1 Samuel 10:13

Commentary on 1 Samuel 10:13

1 Samuel 10:13 reads, "And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place." This verse marks the conclusion of a significant spiritual event in Saul's early life, immediately following his anointing as Israel's first king.

Context

This verse directly follows the account of Saul's encounter with a company of prophets, as foretold by Samuel. After Samuel had privately anointed Saul king (1 Samuel 10:1), he gave him specific signs that would confirm God's hand was upon him. One of these signs was that Saul would meet a company of prophets descending from the high place, 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). This is precisely what happened in 1 Samuel 10:10, leading to the famous question, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" After this powerful, Spirit-filled experience, Saul proceeds to the "high place," likely the very place from which the prophets had descended, indicating a return to a specific location associated with worship or spiritual activity.

Key Themes

• Divine Empowerment: Saul's prophesying demonstrates that God's Spirit came upon him, equipping him for the immense task of leading Israel. This was a supernatural confirmation of his kingship, showing he was not merely chosen by man but divinely appointed.
• Transformation: The prophetic experience was part of Saul being "turned into another man" (1 Samuel 10:6). It signified a spiritual readiness and a new capacity for leadership, moving beyond his humble background.
• The "High Place": In this early period of Israelite history, "high places" (Hebrew: bamah) were elevated sites used for worship and sacrifice. While later in Israel's history they would often become associated with idolatry and were condemned, here it appears to be a legitimate, though perhaps informal, center of spiritual activity and prophetic community. Saul's movement towards it after prophesying suggests a continuation of his spiritual engagement or simply moving to a known communal gathering spot.

Linguistic Insights

The term "prophesying" (Hebrew: nava) refers not necessarily to foretelling the future, but to speaking under divine inspiration, often involving praise, exhortation, or ecstatic utterance. It was a sign of God's Spirit resting upon an individual. The "high place" (Hebrew: bamah) literally means a "raised place" or "height," indicating a natural elevation used for religious purposes. This was common before the centralization of worship in Jerusalem.

Significance and Application

1 Samuel 10:13 highlights God's method of preparing His chosen instruments. Saul, who initially felt inadequate for kingship (1 Samuel 9:21), was divinely empowered and transformed for his new role. This verse reminds us that God often equips those He calls, providing the necessary gifts and spiritual enablement for the tasks He sets before them. Even when a specific spiritual experience concludes, the transformation it brings can be lasting. It also offers a glimpse into the early forms of worship in Israel, before the later reforms that condemned all worship outside the Temple in Jerusalem.