2. The anointing of Saul 9:1-10:16In chapters 9-11 the writer painted Saul as the ideal man to serve as king from the human viewpoint. This pericope (1 Samuel 9:1 to 1 Samuel 10:16) sets forth his personal conduct. [Note: See the series of three articles on Saul by W. Lee Humphries listed in the bibliography of these notes. Especially helpful is, "The Tragedy of King Saul: A Study of the Structure of 1 Samuel 9-31."] read more
Saul is anointed King by Samuel1. LXX is probably right in reading at the end Of this v. ’and this is the sign that the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain’ (RV ’prince’) ’over his inheritance.’ 2. Rachel’s tomb] was not far from Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19-20).3. Plain] RV ’oak.’5. The hill of God] The word is really ’Gibeah,’ which was Saul’s own home. It is here called ’God’s Gibeah’ because Samuel had established a school of the prophets there. Cp. the common term for a prophet, ’man of God’... read more
(3) Thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor.—The accurate translation of the Hebrew is “to the terebinth or oak of Tabor.” There was evidently a history, now lost, connected with the “terebinth of Tabor.” Ewald suggests that “Tabor” is a different form for Deborah, and that this historic tree was the oak beneath which Deborah, the nurse of Rachel, was buried (Genesis 35:8).Going up to God to Beth-el.—This since the old patriarchal days had been a sacred spot. Samuel used to visit it as judge, and... read more
Self-respect and Companionship 1 Samuel 10:12 The popular interpretation of Saul among the prophets is that Saul had taken a step up. The truth is, the text may mean that he had taken one down. It all depends who the prophets were. I. In these prophets of the time of Saul, when we first meet them, we have the type which prophesying had first assumed on Canaanitish soil. They were, in fact, a species of begging friars, and were held by the people in a contempt which they evidently did their... read more
CHAPTER XIII.SAUL ANOINTED BY SAMUEL.1 Samuel 10:1-16.THERE is a remarkable minuteness of detail in this and other narratives in Samuel, suggesting the authenticity of the narrative, and the authorship of one who was personally connected with the transactions. The historical style of Scripture is very characteristic; sometimes great periods of time are passed over with hardly a word, and sometimes events of little apparent importance are recorded with what might be thought needless minuteness.... read more
2. The Story of Saul and His Anointing CHAPTERS 9:1-10:16 1. Saul the son of Kish and the lost asses (1 Samuel 9:1-10 ) 2. Samuel and Saul (1 Samuel 9:11-24 ) 3. Saul anointed King (1 Samuel 9:25-27 ; 1 Samuel 10:1-16 ) And now the Lord gives them a king according to their choice. “He should possess all the natural attractions and martial qualities which the people could desire in their king; he should reflect their religious standpoint at their best; but he should also represent their... read more
No one else was present when Samuel anointed Saul. This contrasts with David's anointing in Chapter 16:3, "in the midst of his brethren," then by "the men of Judah" in 2 Samuel 2:4; and later by the elders of Israel in 2 Samuel 5:3. For God could have David publicly anointed because he was God's specific choice, being a type of Christ. On the other hand, Saul was really the people's preference for king, yet behind the scenes God anointed him (by His servant) so that the people could not depose... read more
SEEKING ASSES AND FINDING A KINGDOM The drama in this chapter and the next disposes itself into five scenes: We have first the country lad seeking his father’s asses (1 Samuel 9:3-5 ). Like the cattle on our western plains they were allowed to roam at will during the grazing season and were brought home at its close. Secondly, there is the meeting with the prophet (1 Samuel 9:6-21 ). That he should have been consulted on so trifling a matter, and that it should have been thought proper to... read more
Saul's Kingdom 1Sa 10:24 WE have previously remarked upon the lowly-mindedness of Saul. The proposition which was made to him showed to his own consciousness, as he had never seen it before, how poor and even contemptible was his claim to social supremacy. "Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me? "It is well when great demands show us our own insufficiency.... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 10:3
3. the plain—or, "the oak of Tabor," not the celebrated mount, for that was far distant. three men going up to God to Beth-el—apparently to offer sacrifices there at a time when the ark and the tabernacle were not in a settled abode, and God had not yet declared the permanent place which He should choose. The kids were for sacrifice, the loaves for the offering, and the wine for the libations. read more