Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 10

Verse 1

a vial = flask. Not "the".

Is it not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 . Note the Jehovah relationship. Here is another Homceoteleuton, which is preserved in the Septuagint and Vulgate, "the LORD [and thou shalt rule among the people of Jehovah, and thou shalt save them out of the hand of their enemies, and this shall be a sign unto thee, that] the LORD hath, &c. The eye of some ancient scribe evidently went back to the latter of these two words "the LORD" and accidentally omitted the words between them.

captain: "a" captain; not "the".

Verse 2

thou shalt find . Three signs given (compare Mark 14:3 ) to indicate the coming change.

men. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Rachel's sepulchre . Compare Genesis 35:20 .

lo . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 3

plain = oak, or terebinth; growing generally alone, becomes a conspicuous landmark.

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Beth-el = House of God. Evidently a place of worship, in the absence of any "place", according to Deuteronomy 12:5 , &c. Compare Exodus 20:24 .

carrying . Probably their firstfruits. Compare 2 Kings 4:42 .

Verse 4

salute . Hebrew ask after thy peace.

Verse 5

the garrison . So the Septuagint, Aramaean, and Syriac, but Hebrew text has plural

a company of prophets . The first occurrence of this expression. Probably a school established by Samuel (compare Acts 3:24 ; Acts 13:20 ). The head of such school called "father" (Compare 1 Samuel 10:12 ; 1 Samuel 19:20 ), or "master" (2 Kings 2:3 ), Such communities found later at Beth-el, Jericho, Gilgal ( 2Ki 2:3 , 2 Kings 2:5 ; 2 Kings 4:38 ); and probably here at Gibeah and Ramah (compare Naioth, 1 Samuel 19:18 , 1 Samuel 19:20 ).

psaltery = viol. A stringed instrument, same as lute. Compare 2 Samuel 6:5 . 1 Kings 10:12 . 1 Chronicles 16:5 .Isaiah 5:12 ; Isaiah 5:14 . If. Amos 5:23 ; Amos 6:5 .

tabret = drum. Hebrew. toph, Compare 18. c. 2 Samuel 6:5 .Isaiah 5:12 ; Isaiah 24:8 ; Isaiah 30:32 .Jeremiah 31:4 .Ezekiel 28:13 . See note on "timbrel. "(Exodus 15:20 ).

pipe = a plain reed, single or double, played like modern flute. Note plural in the Subscription of Psalms 5:0 (Companion Bible).

prophesy. Not necessarily "foretell", but speak in the name of the Lord.

Verse 6

the spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 7

occasion serve thee = thy hand shall find.

Verse 8

thou shalt go down . This was the beginning of organised rising against the Philistines. All directed by God through Samuel; not by Saul.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

offer = offer up. App-43 .

sacrifice = slay. App-43 . Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton in 1 Samuel 10:8 . App-6 .

a another = different.

Verse 11

What . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 12

of the same place = from thence.

Is Saul . . . ? Origin of this Parcemia. App-6 .

Verse 18

children = sons.

Thus saith the LORD . This rehearsal is to show that they had sinned, although He was giving a king. Their sin was not in asking, but in forestalling Jehovah's already expressed purpose to give them a king (see Deuteronomy 17:15 and compare Genesis 49:10 ).

Verse 19

Nay . Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, have this word in the text.

before the LORD = before Jehovah: i, e. in Mizpeh, 1 Samuel 10:17 .

Verse 20

was taken : i.e. by lot, by the Urim and Thummim. See note on Exodus 28:30 .

Verse 21

and Saul . Septuagint reads "and [when he had brought near the family of Matri man by man] Saul". Compare Joshua 7:17 .

Verse 22

enquired : i.e. by the High Priest. No priest mentioned between 1 Samuel 4:0 and 1Sa 14, a period of forty years.

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 24

See . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

God save the king . Hebrew Let the king live. An idiom which includes the desire that he might have everything that makes life worth living, including also eternal life.

Verse 25

wrote it in a book . Hebrew the book: viz. the book kept before the Lord; even the scriptures of truth. See Exodus 17:14 and App-47 .

Verse 26

touched- moved.

Verse 27

How . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

he held his peace = he was as one that was deaf.