1 Samuel10

Samuel anoints Saul as king, providing him with prophetic signs that quickly come to pass, including Saul prophesying and being transformed by the Spirit of the LORD. Saul, however, conceals the full extent of Samuel's message from his uncle. Later, Samuel gathers Israel at Mizpeh, where Saul is publicly chosen by lot and presented to the people, who acclaim him as king. Samuel records the kingdom's ordinances, and Saul departs with loyal men, though some express contempt.

Saul Is Anointed King Privately

Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, “Isn’t it that the LORD has anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?

When you have departed from me today, then you shall find two men by Rachel’s tomb, in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will tell you, ‘The donkeys which you went to seek have been found; and behold, your father has stopped caring about the donkeys, and is anxious for you, saying, “What shall I do for my son?”’

“Then you shall go on forward from there, and you shall come to the oak of Tabor; and three men shall meet you there going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three young goats, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:

and they will greet you, and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive of their hand.

“After that you shall come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall happen, when you have come there to the city, that you shall meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tambourine, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they will be prophesying:

and the Spirit of the LORD will come mightily on you, and you shall prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man.

Let it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do as occasion shall serve you; for God is with you.

“You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: you shall wait seven days, until I come to you, and show you what you shall do.”

The Prophetic Signs Are Fulfilled

It was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs happened that day.

When they came there to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily on him, and he prophesied among them.

When all who knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another, “What is this that has come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

One of the same place answered, “Who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

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

Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” He said, “To seek the donkeys. When we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.”

Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.”

Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys were found.” But concerning the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he didn’t tell him.

Saul Is Chosen Publicly at Mizpeh

Samuel called the people together to the LORD to Mizpah;

and he said to the children of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, 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:’

but you have this day rejected your God, who himself saves you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to him, ‘No! Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.”

So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families; and the family of the Matrites was taken; and Saul the son of Kish was taken: but when they sought him, he could not be found.

Therefore they asked of the LORD further, “Is there yet a man to come here?” The LORD answered, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

They ran and fetched him there; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

Samuel said to all the people, “You see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” All the people shouted, and said, “Let the king live!”

Then Samuel told the people the regulations of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

The King’s Initial Reception

Saul also went to his house to Gibeah; and there went with him the army, whose hearts God had touched.

But certain worthless fellows said, “How shall this man save us?” They despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.

Study Notes for 1 Samuel 10

Verse 1

The anointing with oil was a ritual act symbolizing divine selection and consecration for a specific office. Samuel’s kiss signifies allegiance and recognition of Saul's new status as God's chosen leader.

Verse 2

Samuel provides three precise signs to confirm the divine nature of the anointing and reassure Saul. The first sign, the finding of the asses, addresses the immediate concern that brought Saul to Samuel.

Verse 5

The 'hill of God' (likely Gibeah or Gibeath-elohim) was a local high place, but the Philistine garrison stationed there underscores the severe military threat Israel faced, necessitating a king.

Verse 6

The Spirit of the LORD empowering Saul signifies his transformation and qualification for leadership. To be ‘turned into another man’ means receiving a new capacity and purpose necessary for kingship.

Verse 8

This command for Saul to wait seven days at Gilgal is a crucial instruction, establishing Samuel’s ongoing prophetic authority and serving as a test of Saul’s obedience (a test Saul later fails in chapter 13).

Verse 9

Saul’s internal transformation ('God gave him another heart') emphasizes that his fitness for kingship was a divine gift, not merely a natural character trait, enabling him to fulfill his mission.

Verse 11

The surprise expressed here reflects the unexpected nature of Saul's ecstatic behavior, as he was not previously known to be associated with prophetic circles or schools.

Verse 12

The proverb, 'Is Saul also among the prophets?', highlights the divine origin of prophecy; the prophetic gift is not inherited but bestowed by God, regardless of one's lineage ('who is their father?').

Verse 16

Saul demonstrates prudence and humility by concealing the matter of the kingdom from his uncle. This secrecy protects the divine plan before the public, official selection.

Verse 17

Mizpeh, a traditional assembly point, was used for national gatherings and covenant renewal (7:5). Samuel gathers the nation to formally ratify the choice of king publicly.

Verse 19

Samuel reminds the people that their demand for a king constitutes a rejection of God (Yahweh) as their direct sovereign. This sets a theological framework for the monarchy, defining it as a concession rather than a perfect ideal.

Verse 22

Saul’s initial act of hiding among the baggage ('the stuff') suggests either humility, fear, or reluctance regarding the immense responsibility of his public role, despite his physical stature.

Verse 23

Saul’s impressive physical height (a head taller than the rest) fits the ancient near-eastern expectation that a king should possess commanding and imposing physical characteristics.

Verse 25

The 'manner of the kingdom' refers to the legal and constitutional guidelines for the monarchy, likely outlining the king's duties and limitations, ensuring the king remained accountable to God's law.

Verse 26

The 'band of men' (or army/company) whose 'hearts God had touched' formed the loyal, divinely motivated core of Saul’s initial support structure and government.

Verse 27

The 'children of Belial' (worthless men) voiced immediate opposition, despising Saul because of his ordinary background. Saul’s silence in the face of scorn demonstrates initial self-control and wisdom.

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1 Samuel10

Saul Is Anointed King Privately

The Prophetic Signs Are Fulfilled

Saul Is Chosen Publicly at Mizpeh

The King’s Initial Reception

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