In the borders of Benjamin; in the way to Bethlehem, Genesis 35:19, which city was in Judah; and her sepulchre might be either in Judah or in Benjamin; for the possessions of those two tribes were bordering upon one another, and oft intermixed together: see Joshua 18:11. read more
To the plain of Tabor; not that at the foot of Mount Tabor, which was far from these parts; but another belonging to some other place, or man, called Tabor. Beth-el; properly so called, which was in Ephraim, where there was a noted high place, famous for Jacob’s vision there, Genesis 28:19, where it is probable they offered sacrifices in this confused state of things, when the ark was in one place, and the tabernacle, if not destroyed, in another. Or, to the house of God, i.e. to... read more
Two loaves of bread; two of those three designed for sacrifice, supposing they could easily procure a supply of other loaves at Beth-el. But the more strange the present was, the more fit it was for a sign of God’s extraordinary providence in Saul’s affairs. read more
To the hill of God; a hill near Geba, or Gibeah of Benjamin, where a garrison of Philistines was, 1 Samuel 13:3, called here the hill of God, because it was a place devoted to the service of God; either for sacrifice, this being a high place, as it here follows; or for a school or college of prophets. To the city, adjoining to that hill. A company of prophets: by prophets here, and in such-like places, he understands persons that did wholly devote themselves to religious studies and exercises,... read more
Will come upon thee, Heb. will leap or rush on thee, to wit, for a season. So it may be opposed to the Spirit’s resting upon a man, as Numbers 11:25; Isaiah 11:2. Shalt be turned into another man, i.e. thou shalt be suddenly endowed and acted with another spirit, filled with skill of Divine things, with courage, and wisdom, and magnanimity, and other qualifications befitting thy dignity. read more
These signs were certain evidences of God’s calling of him to the kingdom, because they were all future contingencies, which none but God could infallibly know or foretell. Do as occasion shall serve thee, Heb. do what thy hand findeth to do, i.e. as thou shalt have a call and opportunity. He doth not intend that he should take the kingly government upon him, before his call to it was known to and owned by the people, which had been preposterous and dangerous; but that he should dispose his... read more
Seven days shalt thou tarry till I come to thee: this, though now mentioned and commanded, yet was not immediately to be performed; as is evident, partly from the whole course of the story, which shows that Saul, and Samuel, and the people first met at Mizpeh, 1 Samuel 10:17, &c., where Saul was chosen by God and accepted by the people as king; and afterwards went to Gilgal, once before the time here spoken of, 1 Samuel 11:14,1 Samuel 11:15; and partly by comparing this place with 1 Samuel... read more
CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES—1 Samuel 10:1. “Then Samuel took a vial of oil,” etc. “The vial is a narrow-necked vessel, from which the oil flowed in drops. The oil, we must suppose, was not of the ordinary sort, but the holy anointing oil (Exodus 29:7; Exodus 30:23-33; Exodus 37:29), which, according to the law, was used in the consecration of the sacred vessels and the priests.… On account of the significance of the oil in priestly consecration, Samuel would have used no other in the... read more
Chapter 10Samuel took a vial of oil, and he poured it over Saul, over his head, and he kissed him, and he said, Is it not because the Lord has anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? Now when you depart from me today, when you get by Rachel's tomb, you're going to see two men; and they will say to you, The donkeys that you were looking for have been found: and, your father's no longer worried about the donkeys, but he's worried about you. Then as you go on forward from there, you're... read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 10:1-16
1 Samuel 9:1 to 1 Samuel 10:16 . Samuel Anoints Saul as King.— (J), taken from one of the oldest narratives (see Introduction, p. 273). Note the absence of any connexion with the Deuteronomic narrative in the previous chapter— also the inconsistencies; in 1 Samuel 7:13 the Philistines were permanently disposed of; in 1 Samuel 9:16, 1 Samuel 10:5, they are oppressing Israel and have a garrison in the heart of the country; in our present narrative we have no trace of hostility to the Monarchy.... read more