1 Samuel 10:26

_AND SAUL ALSO WENT HOME TO GIBEAH; AND THERE WENT WITH HIM A BAND OF MEN, WHOSE HEARTS GOD HAD TOUCHED._ SAUL ALSO WENT HOME TO GIBEAH. This was his place of residence (see the note at Judges 20:20), about five miles north of Jerusalem; and, from its being the capital during his reign, whence it was called "Gibeah of Saul" (1 Samuel 11:4; 1 Samuel 15:34; 2 Samuel 21:6; Isaiah 10:29), supposed to be identified in Tel-el-Fulil, is distinguished by its curiously knobbed and double top (Stanley, 'Sinai and Palestine,' p. 210; Porter's 'Handb

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 10:26. _A BAND OF MEN_] Not a _military band_, as I imagine, but some _secret friends_, or _companions_, who were personally attached to him. Others think that all the men fit to bear arms are intended; but this seems inconsistent with the life that Saul led for some time afterwards; for he appears to have gone into his agricultural concerns, and waited for a call from the Divine providence. See 1 Samuel 11:5....

A BAND OF MEN - Rather, “the host,” “men of valor,” There seems to be an opposition intended between the “valiant men” and the “children of Belial” (1 Samuel 10:27)....

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 SAUL ALSO WENT HOME TO GIBEAH,.... His native place, where was his father's house, to which he retired; where were no royal palace, or princely court, nor any of the ensigns of kingly majesty; and whither it does not appear that he was followed by the nobility or princes of the tribes, only accompanied by a few men, as next observed: AND THERE WENT WITH HIM A BAND OF MEN; an army, or part of one they seem to be military men, at least men of strength, valour, and courage; gallant men, who, in honour to their king elect, freely offered themselves to be his body guard, however, until he was come to his house at Gibeah; the Targum is only, "some of the people" WHOSE HEART GOD HAD TOUCHED; and inclined to show honour and respect to their king; the Targum describes them, "men that feared to sin, and in whose hearts the fear of God was put.''...

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

TOUCHED- moved....

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....