FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

Study Continued

For the TEXT of the following study please see previous posting

CHAPTER 10

Verse 1

Samuel anoints Saul with oil. Up to this point only the Jewish Priests and the Tabernacle were anointed with oil. This is the way that Samuel anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel. In the Hebrew text "mashach, maw-shakh'; a prime root; to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint, to consecrate." Samuel's purpose was to "consecrate" Saul into a sacred office, and that office was that Saul would be king. Remember prior to this the duty of the judge fell on the shoulders of the high priest, the religious leader of Israel, and now the priesthood and the duties of Judge are separated into two different offices. The kiss of Samuel to Saul is this recognition.

Verse 2 – 8

There are three prophecies now foretold by Samuel: 1. Saul will meet two men by the tomb of Rachel who will tell him that his father is looking for him. This was a SIGN that king Saul could control the people that were entrusted to him.   2. Next, near the oak of Tabor three men will greet him - one with three sacrificial lambs, another with three breads and another with a wine skin. This was a SIGN that the People would offer sacrifices for Saul   3.  At Gibe-ath-elohim, Saul will meet a band of prophets and God’s Spirit will fall upon him and he will prophesy. This was a SIGN that Saul would indeed be endowed as king with God’s Spirit ( see David’s homage paid to Saul always )
These three prophecies will prove to Saul and to the people that Saul is to be king.  They also served to prove to Saul that Samuel was indeed a Judge and Prophet.
Saul is told to go to at the land of Benjamin Rachel's sepulchre is the place where Benjamin was born, for Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. Remember that Saul was a Benjamite, and at the time of Benjamin's birth, Rachel named Benjamin, "son of my sorrow" at her death, however Jacob renamed him "Son of my right hand
Samuel had a school of prophets at Gibe-ath-elohim ( Translated as ‘Hill of God’) . This may be the town of Gibeon. Those that finished their training were called "masters". The head of the school is called the "father" as is spoken of in verse twelve of this chapter. These schools of study for the prophets were also found at Beth-el, Jericho, and Gilgal, as recorded in    2 Kings 2:3, 4; 4:38. To be declare a prophet doesn't necessarily mean that you tell the future, but it also mean that you have an understanding of those words spoken by the prophets. To prophesy means that you are a teacher of the Words and things of God.

Verse 9
I think that this is the key phrase. For although God was displeased that the People wanted a king He chose Saul. It would be at this point that God changed Saul’s heart. Up to now ( see previous posts ) Saul is not much of a kingly person – materially or spiritually. God now changes this.

Verse 12
Even the people are confused of how Saul began to prophesy. They ask who is his ‘father’ – that is who is his teacher for certainly his biological father Kish did not do this for Saul. It was God’s grace and Spirit. This was an external sign that Saul was now of God.  

Verse 16
Saul himself does not tell his uncle how he came to be. Perhaps Saul was a simpleton or that he was amazed and dumbfounded of what had just happened. Or he was humbled by it all.

Verse 17 – 18

Samuel declares Saul king.

Saul's rise to kingship over Israel took place in three distinct stages:

          He was (1) anointed by Samuel (9:1—10:16),

                      (2) chosen by lot (10:17 -27),

               and (3) confirmed by public acclamation (11:1-15).

Samuel gathers all the People of Israel at Mizpah (A place in Gilead, so named by Laban, who overtook Jacob at this spot ( See Genesis 31:49) on his return to Palestine from Padan-aram, the Plain of Aram Here Jacob and Laban set up their memorial cairn of stones. It is the same as Ramath-mizpeh- see Joshua 13:26 )
The first thing that Samuel does is to remind the People of Israel of the great events of the Exodus. In this way he is reminding them that GOD alone is KING. That He has and continues to do great things. Why do we need an earthly king ?

Verse 20 – 25
The rather curious presentation of Saul as the first king of Israel.
Samuel selected the tribe of Benjamin by the use of the Urim and Thumim."Was taken" in the Hebrew text, meant that it was selected by lot. The Urim and Thimmim were two precious stones that were placed in the breastplate of judgement that was worn by the High Priest. When there was a question that needed God's help in selection, these stones or lots were drawn out of their bag, and cast to give instructions of Gods judgement on the matter. The words, "Urim and Thimmim" mean "lights and perfection", and then cast to the ground, the judgements would be such as yes and no, gilt or innocent. In the making of a selection, the High Priest was the only one that decided whether the stones would be taken from the bag and used for a decision.  The Israelites even used these stones to determine who gets what land, and how the land would be divided [by lot], and it was from these stones that our lots of today are determined. Samuel used the Urim and Thimmim to decide which tribe, which family of that tribe and the man from that family that would be the king that God selected. For the lots, or stones fell as God would have the choice be made. The tribe was Benjamin, the family was Matri, the son of Matri was Kish, and the son of Kish was Saul.

Verse 21
Saul is declared king – and yet he is nowhere to be found ! Even after the anointing with oil, the three-fold prophecy and the sending of the Spirit into the heart of Saul he still hid himself on the day of his ‘corination‘. Was he overwhelmed or afraid or humble ? Perhaps he was wisely reluctant.

Verse 24
All the People of Israel shout a very familiar proclamation – Long live the king!  Now they have an earthly king like all others. How sad.

Verse 25
The first thing that Samuel did after the king was selected, was to write the manner or the constitution of the government that would exist under their king. The king would rule by the guidelines of God's laws that were stated in that constitution, and it was presented before God and to the people. The people now had a king, and a constitution that they would be governed by. Then Samuel sent the people back home.

Verse 26

Samuel is given a small band of men to protect him. Right away we know there will be harsh times for King Saul. King Saul went to his home at Gibe-ah. The ancient tell (archaeological mound) of Gibeah now stands three miles north of the old city of Jerusalem, the buildings of which are clearly visible from Gibeah. It is now a northern "suburb" of Jerusalem.

Verse 27
There will be harsh times indeed starting right here – beginning with the “children of Belia”. Belia is one of the four crown princes of Hell. That is why they did not give Saul gifts. They shall attack and be amongst Saul’s reign. Let us see Saul’s kingship.......

QUESTIONS

1. Did they need a king ?  Do we need a king ?

2. The Kingship of Saul was marked thus far with unity ( he settled the issue of the lost donkeys ),  sacrifice ( the offerings for him ) and the spirit of God ( his prophecy ).  Can you name some leaders that exhibit one or more of these ? And you ?

3. King Saul was given prophetic visions. Can you name some prophets of our times ?