Samuel Anoints Saul
Study note
Samuel poured oil on Saul's head and kissed him, which was the ancient ceremony for setting someone apart as a leader chosen by God. To confirm that this was truly from God, Samuel told Saul three signs that would happen that day: he would meet men who would tell him the donkeys were found, he would receive bread from travelers, and he would meet a group of prophets and be filled with the Spirit of God. Samuel also told Saul to wait seven days at Gilgal until Samuel came to offer sacrifices.
1 Samuel took a small flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul's head. Then he kissed him and said, "The Lord has anointed you to be the ruler over his people Israel." 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 "After you leave me today, you will run into two men near Rachel's tomb at Zelzah in Benjamin's territory. They will tell you, 'Those donkeys you were searching for have been found. But now your father has forgotten all about the donkeys and is worried sick about you, wondering, What am I going to do about my son?'" 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 "Keep going from there until you get to the big oak tree at Tabor. Three men heading to worship God at Bethel will meet you. One will be carrying three baby goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will have a jug of wine." 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 Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 "They will greet you and offer you two of their loaves. Go ahead and accept them." And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5 "After that, you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have a military outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place. They will be playing harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying." 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 "The Spirit of the Lord will come rushing over you, and you will prophesy right along with them. You will be completely transformed into a different person." And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7 "Once all these signs take place, do whatever you feel led to do, because God is there with you." And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
8 "Then go ahead of me down to Gilgal. I will meet you there to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings. Wait seven days for me. When I arrive, I will tell you exactly what to do next." 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 shew thee what thou shalt do.
The Signs Come True
Study note
Everything Samuel predicted happened exactly as he said. When Saul left Samuel, God gave him a new heart. When he met the group of prophets, the Spirit of God came on him and he prophesied with them. People who knew Saul were amazed and asked, 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' This became a well-known saying in Israel. Saul's transformation showed that God equips those he calls.
9 The moment Saul turned to walk away from Samuel, God changed his heart completely. And every sign Samuel had described came true that very day. 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 When Saul and his servant got to Gibeah, a group of prophets came to meet them. The Spirit of God rushed over Saul, and he began prophesying right along with them. 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 People who had known Saul for years watched in amazement and said to one another, "What in the world happened to the son of Kish? Since when is Saul a prophet?" 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 A local man chimed in, "Well, who are any of their fathers?" After that, it became a well-known saying in Israel: "Is Saul truly one of the prophets now?" 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 When Saul finished prophesying, he went up to the high place. And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
Saul Keeps the Anointing Secret
Study note
When Saul's uncle asked where he had been, Saul said only that he had gone to look for the donkeys and ended up visiting Samuel. But Saul did not mention anything about being anointed king. This may have shown humility or caution, as the public announcement had not yet been made.
14 Later, Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, "Where did you two go?" Saul said, "We went looking for the donkeys. When we could not find them, we went to talk to Samuel." 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 His uncle pressed him, "Truly? And what did Samuel say to you?" And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.
16 Saul answered, "He just told us the donkeys had been found." But Saul kept his mouth shut about what Samuel had said regarding him becoming king. 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.
Saul Is Publicly Chosen as King
Study note
Samuel gathered all the people at Mizpah for a public selection of the king. He reminded them that by asking for a king, they were rejecting God who had always saved them. Then the selection process began, tribe by tribe and family by family, until Saul was chosen. But when they went to find him, Saul was hiding among the baggage. After they brought him out, the people saw how tall and impressive he was, and they shouted, 'Long live the king!'
17 Samuel called all the people to gather before the Lord at Mizpah. And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
18 He addressed the Israelites: "Here is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt. I saved you from the Egyptians and from every kingdom that was pushing you around.'" 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 "But today you have rejected your God, the one who rescues you from every trouble and hardship. You have said, 'Forget that. Give us a king.' Fine then. Line up before the Lord, tribe by tribe and family by family." 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 Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel forward, and the lot fell on the tribe of Benjamin. And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
21 He brought the tribe of Benjamin forward, family by family. The lot fell on the family of Matri. Then it narrowed down to Saul, the son of Kish. But when they went to find him, he had disappeared. 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 They asked the Lord, "Has the man shown up yet?" The Lord said, "Yes, he is. He is hiding behind the baggage." 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 They ran and pulled Saul out from behind the baggage. When he stood up among the people, he was a full head taller than everyone around him. 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 Samuel announced to the crowd, "Take a good look at the man the Lord has chosen! There is nobody in all of Israel like him!" Everyone burst out cheering, "Long live the king!" 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.
Mixed Reactions to the New King
Study note
Samuel explained the rules of kingship to the people and wrote them down in a book that he placed before the Lord. Then he sent everyone home. Saul went to his home in Gibeah, and some brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him. But there were also troublemakers who looked down on Saul and refused to accept him as king. Saul wisely kept quiet and did not respond to their insults.
25 Samuel explained to the people what the rights and responsibilities of kingship would involve. He wrote everything down on a scroll and stored it in the Lord's presence. After that, Samuel sent everyone home. 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 Saul headed home to Gibeah too. A group of courageous men whose hearts God had stirred went with him. And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
27 But some troublemakers scoffed, "How is this guy supposed to save us?" They looked down on Saul and did not even bother to bring him a gift. Saul chose not to respond. But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.