1 Samuel 10:1. _a vial of oil_ Rather, " THE vial of oil." The word rendered _vial_(i.e. phial or flask) occurs again only in the account of the coronation of Jehu, in 2Ki 9:1; 2 Kings 9:3 (E. V. _box_). The definite article in the original may perhaps indicate the holy anointing oil used for the co... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah_ In Genesis 35:16-20; Genesis 48:7, Rachel's grave is described as on the road from Bethel to Ephrath which is Bethlehem, a little way from Ephrath. This agrees with the site now marked by a tomb called _Kubbet Rahil_(dome of Rachel) a mile N.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the plain of Tabor_ Rather, THE OAK OF TABOR. It has been ingeniously conjectured that this is to be identified with the oak under which Rebekah's nurse Deborah was buried "under Bethel" (Genesis 35:8), and the palm tree between Ramah and Bethel under which Deborah judged Israel (Judges 4:5), _Tabo... [ Continue Reading ]
_two loaves of bread_ An unconscious act of homage to the newly-anointed king. As the representative of God he receives a share of the offerings intended for the sanctuary.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the hill of God_ Or, GIBEAH OF GOD. _Gibeah_is the term used to denote -the bald rounded hills of central Palestine." This eminence was distinguished as _Gibeah of God_, or _God's hill_, from the place of worship on its summit. It is probably to be identified with (_a) Gibeah of Benjamin_, which wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_the spirit of the_Lord _will come upon thee_ See Numbers 11:25-29; Judges 14:6; Judges 14:19; Jdg 15:14; 1 Samuel 11:6; 1 Samuel 16:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_do as occasion serve thee_ Lit. "do what thine hand shall find;" undertake boldly whatever presents itself. Cp. Judges 9:33; Ecclesiastes 9:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal_ Better, AND WHEN THOU GOEST DOWN BEFORE ME TO GILGAL. This is not to be understood as a direction to meet Samuel at Gilgal at once. The injunction applies to some future occasion whenever it might be, of which they had been talking. Doubtless Samuel and Saul... [ Continue Reading ]
The fulfilment of the signs 9 _God gave him another heart_ Lit. " TURNED him another heart." Cp. 1 Samuel 10:6. The divine inspiration transformed the simple countryman into the King and Deliverer of Israel. The _heart_in Scripture denotes "the centre of the whole mental and spiritual life of will,... [ Continue Reading ]
_to the hill_ Rather, TO GIBEAH. See note on 1 Samuel 10:5. The narrator cursorily mentions the fulfilment of the first and second signs, but relates the fulfilment of the third in detail, because it has an important bearing on Saul's preparation for his new office.... [ Continue Reading ]
_all that knew him beforetime_ An indication that Gibeah was Saul's home. Cp. 1 Samuel 10:14_; 1 Samuel 10:26_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Saul's neighbours were astonished that the son of Kish, the plain citizen, undistinguished save by his stalwart form and handsome countenance, should suddenly appear as a prophet in the midst of the trained recipients of divine inspiration. But one of their fellow-townsmen reproved them by asking. B... [ Continue Reading ]
_it became a proverb_ Applied probably to the unexpected appearance of any person in a novel character alien to his former occupation and habits. The proverb received a fresh exemplification in the occurrence related in ch. 1 Samuel 19:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he came to the high place_ When Saul parted from the company of prophets which he met descending from the high-place, he went up there himself to worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul's uncle_ Possibly Ner. See note on 1 Samuel 14:50. He may have been at the high-place for some public solemnity, at which the prophets also had been present; or the conversation may have occurred on a subsequent occasion.... [ Continue Reading ]
_But of the matter_&c. Modesty, humility, caution, have been variously assigned as his motive for silence. But Samuel's manner had clearly implied that his election was to be a secret for the present, even if he had given no direct injunction to that effect.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Samuel called the people together_ He convoked the national assembly or "congregation of Israel," which had made the request for a king through its representative elders (1 Samuel 8:4). This body was composed of all Israelites of twenty years old and upwards (Numbers 1:3) who had not forfeited thei... [ Continue Reading ]
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 elec... [ Continue Reading ]
_I brought up Israel_ IT WAS I WHO BROUGHT UP ISRAEL. The pronoun is emphatic, in contrast to AND YE with which 1 Samuel 10:19 begins. _out of the hand of all kingdoms_, [_and of them that oppressed you_ Rather, OUT OF THE HAND OF ALL THE KINGDOMS THAT OPPRESSED YOU. The reference is to the deliver... [ Continue Reading ]
_And ye have this day rejected your God_ Once more the prophet is directed to rebuke the people for their ingratitude and unbelief. See above on 1 Samuel 8:6. _ye have said unto him_ The request made to Samuel was virtually addressed to God. _by your tribes, and by your thousands_ The natural subdi... [ Continue Reading ]
We are not told expressly by what process the selection was made, but it was probably by casting lots. Compare Joshua 7:14 ff. The lot was in common use among all nations of antiquity. It is regarded in Scripture not as a chance decision, but as a legitimate method of ascertaining the divine will (P... [ Continue Reading ]
_the family of Matri_ The family of THE MATRITES is nowhere else mentioned. It has therefore been conjectured that we should read _Bikrites_, or descendants of Becher the son of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:6). _Saul the son of Kish was taken_ The description of the process of casting lots is abridged.... [ Continue Reading ]
_they inquired of the_Lord _further_ The technical phrase for ascertaining God's will by means of the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate upon the High-priest's Ephod (Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21). See on 1 Samuel 28:6, and cp. ch. 1Sa 14:3, 1 Samuel 22:10; 1 Samuel 23:9; 1 Samuel 30:7. _the stuff_... [ Continue Reading ]
_that there is none like him among all the people_ Stress is again laid on Saul's imposing stature as a natural qualification for his office. He was "a princely person and of a majestic aspect." See note on 1 Samuel 9:2. _God save the king_ Lit. "Let the king live." Vulg. "Vivat Rex:" and so the Fr.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the manner of the kingdom_ A charter establishing and defining the position of the king in relation to Jehovah, and to the people. It must be distinguished from the "manner of the king" in 1 Samuel 8:11 ff., which describes the arbitrary exactions of an oriental despot; but it can scarcely be said... [ Continue Reading ]
_there went with him a band of men_ Or, THE VALIANT MEN. Saul was escorted home by those who accepted him as the choice of Jehovah, but... [ Continue Reading ]
_the children of Belial said_ CERTAIN WORTHLESS FELLOWS (see note on 1 Samuel 1:16) spoke disparagingly of him, and despised him. _and brought him no presents_ Cp. 1 Kings 10:25; 2 Chronicles 17:5. The refusal of the customary offerings of homage was tantamount to a deliberate and contemptuous reje... [ Continue Reading ]