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Commentary on 1 Samuel 10 verses 9–16
Saul has now taken his leave of Samuel, much amazed, we may well suppose, at what has been done to him, almost ready to question whether he be awake or no, and whether it be not all a dream. Now here we are told,
I. What occurred by the way, Sa1 10:9. Those signs which Samuel had given him came to pass very punctually; but that which gave him the greatest satisfaction of all was this, he found immediately that God had given him another heart. A new fire was kindled in his breast, such as he had never before been acquainted with: seeking the asses is quite out of his mind, and he thinks of nothing but fighting the Philistines, redressing the grievances of Israel, making laws, administering justice, and providing for the public safety; these are the things that now fill his head. He finds himself raised to such a pitch of boldness and bravery as he never thought he should be conscious of. He has no longer the heart of a husbandman, which is low, and mean, and narrow, and concerned only about his corn and cattle; but the heart of a statesman, a general, a prince. Whom God calls to any service he will make fit for it. If he advance to another station, he will give another heart, to those who sincerely desire to serve him with their power.
II. What occurred when he came near home. They came to the hill (Sa1 10:10), that is, to Gibeah, or Geba, which signifies a hill, and so the Chaldee here takes it as a proper name; he met with the prophets as Samuel had told him, and the Spirit of God came upon him, strongly and suddenly (so the word signifies), but not so as to rest and abide upon him. It came on so as to go off quickly. However, for the present, it had a strange effect upon him; for he immediately joined with the prophets in their devotion, and that with as much decorum and as great a transport of affection as any of them: He prophesied among them. Now,
1.His prophesying was publicly taken notice of, Sa1 10:11, Sa1 10:12. He was now among his acquaintance, who, when they saw him among the prophets, called one another to come and see a strange sight. This would prepare them to accept him as a king, though one of themselves, when they had seen how God had advanced him to the honour of a prophet. The seventy elders prophesied before they were made judges, Num 11:25. Now, (1.) They all wondered to see Saul among the prophets: What is this that has come to the son of Kish? Though this school of the prophets was near his father's house, yet he had never associated with them, nor shown them any respect, perhaps had sometimes spoken slightly of them; and now to see him prophesying among them was a surprise to them, as it was long after when his namesake, in the New Testament, preached that gospel which he had before persecuted, Act 9:21. Where God gives another heart it will soon show itself. (2.) One of them, that was wiser than the rest, asked, "Who is their father, or instructor? Is is not God? Are they not all taught of him? Do they not all owe their gifts to him? And is he limited? Cannot he make Saul a prophet, as well as any of them, if he please?" Or, "Is not Samuel their father?" Under God, he was so; and Saul had now lately been with him, which, by his servant, he might know. No marvel for him to prophesy who lay last night under Samuel's roof. (3.) It became a proverb, commonly used in Israel, when they would express their wonder at a bad man's either becoming good, or at least being found in good company, Is Saul among the prophets? Note, Saul among the prophets is a wonder to a proverb. Let not the worst be despaired of, yet let not an external show of devotion, and a sudden change for the present, be too much relied on; for Saul among the prophets was Saul still.
2.His being anointed was kept private. When he had done prophesying, (1.) It should seem he uttered all his words before the Lord, and recommended the affair to his favour, for he went straight to the high place (Sa1 10:13), to give God thanks for his mercies to him and to pray for the continuance of those mercies. But, (2.) He industriously concealed from his relations what had passed. His uncle, who met with him either at the high place or as soon as he came home, examined him, Sa1 10:14. Saul owned, for his servant knew it, that they had been with Samuel, and that he told them the asses were found, but said not a word of the kingdom, Sa1 10:14, Sa1 10:15. This was an instance, [1.] Of his humility. Many a one would have been so elated with this surprising elevation as to proclaim it upon the house-top. But Saul, though he might please himself with it in his own breast, did not pride himself in it among his neighbours. The heirs of the kingdom of glory are well enough pleased that the world knows them not, Jo1 3:1. [2.] Of his prudence. Had he been forward to proclaim it, he would have been envied, and he knew not what difficulty that might have created him. Samuel had communicated it to him as a secret, and he knows how to keep counsel. Thus it appears that he had another heart, a heart fit for government. [3.] Of his dependence upon God. He does not go about to make an interest for himself, but leaves it to God to carry on his own work by Samuel, and, for his own part, sits still, to see how the matter will fall.
It is possible for an evil spirit to influence a person. The spirit of God later turned Saul into another man, that is, into a prophet, when people said, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” But the evil spirit also turned him into another man, in other words, into a renegade. For some time Judas was numbered among the chosen [apostles], even becoming the keeper of the purse. He was then not yet a traitor, but he was dishonest. Later, the devil entered into his soul.Therefore, if neither the spirit of God nor the devil enters into the soul of man at the birth of the soul, then the soul must exist separately before the accession of either spirit. If it exists alone, then it is simple and uncompounded in substance and it breathes simply as a result of the substance which it received from God.
And all those who knew Him yesterday and the day before, etc. Jesus, teaching in His homeland, many hearing were astonished at His doctrine, saying: Whence has this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joseph, and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended in Him. And Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house (Matthew 13).
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SUMMARY
1 Samuel 10:11 recounts a moment of profound public astonishment as Saul, newly anointed as Israel's first king, is witnessed prophesying among a company of prophets. This unexpected and Spirit-empowered transformation of a man previously known for his ordinary background prompted those familiar with him to exclaim in bewilderment, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" This question quickly became a proverbial expression, highlighting the surprising and undeniable evidence of divine anointing and the dramatic, visible manifestation of God's sovereign choice and empowering grace.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The passage powerfully employs Rhetorical Question through the exclamations, "What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" These questions are not posed to elicit information but to express the profound astonishment, incredulity, and bewilderment of the onlookers. They effectively underscore the unexpected nature of Saul's transformation and the undeniable divine power at work. Furthermore, the phrase "Is Saul also among the prophets?" functions as a Proverbial Saying, indicating that this event was so striking and memorable that it entered the common lexicon, used to describe any surprising or uncharacteristic display of spiritual or unusual behavior. There is also a strong element of Irony and Contrast at play, as the ordinary, unassuming "son of Kish" is dramatically contrasted with the extraordinary, Spirit-filled prophet, highlighting God's ability to choose and empower unlikely individuals, subverting human expectations.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 10:11 powerfully illustrates God's sovereign election and the transformative power of His Spirit. It demonstrates that God's choice is not limited by human lineage, social standing, or prior experience, but is based purely on His divine purpose and will. The Spirit of God is shown to be capable of radically changing an individual, equipping them with gifts and abilities far beyond their natural capacity, thereby confirming God's anointing and validating His chosen leader. This event served as a public sign to Israel that Saul's appointment was indeed from the Lord, instilling a sense of awe and wonder at God's mysterious and unpredictable ways, which often defy human logic.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound astonishment of those who knew Saul serves as a timeless reminder that God's ways are often beyond our comprehension and expectations. Just as Saul, the unassuming "son of Kish," was suddenly empowered to prophesy, so too can God choose and equip anyone for His purposes, regardless of their background, past mistakes, or perceived limitations. This challenges us to look beyond superficial appearances and human qualifications, recognizing that the Holy Spirit can transform and use the most unexpected individuals for His glory. It encourages us to remain open to God's surprising work in our own lives and in the lives of others, fostering humility and a deeper reliance on His power rather than our own abilities or societal norms. We are called to embrace the divine empowerment that enables us to participate in God's redemptive work, even when it feels outside our comfort zone or natural gifting, trusting that God's anointing makes the impossible possible.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "prophesied among the prophets" mean in this context?
Answer: In this context, "prophesied among the prophets" (Hebrew: naba') refers to Saul being overcome by the Spirit of God and joining a company of prophets in their ecstatic, inspired utterances. This was not necessarily about foretelling specific future events, but rather about speaking forth under divine inspiration, often involving fervent praise, prayer, or spontaneous declarations of God's truth. It signifies a profound spiritual experience where Saul was visibly and audibly transformed by the Holy Spirit, demonstrating God's hand upon him and fulfilling Samuel's prophecy from 1 Samuel 10:6. This public display served to validate his divine appointment as king.
Why was the question "Is Saul also among the prophets?" so significant?
Answer: The question "Is Saul also among the prophets?" became a proverbial saying in Israel because it perfectly captured the profound astonishment and incredulity of the people. Saul was from an ordinary, non-prophetic family in the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:1-2), not known for spiritual fervor or association with prophetic circles. His sudden, public display of prophecy was completely unexpected and challenged everyone's assumptions about who God would choose and empower. The phrase highlights God's sovereign and often surprising choice of individuals, demonstrating that His Spirit can transform anyone for His purposes, regardless of their background or previous disposition. It reappears later in 1 Samuel 19:24, underscoring its lasting impact as a proverb.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 1 Samuel 10:11 describes the Spirit's temporary empowering of Saul for a specific kingly task, it powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit available to all believers through Christ. Saul's transformation, though dramatic and divinely ordained for his kingly role, was external and conditional, eventually departing from him due to disobedience (1 Samuel 16:14). In stark contrast, Jesus Christ, as the ultimate Prophet, King, and Priest, was fully anointed by the Spirit without measure (John 3:34), and His anointing was eternal. His life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection paved the way for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), permanently indwelling all who believe in Him. The astonishment at Saul's prophecy points to the even greater wonder of God choosing ordinary individuals—not just kings or prophets, but all who confess Christ—to be filled with His Spirit, enabling them to bear witness to Him (Acts 1:8) and to live transformed lives, reflecting the very character of Christ (Galatians 5:22-23). Thus, Saul's experience, while unique to his calling, serves as a shadow of the glorious reality of the Spirit's work in the new covenant, making every believer a "son of God" empowered for His purposes, no longer prompting the question, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" but rather, "Are we not all empowered by the Spirit of Christ?"