1 Samuel 10:27

_BUT THE CHILDREN OF BELIAL SAID, HOW SHALL THIS MAN SAVE US? AND THEY DESPISED HIM, AND BROUGHT HIM NO PRESENTS. BUT HE HELD HIS PEACE._ Brought him no presents. In Eastern countries the honour of the sovereign and the splendour of the royal household are upheld, not by a fixed rate of taxation, but by presents brought at certain seasons, particularly on the accession of a new sovereign, by officials and men of wealth, from all parts of the kingdom, according to the means of the individual, and of a customary registered value. Such was the tribute which Saul's opponents withheld, and for want of which he was unable to set up a kingly establishment for a while. But 'biding his time,' he bore the insult with a prudence and magnanimity which was of great use in the beginning of his government....

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 10:27. _BROUGHT HIM NO PRESENTS_] They gave him no proofs that they acknowledged either the Divine appointment or his authority. The Arab chiefs are, to this day, when on a march or excursion of any kind, supplied with every necessary by the _free-will offerings_ or _presents_ of the people in the villages or places where they encamp. Saul was now a public character, and had a right to support from the public. These sons of Belial refused to bear their part; they _brought him no presents_. He marked it, but at present held his peace; _he was as if he were deaf_: so says the text. He was prudent, and did not immediately assume all the consequence to which his office entitled him. It is probable, however, that _tribute_ is meant by the word _present_. The people in general finding they had now a king, took it for granted that they must pay...

PRESENTS - The מנחה _mı̂nchāh_ was the token of homage and acknowledgment from the subject to the sovereign, and from the tributary nation to their suzerain. (See 2 Samuel 8:2, 2 Samuel 8:6; Jdg 3:17-18; 1 Kings 4:21; 2 Kings 17:4, etc.; Psalms 72:10; Isaiah 16:1.) Saul dissembled his resentment, and waited for the favorable tide which soon came with the invasion of Nahash....

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...

BUT THE CHILDREN OF BELIAL SAID,.... Wicked, dissolute, lawless persons; men without a yoke, as the word signifies, who did not care to be under the yoke of government, at least not under the yoke of Saul; and these might be men of wealth, and of larger tribes, and better families than Saul was of, and therefore envied him, and thought themselves better for government than he was; and in a jeering scornful manner said, HOW SHALL THIS MAN SAVE US? whose family is so mean, and whose tribe is so small, that they can give but little assistance to deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, the Philistines and Ammonites; intimating, that a king ought to have been of a rich family, and a large tribe, and a prince in it, whose interest and influence were great, not only in his own tribe, but in others, which would enable him to engage in war with an enemy, and protect the people; but what, as...

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

HOW... ? Figure of speech _Erotesis._ App-6. HE HELD HIS PEACE. he was as one that was deaf....

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....