1 Samuel 10

CHAPTER 10

Samuel Anoints Saul (10:1–8)

1 The first step in establishing Saul as king was to anoint him with oil as the Lord had commanded (1 Samuel 9:16); this was done without anyone else’s knowledge. But Saul’s official reign would not begin until he had been proclaimed king in a public ceremony (verses 24–25). Though Samuel was the instrument, it was actually the Lord who anointed Saul. Since the Lord had anointed him, Saul would be answerable to the Lord as a servant is answerable to his master.

The Lord anointed Saul leader over his inheritance. The Lord’s “inheritance” was the promised land of Israel and also the people of Israel (Exodus 15:16–17). Both the land and the people belonged to the Lord in a special way because of the covenant He had made with them. True, the entire universe belonged to the Lord, but out of that He had chosen the nation of Israel to be His treasured possession (Exodus 19:5–6). Let Saul never suppose that Israel belonged to him!

2–7 After anointing Saul, Samuel told him he would be given three signs that day which would confirm that he had indeed been chosen king and that all Samuel had spoken was true. The first sign (verse 2) was that Saul would meet two men at Rachel’s tomb³² who would tell him that his father’s donkeys had been found. This would signify that now Saul was to stop looking after donkeys and begin looking after Israel.

The second sign (verses 3–4) was that Saul would meet three men bringing an offering to God’s altar at Bethel. They would give Saul part of their offering, thereby indicating that they recognized Saul to be an important person. They would not have given any of their offering to an ordinary passerby.

The third sign (verses 5–6) was that Saul would go to Gibeah³³ and meet a procession of prophets.³⁴ At that time the Holy Spirit would come upon Saul—just as the Spirit had come upon many of the judges (Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29)—and Saul would prophesy with them. Indeed, through the Spirit, Saul would be changed into a different person.³⁵ This would reassure Saul that God was going to equip him with everything he needed to be king, just as God had equipped the judges before him.

When these three signs had been fulfilled, then Saul could have full confidence that he had been appointed king and thus should act accordingly (verse 7).

8 Samuel then told Saul to go on ahead to Gilgal and wait there seven days; after that time Samuel would arrive and offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings³⁶ and tell Saul what to do next. But when Samuel gave these instructions to Saul, he must have been referring to some time in the future, because before that Samuel and Saul made a preliminary trip to Gilgal at which time Saul was confirmed as king (1 Samuel 11:14–15). The later meeting at Gilgal is described in 1 Samuel 13:9–14. At that time Saul failed to wait until Samuel arrived, and that disobedience marked the beginning of the end of Saul’s reign.

Saul Made King (10:9–27)

9–13 As Saul went on his way God changed [his] heart, just as Samuel had predicted(verse6). Even the people in Saul’s hometown noticed the change—though they didn’t know the reason for it. Perhaps they were even mocking him when they asked: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (verse 11).

A man said, “And who is their father?”—probably a snide reference to the prophets themselves, implying that they had no father, that they were “nobodies.” In any case, Saul’s fellow townspeople completely misunderstood the change that had taken place in him—just as the people of Nazareth couldn’t understand what had happened to Jesus (Mark 6:1–6). The Apostle Paul gave the best explanation for this lack of understanding: The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God,for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them (1 Corinthians 2:14).

14–16 These verses emphasize the fact that no one knew that Saul had been chosen by God to be Israel’s king. This was important, because Samuel would soon cast lots to “choose” who would be king. It was essential that the people believe that Saul had been chosen by lot—that is, by God³⁷—and not by Samuel. In that way, the people would be more likely to support Saul, as proved to be the case (verse 24).

17–24 Samuel then gathered the representatives of Israel at Mizpah, a town that served as one of Israel’s meeting places during Samuel’s time (1 Samuel 7:5–6). His purpose was to reveal to the people the man whom God had already chosen to be their king. And Samuel revealed the choice through the casting of lots.

First the Lord, through Samuel, rebuked the Israelites for having rejected Him (1 Samuel 8:7) in favor of a king of their own liking (verse 19). Then Samuel said, in effect: “Okay, we’ll cast lots to see who your king will be.” And then, just as if no choice had previously been made, Saul was “chosen.” Saul knew that the lot would fall to him, and so—still reluctant—he hid himself among the baggage (verse 22). But the Lord disclosed Saul’s hiding place, and he was brought out and acclaimed king of Israel (verses 23–24).

25–27 Then, after explaining to both Saul and the people the regulations of the kingship, Samuel wrote them down. In this way, the written regulations would serve as a witness in case either side—Saul or the people—failed in their mutual duties to each other. Surely included in the regulations was the requirement that Saul was to serve under God and that the people were to obey Saul as God’s representative. Only in this way could Israel have a king and still maintain its covenant relationship with the Lord.

Verses 26 and 27 describe two responses to Saul’s leadership: some were inspired to join him, but others—just a few—were in clined to oppose him.