesty, he declined so high an authority unless imposed upon him. Or perhaps he was discouraged, and even affrighted, when he heard Samuel still representing G... [ Continue Reading ]
_They inquired of the Lord_ Either by Urim and Thummim, which was the usual way of inquiry; or by Samuel, who by his prayer procured an answer. _He hath hid himself among the stuff_ Among the carriages or baggage of the people there assembled. This he probably did from a sense of his own unworthines... [ Continue Reading ]
_Samuel said, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen?_ Though the people were resolutely bent on having a king, yet they were sensible only God could make one. And therefore they came in the beginning of this business, to ask one of his prophet. But Samuel could not constitute one without divine direc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul went home to Gibeah_ Not being actually inaugurated into his kingdom, he thought fit to retire to his former habitation, and to live privately till he had an occasion to show himself in a more illustrious manner. _There went with him a band of men_ A company, probably, of stout, valiant men, o... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the children of Belial said_, &c. Some wicked men, who hated all government, and being, it is probable, men of some rank and quality, were proud, and despised a person of such a mean family. _How shall this man save us?_ They would not vouchsafe so much as to call him by his name, but insolentl... [ Continue Reading ]