Tyndale Open Study Notes1 Samuel 10

Saul became powerful through three main events:

1. Samuel secretly anointed him (1 Samuel 9:1–10:16).

2. He was chosen by casting lots (1 Samuel 10:17–27).

3. He defeated the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:1–15).

See also study note on 1 Samuel 13:1–16:13.

• Samuel did this again by anointing David with olive oil (1 Samuel 16:13).

• The people of Israel belonged to the Lord, not the king. The king was to manage, not own, them (compare 1 Samuel 8:10–18).

These three "signs" were meant to convince a hesitant Saul (1 Samuel 9:21) that he was truly chosen to be king.

Rachel's tomb in Zelzah: See Genesis 35:16–20; the exact location is not known.

• Oak of Tabor: This place is in Benjamin and should not be mixed up with the village named Tabor in Zebulun (1 Chronicles 6:77).

• Bethel: See study note on 1 Samuel 7:16.

• Gibeah of God, Saul’s hometown (1 Samuel 10:26), was once a lawless city (Judges 19–21). It is not described elsewhere as "of God." This might suggest God's claim over the town, even though the Philistines occupied it.

• group: Prophets often lived in groups (for example, 2 Kings 2:3)

• harps … lyres: Ancient prophets sometimes used musical instruments to inspire and support their prophesying (for example, 2 Kings 3:15).

• prophesy: See 2 Samuel 23:2 and Acts 2:29–31.

• different person: Saul would become a spiritual and charismatic national leader (see 1 Samuel 16:14).

God is with you: This refers to God giving Saul the strength to do his duties.

• Gilgal: See the study note on 1 Samuel 7:16.

• Wait seven days: Saul seems to have followed this instruction in 1 Samuel 11:14–15 (compare with 13:8).

God changed Saul’s heart: God gave Saul courage and strength, helping him overcome his doubts and become king (1 Samuel 10:6).

• the Spirit of God rushed upon him: See “The Spirit’s Presence” Theme Note; also see 1 Samuel 11:6; Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14; compare Acts 2:17–18, 39).

• When Saul began to prophesy, it clearly showed he was chosen to lead Israel (see also 1 Samuel 19:18–23).

People who knew Saul might have thought he was not religious, making him an unlikely choice for a prophet. They might have been surprised and disappointed to get a prophet instead of a king (see John 6:14–15).

“And who is their father?” So the saying became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” Unlike priests and kings, prophets did not inherit their role. People might wonder why Saul, with a wealthy, famous father, would join a group with no notable background.

Saul might not have told his uncle because he was still unsure about what happened.

An earlier generation had gathered at Mizpah to nearly destroy the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 20:1–4). This made Mizpah an ironic place to begin the reign of a king from the tribe of Benjamin.

rescued you from … all the kingdoms: Israel did not need a human king to save them. They needed God, but they rejected him (1 Samuel 10:19).

• rejected your God: See also 1 Samuel 8:7. Israel did not trust God to protect and save them.

• Clans are smaller groups within tribes.

was selected: See Leviticus 16:8; Joshua 18:6; 1 Chronicles 26:12–16; Acts 1:26.

• rights of kingship: See Deuteronomy 17:14–20.

• He wrote them: Compare Exodus 24:4; Joshua 24:26.

• Samuel placed the document before the Lord, likely in the tabernacle. This act showed that God would reward those who followed the covenant and punish those who broke it.

Saul showed he could lead by handling opposition and saving the town of Jabesh-gilead.

whose hearts God had touched: God gave them confidence in Saul's ability to lead (see also 1 Samuel 10:9).

• These men were wicked (see 1 Samuel 2:12) because they disrespected God’s chosen king.

• People gave gifts to show respect (Genesis 32:13, 18, 20), build political friendships (2 Kings 20:12), or show submission (Judges 3:15, 17).

• Saul remained silent about it: His calmness when insulted showed maturity. In contrast, Proverbs 16:14 warns about a king’s anger when challenged. See also 1 Samuel 11:12–13.

• One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript includes this additional paragraph that is not found in the Berean Standard Bible:

  "Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had viciously oppressed the people of Gad and Reuben, gouging out the right eye of each Israelite dwelling there. He would not allow anyone to rescue them, and there was no Israelite east of the Jordan whose right eye had not been gouged out. But 7,000 men had escaped from the Ammonites and settled in Jabesh-gilead" (see the marginal note on 1 Samuel 10:27 in the Berean Standard Bible).

  Whether this material was part of the original text is uncertain. However, it helps explain the background of the conflict between Nahash and Jabesh-gilead and gives historical context for 1 Samuel 11:1–15 (for example, 1 Samuel 11:2).