1 Samuel 10:13

KJV

And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when he had made an end {H3615} of prophesying {H5012}, he came {H935} to the high place {H1116}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When he had finished prophesying, he arrived at the high place.

Berean Standard Bible

And when Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the high place.

American Standard Version

And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 10:13 marks the conclusion of a profound spiritual encounter for Saul, where he had been divinely empowered to prophesy among a company of prophets, fulfilling a sign given by Samuel. This verse signifies the completion of a transformative moment, immediately following his anointing as Israel's first king, as he transitions from an ecstatic spiritual experience to a specific geographical location, the "high place," which served as a recognized site for worship and communal gathering in early Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the narrative of Saul's anointing and initial confirmation as king. Immediately preceding it, Samuel had privately anointed Saul and given him three signs to confirm God's hand upon him, one of which was that Saul would meet a company of prophets and "the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man" ([1 Samuel 10:6](/1_samuel/10-6 "1 Samuel 10:6 - The Spirit of the LORD Comes Upon Saul")). Verses [1 Samuel 10:9-12](/1_samuel/10-9 "1 Samuel 10:9-12 - Saul's Spirit-Empowered Prophecy") describe the precise fulfillment of this prophecy: God gave Saul a new heart, he met the prophets, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, causing him to prophesy among them. This astonishing display led bystanders to exclaim, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" ([1 Samuel 10:11](/1_samuel/10-11 "1 Samuel 10:11 - The Proverb About Saul Among the Prophets")). Verse 13, therefore, serves as the narrative conclusion to this specific prophetic episode, indicating that the intense, Spirit-filled experience had concluded, and Saul proceeded to a known location, likely the very "high place" from which the prophets had descended.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges and early monarchy in Israel saw a less centralized form of worship compared to later eras. "High places" (Hebrew: _bamah_) were elevated sites, often natural hills or constructed mounds, used for religious rituals, sacrifices, and communal gatherings. While later biblical texts, particularly after the establishment of the Jerusalem Temple and during the reforms of kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, would condemn high places due to their association with idolatry and syncretistic worship ([2 Kings 23](/2_kings/23 "2 Kings 23 - Josiah's Reforms")), in Saul's time, they were often legitimate, albeit informal, centers of Israelite worship and prophetic activity. The prophets themselves were a recognized group, often operating in companies, whose role involved speaking under divine inspiration, not necessarily foretelling the future, but delivering God's message, offering praise, or engaging in ecstatic worship. Saul's participation in such an ecstatic prophetic display was a public, undeniable sign of divine endorsement for his kingship, demonstrating that God's Spirit was indeed upon him.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes in the book of 1 Samuel and beyond. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Empowerment and Calling**, showing how God equips those He chooses for specific tasks, even an unlikely candidate like Saul, who initially expressed humility and inadequacy ([1 Samuel 9:21](/1_samuel/9-21 "1 Samuel 9:21 - Saul's Humility")). The Spirit's coming upon Saul was a tangible manifestation of God's anointing, necessary for leading Israel. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Transformation**, as Saul was "turned into another man" ([1 Samuel 10:6](/1_samuel/10-6 "1 Samuel 10:6 - The Prophecy of Saul's Transformation")), signifying a new capacity and spiritual readiness for leadership. This initial transformation, though powerful, foreshadows the tragic trajectory of Saul's reign, where his spiritual receptivity would eventually wane. Lastly, the mention of the **"High Place"** introduces the complex theme of worship practices in early Israel, illustrating the decentralized nature of religious life before the Temple's construction and setting the stage for later debates about proper worship locations.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prophesying (Hebrew, _nāvā'_):** This term refers to speaking under divine inspiration, often characterized by ecstatic utterance, praise, or the declaration of God's message. It does not exclusively mean foretelling the future, but rather being a mouthpiece for God's Spirit. In this context, it signifies a supernatural endowment of the Spirit upon Saul, confirming his divine appointment and equipping him for his new role as king.
* **High Place (Hebrew, _bāmāh'_):** Literally meaning "raised place" or "height," this refers to an elevated location, either natural or man-made, used for religious worship and sacrifice. In early Israel, before the centralization of worship in Jerusalem, such sites were common and often legitimate centers of spiritual activity. Saul's movement to the high place after his prophetic experience suggests a return to a known spiritual or communal gathering point, perhaps where the company of prophets resided or regularly met.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when he had made an end of prophesying":** This clause emphasizes the completion of a distinct spiritual event. The verb "made an end" (כָּלָה, _kalah_) denotes finality, indicating that the intense, Spirit-filled prophetic experience Saul underwent had reached its conclusion. This was not a permanent state of ecstatic utterance but a specific, powerful manifestation of the Spirit for a particular purpose—the confirmation of his anointing and transformation.
* **"he came to the high place":** This indicates Saul's physical movement to a specific location after the spiritual experience. The "high place" was likely the very site from which the company of prophets had descended, suggesting it was a known spiritual hub or a place of communal gathering. His arrival there signifies a transition from the immediate, overwhelming spiritual encounter to a more settled, perhaps reflective, state, or a return to a place associated with the prophetic community.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Narrative Transition** and **Symbolism**. The phrase "And when he had made an end of prophesying" serves as a clear narrative transition, signaling the conclusion of the dramatic, Spirit-filled episode and moving the story forward. This transition highlights the episodic nature of the Spirit's anointing in the Old Testament, often for specific tasks or moments. Furthermore, the "prophesying" itself is **Symbolic** of divine empowerment and endorsement, a visible sign to all that God's hand was upon Saul. The "high place" also carries **Symbolic** weight, representing a locus of spiritual activity and communal gathering, a place where the sacred and communal life intersected in early Israel. Its mention helps ground the supernatural event within the tangible, geographical realities of the time.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 10:13 underscores the Old Testament pattern of divine empowerment for chosen leaders, where God's Spirit would "come upon" individuals to equip them for specific tasks. Saul's prophetic experience was a public validation of his anointing, demonstrating that his kingship was not merely a human choice but a divine appointment. This initial outpouring of the Spirit highlights God's faithfulness in preparing His servants, providing the necessary spiritual enablement for their callings. The verse also implicitly contrasts the temporary and often ecstatic nature of the Spirit's work in the Old Testament with the later, permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit in New Testament believers. The "high place" itself, while legitimate here, serves as a theological marker of Israel's journey towards centralized, pure worship, foreshadowing later reforms that would condemn such decentralized sites in favor of the Temple in Jerusalem.

* [1 Samuel 10:6](/1_samuel/10-6 "1 Samuel 10:6 - The Spirit of the LORD Comes Upon Saul")
* [1 Samuel 10:10](/1_samuel/10-10 "1 Samuel 10:10 - Saul Prophesies Among the Prophets")
* [2 Kings 23:8](/2_kings/23-8 "2 Kings 23:8 - Josiah Destroys High Places")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers profound insights for believers today. Just as God equipped Saul for the immense task of leading Israel, He continues to empower and transform those He calls into service, whether in formal ministry or daily life. Saul's experience reminds us that divine enablement is not always a permanent state of ecstatic feeling, but often a specific gifting for a particular season or task. We are called to be open to the Spirit's leading and empowering, trusting that God will provide what is needed for the work He has set before us. Furthermore, the transition from prophesying to the "high place" suggests the importance of returning to places of spiritual community and reflection after intense spiritual encounters, integrating our experiences into our ongoing walk with God. It challenges us to consider where we go, physically and spiritually, after significant moments of divine encounter.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's Spirit equip and transform individuals for their callings in contemporary life?**
* **What does it mean to be "turned into another man" or "another woman" by God's Spirit, and how might this transformation manifest in our lives?**
* **After moments of intense spiritual experience or revelation, where do we "go" or what do we do to process and integrate those encounters into our daily walk with God?**
* **In what ways might we, like the early Israelites, be tempted to seek God in "high places" of our own making, rather than in the centralized and pure worship He desires?**

### FAQ
**What exactly does "prophesying" mean in this context for Saul?**

Answer: In this context, "prophesying" (Hebrew: _nāvā'_) does not primarily mean foretelling the future. Instead, it refers to speaking or acting under the direct, powerful inspiration of God's Spirit, often involving ecstatic praise, spontaneous worship, or inspired utterance. It was a visible sign of God's Spirit resting upon an individual, confirming His presence and anointing. For Saul, it was a public demonstration of divine empowerment, validating his appointment as king and showing that he was indeed "turned into another man" ([1 Samuel 10:6](/1_samuel/10-6 "1 Samuel 10:6 - The Spirit of the LORD Comes Upon Saul")).

**Was the "high place" a good or bad place for Saul to go?**

Answer: In Saul's time, "high places" (Hebrew: _bāmāh_) were generally legitimate, though decentralized, sites for Israelite worship and sacrifice. Before the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, it was common for people to worship God at various elevated locations. The prophets themselves often gathered at such sites. Therefore, for Saul to go to the high place after prophesying was not inherently negative; it was likely a recognized spiritual gathering point or a place associated with the prophetic community. However, later in Israel's history, after the Law was more fully established and especially after the Temple was built, high places often became associated with idolatry and syncretistic worship, and biblical writers would condemn them (e.g., [1 Kings 15:14](/1_kings/15-14 "1 Kings 15:14 - Asa's Failure to Remove High Places")). This verse reflects an earlier, more fluid period of Israelite worship.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Saul's anointing and temporary Spirit-empowerment for kingship were significant, they ultimately point to the superior and eternal kingship of Jesus Christ. Saul's transformation was powerful but ultimately incomplete and fleeting, as his reign was marked by disobedience and a departure from God's Spirit. In contrast, Jesus is the King whose anointing by the Spirit is eternal and perfect, without measure ([John 3:34](/john/3-34 "John 3:34 - The Spirit Without Measure")). The "prophesying" of Saul, a temporary manifestation of the Spirit, foreshadows the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all believers through Christ, making them temples of the Holy Spirit ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit")). The "high place," a physical location for worship, is superseded by Christ Himself, who is the ultimate access to God, our great High Priest who has passed through the heavens ([Hebrews 4:14](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14 - Jesus, Our Great High Priest")). Through Him, we are not merely transformed for a temporary task, but are continually being transformed into His image from one degree of glory to another by the Spirit of the Lord ([2 Corinthians 3:18](/2_corinthians/3-18 "2 Corinthians 3:18 - Transformed into Christ's Image")), becoming a royal priesthood and a holy nation, called to declare His praises ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Royal Priesthood")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.