1 Samuel Chapter 10
Showing all 27 verses for 1 Samuel Chapter 10.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? "
"Then Samuel took a small flask of olive oil, poured it over Saul's head, and kissed him, saying, 'The LORD has anointed you to be leader over his people - isn't that so?'"
Samuel doesn't just pour oil on Saul, he kisses him — this calling is affectionate, not merely official. Jesus would want you to see that being set apart by God for any task is meant to feel like love, not like the cold assignment of duty; and note the wording, 'captain over his inheritance' — Saul is given stewardship of what belongs to God, not ownership of it. Any authority you're given in life is meant to be held the same way: as a trust, in service, not as personal possession.
"When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? "
"'When you leave me today, you'll meet two men near Rachel's tomb, on the border of Benjamin, at Zelzah. They'll tell you the donkeys you went looking for have been found, and that your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and is now anxious about you instead, wondering, "What should I do about my son?"'"
God gives Saul a specific, verifiable sign, right down to the detail that his father is worried sick about him rather than the donkeys. Jesus would say this shows God caring not just about Saul's big calling but about a father's love and a son's small worries — nothing about our human concerns is too minor for God to fold into His larger plan.
"Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: "
"'Then go on further, and you'll come to the oak tree at Tabor. There you'll meet three men going up to worship God at Bethel - one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.'"
Samuel describes, in exact detail, three strangers Saul hasn't met yet and what each will be carrying. Jesus would want you to notice how specifically God works in the ordinary comings and goings of people devoted to worship — nothing here is generic; God's care and God's signs are precise, tailored to the actual person receiving them.
"And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. "
"'They'll greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you should accept from them.'"
Strangers greet Saul warmly and hand him bread, and Samuel tells him simply to receive it. Jesus would say that receiving generosity gracefully is itself a form of faith — you don't have to earn or deserve every kindness that comes your way; sometimes the right response to love offered is just to accept it.
"After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: "
"'After that you'll come to the hill of God, where there's a Philistine outpost. As you enter the town there, you'll meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, led by musicians playing a harp, tambourine, flute and lyre, and they'll be prophesying.'"
Saul is told he will meet prophets coming down 'with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp' — worship marked by music and joy, even next to a Philistine garrison. Jesus would point out that praise doesn't wait for ideal circumstances; God's people can lift their voices and instruments even in the shadow of opposition.
"And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. "
"'The Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully on you, and you will prophesy along with them, and you will be changed into a different man.'"
'The Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee... and thou shalt be turned into another man' — this is real inward transformation, not self-improvement Saul manufactures on his own. Jesus would say this is the same grace He offers everyone: God's Spirit doesn't just add to who you are, it can genuinely remake you from within.
"And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee. "
"'When these signs happen to you, do whatever the situation calls for, because God is with you.'"
'Do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee' is an invitation to act with courage and freedom, not a rigid script to follow. Jesus would say this is what it means to walk by faith rather than fear: trust God's presence enough to act wisely in the moment, without needing every step spelled out in advance.
"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 peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. "
"'Then go ahead of me down to Gilgal. I will come down to you there to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings. Wait seven days until I arrive and tell you what you're to do.'"
This simple instruction to wait seven days at Gilgal is a quiet test of patience — and it's worth being honest that Saul will later fail this very test (1 Samuel 13), growing impatient and acting without Samuel. Jesus would say the lesson here is one He asked of His own disciples too: watching and waiting faithfully, even when the waiting is uncomfortable, is itself an act of trust in God rather than in your own timing.
"And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. "
"As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God gave him a different heart, and all those signs came true that very day."
'God gave him another heart' — the change happens by God's initiative, not by Saul working himself into a new disposition. Jesus would want you to know that real transformation in your own life starts the same way: grace comes first, and it makes new obedience possible, rather than obedience earning the grace.
"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. "
"When they reached the hill, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he prophesied along with them."
Every detail Samuel predicted happens exactly as he said. Jesus would have you trust that God's word is reliable down to the specifics — when God has spoken into your life, you can lean on that promise the same way Saul could watch it unfold in real time.
"And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime 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? Is Saul also among the prophets? "
"Everyone who had known Saul before saw him prophesying among the prophets and said to one another, 'What's happened to Kish's son? Is Saul one of the prophets now too?'"
People who knew Saul before are stunned to see him prophesying, and their first instinct is suspicion rather than joy. Jesus would caution against that reflex — when someone you've known shows real evidence of God's work in their life, resist the urge towards gossip or doubt and instead welcome the change with openness.
"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? "
"Someone from that area replied, 'Well, who is their father anyway?' And that's how the saying began: 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'"
The proverb 'is Saul also among the prophets?' grows out of surprise that someone with no prophetic pedigree could be used by God. Jesus would say God's Spirit was never limited to bloodlines or expected categories — don't let anyone's background, or lack of a 'proper' résumé, determine whether you believe God can work through them.
"And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. "
"When Saul finished prophesying, he went to the high place."
After the extraordinary experience of prophesying, Saul simply moves on to the high place — ordinary life resumes. Jesus would remind you that mountaintop spiritual experiences aren't meant to be permanently thrilling; they're meant to send you back, grounded, into the next ordinary thing you're called to do.
"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. "
"Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, 'Where did you two go?' Saul said, 'To look for the donkeys - but when we couldn't find them anywhere, we went to see Samuel.'"
Saul answers his uncle's question honestly but doesn't volunteer everything — he isn't obligated to share his whole heart with everyone who asks. Jesus would say there's wisdom, not deceit, in discerning what is appropriate to share and with whom; honesty doesn't require total disclosure to every curious relative.
"And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. "
"His uncle said, 'Go on then, tell me - what did Samuel say to you?'"
The uncle presses further, curious for the details. Jesus would say curiosity from others doesn't obligate you to satisfy it — you're allowed to hold something private a little longer, especially when it isn't fully yours to share yet, without that being unkind or dishonest.
"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. "
"Saul told his uncle, 'He assured us the donkeys had been found.' But he said nothing to him about the matter of the kingdom that Samuel had spoken about."
Saul tells the truth about the donkeys but withholds the kingdom news — this is prudent discretion, not lying. Jesus would say that some callings need time to mature quietly before they're spoken aloud; guarding a tender, unproven truth isn't dishonesty, it's stewardship of something sacred.
"And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; "
"Samuel summoned the people of Israel together before the LORD at Mizpeh."
Samuel calls the whole nation together before the LORD — this decision, however human it will turn out to be, is still brought openly into God's presence rather than settled in a back room. Jesus would say every major decision in your life deserves that same posture: bring it honestly before God rather than deciding privately and hoping He approves after the fact.
"And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith 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, and of them that oppressed you: "
"He said to the Israelites, 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and from all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.'"
Samuel recounts God's long history of rescuing Israel before the people ever ask for anything else. Jesus would want you to build the same habit: before making requests or demands of God, remember and give thanks for what He has already done for you — gratitude keeps our asking honest.
"And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. "
"'But today you have rejected your God - the one who has personally saved you from all your troubles and hardships - and you've said to him, "No, give us a king instead." So now, present yourselves before the LORD, organised by your tribes and clans.'"
Samuel names plainly what's happening: the people have rejected God as their true security in favour of a human king they can see. It's worth being honest here rather than glossing over it — wanting visible, human power to save us instead of trusting God is a real and understandable temptation, and Jesus would meet it not with condemnation but with an invitation to examine where you place your ultimate trust, gently, the way He met every person's misplaced confidence.
"And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. "
"When Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, the tribe of Benjamin was singled out."
The lot falls on Benjamin, the smallest tribe, echoing the very smallness Saul named about himself in the last chapter. Jesus would say God delights in working through what looks least likely by human standards — don't assume smallness or obscurity disqualifies you or anyone else from being chosen for something significant.
"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. "
"Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin forward by families, and the family of Matri was chosen; and within that, Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they went to find him, he was nowhere to be seen."
The process narrows all the way down to Saul by name — and then he can't be found. Jesus would gently note that even someone chosen and called can feel unready, hesitant, unwilling to step forward; that hesitation isn't disqualifying, it's simply human, and God works with it rather than around it.
"Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. "
"So they asked the LORD further whether the man had even come to the gathering. And the LORD answered, 'He's hiding among the supplies.'"
Saul is hiding among the baggage, and instead of shaming him, God simply reveals where he is so he can be brought out gently. Jesus would want you to see this as a picture of how God treats our fear and self-doubt: not with harsh exposure, but with patient, matter-of-fact help to bring us out of hiding into what we're called to.
"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. "
"So they ran and brought him out, and when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than everyone else, from his shoulders up."
Once again the text notes Saul's height above everyone else — the same detail from chapter 9, now on public display. Jesus would remind you not to be swept up by someone's physical presence or charisma when judging their fitness to lead or to be trusted; that judgement belongs to what's inside, which this whole story is quietly teaching Israel, and us, to notice.
"And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. "
"Samuel said to all the people, 'Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among the entire nation.' And all the people shouted, 'Long live the king!'"
The crowd's excited shout of 'God save the king' is real in the moment, but crowds are fickle, and their enthusiasm here won't guarantee lasting loyalty. Jesus would say don't build your confidence on a crowd's applause, whether you're the one being cheered or the one cheering — commitments that matter need to be examined beyond the emotional high of the moment.
"Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. "
"Then Samuel explained to the people the rules and duties of the kingship, wrote them down in a book, and placed it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent everyone home."
Samuel writes down the 'manner of the kingdom' and lays it before the LORD — the king's power is bounded by a written, accountable standard, not left to his own whim. Jesus would say this is a healthy pattern for anyone given authority in any area of life: submit your power to something outside yourself, a standard of love and accountability, rather than trusting your own judgement unchecked.
"And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. "
"Saul also went home to Gibeah, and a group of men whose hearts God had moved went with him."
Saul doesn't go home alone — men 'whose hearts God had touched' go with him. Jesus would want you to notice and be grateful for the people God places around you in a new season; calling was never meant to be carried in isolation, and the friends who show up to support you are themselves a gift worth recognising as from God.
"But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace. "
"But some worthless men said, 'How is this man supposed to save us?' They looked down on him and brought him no gifts. But Saul said nothing in response."
Mocked, disrespected, and denied the customary gifts due a new king, Saul's response is simply to hold his peace. Jesus would say this is the very heart of the gospel ethic in miniature: when reviled, don't revile back. Choosing silence and restraint over retaliation, even when contempt is unfair, is one of the clearest ways to live out love for those who least deserve it.