1 Samuel 10:17-27

SAUL’S PUBLIC ELECTION AT MIZPEH, 1 Samuel 10:17-27.

It was very important for the interests of Saul, as well as to Samuel and the people, that his advancement to the head of the nation be a matter of public notoriety. Already was it noised abroad that he was among the prophets; but that remarkable fact was no sufficient reason for the people to recognise him as their king. Therefore Samuel, to whom all still looked for judgment, assembled the people at Mizpeh, where Jehovah had on a former occasion signally magnified his name among them, and confounded their enemies, (chap. 7,) and there, by the casting of lots, Saul was publicly designated as the one “whom the Lord had chosen.” Samuel knew before this whom the Lord had chosen, and so did Saul, as is seen in his hiding himself among the stuff. 1 Samuel 10:21-22. So it was not for their sake, but for the people’s sake, that this assembly was convened at Mizpeh. Proper attention to this fact will show how futile is the position of De Wette and other rationalistic critics, who assume that this public election at Mizpeh is inconsistent with the account of Saul’s private anointing in the preceding section. But on occasion of this public election he was not anointed at all. At a previous convention of the people at Ramah they had insisted on having a king, (1 Samuel 8:19,) and the prophet, to whom the matter was intrusted, dismissed them to their homes that he might take the proper measures for accomplishing their desire. Having now, by providential guidance, found the man of Israel’s desire, (1 Samuel 9:20,) he again assembles the people for the purpose of publicly designating whom the Lord had chosen; and, that there may be no appearance of intrigue, he has the election publicly made by lot.