ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Samuel 10

1 Sam 10:1 the Lord has anointed you. This is a private anointing. Later Samuel will demonstrate publicly, by casting lots, that Saul has been chosen by the Lord (see vv. 17–27). The Hebrew for his heritage appears six times in Samuel and can refer either to the Lord’s land or to his people Israel.

1 Sam 10:4 The two loaves of bread were probably intended for the sacrificial meal (see note on 9:24), because the men were “going up to God at Bethel” (10:3). Saul’s authority as divinely anointed king is acknowledged through this act.

1 Sam 10:6 In 1 and 2 Samuel, the phrase “the Spirit of the Lord” appears only in connection with Saul and David (1 Sam. 16:13–14; 2 Sam. 23:2). The expression the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon (someone) appears only in Judges and 1 Samuel, ending with David (Judg. 14:6; 19; 15:14; 1 Sam. 10:10; 11:6; 16:13). It always speaks of God’s Spirit coming suddenly on someone to equip and empower that person to serve God’s people. be turned into another man. He will be equipped to play a new role (see Judg. 6:34; 11:29).

1 Sam 10:9–10 Saul is given another heart and he prophesies. This is possible because the Spirit of God rushed upon him (see v. 6; 11:6). Later the Spirit of the Lord “departed from Saul” (16:14; 18:12).

1 Sam 10:11–12 The people who knew him previously were shocked to see Saul prophesying. Their response, Is Saul also among the prophets? became a proverb, that is, an often-repeated saying in Israel (compare “Thus it is said”; 19:24).

1 Sam 10:12 who is their father? The man’s question may simply be about leadership, since “father” elsewhere describes the leader of a group of prophets (2 Kings 2:12; 6:21; 13:14). If so, the man may have been implying that no good leader would permit someone like Saul to join his group. On the other hand, he may have been wondering why Saul was associating with such madmen as these prophets (compare 2 Kings 9:11). See also note on 1 Sam. 19:23–24.

1 Sam 10:14–16 Saul’s uncle, probably Abner (see 14:50), asks where he has been and what Samuel said to him. Saul’s fate would be of great concern to Abner, since he was probably next in line after Kish and Saul to inherit Abiel’s estate (see 9:1).

1 Sam 10:22 Saul had hidden himself, perhaps for fear of accepting his new responsibilities.

1 Sam 10:24 Long live the king! At last Saul is publicly and officially presented and accepted by the people as the king. Here Samuel says that the Lord has chosen Saul, while in 12:13 he says to the people, “you have chosen.”

1 Sam 10:25 The rights and duties of the kingship represent the agreement between the people and the king about the king’s privileges and responsibilities. Here Samuel was the intermediary and witness. He also laid the document before the Lord, that is, deposited it in a sanctuary.

1 Sam 10:26 Gibeah (“hill”), Saul’s home, was about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Jerusalem. It had a panoramic view and a north-south road nearby. This is probably the same as “Gibeath-elohim, where there was a garrison of Philistines” (v. 5).