1 Samuel 10:24

24 Samuel spoke to all of the people. He said, "Look at the man the LORD has chosen! There isn't anyone like him among all of the people." Then the people shouted, "May the king live a long time!"

1 Samuel 10:24 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 10:24

And Samuel said to all the people, see ye him whom the Lord
hath chosen
For the choice being made by lot, the disposal of which is of the Lord, it is properly attributed to him, and the people could not object to it, but must allow it was the Lord's doing. Eupolemus ^F11, an Heathen writer, says, that Saul was made king by Samuel by the counsel or will of God; and Samuel appeals to their eyes for the goodness of the choice, a better could not have been made:

that there is none like him among the people?
so graceful, so stately, so prince like and majestic; they wanted to have a king like such the nations had; and Saul was such an one, had all the outward appearance of grandeur that could be wished for, and which in other nations recommended persons to the imperial dignity:

and all the people shouted;
made a general ado:

and said, God save the king;
or "let the king live" ^F12; they owned and saluted him as their king, and prayed he might live long to reign over them; the Targum is, "let the king prosper"; let his reign be prosperous and glorious, and let him enjoy all health and happiness, peace and prosperity.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 30. p. 447.
F12 (Klmh yxy) "vivat rex", Pagninus, Montanus

1 Samuel 10:24 In-Context

22 They needed more help from the Lord. So they asked him, "Has the man come here yet?" The LORD said, "Yes. He has hidden himself among the supplies."

23 So they ran over there and brought him out. When he stood up, the people saw that he was a head taller than any of them.

24 Samuel spoke to all of the people. He said, "Look at the man the LORD has chosen! There isn't anyone like him among all of the people." Then the people shouted, "May the king live a long time!"

25 Samuel explained to the people what the king who ruled over them should do. He wrote it down on a scroll. He placed it in front of the LORD in the holy tent. Then he sent the people away. He sent each of them to their own homes.

26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah. Some brave men whose hearts God had touched went with Saul.