1 Samuel - Chapter 10

1 Samuel 10.1 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? 1 Samuel 10.2 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? 1 Samuel 10.3 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: 1 Samuel 10.4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. 1 Samuel 10.5 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: 1 Samuel 10.6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 1 Samuel 10.7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee. 1 Samuel 10.8 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 shew thee what thou shalt do. 1 Samuel 10.9 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. 1 Samuel 10.10 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. 1 Samuel 10.11 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? 1 Samuel 10.12 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? 1 Samuel 10.13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. 1 Samuel 10.14 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. 1 Samuel 10.15 And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. 1 Samuel 10.16 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. 1 Samuel 10.17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; 1 Samuel 10.18 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: 1 Samuel 10.19 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. 1 Samuel 10.20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 1 Samuel 10.21 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. 1 Samuel 10.22 Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff. 1 Samuel 10.23 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. 1 Samuel 10.24 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. 1 Samuel 10.25 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. 1 Samuel 10.26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. 1 Samuel 10.27 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.

1 Samuel : Chapter 10

The Anointing of Saul: A Historical Turning Point

Chapter 10 of the book of 1 Samuel recounts the anointing of Saul as king of Israel, a pivotal event that illustrates how God confirmed his choice to lead his people. This sacred text addresses essential themes such as divine calling, empowerment by the Spirit, and the responsibilities inherent in leadership.

A Divine Anointing

In this chapter, we learn about the secret anointing performed by the prophet Samuel, followed by prophetic signs that attest to God's will. Saul's public presentation before the people is a key moment that formalizes his role as king. 1 Samuel 10 thus marks the beginning of a new era for the nation of Israel, ushering in the monarchy at a significant turning point in its history.

The Fundamental Principles

To better understand the importance of this chapter, we invite you to meditate on five biblical passages that resonate with the fundamental principles of Saul's anointing:

1. Exodus 30:23-25

"Take the finest spices [...] and make them a holy anointing oil, a fragrant mixture, the work of a perfumer. It shall be the holy anointing oil." This passage reminds us of the importance of anointing oil, used to consecrate kings, such as Saul in 1 Samuel 10.

2. 1 Kings 19:16

"Anoint also Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place." This verse testifies to the continuity of the practice of anointing kings, illustrated by the example of Saul.

3. Psalms 89:20

"I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him." Although this verse concerns David, it also evokes the practice of anointing kings, resonating with the anointing of Saul.

4. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

"Now it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, and has sealed us as his own possession and given his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee of what is to come." This passage uses the language of royal anointing to describe God's work in believers, echoing the anointing of Saul.

5. James 5:14

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him send for the elders of the church, so that they may pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." This verse illustrates how the practice of anointing, which began with kings like Saul, continued in the early Church, testifying to the continuity of this sacred tradition.

Conclusion

The anointing of Saul, as described in 1 Samuel 10, is not only a historical event, but also a spiritual model that reminds us of the importance of divine calling and responsible leadership. As we meditate on these passages, we are invited to reflect on our own calling and commitment to serving God and our community.