1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.
9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.
15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.
16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
19 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. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff.
23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought no presents. But he held his peace.
The book of 1 Samuel in the KJV Holy Bible is a historical narrative that tells the story of the Israelites' transition from a theocracy to a monarchy. It follows the life of the prophet Samuel and the rise of King Saul, the first king of Israel. Chapter 10 is a pivotal chapter in this story as it marks the official anointing and public recognition of Saul as king. In this chapter, we witness the fulfillment of God's promise to the people of Israel to give them a king, as well as the beginning of Saul's reign and the challenges he faces as the new leader of God's chosen people.
The chapter begins with Samuel anointing Saul as king of Israel, as instructed by God. This anointing was a symbolic act that signified God's choice and approval of Saul as the leader of His people. It was a significant moment for both Samuel and Saul, as it marked the beginning of a new era in Israel's history.
Samuel then gives Saul specific instructions from God, including a series of signs that would confirm God's choice of Saul as king. These signs were meant to strengthen Saul's faith and assure him of God's presence and guidance in his new role as king.
As Saul sets out on his journey back to his home in Gibeah, we see a transformation in his character. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, and he is filled with a new boldness and confidence. This is a clear indication of God's presence and favor upon Saul, and it also shows the significance of God's anointing in the lives of His chosen leaders.
Saul's transformation is further highlighted when he meets a group of prophets on the way to Gibeah. The Spirit of God comes upon him, and he prophesies alongside them. This is a stark contrast to the previous chapter where Saul was described as timid and hesitant. This transformation is a clear indication of God's power and authority in Saul's life and his ability to equip and empower His chosen leaders for their tasks.
Upon arriving in Gibeah, Saul is welcomed by a group of people who inquire about his whereabouts. Saul, still filled with the Spirit of God, prophesies to them and reveals that he has been anointed as the future king of Israel. This news spreads quickly, and the people of Israel gather at Mizpah to officially recognize Saul as their king.
Samuel then gives a speech to the people, reminding them of their past disobedience and the consequences that followed. He also assures them that with God as their king, they will be successful and prosperous. This is a crucial moment in Israel's history as they transition from being ruled by judges and prophets to a monarchy. It is also a reminder to the people that their ultimate king is God, and their earthly king is simply a vessel to carry out His will.
As Saul is officially recognized as king, he is faced with the challenge of leading God's chosen people. However, not everyone is pleased with his appointment. Some of the people despise him and question his ability to lead. This opposition foreshadows the challenges that Saul will face throughout his reign as king.
Despite these challenges, Saul remains humble and refrains from seeking revenge against his enemies. He even displays mercy towards those who had previously rejected him as king. This shows that Saul has a heart for God and a desire to lead His people with integrity.
Chapter 10 of 1 Samuel carries several important themes and messages that are relevant to our lives today. Firstly, we see the fulfillment of God's promises to His people. Throughout the Old Testament, God promised the Israelites that He would give them a king who would lead and protect them. In this chapter, we see the fulfillment of that promise through the anointing and recognition of Saul as king. This reminds us that God is faithful to His promises and always keeps His word.
Secondly, we see the importance of God's anointing and empowerment in the lives of His chosen leaders. Saul's transformation from a timid and hesitant young man to a bold and confident king is a clear indication of the power of God's Spirit working in his life. This serves as a reminder that our abilities and strengths come from God, and it is only through His anointing that we can fulfill our God-given purposes.
Another important theme in this chapter is the challenge of leadership. We see that even though Saul was chosen and anointed by God, he still faced opposition and challenges in his role as king. This reminds us that leadership is not an easy task, and those who are called to lead must rely on God's strength and guidance to overcome the obstacles that come their way.
Lastly, we see the importance of humility and mercy in leadership. Despite the opposition and rejection he faced, Saul remained humble and showed mercy towards his enemies. This is a trait that is essential for any leader, as it reflects the heart of God and fosters unity and peace among people.
In conclusion, chapter 10 of 1 Samuel is a pivotal chapter in the story of Israel's transition to a monarchy. It marks the fulfillment of God's promise to give His people a king and the beginning of Saul's reign as the first king of Israel. This chapter also carries important themes and messages that are relevant to our lives today, including the fulfillment of God's promises, the importance of His anointing and empowerment, the challenges of leadership, and the virtues of humility and mercy. It serves as a reminder that God is in control of our lives and that His plans and promises will always come to pass in His perfect timing.
Share this page