Note: Words are shown in their original Hebrew order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
1Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?
2When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?”’
3Then you will go on from there until you come to the Oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.
5After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.
8And you shall go before me to Gilgal, and surely I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you are to do.”
11All those who had formerly known Saul and saw him prophesying with the prophets asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
14Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” “To look for the donkeys,” Saul replied. “When we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.”
18and said to the Israelites, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’
19But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”
21Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they looked for him, they could not find him.
24Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
25Then Samuel explained to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each to his own home.
1 Samuel 10 records the anointing of Saul as king and his public confirmation before all Israel. Samuel anoints Saul privately with oil, gives him three confirming signs to assure him of God's calling, and later presents him to the nation through a sacred lot. Though Saul is chosen by God and initially receives His Spirit, the chapter hints at a troubling reality: the people have rejected the Lord's direct rule, and their new king will prove unequal to the task ahead. This chapter marks both a crucial transition in Israel's history and the beginning of a tragic decline.
Samuel anoints Saul with oil, a symbolic act that set him apart for God's service (v. 1). The oil represents the Holy Spirit's empowering presence—a practice that would later become central to Israel's royal and priestly traditions. Samuel then assures Saul with three specific signs that will occur as he travels home. The first sign involves two men by Rachel's tomb confirming that his father's donkeys are found and that his father is now worried about him instead (v. 2). The second sign features three men going to worship at Bethel, one of whom will give him bread (v. 3-4). These tangible signs serve a pastoral purpose: they reassure Saul that God knows his life intimately and has not forgotten him.
The third and most significant sign is prophetic in nature (v. 5-6). At the hill of God near Philistine territory, Saul will meet a band of prophets, and the Spirit of the Lord will come upon him, causing him to prophesy and transforming him into "another man" (v. 6). This spiritual empowerment is central to his calling. Samuel then instructs Saul to go to Gilgal and wait seven days until Samuel himself arrives to make further sacrifices and reveal God's direction (v. 8). The phrase "do as occasion serve thee" (v. 7) grants Saul wise freedom to act according to circumstances while trusting God's presence—a principle that will become important later when Saul faces difficult decisions.
The narrative confirms that all three signs came to pass exactly as Samuel predicted (v. 9-10). When Saul meets the prophets, God's Spirit comes upon him mightily, and he prophesies among them (v. 10). His townspeople are astounded, noting that the son of Kish—previously an unknown young man—is now prophesying (v. 11). Their surprised question, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (v. 11-12), becomes a proverb expressing how unexpectedly God sometimes chooses unlikely instruments for His purposes.
After his prophetic experience, Saul goes to the high place (v. 13). When his uncle asks where he has been, Saul tells him only about seeking the donkeys and finding Samuel—but deliberately withholds the revelation about the kingdom (v. 14-16). This restraint suggests Saul initially grasps the weight of what has happened and chooses not to broadcast it rashly.
Samuel gathers all Israel at Mizpeh and reminds them of God's mighty deliverance from Egypt and their enemies (v. 17-19). He rebukes them for rejecting the Lord, their true King, and demanding a human king instead (v. 19). Then, through the sacred lot, God systematically narrows the selection: first Benjamin's tribe is chosen, then Matri's family, then Saul (v. 20-21). When Saul cannot be found, the Lord reveals he is hiding among the baggage (v. 22). When brought forward, his towering physical stature impresses all (v. 23). Samuel presents him to the people, and they shout, "God save the king!" (v. 24). Samuel then explains the kingdom's constitutional principles and records them in writing (v. 25).
Saul returns home to Gibeah with a band of loyal men whose hearts God had touched (v. 26). However, some worthless men ("children of Belial") refuse to honor him and bring no gifts (v. 27). Saul's noble silence in response foreshadows his later struggles with insecurity and anger.
Application for Today
This chapter teaches us that God's call often comes with confirming signs—not always supernatural, but often gracious reminders of His intimate knowledge of our lives. Like Saul, we are called to trust God's presence even when others doubt or resist. Yet Saul's story reminds us that outward gifting and spiritual empowerment are not guarantees of obedience or holiness. Our calling must be matched by humble submission to God's Word.
Study Notes — 1 Samuel 10
7 sections1 Samuel 10 records the anointing of Saul as king and his public confirmation before all Israel. Samuel anoints Saul privately with oil, gives him three confirming signs to assure him of God's calling, and later presents him to the nation through a sacred lot. Though Saul is chosen by God and initially receives His Spirit, the chapter hints at a troubling reality: the people have rejected the Lord's direct rule, and their new king will prove unequal to the task ahead. This chapter marks both a crucial transition in Israel's history and the beginning of a tragic decline.
Samuel anoints Saul with oil, a symbolic act that set him apart for God's service (v. 1). The oil represents the Holy Spirit's empowering presence—a practice that would later become central to Israel's royal and priestly traditions. Samuel then assures Saul with three specific signs that will occur as he travels home. The first sign involves two men by Rachel's tomb confirming that his father's donkeys are found and that his father is now worried about him instead (v. 2). The second sign features three men going to worship at Bethel, one of whom will give him bread (v. 3-4). These tangible signs serve a pastoral purpose: they reassure Saul that God knows his life intimately and has not forgotten him.
The third and most significant sign is prophetic in nature (v. 5-6). At the hill of God near Philistine territory, Saul will meet a band of prophets, and the Spirit of the Lord will come upon him, causing him to prophesy and transforming him into "another man" (v. 6). This spiritual empowerment is central to his calling. Samuel then instructs Saul to go to Gilgal and wait seven days until Samuel himself arrives to make further sacrifices and reveal God's direction (v. 8). The phrase "do as occasion serve thee" (v. 7) grants Saul wise freedom to act according to circumstances while trusting God's presence—a principle that will become important later when Saul faces difficult decisions.
The narrative confirms that all three signs came to pass exactly as Samuel predicted (v. 9-10). When Saul meets the prophets, God's Spirit comes upon him mightily, and he prophesies among them (v. 10). His townspeople are astounded, noting that the son of Kish—previously an unknown young man—is now prophesying (v. 11). Their surprised question, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (v. 11-12), becomes a proverb expressing how unexpectedly God sometimes chooses unlikely instruments for His purposes.
After his prophetic experience, Saul goes to the high place (v. 13). When his uncle asks where he has been, Saul tells him only about seeking the donkeys and finding Samuel—but deliberately withholds the revelation about the kingdom (v. 14-16). This restraint suggests Saul initially grasps the weight of what has happened and chooses not to broadcast it rashly.
Samuel gathers all Israel at Mizpeh and reminds them of God's mighty deliverance from Egypt and their enemies (v. 17-19). He rebukes them for rejecting the Lord, their true King, and demanding a human king instead (v. 19). Then, through the sacred lot, God systematically narrows the selection: first Benjamin's tribe is chosen, then Matri's family, then Saul (v. 20-21). When Saul cannot be found, the Lord reveals he is hiding among the baggage (v. 22). When brought forward, his towering physical stature impresses all (v. 23). Samuel presents him to the people, and they shout, "God save the king!" (v. 24). Samuel then explains the kingdom's constitutional principles and records them in writing (v. 25).
Saul returns home to Gibeah with a band of loyal men whose hearts God had touched (v. 26). However, some worthless men ("children of Belial") refuse to honor him and bring no gifts (v. 27). Saul's noble silence in response foreshadows his later struggles with insecurity and anger.
This chapter teaches us that God's call often comes with confirming signs—not always supernatural, but often gracious reminders of His intimate knowledge of our lives. Like Saul, we are called to trust God's presence even when others doubt or resist. Yet Saul's story reminds us that outward gifting and spiritual empowerment are not guarantees of obedience or holiness. Our calling must be matched by humble submission to God's Word.