1 Samuel 10

Samuel Anoints Saul as King

¹Then Samuel took the vial of oil and poured it on his head, then kissed him and said, “Hasn’t the LORD anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?

²When you have departed from me today, then you will find two men by Rachel’s tomb, on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will tell you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found; and behold, your father has stopped caring about the donkeys and is anxious for you, saying, “What shall I do for my son?”’

³“Then you will go on forward from there, and you will come to the oak of Tabor. Three men will meet you there going up to God to Bethel: one carrying three young goats, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a container of wine.

⁴They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hand.

⁵“After that you will come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is; and it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a lute, a tambourine, a pipe, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.

⁶Then the LORD’s Spirit will come mightily on you, then you will prophesy with them and will be turned into another man.

⁷Let it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do what is appropriate for the occasion; for God is with you.

⁸“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings. Wait seven days, until I come to you and show you what you are to do.”

⁹It was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs happened that day.

¹⁰When they came there to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily on him, and he prophesied among them.

¹¹When all who knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said to one another, “What is this that has come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

¹²One from the same place answered, “Who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

¹³When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

¹⁴Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” He said, “To seek the donkeys. When we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.”

¹⁵Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.”

¹⁶Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys were found.” But concerning the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he didn’t tell him.

Saul Chosen by Lot at Mizpah

¹⁷Samuel called the people together to the LORD to Mizpah;

¹⁸and he said to the children of Israel, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’

¹⁹But you have today rejected your God, who himself saves you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to him, ‘No! Set a king over us!’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your thousands.”

²⁰So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.

²¹He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families and the family of the Matrites was chosen. Then Saul the son of Kish was chosen; but when they looked for him, he could not be found.

²²Therefore they asked of the LORD further, “Is there yet a man to come here?” The LORD answered, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

²³They ran and got him there. When he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

²⁴Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” All the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”

²⁵Then Samuel told the people the regulations of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the LORD. Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

²⁶Saul also went to his house in Gibeah; and the army went with him, whose hearts God had touched.

²⁷But certain worthless fellows said, “How could this man save us?” They despised him, and brought him no tribute. But he held his peace.

Previous 1 Samuel 9

Next 1 Samuel 11

Samuel privately anoints Saul as Israel's first king, giving him specific signs to confirm God's calling, including prophesying with a band of prophets. When these signs are fulfilled and Saul is transformed by God's Spirit, Samuel publicly presents him to Israel at Mizpah through the casting of lots. Though chosen by divine selection, Saul initially hides among the baggage when called forward, demonstrating his reluctance to assume royal authority.

Context

This chapter follows Israel's demand for a king in chapter 9 and Saul's initial meeting with Samuel, establishing the transition from theocracy to monarchy.

Key Themes

Outline

1-8
Samuel's Private Anointing and Prophetic Signs Samuel anoints Saul and gives him three specific signs to confirm his divine calling as king.
9-13
Fulfillment of the Signs God transforms Saul's heart and he prophesies with the prophets, surprising those who knew him.
14-16
Saul's Discretion with His Uncle Saul tells his uncle about finding the donkeys but keeps silent about his anointing as king.
17-27
Public Selection at Mizpah Samuel formally presents Saul to Israel through lot-casting, though Saul initially hides before being acclaimed king.

Samuel Anoints Saul as King

10:1–10:16

narrative narration solemn

Samuel anoints Saul as king and prophesies signs that will confirm his calling. Saul is transformed by God's Spirit and begins prophesying, marking his divine appointment as Israel's first king.

person_contrast

Samuel's prophetic authority uniquely transforms from judge to kingmaker, as he orchestrates Saul's divine metamorphosis through oil, prophecy, and Spirit-induced ecstasy in Israel's unprecedented monarchical transition.

Saul Chosen by Lot at Mizpah

10:17–10:27

narrative narration solemn

Samuel publicly presents Saul as king through divine lot at Mizpah, though Saul hides among the baggage. The people acclaim him as king, but some despise his appointment, foreshadowing future conflicts.

person_contrast

Samuel's recitation of Israel's deliverance from Egypt and "all the kingdoms that oppressed you" uniquely frames kingship as divine protection against foreign oppression rather than internal governance.

Insight Character Study

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

1 Samuel 10:1 5 references

Lexicals 5

2 Kings 9:3 Lexical

Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘The LORD says, “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Th…

4 shared words

Leviticus 8:12 Lexical

He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.

1 Samuel 10

Samuel Anoints Saul as King

Saul Chosen by Lot at Mizpah

Samuel Anoints Saul as King

Saul Chosen by Lot at Mizpah

Insights

Cross-References

1 Samuel 10:1 5 references

1 Samuel 10:2 2 references

1 Samuel 10:3 4 references

1 Samuel 10:5 5 references

1 Samuel 10:6 1 reference

1 Samuel 10:8 5 references

1 Samuel 10:10 4 references

1 Samuel 10:11 4 references

1 Samuel 10:14 3 references

1 Samuel 10:15 1 reference

1 Samuel 10:16 1 reference

1 Samuel 10:19 1 reference

1 Samuel 10:20 2 references

1 Samuel 10:21 5 references

Interlinear

Historical Context

Timeline

Exodus