1 Samuel 10:21

_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:_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

17-27 Samuel tells the people, Ye have this day rejected your God. So little fond was Saul now of that power, which soon after, when he possessed it, he could not think of parting with, that he hid himself. It is good to be conscious of our unworthiness and insufficiency for the services to which we are called; but men should not go into the contrary extreme, by refusing the employments to which the Lord and the church call them. The greater part of the people treated the matter with indifference. Saul modestly went home to his own house, but was attended by a band of men whose hearts God disposed to support his authority. If the heart bend at any time the right way, it is because He has touched it. One touch is enough when it is Divine. Others despised him. Thus differently are men affected to our exalted Redeemer. There is a remnant who submit to him, and follow him wherever he goes;...

Verse 1 Samuel 10:21. _WHEN THEY SOUGHT HIM, HE COULD NOT BE FOUND._] Through modesty or fear he had secreted himself....

THE FAMILY OF MATRI - This name occurs nowhere else among the families of Benjamin, or in the genealogy of Saul. (See 1 Samuel 9:1 note.)...

EXPOSITION PUBLIC SELECTION OF SAUL AS KING (1 Samuel 10:17-9). 1 SAMUEL 10:17 SAMUEL CALLED THE PEOPLE TOGETHER UNTO JEHOVAH TO MIZPEH. For the reason why Mizpah (so the name should be spelt) was chosen as the place of meeting see 1 Samuel 7:15. UNTO JEHOVAH. Because in some way the Divine presence there was indicated; possibly by the high priest having been summoned thither with the Urim and Thummim. 1 SAMUEL 10:18...

AND WHEN HE HAD CAUSED THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN TO COME NEAR BY THEIR FAMILIES,.... By the heads of them, to have lots cast for them, out of which of the families the king should be chosen: THE FAMILY OF MATRI WAS TAKEN; that is, by lot; the lot fell upon that family for the choice of a king out of them: in the account of the families of the tribe of Benjamin, 1 Chronicles 8:1 no mention is made of this family, nor any where else, and yet no doubt there was such a family, and Saul was of it; it seems to have its name from the butt or mark arrows were shot at; some of the Benjamites being famous for their skill in darting and slinging, and perhaps this family might be so: AND SAUL THE SON OF KISH WAS TAKEN; the lot being cast upon the men in the family of Matri, though it is not expressed, fell upon Saul; for though he was not there, as Jarchi observ

3. THE OPEN ACCLAMATION OF SAUL AS KING CHAPTER 10:17-27 _ 1. The lot at Mizpeh (1 Samuel 10:17)_ 2. The acclamation of the King (1 Samuel 10:22) Samuel called once more a national gathering at Mizpeh. The lot is now to be cast. But before this is done the Lord through Samuel reminds them once more of their serious mistake: “And ye have this day rejected your God, who Himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto Him, Nay but set a king over us.” They had not heeded this warning before and now they are to receive what they had asked in their self-will. The lot was therefore but an outward, empty ceremony. It fell on Saul, the son of Kish. He could not be found. Why did he hide? Some say it was humility and modesty. It was

SAUL ELECTED KING BY LOT. Continues Deuteronomic narrative, sequel to 1 Samuel 8 (see above). 1 SAMUEL 10:17 A (TO OVER US). Sequel to 1 Samuel 8 f. Samuel calls an assembly unto Yahweh to Mizpah, _i.e._ at the sanctuary there, and reproaches them for wanting a king. [In the Deuteronomic document this paragraph was followed by Samuel's speech (1 Samuel 8:11). Then came.] 1 SAMUEL 10:19 B - 1 SAMUEL 10:24. Lots are cast before Yahweh, _i.e._ by the priests at the sanctuary, and Saul is indicated as the king. Saul had hidden himself, but his hiding-place is made known by the oracle, and S

AND SAUL. Septuagint reads "and [when he had brought near the family of Matri man by man] Saul". Compare Joshua 7:17....

The Public election of Saul as King The thread of the narrative in ch. 8, which has been temporarily dropped in order to give an account of the circumstances by which Samuel was privately made acquainted with the man whom Jehovah had chosen to rule his people, is now resumed, and Saul's public election by lot to the regal office described. Since the revelation to Samuel and the choice by lot were equally declarations of Jehovah's will, there could be no contradiction between them: the latter publicly confirmed the former for the satisfaction of the people....