1 Samuel 10: Samuel Anoints Saul and Signs Confirm

Short answer: 1 Samuel 10 recounts Samuel anointing Saul as prince over Israel, giving him three confirming signs, including prophesying with a band of prophets. Later, Samuel gathers Israel at Mizpah, where Saul is chosen by lot and publicly acclaimed as king, though some worthless fellows reject him.

What 1 Samuel 10 says

The chapter opens with Samuel taking a vial of oil and pouring it on Saul's head, kissing him, and declaring that Yahweh has anointed him prince over his inheritance. Samuel then gives Saul three specific signs to confirm this anointing. First, by Rachel's tomb at Zelzah, two men will tell him the donkeys are found and his father is anxious for him. Second, at the oak of Tabor, three men carrying goats, bread, and wine will greet him and give him two loaves. Third, at the hill of God where a Philistine garrison is, he will meet a band of prophets with instruments, and the Spirit of Yahweh will come mightily on him, enabling him to prophesy and become another man. Samuel instructs him to do what is appropriate, for God is with him, and to go ahead to Gilgal, where Samuel will come after seven days to offer sacrifices and show him what to do.

As Saul turns to leave Samuel, God gives him another heart, and all the signs occur that day. When Saul and his servant arrive at the hill, a band of prophets meets them, and the Spirit of God comes mightily on Saul, and he prophesies among them. Those who knew him before are astonished and ask, Is Saul also among the prophets? One from that place responds with a question about their father, and this becomes a proverb. After prophesying, Saul goes to the high place. His uncle then asks where they went, and Saul explains they were seeking the donkeys, and when they were not found, they went to Samuel. The uncle asks what Samuel said, and Saul tells him only that the donkeys were found, but he does not disclose the matter of the kingdom.

Samuel then calls the people together to Yahweh at Mizpah. He delivers a message from Yahweh, reminding Israel that Yahweh brought them up out of Egypt and delivered them from the hand of the Egyptians and all oppressing kingdoms. Yet, Samuel says, they have today rejected their God, who saves them from all calamities and distresses, and have demanded a king. Samuel instructs them to present themselves before Yahweh by tribes and by thousands. He brings all the tribes near, and the tribe of Benjamin is chosen. Then he brings the tribe of Benjamin near by families, and the family of the Matrites is chosen. Finally, Saul son of Kish is chosen, but when they look for him, he cannot be found. They inquire of Yahweh again, and Yahweh reveals that Saul has hidden himself among the baggage. They run and bring him, and he stands among the people, taller than any from his shoulders upward. Samuel asks if they see whom Yahweh has chosen, and there is no one like him. All the people shout, Long live the king!

Samuel then tells the people the regulations of the kingdom, writes them in a book, and lays it up before Yahweh. He sends all the people away, each to his house. Saul also goes to his house in Gibeah, and the army goes with him, whose hearts God had touched. But certain worthless fellows say, How could this man save us? They despise him and bring him no present. Yet Saul holds his peace. This closing scene contrasts the public acclamation with private rejection, and Saul's response is silence rather than retaliation.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t Yahweh anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?” (1 Samuel 10:1) — This verse records the actual anointing of Saul by Samuel, marking the formal beginning of his role as prince over Yahweh's inheritance. It is the moment the private call is enacted through oil and a kiss.
• “Then Yahweh’s Spirit will come mightily on you, and you will prophesy with them, and will be turned into another man.” (1 Samuel 10:6) — This verse promises a dramatic change: the Spirit of Yahweh will come mightily on Saul, he will prophesy, and he will be turned into another man. It shows that the empowering for the task is divine, not merely human.
• “It was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs happened that day.” (1 Samuel 10:9) — This verse notes that God gave Saul another heart when he turned from Samuel, and all the signs happened that day. It confirms that the transformation was God's doing and that the signs were reliable.
• “Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom Yahweh has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” (1 Samuel 10:24) All the people shouted, and said, “Long live the king!” (1 Samuel 10:24)” (1 Samuel 10:24) — This verse captures the public acclamation of Saul as king after he is chosen by lot and found hiding among the baggage. Samuel's question and the people's shout mark the official recognition of the king.

Gospel connection

The anointing of Saul points forward to the greater anointing of Jesus Christ, the true King. Saul was anointed with oil and given a new heart, but his kingship would ultimately fail. Jesus was anointed by the Spirit at his baptism, not merely to prophesy but to save his people from their sins. The people's demand for a king in 1 Samuel 10 reflects Israel's rejection of God's direct rule, yet God in his sovereignty used that rejection to prepare the way for the coming of his own Son, who would rule perfectly. The Spirit's coming on Saul to enable prophecy is a foretaste of the Spirit's outpouring at Pentecost, when ordinary people would speak God's word. Saul's hiding among the baggage and the people's mixed response also anticipate how Jesus would be received: some welcomed him as king, while others despised and rejected him. Ultimately, the kingdom regulations written by Samuel point to the need for a better covenant and a better king, which is fulfilled in Christ.

Application

This chapter asks the reader to consider how they respond to God's chosen leadership and to the work of the Spirit. Saul received clear signs and a new heart, yet he later hid and was rejected by some. We are invited to trust God's anointing and to cooperate with the Spirit's work in our lives, not to hide or shrink back. It also challenges us to examine our own hearts when we are tempted to despise those God has placed in authority, remembering that God sees the heart and that his purposes will stand. Like Saul, we may receive a new heart and the Spirit's empowering, but we must continue to walk in obedience. The worthless fellows who brought no present remind us that outward allegiance can be shallow. Our response to God's king, Jesus, should be wholehearted, not grudging. Finally, Saul's silence in the face of contempt is a model of restraint, pointing us to trust God's vindication rather than seeking our own revenge.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that Saul's anointing automatically made him a faithful king, nor does it describe his inner thoughts beyond what is stated. It does not say that the Spirit remained on him permanently, only that the Spirit came mightily on him at that time. It does not explain why Saul hid among the baggage, nor does it record any words from Saul about the kingdom to his uncle. The text is silent on the content of the regulations Samuel wrote, and it does not tell us how the worthless fellows were punished or if they later changed their minds. It also does not state that the people's demand for a king was entirely wrong in every respect, only that they had rejected God as their direct ruler. The chapter does not describe the physical appearance of the prophets or the exact nature of their prophesying. It also does not say that Saul's prophesying continued beyond that day.

Questions for study

1. What are the three signs Samuel gives Saul, and how do they confirm God's call on his life?
2. Why do you think Saul hid among the baggage when he was chosen as king, and what does this reveal about his character at that moment?
3. How does the Spirit's coming on Saul to prophesy challenge or encourage your understanding of how God equips people for tasks?
4. What does the reaction of the worthless fellows in verse 27 teach us about how we should respond to leaders we did not choose?
5. Samuel wrote the regulations of the kingdom and laid them before Yahweh. Why is it important to have God's word as the foundation for leadership and community life?

Keep reading

Related studies: 1 Samuel 1 Bible Study, 1 Samuel 11 Bible Study, 1 Samuel 12 Bible Study, 1 Samuel 13 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did Samuel anoint Saul with oil?

Anointing with oil was a symbolic act setting Saul apart as prince over Yahweh's inheritance, as stated in verse 1. It signified God's choice and empowerment for the role.

What does it mean that Saul was turned into another man?

Verse 6 says the Spirit would come mightily on him and he would prophesy, and verse 9 says God gave him another heart. This indicates a divine transformation enabling him to serve as king, not merely a change in personality.

Why did some people despise Saul and bring him no present?

Verse 27 calls them worthless fellows who questioned how Saul could save them. They rejected his leadership, but Saul held his peace and did not retaliate.