Chapter 10:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ruth 2 Samuel
1 Samuel 10
The anointing of Saul, ver. 1. Samuel gives him signs and
instruction, ver. 2-8. The signs accomplished, ver. 9-13. His return
to his father's house, ver. 14-16. He is elected, solemnly
inaugurated, and returns to his own city, ver. 17-27.
Verse 1. Poured it - Which Is was the usual rite in the designation, as of
priests and prophets, so also of kings, whereby was signified the
pouring forth of the gifts of God's spirit upon him, to fit him for
the administration of his office. These sacred unctions then used,
pointed at the great Messiah, or anointed One, the King of the
church, and High-priest of our profession, who was anointed with
the oil of the spirit without measure, above all the priests and
princes of the Jewish church. Kissed - As a testimony of his
sincere friendship and affection to him. His inheritance - That is,
over his own peculiar people. Whereby he admonisheth Saul, that
this people were not so much his, as God's; and that he was not to
rule them according his own will, but according to the will of
God.
Verse 2. Rachel's sepulchre - In the way to Bethlehem, which city was in
Judah; her sepulchre might be either in Judah, or in Benjamin; for
the possessions of those two tribes were bordering one upon
another. The first place he directs him to was a sepulchre, the
sepulchre of one of his ancestors. There he must read a lecture of
his own mortality, and now he had a crown in his eye, must think
of his grave, in which all his honour would be laid in the dust.
Verse 3. Plain - Not that at the foot of mount Tabor, which was far from
these parts; but another belonging to some other place. Bethel -
Properly so called, which was in Ephraim, where there was a
noted high-place, famous for Jacob's vision there, Gen. xxviii, 19,
where it is probable they offered sacrifices, in this confused state
of things, when the ark was in one place, and the tabernacle in
another.
Verse 5. Prophets - By prophets he understands persons that wholly
devoted themselves to religious studies and exercises. For the
term of prophesying is not only given to the most eminent act of
it, foretelling things to come; but also to preaching, and to the
making or singing of psalms, or songs of praise to God. And they
that wholly attended upon these things, are called sons of the
prophets, who were commonly combined into companies or
colleges, that they might more conveniently assist one another in
God's work. This institution God was pleased so far to honour and
bless, that sometimes he communicated unto those persons the
knowledge of future things. Psaltery - Such instruments of musick
being then used by prophets and other persons, for the excitation
of their spirits in God's service. Prophesy - Either sing God's
praises, or speak of the things of God, by a peculiar impulse of his
spirit.
Verse 6. Will come - Hebrew. will leap, or rush upon thee. Another man
- That is, thou shalt be suddenly endowed with another spirit,
filled with skill of divine things, with courage, and wisdom, and
magnanimity; and other qualifications befitting thy dignity.
Verse 7. Thou do - Hebrew. do what they hand findeth to do; that is, as
thou shalt have a call and opportunity. He doth not intend that he
should take the kingly government upon him, before his call to it
was owned by the people, but that he should dispose his mind to a
readiness of undertaking any public service when he should be
called to his office.
Verse 8. Till I come - This, though now mentioned and commanded,
was not immediately to be performed; as is evident, partly from
the whole course of the story, (which shews, that Saul and
Samuel, and the people, first met at Mizpeh, ver. 17, &c. where
Saul was chosen by God, and accepted by the people as king; and
afterwards went to Gilgal once before the time here spoken of,
chap. xi, 14, 15,) and partly, by comparing this place with chap.
xiii, 8, &c. where we find Saul charged with the violation of this
command, two years after the giving of it. It seems this is given as
a standing rule for Saul to observe while Samuel and he lived; that
in case of any great future difficulties, as the invasion of enemies,
Saul should resort to Gilgal, and call the people thither, and tarry
there seven days, which was but a necessary time for gathering
the people, and for the coming of Samuel thither. And Gilgal was
chosen for this purpose, because that place was famous for the
solemn renewing of the covenant between God and Israel, Josh.
iv, 19-24, and for other eminent instances of God's favour to
them, the remembrance whereof was a confirmation of their faith;
and because it was a very convenient place for he tribes within
and without Jordan to assemble, and consult, and unite their
forces together upon such occasions.
Verse 10. Prophesied - The accomplishment of the two former signs is
supposed, and this only is expressed, because this was more
eminent than the former; the other were only transient acts, which
passed in private between two or three persons meeting together;
but this was a more permanent and notorious sign, done in a more
solemn manner, and before many witnesses.
Verse 11. Is Saul - A man never instructed, nor exercised in, nor inclined
to these matters.
Verse 12. Who is, &c. - Who is the father of all these prophets, among
whom Saul now is one? Who is it that instructs and inspires them
but God? They have it not from their parents, nor from their
education, but by inspiration from God, who, when he pleaseth,
can inspire Saul, or any other man with the same skill. And
therefore wonder not at this matter, but give God the glory of it. A
proverb - Used when any strange, or unexpected thing happened.
Verse 13. High place - Returning thither with the prophets, to praise God
for these wonderful favours, and to beg counsel and help from
God in this high business.
Verse 16. Told not - In obedience to Samuel, who obliged him to
secrecy: and from an humble modesty.
Verse 19. Now therefore, &c. - He puts them upon chusing their king by
lot, that all might know God had chosen Saul (for the disposal of
the lot is of the Lord) and to prevent all dispute and exception.
Verse 20. Benjamin - Which tribe was now preferred before Judah,
because the kingdom was freely promised by God to Judah, and
was to be given to him in love; but now the kingdom was in a
manner forced from God, and given them in anger and therefore
conferred upon an obscure tribe.
Verse 22. Inquired - Either by Urim or Thummim, which was the usual
way of enquiry. Or, by Samuel, who by his prayer procured an
answer. Stuff - Among the carriages or baggage of the people
there assembled. This he probably did, from a sense of his own
unworthiness.
Verse 24. None like him - As to the height of his bodily stature, which
was in itself, commendable in a king, and some kind of indication
of great endowments of mind. God save the king - Hebrew. let the
king live; that is, long and prosperously. Hereby they accept him
for their king, and promise subjection to him. None will be losers
in the end by their humility and modesty. honour, like the
shadows, follows them that flee from it, but flees from them that
pursue it.
Verse 25. Manner of the kingdom - The laws and rules by which the
kingly government was to be managed; agreeable to those
mentioned Deut. xvii, 16, &c. Before the Lord - Before the ark,
where it was kept safe from depravation.
Verse 26. Went home - Not being actually inaugurated into his kingdom,
he thought fit to retire to his former habitation, and to live
privately 'till he had an occasion to shew himself in a more
illustrious manner. Then went - To give him safe and honourable
conduct to his house, though not to abide with him there, which
did not suit his present circumstance.
Verse 27. No presents - As subjects in those times used to do to their
kings. This was an evidence both of his humility, and the
mercifulness of his disposition. So Christ held his peace, in the
day of his patience. But there is a day of recompense coming.
Chapter 10:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Ruth 2 Samuel
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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