1 Samuel 10

THen Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head Which was the usual Rite in the Designation, as of Priests and Prophets, so also of Kings, as 1 Sam. 16. 1, 13. 1 King. 1. 39. 2 King. 9. 1, 3, 6. whereby was signified the pouring forth of the Gifts of Gods Spirit upon him, to enable him for the Administration of his Office, which he might expect, and should receive upon the discharge of his Duty., and kissed him Partly, in token of that Reverence which he did owe, and that Subjection which he and all the People were shortly to perform to him, whereof Kissing was a sign, as Gen. 41. 40. 1 King. 19. 18. and partly, as a Testimony of his sincere Friendship and Affection to him, and how far he was from envying his Successor in the Supreme Dignity., and said, Is it not because the LORD has anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance i. e. Over his own peculiar People. Whereby he Admonisheth Saul, that this People were not so much his, as Gods; and that he was not to Rule and Manage them according to his own will and pleasure, but according to the will and mind of God.?

When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachels sepulchre, in the borders of Benjamin In the way to Bethlehem, Gen. 35. 19. which City was in Iudah; and her Sepulchre might be either in Iudah, or in Benjamin; for the possessions of those two Tribes were bordering one upon another, and oft intermixed together. See Ios. 18. 11., at Zelzah: and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek, are found: and lo, thy father has left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor Not that at the foot of Mount Tabor, which was far from these parts; but another belonging to some other place, or Man, called Tabor., and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel Properly so called, which was in Ephraim, where there was a Noted High-Place, famous for Iacob's Vision there, Gen. 28. 19. where it is probable they Offered Sacrifices, in this confused state of things, when the Ark was in one place, and the Tabernacle, if not destroyed, in another. Or, to the House of God, i. e. to Kiriathjearim, where the Ark, the habitation of God, now was, 1 Sam. 7. 1, 2, 16., one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread Which might be Offered, either by themselves, as Levit. 2. 4. or with other Sacrifices., and another carrying a bottle of wine Which was poured forth in Drink-Offerings. See Levit. 23. 13. Numb. 15. 5..

And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread Two of those three designed for Sacrifice, supposing they could easily procure a supply of other Loaves at Bethel. But the more strange the Present was, the more fit it was for a sign of Gods extraordinary Providence in Saul's affairs., which thou shalt receive of their hand.

After that thou shalt come to the hill of God An Hill near Geba, or Gibeah of Benjamin, where a Garison of Philistines was, 1 Sam. 13. 3. called here the Hill of God, because it was a place Devoted to the Service of God; either for Sacrifice, this being an high place, as it here follows; or, for a School or Colledge of Prophets., where is the garison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city Adjoyning to that Hill., that thou shalt meet a company of prophets By Prophets here, and in such like places, he understands Persons that did wholly Devote themselves to Religious studies and exercises, such as Preaching, Praying, Praising of God, &c. For the term of Prophesying is not only given to the most Eminent act of it, viz. foretelling things to come; but also to Preaching, as Rom. 12. 6. 1 Cor. 14. 31, 32. 1 Thess. 5. 20. and to the making or Singing of Psalms, or Songs of Praise to God, as 1 Chron. 25. 1, 2, 3. And they that wholly attended upon these things, are oft called Sons of the Prophets, which were commonly combined into Companies or Colledges, as 2 King. 2. 3, 5. that they might more conveniently edify and assist one another in Gods work. Which Institution God was pleased so far to Honour and Bless, that sometimes he Communicated unto those Persons the knowledge of future things, as 2 King. 2. 3, 5. coming down from the high place Where, either, their habitation was, or they had now been offering Sacrifice. And although they used to perform this following exercise, either in their Colledge, or in the place of their Sacrifices; yet now they did it in the descent of the Hill, which probably was beside their Custome, and therefore more proper for a sign to Saul of a more than ordinary hand of God towards him., with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp before them Such Instruments of Musick being then used by Prophets and other persons, for the exhileration and excitation of their spirits in Gods Service. See 2 King. 3. 15., and they shall prophesie Either sing Gods Praises, or speak of the things of God..

And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee Heb. will leap or rush upon thee, to wit, for a season. So it may be opposed to the Spirits resting upon a man, as Numb. 11. 25. Isa. 11. 2., and thou shalt prophesie with them, and shalt be turned into another man i. e. Thou shalt be suddenly endowed and acted with another Spirit, filled with skill of Divine things, with Courage, and Wisdome, and Magnanimity; and other qualifications befitting thy Dignity..

And let it be when these signs Which were certain evidences of Gods calling of him to the Kingdom, because they were all future contingencies, which none but God could infallibly know or foretel. are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion shall serve thee Heb. do what thy hand findeth to do; i. e. As thou shalt have a Call and opportunity. He does not intend that he should take the Kingly Government upon him, before his Call to it was known to, and owned by the People, which had been preposterous and dangerous; but that he should dispose his mind to a readiness of undertaking any Publick Service when necessity required it, and he should be called to his Office., for God is with thee.

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 peaceofferings: seven days shalt thou tarry till I come to thee This, though now mentioned and commanded, yet was not immediately to be performed; as is evident, partly from the whole course of the Story, which shows, That Saul and Samuel, and the People, first met at Mizpeh, v. 17, &c. where Saul was chosen by God, and accepted by the People as King; and afterwards went to Gilgal once before the time here spoken of, Chap. 11. 14, 15. and partly, by comparing this place with Chap. 13. 8, &c. where we find Saul charged with the violation of this Command, two years after the giving of it, as appears from Chap. 13. 1, 2. Qu. How then is this to be understood? Answ. 1. This may be given as a standing Rule for Saul to observe while Samuel and he lived; That in case of any great future difficulties, as the Invasion of Enemies, Saul should resort to Gilgal, and call the people thither, and tarry there Seven days, which was but a reasonable and necessary time for the gathering of the People, and for the coming of Samuel thither. For though this be related as but once done, Chap. 13. yet Iosephus affirms, that it was to be constantly practised upon all such occasions. And Gilgal was chosen for this purpose as a very fit place; partly, because that place was famous for the solemn renewing of the Covenant between God and Israel, Ios. 4. and for other eminent instances of Gods favour to them, the remembrance whereof was a notable confirmation of their Faith; and partly, because it was a very convenient place for the Tribes within and without Iordan to assemble, and consult, and unite their Forces together upon such occasions. If you ask, Why then Saul did not practise this Precept upon the first Invasion of the Ammonites? It may be answered, That this was a Rule for Saul, when he and Samuel were asunder, whereas they were together in that expedition, Chap. 11. 7. And further, That necessity did excuse the Violation of this Precept then, because Saul could not wait for Samuel, nor forbear his action for Seven days, as is evident from Chap. 11. 3, 9, 10. Or, 2. (which I propose with submission to the Learned and Judicious) This may be here added as another sign to confirm his Faith, which having strengthned by three foregoing signs, he now fortifies it by another sign which was to follow afterwards; it being very usual for God to give men signs to confirm their Faith from future Events; as Exod. 3. 12. 2 King. 19. 29. Isa. 7. 13, 14. So the meaning may be this; Another sign I will add to strengthen thy Faith; Thou shalt in due time, and upon a great occasion which shall then happen, go down before me to Gilgal, and there I will come down unto thee to offer—Sacrifices, &c. But when thou comest thither, be sure thou tarry there seven days, and then I will come, as I have said, and give thee necessary Instructions and Assistance, as the matter shall re... e., and show thee what thou shalt do.

¶ And it was so that when he had turned h... s back to go from Samuel. God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

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 The accomplishment of the two former signs is supposed, and this only of the third is expressed, because this was more eminent and publick than the former; the other were only Transient acts, which passed in private between two or three persons meeting together, and passing by one another; but this was a more permanent and more notorious sign, done in a more solemn manner, and before many, and very considerable witnesses..

And it came to pass, when all that knew him before-time, 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 What means this strange and prodigions event? is Saul A man never instructed, nor exercised in, nor enclined to these matters; a man ever thought fitter to look to his fathers Asses, than to bear a part in the sacred exercises of the Prophets. also among the prophets?

And one of the same place Heb. one from thence, i. e. One of the company there present, or one of the Prophets there prophecying. answered, and said, But who is their father Who is the Father of all these Prophets of whom you speak, and among whom Saul now is one? Who is it that instructs and inspires them with this holy Art, but God? They have it not from their Natural Parents, nor from their Civil Education, but by Inspiration from God, who, when he pleaseth, can inspire Saul, or any other man with the same skill. And therefore wonder not at this matter, but give God the glory of it. Father is here put for Teacher, or Instructor, as it is used; as Gen. 4. 20, 21. Matt. 23. 9. 1 Cor. 4. 15. And hence the Scholars are called sons of the Prophets.? Therefore it became a proverb Used when any strange, unlikely, or unexpected thing happened., Is Saul also among the prophets?

And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place Returning thither with the Prophets, there to pra... God for these wonderful favours, and to beg counsel and help from God in this high business..

¶ And Sauls uncle Being there present, and observing this great alteration in his Nephew. 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.

And Sauls uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

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 Partly in obedience to Samuel, who obliged him to secrecy: partly, from an humble modesty which appeared in him, v. 22. and partly, in prudence, lest by an unseasonable publishing of it, he should raise envy in some, disbelief and contempt in others, &c..

¶ And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD To appear before the Lord. So he speaks, either, 1. Because the Ark was carried thither upon this occasion. Or, 2. Because God is present in all the Assemblies of his People, whereof this was an eminent one, See 2 Chron. 19. 6 Psal. 82. 1. Or, 3. Because they did in a manner E... ect a Tribunal for God; and intreated, and consequently obtained his Presence there to supervise and direct the whole business by his sentence, which also he did, v. 19, &c. See of this Phrase Iudg. 11. 11. and 20. 1. to Mizpeh A City of Benjamin, Ios. 13. 26. where all Israel had met before upon a Publick and solemn occasion, 1 Sam. 7. 5.,

And said unto the children of Israel, Thus says 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 To wit, the neighbouring Kingdoms, which molested you from time to time., and of them that oppressed you.

And ye have this day rejected your God You this day declare, That you persist in your former act of rejecting Gods Government, See on chap. 8. 7., who himself saved you Who by his own special Providence took care to raise up Judges and Saviours for you, and to deliver you at all times, when you needed his help, and did not by your Sins obstruct it. out of all your adversities, and your tribulations: and ye have said unto him i. e. Unto me his Prophet and Ambassador; and consequently unto the Lord whom I represented, and in whose Name I spake and acted., Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present your selves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands For each Tribe was divided into thousands, Numb. 10. 36. Deut. 33. 17. Iosh. 22. 14, 21. Mic. 5. 2. as in England, Counties are into Hundreds..

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near Unto the place appointed for the casting of Lots., the tribe of Benjamin was taken Which Tribe was now preferred before Iudah, because the Kingdom was freely promised by God to Iudah, and was to be given to him in love; but now the Kingdom was in a manner forced from God, and given to them in anger, Hos. 13. 11. and therefore conferred upon an obscure Tribe..

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.

Therefore they enquired of the LORD Either by Urim or Thummim, which was the usual way of enquiry, Numb. 27. 21. 1 Sam. 23. 9. and 28 6. Or by Samuel, who by his Prayer procured an answer. further, if the man should yet come thither: and the LORD answered, Behold, he has hid himself among the stuff Among the Carriages or Baggage of the People there Assembled. This he might do, because he either had, or at least would be thought to have a modest sense of his own unworthiness, which was a likely way to commend him to the People..

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.

And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is none like him among all the people As to the height of his Bodily Stature, which was in it self commendable in a King, and some kind of indication of great endowments of Mind.? and all the people shouted, and said, God save the king Heb. Let the king live; to wit, long and prosperously; for an Afflicted Life is reputed a kind of Death, and is oft so called. Hereby they accept and own him for their King, and promise Subjection to him..

Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom Not the manner of the King, of which he had spoken before, chap. 8. 11, &c. but of the Kingdom; to wit, the Laws and Rules by which the Kingly Government was to be managed; agreeable to those mentioned Deut. 17. 16, &c. which peradventure Samuel did expound, and apply to their particular case., and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD Before the Ark, or in the Sanctuary, where it was kept safe from depravation., and Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

¶ And Saul also went home to Gibeah Not being actually inaugurated into his Kingdom, he thought sit to retire to his former Habitation, and to live privately till he had an occasion to show himself in a more Publick and Illustrious manner, which he specil... ly obtained., and there went with him To give him safe and honourable Conduct to his House, though not to abide with him there, which did not suit with his present Circumstances. a band of men, whose hearts God had touched i. e. Either, 1. Disposed or inclined to this work. Or, 2. Affected or renewed by his Grace and good Spirit working upon their Hearts; those that feared God, and made conscience of their Du... for they are opposed to the children of Belial in the next verse. These, though they did not desire a King, as the generality of the people did; yet when God had given them a King, they were most forward to pay him that Reverence and Obedience which they owed him: both which proceeded from the same Principle, that they were in both cases guided by Gods will; which was, that they should not desire a King in their Circumstances; and yet, that they should obey him, when God had set a King over them..

But the children of Belial said, How shall this man So mean a person, and of the weakest of all the Tribes. save us? and they despised him, and brought him no presents As Subjects in those times and places used to do to their Kings, See 1 King. 10. 25. 2 Chron. 17. 5.. 2. 11. and as Sauls mean condition, wherewith they upbraided him, required.: but he held his peace Thereby manifesting his Prudence and Clemency, which was of great use in the beginning of his Government..