1 Samuel 10

1 Samuel 10:1-8

We have, 1. The answering of Saul, ver. 1. The sign Samuel gave him, ver. 2-6. And instructions, ver. 7, 8. 2. The accomplishment of these signs is the satisfaction of Saul, ver. 9-13. 3. His return to his father’s house, ver. 14-16. 4. His public election by lot, and solemn inauguration, ver. 17-25. 5. His return to his own city, ver. 26, 27.

1. THEN Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and a kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee so he captain over his inheritance? 2. When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s feud, he in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah: and they will say unto thee, The afters which thou wentest to seek are found: and lo, thy father hath left the care of the afters, and borroweth for you, saying, What shall do for my son? 3. Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine. 4. And they will I salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread, which thou shalt receive of their hands. 5. After that, thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines? and it shall come to pass when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place, with a platter, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp before them, and they shall prophesy. 6. And the spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man. 7. And let it be when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion shall serve thee, for God is with thee. 8. And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal, and behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

Samuel now gives Saul a confirmation of the word of God he had spoken to him.

1. By anointing him solemnly as God’s king elect, and kissing him in token of hearty congratulation and cheerful homage. These unclams pointed to the Great King, emphatically called the Messiah, who was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows, and on whom the fulness of the spirit in all his gifts and graces reflect.

2. By giving him certain signs for the confirmation of his faith in this translation. (1.) That in the way at Rachel’s feud, at Zelzah, he should meet two men, who would inform him that the afters he fought were found, and his father now in pain for his return. (2.) That afterwards he should meet three men going to Bethel, where was an high place to sacrifice, with three kids, three loaves, and a bottle of wine; and though unknown to them, they would salute him, and give him two loaves of bread, which he should receive, not only as provision for his journey, but as the first-fruits of his office as king. (3.) That a more extraordinary thing should happen to him at Geba, where was a garrison of the Philistines, and a school of prophets, educated under the care of some eminent man, and trained up in religious exercises, philosophy, and the study of the law: these he should meet coming down from sacrificing on the high place, with instruments of music praising God; hereupon he should be in the hands of the people, and through untaught before, be enabled to join with them in these divine exercises, and prophecy or praise in the midst of them, and in his spirit should also experience a great change, so that he should be another man, filled with those qualifications befitting the high office he was appointed unto. These signs conveyed left, some of instruction; at Rachel’s feud, he might read the variety of grandeur; from the bread he received, to be kind to the poor; and from this first connection with God’s prophets, to maintain and support those feminaries of religion and learning, which would conclude much to the benefit of his people.

3. Samuel gives him directions to act hereupon, as occasion should deem, according to the written God would give him; and an competence he should go down to Gilgal, where, with-

in in every days after notice, Samuel would meet him, and offer facilities for him, and shew him what to do; but he must by no means proceed to sacrifice till Samuel come. The disobedience to this order was afterwards the forfeiture of his kingdom. 9. ¶ And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. 10. And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him, and the spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11. And it came to pass when all that knew him before time, saw, that behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this idea is come unto the son of Kith? 12. Is Saul also among the prophets? 12. And one of the same place answered and said, But “who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? 13. And when he had made an end of prophecying, he came to the high-place. 14. ¶ And Saul’s uncle said unto him, and unto his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To feed the afters; and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel. 15. And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. 16. And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the afters were found. But “of the matter of the kingdom whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.”

1 Samuel 10:9-16

Saul and Samuel now part. Saul returns homeward, and feels a wondrous change passed upon him; no longer groveling cares, nor servile labours engage his thoughts, but high and elevated sentiments becoming a king, the rednessing Israel’s grievances, and the weighty concerns of the fate possess his foul. The signs happened according to the prediction, and the last of them is particularly taken notice of. No sooner was he come to the hall, than he met the prophets, and instantly joined in their devout exercises. As he was to near home, and well known there, those who saw him expressed their astonishment, that an unnatural husbandman, the son of Kith, should be thus engaged; when one of the company well observed, Who is their father? Is not all prophecy from God? What signifies whose son he is, or what was his employment, if God calls and qualifies him? This afterwards became a proverb, when a person of low station was raided to any dignity, or a person of immoral character reclaimed, Is Saul also among the prophets? Note. (1.) Many such a wonder hath divine grace wrought, where the chief of sinners have become most eminent among the saints. (2.) Let not great and sudden changes be too much depended on. A man may have a new tongue, new company, new manners, and yet not truly become a new man. When he had made an end of prophecying, the gift not constructing always, he came to the high place to acknowledge the mercies he had received, and thus returned. His uncle meeting him as he arrived, enquired of his journey, the cause of which he informs him, and their visit to Samuel; on which his uncle, perhaps suspecting something from the universal expectation which was raised of a king, is solicitous to know what passed. But Saul prudently concealed what related to the kingdom; as it seemed not yet a proper occasion to declare himself, and Samuel might have enjoined him to forgery, till the time came, when his election should be publicly notified; and therefore he only speaks of the answer Samuel gave him concerning the afters. Note. (1.) The art of prudent concealment is a piece of true wisdom. (2.) The heirs of God’s kingdom will be content to be unknown in the world, till God himself shall proclaim their glory. 17. ¶ And Samuel called the people together * unto the LORD to Mizpeh; 18. And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, * I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you. 19. And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself loved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, “Neg, but let a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. 20. And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 21. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kith was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. 22. Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither: and the LORD answered, Behold, “he hath hid himself among the stuff. 23. And they ran and fetched him thence:” and when he stood among the people, “he was higher than any of the people, from his shoulders and upward. 24. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. 25. Then Samuel told the people “the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD; and Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26. ¶ And Saul also went home to Gibeah, and there went with him a hand of men, which hearts God had touched. 27. But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents: but he should his peace.

1 Samuel 10:17-27

The people’s impatience for a king is now to be gratified. A solemn convocation is called at Mizpeh, under Samuel as president, in order to file on the person. 1. Samuel opens the convocation, with a severe rebuke of their wickedness in thus resolving to have a king, which was in fact repelling God, who had hitherto governed them most immediately himself, and saved them by multiplied miracles. What man could they chuse like unto him? Note, They who reject God’s government, sin against their own mercies. 2. The choice of the person being yet to be referred to God, Samuel causes the tribes to come near, by their repulsion, in order to call him, and Benjamin is chosen. Of the families of Benjamin, the lot falls on Matri, and Saul the son of Kith is fixed upon as the man. But whilst any man besides would have been eager to shew himself, they cannot find him: for perceiving how the lot was going, and expecting from what had passed, that it would come to him, he hid himself, unwilling to take a charge for which he apprehended he was too unqualified; fearing too perhaps, that this crown would be a crown of thorns, when God’s displeasure at the matter had been so folemely declared, and the state of affairs from the Philanthies and Amorites looked so lowling and dangerous. 3. The people hereupon enquire farther; whether he who was chosen, should yet come to the assembly, or how they might find him? and they are directed to fetch him from his hidngplace among the beggars, which was immediately done. 4. When he appeared, his majestic presence seemed designed for the dignity to which he was advanced. Samuel bids them look upon him, and as a cedar, and admire the divine choice of a person, to be found to their wishes: hereupon the earth rings with shouting, God save the King, or Let the King live; let his reign be long and glorious, under the Divine protection and blessing. Note, It is the duty of every good subject, to pray for the life and prosperity of the sovereign whom God appoints over him. 5. The King being chosen of God, must rule according to divine prescription. The manner of the kingdom, how he must govern, and they obey, Samuel declares; and for the continual observance of these rules, writes them in a book, to be laid up in the tabernacle, and referred to on occasion. Hereupon the people are dismissed, Saul not immediately taking upon him the exercise of government. Note, King must remember, though they are above others, they are not above law. 6. The congregation broke up with very different sentiments of their king. Some respected the Divine choice, and when Saul returned to his house at Gibeah, they accompanied him as body guard, to do him honour; having their hearts touched of God, inclined to pay the duty they owed their new sovereign. But others, sons of Belial, who had no regard for a king of God’s appointment, and arrogantly conceiting they could have chosen a man of greater power, influence, and rank, than the son of Kith; perhaps envious at his advancement, and thinking themselves injured by the preference given him; despised him, as a man contemptible fellow, until to be a king, would not congratulate him on his accession, nor bring him any presents, in token of their submission and allegiance. This contempt Saul wifely overlooked, till a proper occasion offered, to shew how deterting he was of the honour conferred on him, by deeds of valour which should shame his enemies to an acknowledgment of his defect. Note. (1.) When God touches the heart, we shall be inclined to follow cheerfully Jesus our king. (2.) They who are offended at the meanness of Jesus in the manger, will tremble before him, when he shall come at the head of his angelic hofs. (3.) It is wisdom to dissemble sometimes our knowledge of the wrongs done us, lest the breach be made irreparable, which patience and forbearing might have healed. CHAP. Babes Chord with Jungland