1 Samuel 10:16

16 Saul replied, "He told us the donkeys had been found." But Saul didn't tell his uncle that Samuel had said he would become king.

1 Samuel 10:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 10:16

And Saul said unto his uncle
In answer to his question:

he told us plainly the asses were found;
or "in telling told us" ^F8; not only plainly in so many words, but he affirmed it with the greatest certainty that the asses were found, and we need not give ourselves further trouble about them:

but of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told
him not;
he said not one word about that, which is commonly ascribed to his modesty; or he might conceal it, as Josephus ^F9 observes, because he thought it would not be believed by his relations, or might create in them envy to him; and besides, he knew it was the pleasure of Samuel that it should be kept a secret until the election by lot was over, lest it should be thought to proceed from Samuel himself; and Saul chose it should remain so, that it might not be thought to be of his own seeking; and by keeping it from his relations and friends, it would be a clear case that he did not make interest for it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 (dygh dgh) "indicando indicavit", Pagninus, Montanus
F9 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 4. scet. 3.)

1 Samuel 10:16 In-Context

14 Later, Saul's uncle spoke to him and his servant. He asked, "Where have you been?" "Looking for the donkeys," he said. "But we couldn't find them. So we went to Samuel."

15 Saul's uncle said, "Tell me what Samuel said to you."

16 Saul replied, "He told us the donkeys had been found." But Saul didn't tell his uncle that Samuel had said he would become king.

17 Samuel sent a message to the people of Israel. He told them to meet with the LORD at Mizpah.

18 He said to them, "The LORD is the God of Israel. He says, 'Israel, I brought you up out of Egypt. I saved you from their powerful hand. I also saved you from the powerful hand of all of the kingdoms that had beaten you down.'