1 Samuel 10

1 Samuel 10

Vernon McGee - The Spirit of God came upon Saul and he prophesied. Everyone who had known him before knew that something had happened to him. They asked, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" God was giving Saul an opportunity. God never withheld anything from him, and yet he failed. Robert Bergen - Saul’s uncharacteristic behavior shocked “those who had formerly known him,” and they reacted in disbelief: “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” (v. 11). (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary) 1 Samuel 10:12 A man there said, "Now, who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb: "Is Saul also among the prophets?" BGT 1 Samuel 10:12 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη τις αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπεν καὶ τίς πατὴρ αὐτοῦ διὰ τοῦτο ἐγενήθη εἰς παραβολήν ἦ καὶ Σαουλ ἐν προφήταις KJV 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? NET 1 Samuel 10:12 A man who was from there replied, "And who is their father?" Therefore this became a proverb: "Is even Saul among the prophets?" CSB 1 Samuel 10:12 Then a man who was from there asked, "And who is their father?" As a result, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" became a popular saying. ESV 1 Samuel 10:12 And a man of the place answered, "And who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" NIV 1 Samuel 10:12 A man who lived there answered, "And who is their father?" So it became a saying: "Is Saul also among the prophets?" NLT 1 Samuel 10:12 And one of those standing there said, "Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?" So that is the origin of the saying "Is even Saul a prophet?" NRS 1 Samuel 10:12 A man of the place answered, "And who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" RSV 1 Samuel 10:12 And a man of the place answered, "And who is their who is their: Isa 54:13 Joh 6:45 7:16 Jas 1:17 1 Samuel 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A man there said, "Now, who is their father?"- NLT has an interpretative paraphrase = "Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?" The meaning of this question is not entirely clear. Since "father" can speak of the source, the question may simply be, who is behind this supernatural expression? The implication would be God, but from the notes below there is some difference of opinion as to the true interpretation. ESV Study Bible Note (borrow) on who is their father? The question may simply be about leadership, since “father” is elsewhere synonymous with the prophetic “leader” (2 Kings 2:12; 6:21; 13:14). If this is so, the implication may be either that no good leader would permit someone like Saul to join or that Saul is, in fact, the new leader of the prophets. There is some evidence that prophets were not always viewed positively, and so another possibility is that Saul’s presence with such “madmen” (cf. 2 Kings 9:11) is suspicious. Finally, if Samuel is their leader then it is an ironic statement, since Saul will ultimately oppose Samuel’s authority (see note on 1 Sam. 19:23-24). NIV Study Bible (borrow) - Some understand the question as an expression of contempt for prophets generally, others as implying the recognition that prophetic inspiration comes from God and therefore could be imparted to whomever God chose. However, since leading prophets were sometimes called "father" (2Ki 2:12; 6:21; 13:14), the speaker may have intended a disdainful reference to Samuel or an ironical gibe at Saul. MacArthur on who is their father - A question asked to find out the identity of the leader of the prophetic band that now included Saul. (Borrow MacArthur Study Bible) Robert Bergen - It also gave rise to ridicule, expressed in a cryptic response to the previous rhetorical questions: “And who is their father?” (v. 12). (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary) Therefore it became a proverb: "Is Saul also among the prophets?" - NLT = "Is even Saul a prophet?" Life Application Study Note (borrow) - When Saul's friends heard inspired words coming from Saul, they exclaimed, "Is even Saul a prophet?" This was an expression of surprise at worldly Saul's becoming religious. It is equivalent to "What? Has he got religion?" 1 Samuel 10:13 When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place. BGT 1 Samuel 10:13 καὶ συνετέλεσεν προφητεύων καὶ ἔρχεται εἰς τὸν βουνόν KJV 1 Samuel 10:13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. NET 1 Samuel 10:13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he went to the high place. CSB 1 Samuel 10:13 Then Saul finished prophesying and went to the high place. ESV 1 Samuel 10:13 When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place. NIV 1 Samuel 10:13 After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place. NLT 1 Samuel 10:13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship. NRS 1 Samuel 10:13 When his prophetic frenzy had ended, he went home. 1 Samuel 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAUL GOES TO THE HIGH PLACE When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place (bamah - cf 1Sa 10:5, 1Sa 9:12-14, 19, 25) - As noted earlier the high place would have been a place of worship of Yahweh in a day when there was no Tabernacle for centralized worship. It is interesting that it does not say Saul went to worship or sacrifice. Homer Heater has an interesting note on high place - "These passages in 1 Samuel indicate that the writer of Samuel had no problem with high places so long as they were dedicated to Yahweh. "In Kings, however, the attitude of the historian is clearly hostile to high places. He conceded the necessity of the people worshiping there (and by inference Solomon also) because of the lack of a temple. However, the historian was writing from a later perspective when religion had become syncretistic, and the high places were a snare to the people." 1 Samuel 10:14 Now Saul's uncle said to him and his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they could not be found, we went to Samuel." BGT 1 Samuel 10:14 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ οἰκεῖος αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ πρὸς τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ ποῦ ἐπορεύθητε καὶ εἶπαν ζητεῖν τὰς ὄνους καὶ εἴδαμεν ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν καὶ εἰσήλθομεν πρὸς Σαμουηλ KJV 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. NET 1 Samuel 10:14 Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, "Where did you go?" Saul replied, "To look for the donkeys. But when we realized they were lost, we went to Samuel." CSB 1 Samuel 10:14 Saul's uncle asked him and his attendant, "Where did you go?" "To look for the donkeys," Saul answered. "When we saw they weren't there, we went to Samuel." ESV 1 Samuel 10:14 Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel." NIV 1 Samuel 10:14 Now Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, "Where have you been?" "Looking for the donkeys," he said. "But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel." NLT 1 Samuel 10:14 "Where have you been?" Saul's uncle asked him and his servant."We were looking for the donkeys," Saul replied, "but we couldn't find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were." NRS 1 Samuel 10:14 Saul's uncle said to him and to the boy, "Where did you go?" And he replied, "To seek the donkeys; and when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel." And he said: 1Sa 9:3-10 no where: 2Ki 5:25 1 Samuel 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries QUERY BY SAUL'S UNCLE Now Saul's uncle said to him and his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they could not be found, we went to Samuel - Saul does not mention the anointing by Samuel or supernatural signs. They resorted to the prophet Samuel when the donkeys could not be found. 1 Samuel 10:15 Saul's uncle said, "Please tell me what Samuel said to you." BGT 1 Samuel 10:15 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ οἰκεῖος πρὸς Σαουλ ἀπάγγειλον δή μοι τί εἶπέν σοι Σαμουηλ KJV 1 Samuel 10:15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. NET 1 Samuel 10:15 Saul's uncle said, "Tell me what Samuel said to you." CSB 1 Samuel 10:15 "Tell me," Saul's uncle asked, "what did Samuel say to you?" ESV 1 Samuel 10:15 And Saul's uncle said, "Please tell me what Samuel said to you." NIV 1 Samuel 10:15 Saul's uncle said, "Tell me what Samuel said to you." NLT 1 Samuel 10:15 "Oh? And what did he say?" his uncle asked. NRS 1 Samuel 10:15 Saul's uncle said, "Tell me what Samuel said to you." 1 Samuel 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries UNCLE WANT MORE INFO ON SAMUEL Saul's uncle said, "Please tell me what Samuel said to you." - From the context, his uncle would have been aware of his changed behavior. And added to that, the mention of the prophet's name prompts further questioning from uncle. It is surprising that we have no words from Kish his father. Why? Scripture is silent. 1 Samuel 10:16 So Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had mentioned. BGT 1 Samuel 10:16 καὶ εἶπεν Σαουλ πρὸς τὸν οἰκεῖον αὐτοῦ ἀπήγγειλεν ἀπαγγέλλων μοι ὅτι εὕρηνται αἱ ὄνοι τὸ δὲ ῥῆμα τῆς βασιλείας οὐκ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῷ KJV 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. NET 1 Samuel 10:16 Saul said to his uncle, "He assured us that the donkeys had been found." But Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship. CSB 1 Samuel 10:16 Saul told him, "He assured us the donkeys had been found." However, Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship. ESV 1 Samuel 10:16 And Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found." But about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything. NIV 1 Samuel 10:16 Saul replied, "He assured us that the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship. NLT 1 Samuel 10:16 "He told us that the donkeys had already been found," Saul replied. But Saul didn't tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom. NRS 1 Samuel 10:16 Saul said to his uncle, "He told us that the donkeys had been found." But about the matter of the kingship, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything. matter: 1Sa 9:27 Ex 4:18 Jdg 14:6 Pr 29:11 1 Samuel 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAUL TELLS UNCLE ONLY PART OF STORY So Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had mentioned - The matter of the kingdom would be a reference to himself as king of that kingdom. Does this reflect Saul's humility? That is possible but we cannot be certain. It could have reflected a fearful heart, afraid of what men might say and the subsequent suitcase scene would tend to support this interpretation. Robert Bergen - Thus at this time none of Saul’s servants or family members were aware of Saul’s divine selection; it remained a secret shared only by Saul and Samuel. David’s kingship likewise would have a two-stage beginning. Both were selected as kings by the Lord, yet the kingship of both was hidden from their family members for a period of time. (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary) 1 Samuel 10:17 Thereafter Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah; BGT 1 Samuel 10:17 καὶ παρήγγειλεν Σαμουηλ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ πρὸς κύριον εἰς Μασσηφα KJV 1 Samuel 10:17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; NET 1 Samuel 10:17 Then Samuel called the people together before the LORD at Mizpah. CSB 1 Samuel 10:17 Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah ESV 1 Samuel 10:17 Now Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah. NIV 1 Samuel 10:17 Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the LORD at Mizpah NLT 1 Samuel 10:17 Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the LORD at Mizpah. NRS 1 Samuel 10:17 Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah to the Lord: 1Sa 7:5,6 Jdg 20:1 1 Samuel 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries See Mizpah NW of Ramah, Samuel's hometown and Gibeah, Saul's hometown SAMUEL CALLS FOR A NATIONAL GATHERING Thereafter - Time phrase. How long after the preceding events is not stated. Youngblood points out that ""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)." (Expositor's Bible Commentary) Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah (= "watchtower" name of 4 OT cities) - The old gray headed prophet prepares to pass the baton to Israel's first king. Mizpah was an ironic place to announce a major shift in authority from God to a human king, as it was the site Israel had met to exterminate the tribe of Benjamin (Saul's tribe!). Mizpah was also the same place that God had given Israel victory over the Philistines followed by years of relative peace under Samuel's judgeship. Israel had a poor memory of the goodness and greatness of God. THOUGHT - How is my memory of the great and marvelous deeds God has done in my life. It is always good to review His good works in our life that it might stir our hearts to renewed loyalty, love and obedience to Him. Cyril