1 Samuel 10:18-27

18 and he said to the sons of Israel, The Lord God of Israel saith these things, I led Israel out of the land of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of (the) Egyptians, and from the hand of all the kings that tormented you.
19 And today ye have cast away your Lord God, which alone saved you from all your evils and [your] tribulations (who alone saved you from all your evils and your tribulations); and ye [have] said (to him), Nay, but ordain thou a king upon us. Now therefore stand ye before the Lord by your lineages, and by (your) families.
20 And Samuel set together all the lineages of Israel, and [the] lot felled upon the lineage of Benjamin.
21 And he set together the lineage of Benjamin, and the families thereof; and (the) lot felled upon the family of Matri, and it came unto Saul, the son of Kish. Therefore they sought him, and he was not found there.
22 And after these things they counselled with the Lord, whether Saul should come thither. And the Lord answered, Lo! he is hid among (the) vessels.
23 Therefore they ran, and took him from thence; and he stood in the middle of the people, and [he] was higher than all the people from the shoulder[s] and above.
24 And Samuel said to all the people, Certainly ye see whom the Lord hath chosen; for none in all the people is like him (for there is no one like him among all the people). And all the people cried, and said, (Long) Live the king!
25 And Samuel spake to the people (concerning) the law of the realm, and he wrote it in a book, and put it up before the Lord. And Samuel delivered all the people, each man into his house (And then Samuel sent all the people back to their homes);
26 but also Saul went into his house in Gibeah; and a part of the host went with him, whose hearts God had touched. (and Saul also went home, back to Gibeah; and a part of the army went with him, whose hearts God had touched.)
27 And the sons of Belial said, Whether this man may save us? And they despised him, and brought not gifts, that is, presents, to him; and he let (it go) as though he heard (it) not. (But the sons of Belial said, Can this man truly save us? And they despised him, and did not bring him any gifts; but he held his peace.)

1 Samuel 10:18-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 10

In this chapter we read of Saul's being anointed king by Samuel, 1Sa 10:1, and of certain signs given as confirming the same, which should come to pass, and did, before Saul got to his father's house, 1Sa 10:2-13, of his arrival at his father's house, and of what passed between him and his uncle there, 1Sa 10:14-16, of Samuel's calling all Israel together at Mizpeh, and of the election of Saul by lot to be king, and of his being declared such, 1Sa 10:17-25, and of his return to his city, being respected by some, and despised by others, 1Sa 10:26,27.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.