1 Samuel 10:5

After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where [is] the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

After {H310} that thou shalt come {H935} to the hill {H1389} of God {H430}, where is the garrison {H5333} of the Philistines {H6430}: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither {H935} to the city {H5892}, that thou shalt meet {H6293} a company {H2256} of prophets {H5030} coming down {H3381} from the high place {H1116} with a psaltery {H5035}, and a tabret {H8596}, and a pipe {H2485}, and a harp {H3658}, before {H6440} them; and they shall prophesy {H5012}:

After that, you will come to Giv'ah of God, where the P'lishtim are garrisoned. On arrival at the city there, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by lutes, tambourines, flutes and lyres; and they will be prophesying.

After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.

After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they will be prophesying:

Commentary

Context of 1 Samuel 10:5

This verse is part of Samuel's prophetic instructions to Saul, immediately following Saul's secret anointing as the first king of Israel. Samuel outlines three specific signs that would confirm God's choice and presence with Saul, designed to bolster his faith and prepare him for the monumental task ahead. The first two signs involve mundane encounters (finding lost donkeys, meeting men with bread), but this third sign is profoundly spiritual and public. Saul is instructed to go to "the hill of God" (Hebrew: Gibeath-Elohim), a place known for a Philistine garrison, and there he would encounter a company of prophets. This encounter is crucial for understanding Saul's subsequent transformation.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Confirmation and Assurance: God provides undeniable signs to validate His calling and presence. For Saul, these signs served as powerful affirmations that his anointing was indeed from the Lord, dispelling any doubt and equipping him with divine confidence for leadership.
  • The Role of Prophetic Companies: The "company of prophets" indicates a group or school of prophets, suggesting a communal aspect to prophetic activity in ancient Israel. Their use of musical instruments (psaltery, tabret, pipe, harp) highlights the close connection between music and the prophetic spirit, often used to prepare the heart and mind for receiving divine inspiration. This is also seen in Elisha's call for a musician in 2 Kings 3:15.
  • God's Presence Amidst Oppression: Significantly, this spiritual encounter is prophesied to occur at a place where a "garrison of the Philistines" is stationed. This juxtaposition emphasizes God's sovereignty and ability to manifest His presence and power even in territories under enemy occupation, demonstrating that His plans cannot be thwarted by adversaries.
  • Preparation for Spiritual Empowerment: The encounter with the prophets and their ecstatic worship was a precursor to Saul himself being overcome by the Spirit of the Lord, leading him to prophesy among them. This foreshadows the spiritual equipping necessary for him to lead Israel.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Hill of God" (Gibeath-Elohim): This name suggests a place associated with divine worship or presence, possibly a high place where God was acknowledged or where prophetic activity frequently occurred. It's often identified with Gibeah of Benjamin, Saul's hometown.
  • "Company of prophets" (Hebrew: chevel nevi'im): The term chevel can mean a "cord" or "band," implying a connected group or procession. This indicates a structured, perhaps organized, community of prophets rather than just isolated individuals.
  • Musical Instruments: The specific instruments mentioned—nevel (psaltery, a stringed instrument), toph (tabret, a drum or tambourine), chalil (pipe, a flute), and kinnor (harp, a stringed instrument like a lyre)—were commonly used in worship and to induce a spiritual state conducive to prophecy.

Practical Application

1 Samuel 10:5 reminds us that God often provides clear confirmation for His callings, sometimes through unexpected encounters or signs. While we may not experience dramatic prophetic bands today, God still confirms His will through His Word, the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, and the counsel of godly community. It also highlights the importance of creating an atmosphere of worship and spiritual receptivity, where God's Spirit can move freely. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful reminder that God's presence and power are not limited by adverse circumstances or oppressive forces; He can manifest Himself anywhere, at any time, to accomplish His divine purposes.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 3:15 (6 votes)

    But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

  • 1 Samuel 19:20 (5 votes)

    And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing [as] appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

  • 1 Samuel 13:3 (5 votes)

    And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that [was] in Geba, and the Philistines heard [of it]. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

  • 2 Kings 2:3 (3 votes)

    And the sons of the prophets that [were] at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know [it]; hold ye your peace.

  • 1 Chronicles 25:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:

  • 1 Chronicles 25:6 (3 votes)

    All these [were] under the hands of their father for song [in] the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

  • 2 Kings 2:5 (3 votes)

    And the sons of the prophets that [were] at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know [it]; hold ye your peace.