1 Samuel 10:26

26 Saul also went back home to Gibeah. Some powerful men, whose hearts God had touched, went with him.

1 Samuel 10:26 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 10:26

And Saul also went home to Gibeah
His native place, where was his father's house, to which he retired; where were no royal palace, or princely court, nor any of the ensigns of kingly majesty; and whither it does not appear that he was followed by the nobility or princes of the tribes, only accompanied by a few men, as next observed:

and there went with him a band of men;
an army, or part of one they seem to be military men, at least men of strength, valour, and courage; gallant men, who, in honour to their king elect, freely offered themselves to be his body guard, however, until he was come to his house at Gibeah; the Targum is only, "some of the people"

whose heart God had touched;
and inclined to show honour and respect to their king; the Targum describes them,

``men that feared to sin, and in whose hearts the fear of God was put.''

1 Samuel 10:26 In-Context

24 Samuel said to the people, "Here is the man the Lord has chosen! There is no one else among us like him." All the people shouted, "Long live the king!"
25 Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of a king, and then wrote them in a book, which he deposited in a holy place. Then he sent everyone home.
26 Saul also went back home to Gibeah. Some powerful men, whose hearts God had touched, went with him.
27 But some worthless people said, "How can this fellow do us any good?" They despised Saul and did not bring him any gifts.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [One ancient translation] Some powerful men; [Hebrew] The army.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.