1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 10 Samuel anointeth Saul, 1 SAMUEL 10:1; confirms him by prediction of three signs, 1 SAMUEL 10:2. Saul prophesies, 1 SAMUEL 10:9. He cometh to his uncle; telleth him what Samuel had said concerning the asses, but concealeth the matter of the kingdom, 1 SAMUEL 10:14. Samuel assemble... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE BORDERS OF BENJAMIN; in the way to Bethlehem, GENESIS 35:19, which city was in Judah; and her sepulchre might be either in Judah or in Benjamin; for the possessions of those two tribes were bordering upon one another, and oft intermixed together: see JOSHUA 18:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE PLAIN OF TABOR; not that at the foot of Mount Tabor, which was far from these parts; but another belonging to some other place, or man, called Tabor. _Beth-el_; properly so called, which was in Ephraim, where there was a noted high place, famous for Jacob's vision there, GENESIS 28:19, where... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO LOAVES OF BREAD; two of those three designed for sacrifice, supposing they could easily procure a supply of other loaves at Beth-el. But the more strange the present was, the more fit it was for a sign of God's extraordinary providence in Saul's affairs.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE HILL OF GOD; a hill near Geba, or Gibeah of Benjamin, where a garrison of Philistines was, 1 SAMUEL 13:3, called here _the hill of God_, because it was a place devoted to the service of God; either for sacrifice, this being a _high place_, as it here follows; or for a school or college of pro... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL COME UPON THEE, Heb. _will leap or rush on thee_, to wit, for a season. So it may be opposed to the _Spirit's resting_ upon a man, as NUMBERS 11:25 ISAIAH 11:2. SHALT BE TURNED INTO ANOTHER MAN, i.e. thou shalt be suddenly endowed and acted with another spirit, filled with skill of Divine thing... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE SIGNS were certain evidences of God's calling of him to the kingdom, because they were all future contingencies, which none but God could infallibly know or foretell. DO AS OCCASION SHALL SERVE THEE, Heb. _do what thy hand findeth to do_, i.e. as thou shalt have a call and opportunity. He doth... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN DAYS SHALT THOU TARRY TILL I COME TO THEE: this, though now mentioned and commanded, yet was not immediately to be performed; as is evident, partly from the whole course of the story, which shows that Saul, and Samuel, and the people first met at Mizpeh, 1 SAMUEL 10:17, &c., where Saul was cho... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the accomplishment of the two former signs is supposed, and this only of the third is expressed, because this was more eminent and public than the former: the other were only transient acts, which passed in private between two or three persons meeting together, and passing by one another; but t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS THIS THAT IS COME UNTO THE SON OF KISH? what means this strange and prodigious event? Saul; a man never instructed nor exercised in nor inclined to these matters; a man ever thought fitter to look to his father's asses, than to bear a part in the sacred exercises of the prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF THE SAME PLACE, Heb. _one from thence_, i.e. one of the company there present, or one of the prophets there prophesying. WHO IS THEIR FATHER? who is the father of all these prophets of whom you speak, and among whom Saul now is one? who is it that instructs and inspires them with this holy ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Returning thither with the prophets, there to praise God for these wonderful favours, and to beg counsel and help from God in this high business.... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL'S UNCLE, being there present, and observing this great alteration in his nephew.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Partly, in obedience to Samuel, who obliged him to secrecy; partly, from a humble modesty which appeared in him, 1 SAMUEL 10:22; and partly, in prudence, lest by an unseasonable publishing of it he should raise envy in some, disbelief and contempt in others, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE LORD; to appear before the Lord. So he speaks, either, 1. Because the ark was carried thither upon this occasion. Or, 2. Because God is present in all the assemblies of his people, whereof this was an eminent one: see 2 CHRONICLES 19:6 PSALMS 82:1. Or, 3. Because they did in a manner erec... [ Continue Reading ]
OF ALL KINGDOMS, to wit, the neighbouring kingdoms, which molested you from time to time.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE THIS DAY REJECTED YOUR GOD; you this day declare that you persist in your former act of rejecting God's government: SEE POOLE ON "1 SAMUEL 8:7". WHO HIMSELF SAVED YOU; who by his own special providence took care to raise up judges and saviours for you, and to deliver you at all times, when y... [ Continue Reading ]
TO COME NEAR unto the place appointed for the casting of lots. This tribe was now preferred before Judah, because the kingdom was freely promised by God to Judah, and was to be given to him in love; but now the kingdom was in a manner forced from God, and given to them in anger, HOSEA 13:11, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY INQUIRED OF THE LORD; either by Urim or Thummim, which was the usual way of inquiry, NUMBERS 27:21 1 SAMUEL 23:9, 1 SAMUEL 28:6; or by Samuel, who by his prayer procured an answer. AMONG THE STUFF; among the carriages or baggage of the people there assembled. This he might do, because he either... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM AMONG ALL THE PEOPLE; as to the height of his bodily stature, which was in itself commendable in a king, and some kind of indication of great endowments of mind. GOD SAVE THE KING, Heb. _Let the king live_, to wit, long and prosperously; for an afflicted life is reputed a kind... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MANNER OF THE KINGDOM; not the manner of the king, of which he had spoken before, 1 SAMUEL 8:11, &c., but of the kingdom: to wit, the laws and rules by which the kingly government was to be managed, agreeable to those mentioned DEUTERONOMY 17:16, &c, which peradventure Samuel did expound and app... [ Continue Reading ]
TO GIBEAH: not being actually inaugurated into his kingdom, he thought fit to retire to his former habitation, and to live privately till he had an occasion to show himself in a more public and illustrious manner, which he speedily obtained. AND THERE WENT WITH HIM A BAND OF MEN, to give him safe an... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MAN; so mean a person, and of the weakest of all the tribes. BROUGHT HIM NO PRESENTS; as subjects in those times and places used to do to their kings; see 1 KINGS 10:25 2 CHRONICLES 17:5 MATTHEW 2:11; and as Saul's mean condition, herewith they upbraided him, required. HE HELD HIS PEACE; thereb... [ Continue Reading ]