1 Samuel 10:20

20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.

1 Samuel 10:20 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 10:20

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes to come near
The heads and representatives of them, to the place where the lots were cast:

the tribe of Benjamin was taken;
the lot fell upon that tribe for the choice of a king out of it; not the tribe of, Reuben, who was the firstborn, nor the tribe of Judah, to whom the kingdom was promised, but the tribe of Benjamin, the least of all the tribes, and which sprung from the youngest son of Jacob, contrary, as it were probable, to the expectation of all.

1 Samuel 10:20 In-Context

18 and said to them, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, "I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.'

19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said, "No! but set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans."

20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.

21 He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of the Matrites was taken by lot. Finally he brought the family of the Matrites near man by man, and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found.

22 So they inquired again of the Lord, "Did the man come here?" and the Lord said, "See, he has hidden himself among the baggage."