1 Samuel 10:16

16 And Saul said to his uncle, Samuel showed to us, that the she-asses were found. But he showed not to his uncle of the word of the realm, that Samuel spake to him. (And Saul said to his uncle, Samuel told us that the female donkeys were found. But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said to him about the kingdom/about becoming 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 And the brother of Saul's father said to him, and to his servant, Whither went ye? And they answered, To seek [the] she-asses; and when we found them not, we came to Samuel.

15 And the brother of Saul's father said to him, Show thou to me what Samuel said to thee. (And the brother of Saul's father said to him, Tell thou to me what Samuel said to thee.)

16 And Saul said to his uncle, Samuel showed to us, that the she-asses were found. But he showed not to his uncle of the word of the realm, that Samuel spake to him. (And Saul said to his uncle, Samuel told us that the female donkeys were found. But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said to him about the kingdom/about becoming king.)

17 And Samuel called together the people to the Lord in Mizpeh; (And Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpeh;)

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.