---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  1 Samuel 10"
description: "CHAPTER 10   :-. SAMUEL
ANOINTS SAUL,
AND CONFIRMS HIM
BY THE PREDICTION OF
THREE SIGNS. 1. Then Samuel took a vial of
oil—This was the ancient ( :-) cere"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/1-samuel/10"
---

CHAPTER 10

. SAMUEL
ANOINTS SAUL,
AND CONFIRMS HIM
BY THE PREDICTION OF
THREE SIGNS.

**1. Then Samuel took a vial of
oil**—This was the ancient () ceremony of investiture with the royal office among the
Hebrews and other Eastern nations. But there were two unctions to the
kingly office; the one in private, by a prophet (), which was meant to be only a prophetic intimation of the
person attaining that high dignity—the more public and formal
inauguration ([2 Samuel 2:4](../../../kjv/2-samuel/2/4); [2 Samuel 5:3](../../../kjv/2-samuel/5/3))
was performed by the high priest, and perhaps with the holy oil, but
that is not certain. The first of a dynasty was thus anointed, but
not his heirs, unless the succession was disputed ([1 Kings 1:39](../../../kjv/1-kings/1/39);
[2 Kings 11:12](../../../kjv/2-kings/11/12); [2 Kings 23:30](../../../kjv/2-kings/23/30);
[2 Chronicles 23:11](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/23/11)).
**kissed him**—This
salutation, as explained by the words that accompanied it, was an act
of respectful homage, a token of congratulation to the new king ([2 Chronicles 23:11](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/23/11)).

**2. When thou art departed from me
to-day**—The design of these specific predictions of what should
be met with on the way, and the number and minuteness of which would
arrest attention, was to confirm Saul's reliance on the prophetic
character of Samuel, and lead him to give full credence to what had
been revealed to him as the word of God.
**Rachel's sepulchre**—near
Beth-lehem (see on ).
**Zelzah**—or Zelah, now
*Bet-jalah,* in the neighborhood of that town.

**3. the plain**—or, "the oak
of Tabor," not the celebrated mount, for that was far distant.
**three men going up to God to
Beth-el**—apparently to offer sacrifices there at a time when the
ark and the tabernacle were not in a settled abode, and God had not
yet declared the permanent place which He should choose. The kids
were for sacrifice, the loaves for the offering, and the wine for the
libations.

**5. the hill of God**—probably
Geba ([1 Samuel 13:3](../../../kjv/1-samuel/13/3)), so called from
a school of the prophets being established there. The company of
prophets were, doubtless, the pupils at this seminary, which had
probably been instituted by Samuel, and in which the chief branches
of education taught were a knowledge of the law, and of psalmody with
instrumental music, which is called "prophesying" (here and
in [1 Chronicles 25:1](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/25/1); [1 Chronicles 25:7](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/25/7)).

**6. the Spirit of the Lord will come
upon thee**—literally, "rush upon thee," suddenly
endowing thee with a capacity and disposition to act in a manner far
superior to thy previous character and habits; and instead of the
simplicity, ignorance, and sheepishness of a peasant, thou wilt
display an energy, wisdom, and magnanimity worthy of a prince.

**8. thou shalt go down before me to
Gilgal**—This, according to JOSEPHUS,
was to be a standing rule for the observance of Saul while the
prophet and he lived; that in every great crisis, such as a hostile
incursion on the country, he should repair to Gilgal, where he was to
remain seven days, to afford time for the tribes on both sides Jordan
to assemble, and Samuel to reach it.

**9-11. when he had turned his back to
go from Samuel, God gave him another heart**—Influenced by the
words of Samuel, as well as by the accomplishment of these signs,
Saul's reluctance to undertake the onerous office was overcome. The
fulfilment of the two first signs [[1 Samuel 10:7](../../../kjv/1-samuel/10/7);
[1 Samuel 10:8](../../../kjv/1-samuel/10/8)] is passed over, but the
third is specially described. The spectacle of a man, though more fit
to look after his father's cattle than to take part in the sacred
exercises of the young prophets—a man without any previous
instruction, or any known taste, entering with ardor into the spirit,
and skilfully accompanying the melodies of the sacred band, was so
extraordinary a phenomenon, that it gave rise to the proverb, "Is
Saul also among the prophets?" (see [1 Samuel 10:8](../../../kjv/1-samuel/10/8)). The prophetic spirit had come upon him; and to Saul it
was as personal and experimental an evidence of the truth of God's
word that had been spoken to him, as converts to Christianity have in
themselves from the sanctifying power of the Gospel.

**12. But who is their father?**—The
*Septuagint* reads, "Who is his father?" referring to
Saul the son of Kish.

**17-25. Samuel called the people
together . . . at Mizpeh**—a shaft-like hill near Hebron, five
hundred feet in height. The national assemblies of the Israelites
were held there. A day having been appointed for the election of a
king, Samuel, after having charged the people with a rejection of
God's institution and a superseding of it by one of their own,
proceeded to the nomination of the new monarch. As it was of the
utmost importance that the appointment should be under the divine
direction and control, the determination was made by the miraculous
lot, tribes, families, and individuals being successively passed
until Saul was found. His concealment of himself must have been the
result either of innate modesty, or a sudden nervous excitement under
the circumstances. When dragged into view, he was seen to possess all
those corporeal advantages which a rude people desiderate in their
sovereigns; and the exhibition of which gained for the prince the
favorable opinion of Samuel also. In the midst of the national
enthusiasm, however, the prophet's deep piety and genuine patriotism
took care to explain "the manner of the kingdom," that is,
the royal rights and privileges, together with the limitations to
which they were to be subjected; and in order that the constitution
might be ratified with all due solemnity, the charter of this
constitutional monarchy was recorded and laid up "before the
Lord," that is, deposited in the custody of the priests, along
with the most sacred archives of the nation.

**26. And Saul also went home to
Gibeah**—near Geba. This was his place of residence (see ), about five miles north of Jerusalem.
**there went . . . a band of
men, whose hearts God had touched**—who feared God and regarded
allegiance to their king as a conscientious duty. They are opposed to
"the children of Belial."

**27. the children of Belial said, How
shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no
presents**—In Eastern countries, the honor of the sovereign and
the splendor of the royal household are upheld, not by a fixed rate
of taxation, but by presents brought at certain seasons by officials,
and men of wealth, from all parts of the kingdom, according to the
means of the individual, and of a customary registered value. Such
was the tribute which Saul's opponents withheld, and for want of
which he was unable to set up a kingly establishment for a while. But
"biding his time," he bore the insult with a prudence and
magnanimity which were of great use in the beginning of his
government.

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