1 Samuel 10

1 Samuel 10:1

Avial of oil] Three sorts of men, as the most conceive, were solemnly ordained by anointing with oil, in the old Testament; to wit, priests, prophets and kings: whereby was signified the gifts of the holy Ghost which were necessary for their callings, 1 King. 9. 15, 16.

and kissed him] To wit, in token of congratulation, homage and subjection. So Genesis 41, 40. 1 Kings 19:18. Psalms 2:12.

inheritance] That is, his own peculiar people Israel, Exodus 19:5. Deuteronomy 9:26. 32. 9.

Rachels sepulchre] Genesis 35:20. Which was neer Beth-lhemjudah, Genesis 35:19. in the confines of both the tribes.

the care] Hebr. the businesse.

1 Samuel 10:3

to Beth-el] That is, either the place so called Genesis 28:19. or the house of God at Kirjath-jearim, where the ark now was, Chap. 7. 1, 2.

1 Samuel 10:4

salute thee] Heb. ask thee of peace.

1 Samuel 10:5

hill of God] That is, an high place neer Oibeah consecrated to divine service, and is therefore called the hill of God, in which was a school of the prophets.

the garison] See Chap. 7. 13.

with a psalterie] These instruments were used to chear and raise up the spirits, and thereby to fit them for prophecie. So 2 Kings 3:15.

shall prophesie] That is, shall speak and sing of spirituall and divine matters.

1 Samuel 10:6

thou shalt prophesie] That is, have for the time the gift of prophecying, Numbers 11:25.

be turned into another man] Both in respect of the present gift of prophesying, and of the spirit of valour and government which shall be inspired, to fit thee for the calling of a king.

1 Samuel 10:7

let it be when these signes] Hebr. and it shall come to passe that when these signes, &c.

do as occasion shall serve thee] Hebr. do for thee as thine hand shall finde. That is, as God shall give thee opportunity, so demean thy self in all things befitting a king, for the good of the common-wealth.

1 Samuel 10:8

Gilgal] To wit, after thou art elected king at Mizpeh, as it is v. 17. thou shalt go to Gilgal, to have the election confirmed, Chap. 11. 14.

offer burnt offerings] To wit, after the ark of God is brought thither. See Chap. 11. 15. 13. 9.

seven dayes thou shalt arry] Chap. 13. 8.

1 Samuel 10:9

back] Hebr. shoulder.

gave him another heart] Hebr. ned. That is, wrought in him a sensible change, by infusing into him heroick gifts, and kingly abilities.

1 Samuel 10:10

a company of prophets] That is, both the prophets themselves, and their disciples and scholars, who gave themselves to divine studies; and he prophesied. See Chap. 19. 23, 24.

1 Samuel 10:11

one to another] Hebr. a man to his neighbour.

Is Saul] Chap. 19. 24. As who should say, It is so strange, that it may well be wondered at.

1 Samuel 10:12

And one] To wit, amongst those prophets.

of the same place] Hebr. from thence.

But who is their father?] That is, the father of those other prophets; as who should say, They have not these gifts by patrimony, but from God: and the same father of Spirits that hath inspired them with the gift of prophecie, is alike able to infuse the same gifts into Saul.

a proverb] To wit, used when a man had spoken or done any rare thing, above all expectation.

1 Samuel 10:16

he told him not] Either out of modesty and humility, on to avoid his unkles envie, or, as it is most likely, because Samuel had forbidden him to reveal it: for, to the end that it might be kept secret, he would not suffer his servant to hear of it, Chap. 9. 27.

1 Samuel 10:17

unto the Lord] Both to declare unto them their fault in asking a king, and also to shew Gods sentence therein. See Judg. 11. 11. and 20. 1.

to Mizpeh] Whither he had appointed the ark to be brought, and the high priest to come with Urim and Thummim, to ask counsell of God, and by casting lots to finde out who should be their king, v. 22. See Judges 20:1.

1 Samuel 10:19

rejected your God] See Chap. 8. 6, 7.

said unto him] That is, to wit, in thus saying to me who am his prophet and vice-gerent, Chap. 8. 19. 12. 12.

by your thousands] The tribes of Israel were divided into thousands, as appeareth, Micah 5:2. and elsewhere.

1 Samuel 10:20

to come neer] To wit, before the ark, that they might first joyn in prayer for Gods direction, Proverbs 16:33. and then cas lots: for those were joyned, v. 22. Acts 1:24. See the like example, Joshua 7:14.

was taken] That is, by lot.

1 Samuel 10:22

they enquired] To wit, by Urim and Thummim, and by prayer, desiring Gods answer and direction.

hid himself] Which he did out of modestie and prudence, to make it appear, that he did not ambitiously affect the kingdom, nor use indirect means to aspire unto it, but was called unto it by Gods immediate and free choice.

1 Samuel 10:23

to the high place] That is, where was the school of the prophets.

no where] That is, not in any place whither we went to seek them.

1 Samuel 10:24

all the people] That is, the generality, or greatest part; for some amongst them did despise him, v. 27.

God save the king] Hebr. Let the king live.

1 Samuel 10:25

the manner of the kingdom] That is, not as it is commonly practised, Chap. 8. 9, 10, 11. but as it ought to be and hereby understand the fundamentall laws of a lawfull and right monarchie appointed by God himself, teaching both kings how to rule, and subjects how to obey. See Deuteronomy 17:18. Ezek. 45. 9, 10. 46. 16. Romans 13:1. 1 Timothy 2:2.

wrote in a book] Which is not now extant.

before the Lord] That is, in the tabernacle, where also were reserved the standards of just weights and measures.

1 Samuel 10:26

a band of men] That is, a voluntary guard.

God had touched] That is, by his Spirit enclined to yeeld willing obedience to their new king.

1 Samuel 10:27

children of Belial] See Judges 19. 22.

they despised him] See Chap. 11. 12.

no presents] To wit, as subjects were won to do, to testifie their homage and obedience to their king, 1 Kings 10:25. 2 Chronicles 17:5. Matthew 2:11.

he held his peace] Or, he was as though he had been deaf. Out of his modestie and prudence, both to avoid sedition, and also to win them by patience and gentlenesse.