CHAPTER X _Samuel anoints Saul captain of the Lord's inheritance_, 1. _Instructs him concerning his return home, whom he should meet,_ _and what he should do_, 2-8. _Saul meets a company of prophets, the Spirit of the Lord comes_ _on him, and he prophesies among them_, 9-13. _He meets his uncl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:2. _RACHEL'S SEPULCHRE_] This was nigh to Bethlehem. See Genesis 35:19. _AT ZELZAH_] If this be the name of a _place_, nothing is known of it. The Hebrew בצלצח _betseltsach_ is translated by the _Septuagint_ ἁλλομενους μεγαλα, _dancing greatly_: now this may refer to the _joy_ t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:3. _THREE MEN GOING UP TO GOD TO BETHEL_] Jacob's altar was probably there still, Genesis 28:19. However this might be, it was still considered, as its name implies, _the house of God_; and to it they were now going, to offer _sacrifice_. The _three kids_ were for _sacrifice_; the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:4. _AND THEY WILL SALUTE THEE_] ושאלו לך לשלום _veshaalu_ _lecha leshalom_, "And they will inquire of thee concerning peace," i.e., _welfare_. In the East, if this salutation be given, then the person or persons giving it may be reckoned friends; if the others return it, then there... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:5. _THE HILL OF GOD_] The Targum says, "The hill on which _the ark of the Lord was_. Calmet supposes it to be a height near Gibeah. _THE GARRISON OF THE PHILISTINES_] Probably they kept a watch on the top of this hill, with a company of soldiers to keep the country in check. _A... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:7. _THOU DO AS OCCASION SERVE THEE_] After God has shown thee all these signs that thou art under his especial guidance, fear not to undertake any thing that belongs to thy office, for God is with thee. What a number of circumstances thus precisely foretold! Does not this prove th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:8. _SEVEN DAYS SHALT THOU TARRY_] I will come to thee within seven days, offer sacrifices, receive directions from the Lord, and deliver them to thee. It is likely that these seven _days_ _referred_ to the time in which Samuel came to Saul to Gilgal, offered sacrifices, and confirm... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:10. _BEHOLD, A COMPANY OF PROPHETS_] See on 1 Samuel 10:5, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:12. _BUT WHO_ IS _THEIR FATHER?_] The Septuagint, in its principal editions, adds ου Κεις; _is it not Kish_? This makes the sense more complete.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:13. _HE CAME TO THE HIGH PLACE._] I suppose this to mean the place where Saul's father lived; as it is evident the next verse shows him to be at _home_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:14. _SAUL'S UNCLE_] The word דוד _dod_ signifies a _beloved_ _one, love_, a _lover, friend_, c. and is the same as _David_. It is supposed to mean _uncle_ here; but I think it means some _familiar_ _friend_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:18. _I BROUGHT UP ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT_] These are similar to the upbraidings in 1 Samuel 8:7, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:19. _PRESENT YOURSELVES - BY YOUR TRIBES_] It appears that, in order to find out the proper person who should be made their king, they must determine by lot: 1. The _tribe_. 2. The _thousands_ or _grand divisions_ by families. 3. The _smaller divisions_ by families. And, 4. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:21. _WHEN THEY SOUGHT HIM, HE COULD NOT BE FOUND._] Through modesty or fear he had secreted himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:22. _THE LORD ANSWERED_] What a continual access to God! and what condescension in his attention to all their requests! The _stuff_ among which he had secreted himself may mean the _carts, baggage_, c., brought by the people to Mizpeh.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:24. _GOD SAVE THE KING._] יחי המלך There is no such word here; no, nor in the whole Bible; nor is it countenanced by any of the _versions_. The words which we thus translate here and elsewhere are simply _yechi hammelech_, "May the king live; " and so all the _versions_, the _Targu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 10:25. _THE MANNER OF THE KINGDOM_] It is the same word as in 1 Samuel 8:9; and doubtless the same thing is implied as is there related. But possibly there was some kind of _compact_ or _covenant_ between _them_ and _Saul_; and this was the thing that was _written in_ _a book_, and _l... [ Continue Reading ]
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;... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]