1 Samuel 8:1-3 -- What is it with the children of great men of God? Why does the biblical record show such consistent heartbreak? We don't know enough to Samuel's personal life to determine why, but his two sons were nothing like him. They judged from the southern city of Beersheba, and were infamous for taking bribes.
8:4-22 -- This trouble became the excuse for the tribal leaders of Israel to demand the Samuel choose and anoint a king. Here they are demanding a clean break between civil and religious rule in their lives. Previous to this, engaging in politics was a purely local occupation. National government ostensibly carried no politics. In one sense, it might be said they wisely saw their inability to stand before God faithfully, and to be ruled on the basis of their adherence to the Law of Moses. In another sense, they were completely foolish in thinking this would make any good difference. Instead, the nature of monarchical rule called for taxation they had never seen. Rather than foreigners pillaging them when they sinned, they would have a king pillage them regardless of good or bad. Samuel, after conferring with God, went to great lengths to detail for them the nature of that taxation. Surely, a king must live a kingly lifestyle, and would exercise harsh power over every detail of their lives. They weren't willing to listen to God in their religion, nor were they willing to listen in this decision. After receiving assurance from Jehovah that He planned to give them their request, Samuel dismissed the assembly of leaders.
9:1-2 -- Saul is introduced by his lineage. His family was Benjamite, notable for their warriors. Saul was no different, except he possessed that advantage of being roughly a cubit taller than average -- quite large, indeed. He is no teenager, for he had has own teenage son by this time.
9:3-10 -- Saul, as the good son of his father Kish, went out with one of the household servants to find where the herd of asses had wandered. This was before the introduction of horses in Canaan, and asses -- also known as onagers -- were rather larger than donkeys, but just shy of the size of modern horses. These had been in use for some time by Mesopotamia, Akkadia and the Hittites for pulling chariots. They could be ridden unsaddled as one might donkeys. They were quite valuable, and seldom owned by anyone but nobility.
We cannot positively identify Shalim and Shalisha, but it seems Saul's search took him north from Gibeah as far as Shechem, the down slope into the edge of the Plain of Sharon. From there he went down through the low rolling hills as far as the Valley of Sorek, turned back upland and passed through the length of Benjamin. From there they circled back toward Ramah. At this point, Saul despaired of finding any trace of the herd and felt it was best to report back to this father. The servant suggested they visit the seer in that region. It would appear Saul knew not who this was, but did know the custom of presenting a gift when approaching a superior. Even so much as a pita loaf would have been sufficient, but theirs was gone. The servant had some coins amounting to one-quarter shekel, and that seemed appropriate.
9:11-17 -- Like most cities, Ramah was built on high ground, but not on top of the hill. Hilltops had long been reserved as places of worship, both pagan and Mosaic. The well was just outside the gate, and was typical, the men met young women coming out to draw water, typically in the evening. One of the rare occasions when a man might address a strange woman in public, Saul asked them if "the Seer" was in town. Not only was he there, but had just returned in time for a festival. This festival would not proceed without his offering a blessing over the food. This apparently was the sort of offering one "ate in the presence of the Lord" because there is no other mention of a priestly blessing at mealtime in Scripture. If Saul was to catch Samuel in time to finish his errand, he would have to find him immediately. Once engaged in the festival ritual, it would be unthinkable to pull him away for something so trivial.
As they came into city square, they saw him opposite them. This was a moment of high drama, in spite of its apparent humble nature. Just the day before, Samuel heard from Jehovah that as evening approached on the day of the festival, he would meet the man whom the Lord intended to be the "captain of My people" in war against the Philistines. Here we see that the nature of the king's office is rooted in the need for a battle leader, a warlord. At the sight of them, Samuel received yet another word that this was the new King of Israel.
9:18-27 -- By now all the important people of the city would be assembled at the high place. This seer would have been dressed as a man of privilege, and Saul addressed him courteously, asking where to find the prophet. Samuel answered that he was indeed the man Saul was seeking, and to go up and wait for him at the high place. They would enjoy the festival meal, and tomorrow Saul could be on his way. Anything he might be willing to ask would be dealt with then. Meanwhile, he told Saul to forget the onagers; they had been found. Further, Saul was the most important man in Israel!
Saul was stunned. His family was Benjamite, the smallest tribe, especially after that business in Gibeah a couple of generations back. Furthermore, Saul's family was the smallest and lowest ranking of the noble families in Benjamin. Like many men in Israel, Saul had probably dreamed of finally breaking the Philistine oppression, and was now being told he was indeed the key to that relief. At the banquet hall, Samuel directed Saul to sit in the seat of honor. Then, Samuel told the cook to bring out the priest's portion and serve it to Saul. This would later become known as the "royal portion." We can just imagine Saul's mind spinning, full of a thousand questions about all this fuss over him.
Those questions were answered. After the ritual meal, they left the banquet hall and went up on the roof of Samuel's home. There they talked long into the night. We can only guess that Samuel taught him about being a king, and what was required of him, among other things. The term used here in Hebrew is based on the idea of putting all things in order. This open rooftop was also the favored sleeping area for honored guests. Early in the morning, the three men set out together. Samuel asked Saul to send his servant ahead so he could share a private word from Jehovah.
10:1-8 -- The two men came to a stop, and Samuel then produced olive oil and anointed Saul as king. The kiss was a personal sign of high honor, an act not required in ancient times when greeting royalty. He then described to Saul events that were to shortly take place. This would serve to ensure Saul learned to trust the word of Samuel, and to believe that all this business of being king was not some wild dream.
First, he would come upon some men telling him the onagers were safe, and that now Saul's father was worried about him. Next, he would pass the Oak of Tabor (KJV has "plain") where Deborah sat (Judges 4:5), a well known landmark, one normally associated with religious instruction. Deborah had been as much a teacher of Jehovah as a prophetess. There he would meet some fellows carrying offerings toward Bethel, probably in anticipation of meeting Samuel there for worship. They would salute him with reverence give him enough bread for a meal. Then, he would pass the Philistine garrison near the "Hill of God." Given the circumstances, that might mean any number of places ranging from Mizpah, scene of recent gatherings in the presence of God, or as far as south as Mount Moriah, which had been a shrine of worship to Jehovah since before Abraham, and was just above the old Jebusite fort. The former is more likely, purely on the grounds of Saul's probable route home. Coming down from the high place, Saul would meet one of Samuel's academy of prophets. They would be praising God with instruments, and prophesying on His behalf; that is, they would be calling people to turn to Him purely, as was their purpose. For a brief time, Saul would become a totally different man, moved by the Spirit of God to join the prophets. At that point, he would be given an opportunity to do something for God, and it would be obvious at that moment what that should be. Then he was to turn and head to Gilgal, to await Samuel's arrival there, seven days later.
10:9-16 -- It didn't wait for the meeting of the School of the Prophets for Saul to experience a change of heart. God endowed him with the courage and sense of purpose necessary to carry the burden of kingly rule. Nonetheless, the meeting itself so astounded everyone that from then on, the event gave rise to a figure of speech expressing total surprise at some unexpected turn of events: "Is Saul also among the prophets?" It appears the servant that had been with him up to now went on home. When questioned by Saul's uncle on their extended absence, the servant told all except the matter of Saul's anointing as king.
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Ed Hurst
20 March 2004
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