1 Samuel 10:18

KJV

And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, [and] of them that oppressed you:

KJV (with Strong's)

And said {H559} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, I brought up {H5927} Israel {H3478} out of Egypt {H4714}, and delivered {H5337} you out of the hand {H3027} of the Egyptians {H4714}, and out of the hand {H3027} of all kingdoms {H4467}, and of them that oppressed {H3905} you:

Complete Jewish Bible

He said to the people of Isra'el, "Here is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el says: 'I brought Isra'el up from Egypt. I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.'

Berean Standard Bible

and said to the Israelites, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’

American Standard Version

and he said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 10:18 captures a pivotal moment in Israel's history, as Samuel, acting on divine instruction, reminds the people of God's unwavering faithfulness and powerful acts of deliverance. This declaration serves as a stark reminder of their foundational identity as a nation rescued by the LORD, contrasting sharply with their present desire for a human king and highlighting God's consistent provision despite their wavering trust.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of Samuel's address to the assembled Israelites at Mizpah, immediately preceding the public presentation of Saul as their first king. The preceding chapters detail the people's demand for a king "like all the nations" ([1 Samuel 8:5](/1_samuel/8-5 "1 Samuel 8:5 - Israel Demands a King")), a request that grieved Samuel but was ultimately permitted by God as a concession to their rejection of His direct rule ([1 Samuel 8:7](/1_samuel/8-7 "1 Samuel 8:7 - God's Response to Israel's Demand")). Samuel has already privately anointed Saul ([1 Samuel 10:1](/1_samuel/10-1 "1 Samuel 10:1 - Samuel Anoints Saul")), and this public gathering is to confirm the choice. Samuel's speech serves as a final, solemn reminder of God's past grace and a subtle rebuke of their current lack of faith, setting the theological stage for the transition from a theocracy led by judges to a monarchy.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges, characterized by cyclical patterns of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, was drawing to a close. Israel lacked a centralized, stable leadership, and the Philistine threat was ever-present. The surrounding nations, such as the Ammonites ([1 Samuel 12:12](/1_samuel/12-12 "1 Samuel 12:12 - Ammonite Threat")), were governed by kings, and Israel desired to emulate this structure for perceived security and prestige. This desire, however, stemmed from a deeper spiritual failure—a rejection of the LORD as their true King. The assembly at Mizpah was a significant national gathering, a traditional site for covenant renewal and judicial proceedings, lending gravity to Samuel's divine pronouncement.

* **Key Themes:** The primary theme is **God's unwavering deliverance and faithfulness**. Despite Israel's repeated backsliding and their ultimate rejection of His direct rule, God consistently acted as their rescuer. The verse specifically recalls the foundational act of the [Exodus from Egypt](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The Passover and Exodus"), which established Israel's identity as God's redeemed people ([Exodus 19:4-6](/exodus/19-4 "Exodus 19:4-6 - God's Covenant with Israel")). It also references subsequent deliverances from "all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you," encompassing the various enemies and oppressors during the periods of the Judges and earlier ([Judges 2:16](/judges/2-16 "Judges 2:16 - God Raises Up Judges")). This serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over history and His covenant loyalty. Another crucial theme is **Israel's corporate memory and responsibility**. Samuel's address implicitly calls the people to remember God's past works as a basis for trust and a deterrent against self-reliance, even as they embark on a new political structure.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD God of Israel (Hebrew, _Yahweh Elohim Yisrael_):** This composite title carries immense theological weight. "LORD" (Yahweh) is God's personal covenant name, emphasizing His intimate, relational, and unchanging character, particularly in His dealings with Israel. "God" (Elohim) signifies His supreme power and universal sovereignty. "Of Israel" specifies His unique covenant relationship with the nation. Together, it asserts the authoritative source of the message: the sovereign, covenant-keeping God who chose and redeemed Israel.
* **brought up (Hebrew, _alah_):** This verb literally means "to go up" or "to bring up." In the context of the Exodus, it powerfully evokes the act of God physically leading Israel out of the bondage of Egypt, ascending from a state of oppression to freedom. It emphasizes God's active, powerful intervention and His initiative in establishing Israel as a free nation.
* **delivered (Hebrew, _natsal_):** This word means "to snatch away," "to rescue," or "to tear away." It conveys the idea of a forceful, decisive act of liberation from danger or oppression. The repetition of "delivered" (implied in the KJV's "and of them that oppressed you") underscores the consistent and comprehensive nature of God's saving acts throughout Israel's history, not just from Egypt but from all subsequent adversaries.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel,":** This opening phrase establishes the divine authority of the message. Samuel is merely the messenger; the words are a direct pronouncement from the sovereign, covenant-keeping God of Israel. This formal declaration elevates the gravity and truthfulness of the historical recounting that follows.
* **"I brought up Israel out of Egypt,":** This clause refers to the foundational event of Israel's national identity—the Exodus. It highlights God's initiative and power in liberating His people from slavery, an act that defined their relationship with Him and served as the cornerstone of their covenant. It was not by their own might, but by God's hand, that they became a free people.
* **"and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians,":** This reiterates and specifies the nature of the Exodus, emphasizing the complete rescue from the power and control of their oppressors. The phrase "out of the hand of" signifies total liberation from the grasp and dominion of another, underscoring the completeness of God's salvation.
* **"and out of the hand of all kingdoms, [and] of them that oppressed you:":** This expands the scope of God's deliverance beyond the initial Exodus. It encompasses the numerous times God rescued Israel from various foreign powers and internal oppressors throughout their history, particularly during the period of the Judges. This demonstrates God's consistent faithfulness and power to save, regardless of the enemy or the circumstances, reinforcing the idea that His saving hand was always active.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Divine Speech** is paramount, signaled by the authoritative "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel," which immediately imbues the following words with ultimate authority and truth. The use of **Historical Allusion** is central, specifically referencing the foundational event of the Exodus and the subsequent deliverances throughout Israel's history. This serves as a powerful reminder of God's past faithfulness and establishes a pattern of divine intervention. The repetition of the phrase "out of the hand of" constitutes a form of **Anaphora** (or parallelism), emphasizing the consistent and comprehensive nature of God's acts of deliverance from various oppressors. This rhetorical device underscores the completeness of God's past salvations, making the people's current desire for a human king appear even more misguided in light of God's proven track record.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 10:18 powerfully articulates the core theological truth of God's active and unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they demonstrate a lack of faith. It reminds Israel, and by extension all believers, that their security and identity are rooted not in human strength or political structures, but in the sovereign, delivering power of the LORD. This historical recounting serves as both a testament to God's character and a gentle rebuke, highlighting that their current desire for a king stems from a forgetfulness of His past mercies and an insufficient trust in His ongoing ability to save. The verse implicitly calls for a renewed remembrance of God's mighty acts, fostering a foundation of trust that transcends present anxieties and perceived needs.

* [Deuteronomy 6:21-23](/deuteronomy/6-21 "Deuteronomy 6:21-23 - Remembering the Exodus")
* [Psalm 44:4-7](/psalm/44-4 "Psalm 44:4-7 - God as Israel's Deliverer")
* [Isaiah 43:1-3](/isaiah/43-1 "Isaiah 43:1-3 - God's Unchanging Deliverance")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a profound anchor for faith, reminding us that God's character as a deliverer is immutable. Just as He faithfully rescued ancient Israel from physical bondage and oppressive regimes, He continues to be our deliverer in every challenge, whether spiritual, emotional, or circumstantial. In moments of anxiety, when we are tempted to rely on our own strength, human systems, or worldly solutions, 1 Samuel 10:18 calls us to pause and remember God's proven track record of faithfulness. Our past experiences of His grace and intervention, no less than Israel's, should build a robust foundation of trust for the future. This remembrance is not mere nostalgia but an active spiritual discipline that reorients our perspective, strengthens our resolve, and deepens our reliance on the One who has always been, and always will be, our ultimate rescuer.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Egypts" or "oppressive kingdoms" has God delivered you from in your own life?**
* **How does remembering God's past faithfulness strengthen your trust in Him for present and future challenges?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to seek human solutions or rely on your own strength, rather than trusting in God's deliverance?**

### FAQ
**Why does God remind Israel of His past deliverance at the very moment they are about to appoint a king?**

Answer: God reminds Israel of His past deliverance at this critical juncture to underscore the fundamental reason for their desire for a king: a lack of trust in Him. By recounting His consistent acts of salvation, from the [Exodus](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The Passover and Exodus") to their liberation from various oppressors, God highlights that their need for a human king was not due to His inability to save, but their own spiritual forgetfulness and desire to be "like all the nations" ([1 Samuel 8:5](/1_samuel/8-5 "1 Samuel 8:5 - Israel Demands a King")). It serves as a gentle rebuke and a final opportunity for them to remember their true Deliverer, setting the stage for the challenges of the monarchy and reminding them that true security still lay in their covenant relationship with the LORD.

**What does "all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you" refer to specifically?**

Answer: This phrase refers broadly to the numerous enemies and oppressive powers from which God delivered Israel throughout their early history, particularly during the period of the Judges. Beyond the initial deliverance from Egypt, Israel faced threats from various groups like the Canaanites, Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, and Midianites. The book of Judges is replete with accounts of God raising up judges to deliver Israel from these "kingdoms" or "oppressors" when they cried out to Him ([Judges 2:16](/judges/2-16 "Judges 2:16 - God Raises Up Judges")). This comprehensive statement emphasizes that God's saving hand was not a one-time event but a continuous, consistent pattern of intervention on behalf of His people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 1 Samuel 10:18 speaks of God's historical deliverance of Israel from physical bondage and earthly oppressors, it profoundly foreshadows the ultimate and spiritual deliverance accomplished through Jesus Christ. The "bringing up" out of Egypt and the "delivering" from the hands of kingdoms point to God's unchanging character as the Great Rescuer. In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as the one who enacts a "new Exodus," not from physical slavery, but from the bondage of sin and death ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness")). He is the true "Lamb of God" whose sacrifice secures liberation from the ultimate oppressor, Satan, and the power of sin ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). God's faithfulness to Israel in the Old Testament, despite their rebellion and desire for human kings, finds its ultimate expression in His sending His Son, the true King, to establish an everlasting kingdom. Just as God delivered Israel from external foes, Christ delivers humanity from internal corruption, offering a complete and eternal salvation that far surpasses any earthly rescue ([Hebrews 9:11-12](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-12 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")).

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.

Cross-References

Judges 6:8

That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

Judges 6:9

And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;

Nehemiah 9:9

And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;

Nehemiah 9:12

Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.

Nehemiah 9:27

Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest [them] from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

Nehemiah 9:28

But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest [them] from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies;

Judges 2:1

¶ And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.