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Nach YomiI Samuel ยท ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืืณChapter 10

I Samuel 10

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืืณ ืคืจืง ื™ืด

Section: ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ยท ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 10 of 31 | Day: 55 of 742

Date: April 7, 2026

ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ื ืดืš

Chapter 10 of I Samuel is one of the most dramatically layered passages in all of the Former Prophets, weaving together private anointing, prophetic ecstasy, divine transformation, and public selection into a single, breathtaking narrative of kingshipโ€™s inauguration. The chapter opens in the intimate space between Samuel and Saul: the prophet takes a flask of oil (ืคืš ื”ืฉืžืŸ) and pours it on Saulโ€™s head, kissing him and declaring that God has anointed him as ruler (ื ื’ื™ื“) over His inheritance. The use of a modest flask rather than a horn โ€” as will later be used for Davidโ€™s anointing โ€” is noted by the Talmud (Megillah 14a) and the classical commentators as foreshadowing the impermanence of Saulโ€™s dynasty. Radak observes that the private nature of this anointing, with no witnesses present, underscores that this is first and foremost a divine appointment, not yet a political one.

To confirm the legitimacy of this hidden anointing, Samuel provides Saul with three signs (ืื•ืชื•ืช) of escalating spiritual significance. The first โ€” meeting two men at Rachelโ€™s tomb who will report the donkeys found โ€” resolves the mundane errand that brought Saul to Samuel in the first place. The second โ€” encountering three pilgrims at the terebinth of Tabor who will offer him bread โ€” initiates Saul into the experience of being treated with a deference befitting his new station. The third and climactic sign โ€” encountering a band of prophets at the Hill of God (ื’ื‘ืขืช ื”ืืœื”ื™ื) and being seized by the spirit of God (ืจื•ื— ืืœื”ื™ื) โ€” transforms Saul from within. The textโ€™s declaration that โ€œGod gave him another heartโ€ (ื•ื™ื”ืคืš ืœื• ืืœื”ื™ื ืœื‘ ืื—ืจ) suggests a genuine interior transformation, not merely an outward display. Rashi interprets this as Saul receiving a heart fit for kingship, while Metzudat David emphasizes that the prophetic spirit confirmed to Saul that Samuelโ€™s words were truly from God.

The prophetic episode at Gibeah generates the famous proverb, โ€œIs Saul too among the prophets?โ€ (ื”ื’ื ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื). The astonishment of those who knew Saul previously reveals the gulf between his former obscurity and his sudden spiritual elevation. The anonymous bystanderโ€™s retort โ€” โ€œAnd who are their fathers?โ€ โ€” is interpreted variously by the commentators. Radak reads it as a defense of Saul: prophecy does not depend on lineage, so Saulโ€™s background is irrelevant. Others see it as a subtle critique of ecstatic prophecy itself. What is most striking is Saulโ€™s discretion afterward: when his uncle questions him about his journey, Saul mentions only the donkeys and says nothing about the kingship (ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื”). This restraint, which Rashi praises as genuine humility, stands in poignant contrast to the arrogance that will later undo him.

The chapterโ€™s second half shifts from the private to the public sphere as Samuel convenes the people at Mizpah for a formal selection by lot (ื’ื•ืจืœ). Samuel frames the occasion with a sharp theological rebuke: God delivered Israel from Egypt and from every oppressor, yet the people have rejected their divine king by demanding a human one. The lot falls progressively on the tribe of Benjamin, the clan of the Matrites, and finally on Saul son of Kish โ€” but Saul is nowhere to be found. He has hidden among the baggage (ื”ื›ืœื™ื), a detail that has fascinated readers for millennia. Radak and Metzudat David interpret this as genuine humility โ€” Saul shrank from the honor of kingship. Yet the narrative subtly raises the question of whether this reticence reflects noble modesty or a deeper unsuitability for the burdens of leadership, a tension that will haunt Saulโ€™s entire reign.

When Saul is finally brought forth, his physical stature โ€” standing a head taller than all the people โ€” elicits the crowdโ€™s acclamation: โ€œLong live the king!โ€ (ื™ื—ื™ ื”ืžืœืš). Samuel then expounds the โ€œrules of the monarchyโ€ (ืžืฉืคื˜ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื”) and records them in a document deposited before God, establishing a constitutional framework for this new institution. Yet the chapter ends on a divided note: upstanding men whose hearts God had touched accompany Saul home to Gibeah, but โ€œsons of worthlessnessโ€ (ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ืœื™ืขืœ) scorn him, asking, โ€œHow can this fellow save us?โ€ Saulโ€™s response โ€” silence, holding his peace โ€” is his finest moment in the narrative thus far. The seeds of both Saulโ€™s greatness and his tragedy are planted in this single chapter: divine election and human doubt, prophetic transformation and political fragility, towering physical presence and the impulse to hide.

ืคืจืง ื™ืด ยท Chapter 10

ืคืกื•ืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึดืงึผึทึจื— ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึœืœ ืึถืชึพืคึผึทึฅืšึฐ ื”ึทืฉืึผึถึ›ืžึถืŸ ื•ึทื™ึผึดืฆึนึฅืง ืขึทืœึพืจึนืืฉืึ–ื•ึน ื•ึทื™ึผึดืฉืึผึธืงึตึ‘ื”ื•ึผ ื•ึทื™ึผึนึ•ืืžึถืจ ื”ึฒืœึ—ื•ึนื ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพืžึฐืฉืึธื—ึฒืšึธึง ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ›ื” ืขึทืœึพื ึทื—ึฒืœึธืชึ–ื•ึน ืœึฐื ึธื’ึดึฝื™ื“ืƒ

English:

Samuel took a flask of oil and poured some on Saulโ€™saSaulโ€™s Heb. โ€œhis.โ€ head and kissed him, and said, โ€œGOD herewith anoints you rulerbanoints you ruler Septuagint and Vulgate read โ€œanoints you ruler over Godโ€™s people Israel, and you will govern the people of GOD and deliver them from the hands of their foes round about. And this is the sign for you that GOD anoints you.โ€ over this peopleโ€”Godโ€™s own.

Samuel privately anoints Saul by pouring oil from a flask (pakh) on his head -- a modest vessel that the Talmud (Megillah 14a) contrasts with the horn used for David, hinting that Saul's dynasty will not endure. Radak explains that the private, unwitnessed nature of the anointing emphasizes this is a divine appointment, not yet a political one. Metzudat David notes that Samuel's words affirm the anointing as authentically commanded by God.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื”ืœื. ื‘ืืžืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ืžืฉื—ืš ื”ืณ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืืช ืคืš ื”ืฉืžืŸ. ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื–ื” ื”ืฉืžืŸ ื”ืžืฉื—ื” ื›ื™ ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืžืฉื•ื—ื™ื ืžืžื ื• ืืœื ืžืœื›ื™ ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ืœ ืฉืžืŸ ืืคืจืกืžื•ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ื•ืืžืจื• ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืฉื ืžืฉื—ื• ื‘ืคืš ืœื ื ืžืฉื›ื” ืžืœื›ื•ืชืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืฉืœืžื” ืฉื ืžืฉื—ื• ื‘ืงืจืŸ ื ืžืฉื›ื” ืžืœื›ื•ืชืŸ: ื•ื™ืฉืงื”ื•. ื‘ื“ืจืฉ ื›ืœ ื ืฉื™ืงื•ืช ื”ื ืฉืœ ืชื™ืคืœื•ืช ื—ื•ืฅ ืžื’' ื ืฉื™ืงื•ืช ื ืฉื™ืงื” ืฉืœ ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื ืฉื™ืงื” ืฉืœ ืคืจืงื™ื ื ืฉื™ืงื” ืฉืœ ืคืจื™ืฉื•ืช, ื ืฉื™ืงื” ืฉืœ ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ื™ืฆื•ืง ืขืœ ืจืืฉื• ื•ื™ืฉืงื”ื•, ื ืฉื™ืงื” ืฉืœ ืคืจืงื™ื ื•ื™ืœืš ื•ื™ืคื’ืฉื”ื• ื‘ื”ืจ ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ื•ื™ืฉืง ืœื•, ื ืฉื™ืงื” ืฉืœ ืคืจื™ืฉื•ืช ื•ืชืฉืง ืขืจืคื” ืœื—ืžื•ืชื”, ืจ' ืชื ื—ื•ืžื ืื•ืžืจ ืืฃ ื ืฉื™ืงื” ืฉืœ ืงืจื™ื‘ื•ืช ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ื™ืฉืง ื™ืขืงื‘ ืœืจื—ืœ ืœืžื” ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืงืจื•ื‘ืชื•: ื”ืœื ื›ื™ ืžืฉื—ืš. ืžืœืช ื”ืœื ืชื‘ื ื‘ืžืงื•ืžื•ืช ืœื—ื–ืง ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื•ืœื–ืจื– ื”ืื“ื ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ืœื ืฉืœื—ืชื™ืš ื”ืœื ืฉืžืขืช ื‘ืชื™ ื•ื”ื“ื•ืžื™ื ืœื”ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ืณ ยท Verse 2

Hebrew:

ื‘ึผึฐืœึถื›ึฐืชึผึฐืšึธึค ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนืึ™ ืžึตึฝืขึดืžึผึธื“ึดึ”ื™ ื•ึผืžึธืฆึธึฉืืชึธึฉ ืฉืึฐื ึตึจื™ ืึฒื ึธืฉืึดึœื™ื ืขึดืึพืงึฐื‘ึปืจึทึฅืช ืจึธื—ึตึ›ืœ ื‘ึผึดื’ึฐื‘ึฅื•ึผืœ ื‘ึผึดื ึฐื™๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝืžึดึ–ืŸ ื‘ึผึฐืฆึถืœึฐืฆึทึ‘ื— ื•ึฐืึธืžึฐืจึฃื•ึผ ืึตืœึถึ—ื™ืšึธ ื ึดืžึฐืฆึฐืึคื•ึผ ื”ึธืึฒืชึนื ื•ึนืชึ™ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ื”ึธืœึทึฃื›ึฐืชึผึธ ืœึฐื‘ึทืงึผึตึ”ืฉื ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึผึตึจื” ื ึธื˜ึทึคืฉื ืึธื‘ึดึ™ื™ืšึธึ™ ืึถืชึพื“ึผึดื‘ึฐืจึตึฃื™ ื”ึธืึฒืชึนื ึ”ื•ึนืช ื•ึฐื“ึธืึทึคื’ ืœึธื›ึถืึ™ ืœึตืืžึนึ”ืจ ืžึธึฅื” ืึถืขึฑืฉื‚ึถึ–ื” ืœึดื‘ึฐื ึดึฝื™ืƒ

English:

When you leave me today, you will meet two men near the tomb of Rachel in the territory of Benjamin, at Zelzah,cat Zelzah Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and they will tell you that the donkeys you set out to look for have been found, and that your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying: โ€˜What shall I do about my son?โ€˜

Samuel gives Saul the first of three confirmatory signs: two men near Rachel's Tomb will tell him the donkeys have been found and his father now worries about him. Rashi, citing Tosefta Sotah, resolves the geographic difficulty -- the men are currently at Rachel's Tomb but Saul will meet them in Benjamin's territory at Zelzah. This sign resolves the mundane errand that brought Saul to Samuel, clearing the way for his new mission.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
By Rochel's Tomb, at the border of Binyomin. Isn't Rochel's Tomb within Yehudah's border, in Beis Lechem? [The answer is that] they are now by Rochel's Tomb, but, 'when you will meet them, you will find them within Binyomin's border, in Tzeltzoch.' Thus was taught by the Tosefta of [Maseches] Sotah.111:7. Tzeltzoch is a combination of the words ืฆึตืœ ืœึทืฆึผึทื— of the Holy One, Blessed is He, Who is pure and ruddy;2Shir Hashirim 5:10. and this is Yerusholayim. And is worrying about you. Has fears concerning you; every expression of ื“ึผึฐืึธื’ึธื” [worry] is an expression of fear; dementer in O.F.", hebrewText: "ืขึดื ืงึฐื‘ึปืจึทืช ืจึธื—ึตืœ ื‘ึดึผื’ึฐื‘ื•ึผืœ ื‘ึดึผื ึฐื™ึธืžึดืŸ. ื•ึทื”ึฒืœึนื ืงึฐื‘ื•ึผืจึทืช ืจึธื—ึตืœ ื‘ึดึผื’ึฐื‘ื•ึผืœ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึผื“ึธื” ื‘ึฐึผื‘ึตื™ืช ืœึถื—ึถื, ืึถืœึธึผื ืขึทื›ึฐืฉึธืื™ื• ื”ึตื ื‘ึดึผืงึฐื‘ื•ึผืจึทืช ืจึธื—ึตืœ, ื•ึผื›ึฐืฉึถืืชึดึผืคึฐื’ึทึผืข ื‘ึธึผื”ึถื ืชึดึผืžึฐืฆึธืึตื ื‘ึดึผื’ึฐื‘ื•ึผืœ ื‘ึดึผื ึฐื™ึธืžึดืŸ ื‘ึฐึผืฆึถืœึฐืฆึทื—, ื›ึธึผืšึฐ ืฉึฐืื ื•ึผื™ึธื” ื‘ึฐึผืชื•ึนืกึถืคึฐืชึธึผื ื“ึฐึผืกื•ึนื˜ึธื” (ืคืจืง ื™ื): ืฆึถืœึฐืฆึทื—. ืฆึตืœ ืœึทืฆึทึผื— ืฉึถืืœ ื”ึทืงึธึผื“ื•ึนืฉื ื‘ึธึผืจื•ึผืšึฐ ื”ื•ึผื, ืฉึถืื”ื•ึผื ืฆึทื— ื•ึฐืึธื“ื•ึนื, ื•ึฐื”ึดื™ื ื™ึฐืจื•ึผืฉึธืืœึทื™ึดื: ื•ึฐื“ึธืึทื’ ืœึธื›ึถื. ื™ึดื™ืจึธื ืขึฒืœึตื™ื›ึถื, ื›ึธึผืœ ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืณื“ึฐึผืึธื’ึธื”ืณ, ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืณื™ึดืจึฐืึธื”ืณ, ื“ื•ืฉื˜ื™ืดืจ ื‘ืœืขืดื–:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื‘ืœื›ืชืš. ืœืืžืช ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื• ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื”, ืืžืจ ืœื• ืื•ืชื•ืช, ื”ืื—ืช ื”ื™ื, ืฉืืžืจ ืœื• ื‘ืœื›ืชืš ื•ื›ื•ืณ: ืขื ืงื‘ื•ืจืช ืจื—ืœ. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืืฉืจ ื”ื ืขืชื” ืกืžื•ืš ืœืงื‘ื•ืจืช ืจื—ืœ, ื•ืืชื” ื”ื•ืœืš ื•ื”ื ื‘ืื™ื, ื•ืชืžืฆืื ื‘ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื‘ืฆืœืฆื—: ื•ื”ื ื” ื ื˜ืฉ. ื›ืื•ืžืจ ื”ื ื” ื‘ื”ืžืฆืื ืขื–ื‘ ื“ืื’ื” ืงื˜ื ื”, ื•ื‘ื ืœื• ืขืœ ื™ื“ื ื“ืื’ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื”, ื•ืื•ืžืจ ืžื” ืืขืฉื” ืœืžืฆื•ื ืืช ื‘ื ื™:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื‘ืœื›ืชืš ื”ื™ื•ื. ืืžืจื• ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–"ืœ ื”ื™ื›ืŸ ืžืฆื™ื ื• ืฉื ืงื‘ืจื” ืจื—ืœ ื‘ืฆืœืฆื— ื‘ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ื•ื”ืœื ืœื ื ืงื‘ืจื” ืืœื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ืชืžืช ืจื—ืœ ื•ืชืงื‘ืจ ื‘ื“ืจืš ืืคืจืช ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื, ื•ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ืืœื ื—ืœืงื• ืฉืœ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ืืชื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ืืคืจืชื” ื•ื’ื•' ืืœื ื›ืš ืืžืจ ืœื• ืขื›ืฉื™ื• ืฉืื ื™ ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืขืžืš ื”ื ื” ื”ื ืขื ืงื‘ื•ืจืช ืจื—ืœ ื”ื ื” ื”ื ื‘ืื™ื ื•ืืชื” ื”ื•ืœืš ื•ืืชื” ืžื•ืฆื ืื•ืชื ื‘ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ื‘ืฆืœืฆื—: ื•ื”ื ื” ื ื˜ืฉ ืื‘ื™ืš. ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืงื•ื“ื ืฉื ืžืฆืื• ื”ืืชื•ื ื•ืช:

ืคืกื•ืง ื’ืณ ยท Verse 3

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื—ึธืœึทืคึฐืชึผึธึจ ืžึดืฉืึผึธึœื ื•ึธื”ึธึ—ืœึฐืึธื” ื•ึผื‘ึธึ™ืืชึธึ™ ืขึทื“ึพืึตืœึฃื•ึนืŸ ืชึผึธื‘ึ”ื•ึนืจ ื•ึผืžึฐืฆึธืึคื•ึผืšึธ ืฉืึผึธืึ™ ืฉืึฐืœึนืฉืึธึฃื” ืึฒื ึธืฉืึดึ”ื™ื ืขึนืœึดึฅื™ื ืึถืœึพื”ึธืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ–ื™ื ื‘ึผึตึฝื™ืชึพืึตึ‘ืœ ืึถื—ึธึžื“ ื ึนืฉื‚ึตึฃืโ€‰ื€ ืฉืึฐืœึนืฉืึธึฃื” ื’ึฐื“ึธื™ึดึ—ื™ื ื•ึฐืึถื—ึธื“ึ™ ื ึนืฉื‚ึตึ—ื ืฉืึฐืœึนึ™ืฉืึถืชึ™ ื›ึผึดื›ึผึฐืจึฃื•ึนืช ืœึถึ”ื—ึถื ื•ึฐืึถื—ึธึ–ื“ ื ึนืฉื‚ึตึฅื ื ึตื‘ึถืœึพื™ึธึฝื™ึดืŸืƒ

English:

You shall pass on from there until you come to the terebinth of Tabor. There you will be met by three men making a pilgrimage to God at Bethel. One will be carrying three kids, another will be carrying three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a jar of wine.

The second sign: at the terebinth of Tabor, three pilgrims heading to the sacred site at Bethel will meet Saul, carrying goats, bread, and wine for offerings. Radak explains that Bethel retained its sanctity from Jacob's altar and was a place of prayer and prophecy even in this period. Metzudat David identifies this as the second confirmatory sign, escalating from the mundane first sign toward the spiritual climax of the third.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Eilon Tavor. The plain of Tavor.", hebrewText: "ืึตืœื•ึนืŸ ืชึธึผื‘ื•ึนืจ. ืดืžึตื™ืฉึทืืจ ืชึธึผื‘ื•ึนืจืด:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื—ืœืคืช. ื•ื”ืื•ืช ื”ืฉื ื™ ื”ื•ื, ื›ืืฉืจ ืชืขื‘ื•ืจ ืžืฉื ื•ื”ืœืื” ื•ื›ื•ืณ: ื‘ื™ืช ืืœ. ื–ื” ืฉื™ืœื” ืฉืขืžื“ ื‘ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืืœื”ื™ื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืืœื•ืŸ ืชื‘ื•ืจ. ื›ืชืจื’ื•ืžื• ืžื™ืฉืจ ืชื‘ื•ืจ: ืขื•ืœื™ื ืืœ ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ื‘ื™ืช ืืœ. ื”ื•ื ืœื•ื– ืฉืงืจืื• ื™ืขืงื‘ ื‘ื™ืช ืืœ ื•ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ืฉื‘ื ื” ื™ืขืงื‘ ื•ื‘ืฉืขืช ื”ื™ืชืจ ื”ื‘ืžื•ืช ื”ื™ื• ืžืงืจื™ื‘ื™ื ืฉื ื•ืื•ืชื• ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื™ื” ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื•ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืื™ื ืฉื ื™ืฉืจืืœื™ื ื‘ืื•ืชื• ื”ื–ืžืŸ ืœื”ืชืคืœืœ ื‘ื–ื›ื•ืช ื™ืขืงื‘ ื•ื›ืŸ ืืžืจ ืขืœ ื–ื” ื™ืขืงื‘ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ื•ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉื”ื“ืจืฉ ื™ืฉ ืœื• ื“ืจืš ืื—ืจืช ื‘ื–ื” ื–ื” ืฉื›ืชื‘ื ื• ื”ื•ื ื”ื ืจืื” ืœืคื™ ืคืฉื˜ื™ ื”ืคืกื•ืงื™ื ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืืœ ื”ื™ื” ืžืงื•ื ืงื“ื•ืฉ ืœืขื•ืœื ื•ืžืงื•ื ืžื–ื‘ื— ื•ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืื™ื ืœื”ืชืคืœืœ ืฉื ื•ื”ื™ื” ืžืงื•ื ื ื‘ื•ืื” ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื•ื–ื” ืฉืขืจ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ืคื™' ืฉืขืจ ืœื™ื“ืข ืžืžื ื• ืžื” ืฉื’ื•ื–ืจื™ืŸ ื‘ืชื—ืชื•ื ื™ื ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื•ืืžืจ ื”ื•ืฉืข ื‘ื™ืช ืืœ ื™ืžืฆืื ื• ื•ืฉื ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืžื ื• ื•ืชืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืขื•ืœื™ื ืืœ ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ื“ืกืœืงื™ืŸ ืœืžื™ืกื’ื“ ืงื“ื ื”' ืœื‘ื™ืช ืืœ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื“ืณ ยท Verse 4

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืฉืึธืึฒืœึฅื•ึผ ืœึฐืšึธึ– ืœึฐืฉืึธืœึ‘ื•ึนื ื•ึฐื ึธืชึฐื ึคื•ึผ ืœึฐืšึธึ™ ืฉืึฐืชึผึตื™ึพืœึถึ”ื—ึถื ื•ึฐืœึธืงึทื—ึฐืชึผึธึ– ืžึดื™ึผึธื“ึธึฝืืƒ

English:

They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept.

The pilgrims will greet Saul respectfully and offer him two loaves of bread, which he is to accept. Radak explains the discrepancy between the three loaves mentioned in verse 3 and the two offered here -- the pilgrims also carried smaller bread-cakes, and they gave Saul two of those while keeping the larger loaves for their offering. This unsolicited gift of deference foreshadows the honor that awaits Saul as king.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืฉืชื™ ืœื—ื. ืชืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืชืจืชื™ืŸ ื’ืจื™ืฆืŸ ื“ืœื—ื ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ื—ืœื•ืช ืœื—ื ื•ืฉืœืฉื” ื›ื›ืจื•ืช ืœื—ื ืชืจื’ื•ื ืชืœืชื ืคื™ืชื™ืŸ ื“ืœื—ื ื•ื”ื›ื›ืจื•ืช ื”ื ื’ื“ื•ืœื•ืช ืžืŸ ื”ื—ืœื•ืช ื ืจืื” ื›ื™ ืื•ืชื• ืฉื”ื™ื” ื ื•ืฉื ืฉืœืฉื” ื›ื›ืจื•ืช ืœื—ื ื”ื™ื” ื ื•ืฉื ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื—ืœื•ืช ืœื—ื ื•ื–ื›ืจ ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื”ื›ื›ืจื•ืช ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื•ืช ื•ืœื ื–ื›ืจ ื”ืงื˜ื ื•ืช ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ ื›ื™ ืื ืœื ื”ื™ื• ื ื•ืฉืื™ื ืืœื ื’' ื›ื›ืจื•ืช ืœื—ื ืฉื™ืชื ื• ืœืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื ืขืจื• ืฉืชื™ื ื•ืœื ื™ืฉืืจื• ืขืžื”ื ืืœื ื›ื›ืจ ืื—ื“ ื•ื”ื ื”ื™ื• ืฉืœืฉื” ืืœื ื›ื™ ื’ื ื—ืœื•ืช ืœื—ื ื”ื™ื• ื ื•ืฉืื™ื ืฉืชื™ื ืื• ืฉืœืฉื” ื•ื ืชื ื• ืœืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื ืขืจื• ืฉืชื™ ื—ืœื•ืช ืœื—ื ื•ืื—ืจ ืฉื–ื›ืจ ื›ื›ืจื•ืช ื•ื–ื›ืจ ื—ืœื•ืช ื™ื“ื•ืขื” ื”ื•ื ืฉืœื ื™ืงืจืื• ื”ื›ื›ืจื•ืช ื—ืœื•ืช ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื›ื›ืจ ืœื—ื ืื—ืช ื•ื—ืœืช ืœื—ื ืื—ืช:

ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืณ ยท Verse 5

Hebrew:

ืึทึฃื—ึทืจ ื›ึผึตึ—ืŸ ืชึผึธื‘ื•ึนืึ™ ื’ึผึดื‘ึฐืขึทึฃืช ื”ึธืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ”ื™ื ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพืฉืึธึ–ื ื ึฐืฆึดื‘ึตึฃื™ ืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ‘ื™ื ื•ึดื™ื”ึดื™ึฉ ื›ึฐื‘ึนืึฒืšึธึจ ืฉืึธึœื ื”ึธืขึดึ—ื™ืจ ื•ึผืคึธื’ึทืขึฐืชึผึธึž ื—ึถึคื‘ึถืœ ื ึฐื‘ึดืึดื™ืึ™ ื™ึนืจึฐื“ึดึฃื™ื ืžึตื”ึทื‘ึผึธืžึธึ”ื” ื•ึฐืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ื”ึถึžื ื ึตึคื‘ึถืœ ื•ึฐืชึนืฃึ™ ื•ึฐื—ึธืœึดึฃื™ืœ ื•ึฐื›ึดื ึผึ”ื•ึนืจ ื•ึฐื”ึตึ–ืžึผึธื” ืžึดึฝืชึฐื ึทื‘ึผึฐืึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

After that, you are to go on to the Hilldthe Hill Or โ€œGibeah.โ€ of God, where the Philistine prefects reside. There, as you enter the town, you will encounter a band of prophets coming down from the shrine, preceded by lyres, hand-drums, flutes, and harps, and they will be speaking in ecstasy.espeaking in ecstasy In contrast to others โ€œprophesyingโ€.

The third and climactic sign: at Gibeah of God, where the Ark rests and Philistine prefects are stationed, Saul will encounter a band of prophets descending from the high place with musical instruments, prophesying in ecstasy. Rashi identifies this as Gibeah of Kiryat Yearim. Metzudat David connects the music to the principle that the Divine Presence rests only through joy (Shabbat 30b). Radak notes that Samuel hinted at two things -- both prophetic transformation and that Saul would eventually overthrow these Philistine garrisons.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
The hill of God. The hill of Kiryas Ye'arim, where the Ark of God was now resting. Philistine officers. Officers whom they had appointed over Yisroel, for they [the Philistines] were ruling over them and stationing officers in the cities of Yisroel.3The Philistines had been conquering parts of Eretz Yisroel and had appointed officers to govern the areas that they dominated.โ€”Mahri Kra A band of prophets. Targum Yonoson renders, 'a band of scribes.' 'ื—ึถื‘ึถืœ' is a band, similar to, 'the ื—ึถื‘ึฐืœึตื™ of the wicked surrounded me'4II Shmuel 22:6. [rendered by Targum as], 'the bands of the wicked surrounded me.' From the high place. Targum Yonoson renders, 'from the banquet hall.'", hebrewText: "ื’ึดึผื‘ึฐืขึทืช ื”ึธืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ื. ื’ึดึผื‘ึฐืขึทืช ืงึดืจึฐื™ึทืช ื™ึฐืขึธืจึดื™ื, ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืขึทื›ึฐืฉึธืื™ื• ืึฒืจื•ึนืŸ ื”ึธืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ื ืฉึธืื: ื ึฐืฆึดื™ื‘ึตื™ ืคึฐืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื. ืกึทืจึฐื“ึดึผื™ื•ึนื˜ื•ึนืช ืฉึถืืžึดึผื ึผื•ึผ ืขึทืœ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ, ืฉึถืื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ืจื•ึนื“ึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึธึผื”ึผ, ื•ึผืžื•ึนืฉึดืื™ื‘ึดื™ื ื ึฐืฆึดื™ื‘ึดื™ื ื‘ึฐึผืขึธืจึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ: ื—ึถื‘ึถืœ ื ึฐื‘ึดื™ืึดื™ื. ืชึดึผืจึฐื’ึตึผื ื™ื•ึนื ึธืชึธืŸ: ืดืกึดื™ืขึทืช ืกึธืคึฐืจึทื™ึธึผืืด. ื—ึถื‘ึถืœ: ืกึดื™ืขึธื”, ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ืดื—ึถื‘ึฐืœึตื™ ืฉึฐืืื•ึนืœ ืกึฐื‘ึธื‘ื•ึผื ึดื™ืด (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื‘:ื•), ืดืžึทืฉึฐืืจึฐื™ึทืช ืจึฐืฉึดืื™ืขึทื™ึธึผื ืึทืงึฐืคื•ึผื ึดื™ืด: ืžึตื”ึทื‘ึธึผืžึธื”. ืชึดึผืจึฐื’ึตึผื ื™ื•ึนื ึธืชึธืŸ: ืดืžึดื‘ึตึผื™ืช ืึดืกึฐื—ึธืจื•ึผืชึธืืด:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืื—ืจ ื›ืŸ. ื•ื”ืื•ืช ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™, ื›ืืฉืจ ืชื‘ื•ื ืืœ ื’ื‘ืขืช ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ื•ื”ื™ื ืงืจื™ืช ื™ืขืจื™ื, ืฉืขืžื“ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ืฉื ื‘ื’ื‘ืขื” ื›ืžื• ืฉื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœืžืขืœื” (ื– ื): ื ื‘ืœ ื•ื›ื•ืณ. ื‘ื›ื“ื™ ืœืฉืžื—ื ืœื”ืฉืจื•ืช ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื” ืขืœื™ื”ื, ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื”ืฉื›ื™ื ื” ืฉื•ืจื” ืืœื ืžืชื•ืš ืฉืžื—ื”, (ืฉื‘ืช ืœ ื‘) ื•ื›ืŸ ื ืืžืจ ื‘ืืœื™ืฉืข (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ื˜ื• ื’): ื•ื”ื™ื” ื›ื ื’ืŸ ื”ืžื ื’ืŸ ื•ืชื”ื™ ืขืœื™ื• ื™ื“ ื”ืณ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื’ื‘ืขืช ื”ืืœื”ื™ื. ืชืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœื’ื‘ืขืช' ื“ื™ ื‘ื” ืืจื•ื ื ื“ื”' ื•ื”ื™ื ื’ื‘ืขืช ืงืจื™ืช ื™ืขืจื™ื ื›ื™ ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ืžื™ื•ื ืฉื”ืฉื™ื‘ื•ื”ื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืขื“ ืฉื”ืขืœื”ื• ื“ื•ื“ ืžืฉื: ืืฉืจ ืฉื ื ืฆื™ื‘ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื. ืฉื”ื™ื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืžื•ืฉืœื™ื ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื”ื™ื• ืœื”ื ื ืฆื™ื‘ื™ื ืžืžื•ื ื™ื ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉื ื•ื›ืŸ ื’ื‘ืข ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื‘ื“ื•ื“ ื›ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžื•ืฉืœ ื‘ืื“ื•ื ื•ื™ืฉื ื‘ืื“ื•ื ื ืฆื™ื‘ื™ื ื•ื”ืžืžื•ื ื” ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื ืงืจื ื ืฆื™ื‘ ืฉืžืขืžื™ื“ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืขืœื™ื”ื, ื•ืืžืจ ืœื• ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื›ื™ ืฉื ืชืฆืœื— ืขืœื™ื• ืจื•ื— ื”' ืœืฉื ื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืื—ื“ ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉื ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื•ื”ืฉื ื™ ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื™ื• ืฉื ื ืฆื™ื‘ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืจืžื– ืœื• ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื™ืกื™ืจื ืžืฉื ื•ื™ื•ืฉื™ืข ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžื™ื“ื: ื—ื‘ืœ ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื. ืชืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืกื™ืขืช ืกืคืจื™ื ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ื ื›ื™ ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ ื—ื›ืžื™ื ื ืงืจืื• ืกื•ืคืจื™ื ื•ืืœื” ื”ื™ื• ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื•ื”ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ื ื”ื™ื• ื ืงืจืื™ื ื‘ื ื™ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ื•ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ื‘ืื•ืชื• ื”ื–ืžืŸ ืžืขืœื™ ืขื“ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื™ื• ืืœืงื ื” ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื•ื’ื“ ื•ื ืชืŸ ื•ืืกืฃ ื•ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ: ืžื”ื‘ืžื”. ื›ื™ ืฉื ื‘ืงืจื™ืช ื™ืขืจื™ื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืžื”: ื•ืœืคื ื™ื”ื ื ื‘ืœ ื•ืชื•ืฃ ื•ื—ืœื™ืœ ื•ื›ื ื•ืจ. ื›ื™ ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ ืื™ื ื” ืฉื•ืจื” ืืœื ืžืชื•ืš ืฉืžื—ื”: ื•ื”ืžื” ืžืชื ื‘ืื™ื. ืชืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืžืฉื‘ื—ื™ืŸ ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื ื‘ื•ืืชื ื”ื™ืชื” ืฉื™ืจื•ืช ื•ืชื•ืฉื‘ื—ื•ืช ืœืืœ ื ืืžืจื•ืช ื‘ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืณ ยท Verse 6

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืฆึธืœึฐื—ึธึคื” ืขึธืœึถึ™ื™ืšึธึ™ ืจึฃื•ึผื—ึท ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื•ึฐื”ึดืชึฐื ึทื‘ึผึดึ–ื™ืชึธ ืขึดืžึผึธึ‘ื ื•ึฐื ึถื”ึฐืคึผึทื›ึฐืชึผึธึ– ืœึฐืึดึฅื™ืฉื ืึทื—ึตึฝืจืƒ

English:

The spirit of GOD will grip you, and you will speak in ecstasy along with them; you will become a different person.

Samuel foretells the most transformative moment: God's spirit will come upon Saul, he will prophesy with the band of prophets, and he will become 'a different person.' Radak interprets this transformation as receiving an extra measure of spirit -- both prophetic capacity and the grandeur befitting a ruler. Metzudat David explains simply that until now Saul was not a prophet, and this inner change would confirm that his appointment was genuinely divine.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ืฆืœื—ื”. ืชืขื‘ื•ืจ ืขืœื™ืš ืจื•ื— ื”ืณ ื•ืชื ื‘ื ืขืžื, ื•ืชื”ื™ื” ื ื”ืคืš ืœืื™ืฉ ืื—ืจ, ื›ื™ ืขืชื” ืื™ื ืš ื ื‘ื™ื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ืฆืœื—ื” ืขืœื™ืš ืจื•ื— ื”'. ืชืขื‘ื•ืจ ื•ืชื ื•ื— ืขืœื™ืš ืจื•ื— ื ื‘ื•ืื”: ื•ื”ืชื ื‘ื™ืช. ื‘ื ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื‘ืขืœื™ ื”ื”"ื: ื•ื ื”ืคื›ืช ืœืื™ืฉ ืื—ืจ. ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืชื”ื™ื” ืœืš ืจื•ื— ื™ืชื™ืจื ื•ืจื•ื— ื ื‘ื•ืื” ื•ืฉืจืจื” ื•ื–ื”ื• ืฉืืžืจ ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื•ื™ื”ืคื•ืš ืœื• ืืœื”ื™ื ืœื‘ ืื—ืจ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื–ืณ ยท Verse 7

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธึ—ื” ื›ึผึดึฅื™ (ืชื‘ืื™ื ื”) [ืชึธื‘ึนึ›ืื ึธื”] ื”ึธืึนืชึฅื•ึนืช ื”ึธืึตึ–ืœึผึถื” ืœึธึ‘ืšึฐ ืขึฒืฉื‚ึตึคื” ืœึฐืšึธึ™ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ืชึผึดืžึฐืฆึธึฃื ื™ึธื“ึถึ”ืšึธ ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ื”ึธืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ–ื™ื ืขึดืžึผึธึฝืšึฐืƒ

English:

And once these signs have happened to you, act when the occasion arises,fact when the occasion arises See 11.5โ€“13. for God is with you.

Samuel instructs Saul that once the three signs are fulfilled, confirming the truth of the anointing, he should act decisively as God is with him. Rashi explains that the fulfillment of the signs guarantees the kingship itself will be fulfilled, and Saul should prepare royal garments and court protocol. Radak suggests this is a veiled reference to the upcoming war against Nahash the Ammonite (chapter 11), where Saul will first exercise his royal authority.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
And when these signs come upon you. And you will realize that my words are true; for just as these signs will come to you, so will the matter of the kingship be fulfilled.5And therefore 'prepare yourself...' Prepare yourself as well as you can. [Targum renders,] 'prepare for yourself regal garments, and make ready for yourself the court ritual,' as well as you can.", hebrewText: "ื›ึดึผื™ ืชึธื‘ึนืื ึธื” ื”ึธืึนืชื•ึนืช ื”ึธืึตืœึถึผื” ืœึธืšึฐ. ื•ึฐืชึตื“ึทืข ื›ึดึผื™ ื“ึฐึผื‘ึธืจึทื™ ืึฑืžึถืช, ื•ึผื›ึฐืฉึตืื ืฉึถืื‘ึธึผืื•ึผ ืœึฐืšึธ ืื•ึนืชื•ึนืช ื”ึทืœึธึผืœื•ึผ, ื›ึธึผืšึฐ ื™ึดืชึฐืงึทื™ึตึผื ื“ึฐึผื‘ึทืจ ื”ึทืžึฐึผืœื•ึผื›ึธื”: ืขึฒืฉึตื‚ื” ืœึฐืšึธ ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืชึดึผืžึฐืฆึธื ื™ึธื“ึถืšึธ. ืดืึทืชึฐืงึดื™ืŸ ืœึธืšึฐ ืžึธืื ึตื™ ืžึทืœึฐื›ื•ึผืชึธืืด, ื•ึฐื”ึธื›ึตืŸ ืœึฐืšึธ ื˜ึทื›ึฐืกึดื™ืกึตื™ ื”ึทืžึฐึผืœื•ึผื›ึธื” ื›ึฐึผืžื•ึน ืฉึถืืชึผื•ึผื›ึทืœ:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืขืฉื” ืœืš. ื”ืชืงืŸ ืœืš ื›ืœื™ ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื›ืคื™ ื™ื›ื•ืœืชืš, ื›ื™ ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ืขืžืš ื•ืžืœื•ืš ืชืžืœื•ืš:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื›ื™ ืชื‘ืื™ื ื”. ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ื™ื•"ื“ ื›ืžื• ืชื‘ืื™ื ื” ื‘ื”ื™ื›ืœ ืžืœืš ืฉื ืงืจืืช ื”ืืœ"ืฃ ื•ื”ื™ื•"ื“ ืœืžืฉืš ืื‘ืœ ื–ื” ื ืงืจื ืชื‘ืื ื” ื‘ื”ืขืœื ื”ืืœ"ืฃ ื•ื”ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ื”ืงืจื™ ืฉื ื™ื”ื ืื—ื“ ื•ืฉื ื™ื”ื ื ื›ื•ื ื™ื ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื›ืžื• ืชืฉื•ื‘ื ื” ื•ืชืฉื•ื‘ื™ื ื”: ืขืฉื” ืœืš ืืฉืจ ืชืžืฆื ื™ื“ืš. ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉืชืจืฆื” ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืขืฉื” ื›ื™ ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ืขืžืš ื•ื™ืฉ ืœืคืจืฉ ื›ื™ ืจืžื– ืœื• ื‘ื–ื” ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ืžืœื—ืžืช ื ื—ืฉ ื”ืขืžื•ื ื™ ื•ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืชืจื’ื ืืชืงืŸ ืœืš ืžืื ื™ ืžืœื›ื•ืชื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื—ืณ ยท Verse 8

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื™ึธืจึทื“ึฐืชึผึธึฃ ืœึฐืคึธื ึทื™ึฎ ื”ึทื’ึผึดืœึฐื’ึผึธืœึ’ ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึผึตึคื” ืึธื ึนื›ึดื™ึ™ ื™ึนืจึตึฃื“ ืึตืœึถึ”ื™ืšึธ ืœึฐื”ึทืขึฒืœึฃื•ึนืช ืขึนืœึ”ื•ึนืช ืœึดื–ึฐื‘ึผึนึ–ื—ึท ื–ึดื‘ึฐื—ึตึฃื™ ืฉืึฐืœึธืžึดึ‘ื™ื ืฉืึดื‘ึฐืขึทึจืช ื™ึธืžึดึคื™ื ืชึผื•ึนื—ึตืœึ™ ืขึทื“ึพื‘ึผื•ึนืึดึฃื™ ืึตืœึถึ”ื™ืšึธ ื•ึฐื”ื•ึนื“ึทืขึฐืชึผึดึฃื™ ืœึฐืšึธึ” ืึตึ–ืช ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืชึผึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึถึฝื”ืƒ

English:

After that, you are to go down to Gilgal ahead of me, and I will come down to you to present burnt offerings and offer sacrifices of well-being. Wait seven days until I come to you and instruct you what you are to do next.โ€

Samuel gives Saul a crucial instruction for the future: after becoming king, he must go to Gilgal and wait seven days for Samuel to arrive and offer sacrifices. Radak explains that this command was given now, at the very inception of kingship, as the first test of Saul's obedience -- if he keeps it, his dynasty will endure; if not, it will not. This verse plants the seed of Saul's eventual downfall in chapter 13, when he fails to wait and offers the sacrifices himself.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Then you shall go down to Gilgol ahead of me. After you reign, you shall come down to Gilgol before me, i.e., before I go down. And I will go down to you. At the end of seven days after you will have gone down. Wait. You shall wait.", hebrewText: "ื•ึฐื™ึธืจึทื“ึฐืชึธึผ ืœึฐืคึธื ึทื™ ื”ึทื’ึดึผืœึฐื’ึธึผืœ. ื•ึผืœึฐืึทื—ึทืจ ืฉึถืืชึดึผืžึฐืœื•ึนืšึฐ, ืชึตึผืจึตื“ ื”ึทื’ึดึผืœึฐื’ึธึผืœ ืœึฐืคึธื ึทื™, ืงึนื“ึถื ืฉึถืืึตืจึตื“ ืึฒื ึดื™: ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึตึผื” ืึธื ึนื›ึดื™ ื™ึนืจึตื“ ืึตืœึถื™ืšึธ. ืœึฐืกื•ึนืฃ ืฉึดืื‘ึฐืขึทืช ื™ึธืžึดื™ื ืฉึถืืชึตึผืจึตื“ ืึทืชึธึผื”: ืชึผื•ึนื—ึตืœ. ืชึทึผืžึฐืชึดึผื™ืŸ:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืจื“ืช ืœืคื ื™ ื”ื’ืœื’ืœ. ื”ื–ื”ื™ืจื• ื•ืืžืจ ืœื•, ืœืื—ืจ ืฉืชืžืœื•ืš ื›ืืฉืจ ืชืจื“ ื”ื’ืœื’ืœ ื‘ืขืช ื”ืžืœื—ืžื” ืขื ืคืœืฉืชื™ื, ื•ื”ื ื” ืชืจื“ ืฉื ืงื•ื“ื ืฉืืจื“ ืื ื™, ื•ืชืžืชื™ืŸ ืื– ืฉื‘ืขืช ื™ืžื™ื ืขื“ ื‘ื•ืื™, ื›ื™ ืื ื™ ืืขืœื” ื”ืขื•ืœื•ืช ืœื”ืณ, ื•ืฉื ืื•ื“ื™ืข ืœืš ืืช ืืฉืจ ืชืขืฉื” ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” [ ื•ืœืคื™ ืฉืœื ื”ืžืชื™ืŸ, ื›ืขืก ืขืœื™ื• ื•ืœื ืืžืจ ืœื• ื’ื ืื– ]:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืฉื‘ืขืช ื™ืžื™ื ืชื•ื—ืœ. ืคื™' ืžื™ื•ื ื”ืคืจื“ื™ ืžืžืš ื‘ื’ืœื’ืœ ื•ื–ื” ื”ื™ื” ืื—ืจ ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ื›ื™ ื‘ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ืฉื ื™ื”ื ื‘ืื• ื”ื’ืœื’ืœ ื™ื—ื“ ืขื ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืื—ืจ ืฉื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ื”ืœืš ืœื• ื•ื‘ื—ืจ ืœื• ืฉืื•ืœ ืฉืœืฉืช ืืœืคื™ื ื•ื™ืชืจ ื”ืขื ืฉืœื— ืœืื•ื”ืœื™ื• ื•ืžื™ื•ื ืฉื ืคืจื“ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืžืฉืื•ืœ ืฉื ื‘ื’ืœื’ืœ ืืžืจ ืœื• ืฉื™ื™ื—ืœ ืœื• ืฉื‘ืขื” ื™ืžื™ื ืขื“ ืฉื™ื‘ื ืืœื™ื• ื•ืฉืื•ืœ ืœื ื™ืฆื ืžืŸ ื”ื’ืœื’ืœ ืืœื ื”ื™ื” ืฉื ืžื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ืขื“ ืฉืขืช ื”ืžืœื—ืžื” ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื•ืฉืื•ืœ ืขื•ื“ื ื• ื‘ื’ืœื’ืœ ื•ืžื” ืฉืืžืจ ืœื• ื–ื” ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืชื” ื•ืœื ื”ืžืชื™ืŸ ืœื• ืขื“ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื• ื‘ื’ืœื’ืœ ื•ื™ืคืจื“ ืžืžื ื• ืฉื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ืื– ืฉื‘ืขืช ื™ืžื™ื ืชื•ื—ืœ ืขื“ ื‘ื•ืื™ ืืœื™ืš ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืขืชื” ื›ืฉื“ื‘ืจ ืœื• ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ืจืžื– ืœื• ื‘ื–ื” ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืชืชืงื™ื™ื ืœื• ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ืื ืœืื• ื–ื• ื”ื™ื ืžืฆื•ื” ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ืฉืฆื•ื”ื• ื•ืื ื™ืขืžื•ื“ ื‘ื” ืชืชืงื™ื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ื• ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ื•ืื ืœืื• ืœื ืชืชืงื™ื™ื ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืืžืจ ื•ื”ื•ื“ืขืชื™ ืœืš ืืช ืืฉืจ ืชืขืฉื” ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืื– ืื•ื“ื™ืข ืื•ืชืš ืžื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ืžืžืœื›ื•ืชืš:

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืณ ยท Verse 9

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธึ—ื” ื›ึผึฐื”ึทืคึฐื ึนืชึคื•ึน ืฉืึดื›ึฐืžื•ึนึ™ ืœึธืœึถึ™ื›ึถืชึ™ ืžึตืขึดึฃื ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึ”ืœ ื•ึทื™ึผึทื”ึฒืคื‡ืšึฐึพืœึฅื•ึน ืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ–ื™ื ืœึตึฃื‘ ืึทื—ึตึ‘ืจ ื•ึทื™ึผึธื‘ึนึ›ืื•ึผ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพื”ึธืึนืชึฅื•ึนืช ื”ึธืึตึ–ืœึผึถื” ื‘ึผึทื™ึผึฅื•ึนื ื”ึทื”ึฝื•ึผืืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

As [Saul] turned around to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs were fulfilled that same day.

The moment Saul turns to leave Samuel, God transforms his inner being, giving him 'another heart' -- and all three signs come true that very day. Rashi interprets the new heart as a spirit of royal power and courage. Metzudat David understands it as the magnanimity of spirit befitting a king. The immediate fulfillment of every sign on the same day provides overwhelming confirmation of the divine appointment.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Transformed his heart. [To] a spirit of royal power.", hebrewText: "ืœึตื‘ ืึทื—ึตืจ. ืจื•ึผื—ึท ื’ึฐึผื‘ื•ึผืจึทืช ืžึทืœึฐื›ื•ึผืช:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืœื‘ ืื—ืจ. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื’ื•ื“ืœ ืœื‘ื‘ ื›ืืฉืจ ืจืื•ื™ ืœืžืœืš:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืด ยท Verse 10

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึธื‘ึนึคืื•ึผ ืฉืึธืึ™ ื”ึทื’ึผึดื‘ึฐืขึธึ”ืชึธื” ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึผึตึฅื” ื—ึถื‘ึถืœึพื ึฐื‘ึดืึดึ–ื™ื ืœึดืงึฐืจึธืืชึ‘ื•ึน ื•ึทืชึผึดืฆึฐืœึทึคื— ืขึธืœึธื™ื•ึ™ ืจึฃื•ึผื—ึท ืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ”ื™ื ื•ึทื™ึผึดืชึฐื ึทื‘ึผึตึ–ื ื‘ึผึฐืชื•ึนื›ึธึฝืืƒ

English:

And when they came there, to the Hill,gthe Hill Or โ€œGibeah.โ€ he saw a band of prophets coming toward him. Thereupon the spirit of God gripped him, and he spoke in ecstasy among them.

The third sign is fulfilled: arriving at Gibeah, Saul encounters the band of prophets and the spirit of God seizes him, causing him to prophesy among them. This is the culmination of the three-sign sequence and the visible manifestation of Saul's inner transformation described in the previous verse. The public nature of this ecstatic episode will generate astonishment among those who knew Saul and give rise to a lasting proverb in Israel.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื ยท Verse 11

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดึ—ื™ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพื™ึฝื•ึนื“ึฐืขื•ึนึ™ ืžึตืึดืชึผึฐืžึฃื•ึนืœ ืฉืึดืœึฐืฉืึนึ”ื ื•ึทื™ึผึดืจึฐืึ•ื•ึผ ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึผึตึฅื” ืขึดืึพื ึฐื‘ึดืึดึ–ื™ื ื ึดื‘ึผึธึ‘ืย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ื•ึทื™ึผึนึจืืžึถืจ ื”ึธืขึธึœื ืึดึฃื™ืฉื ืึถืœึพืจึตืขึตึ—ื”ื•ึผ ืžึทื”ึพื–ึผึถื”ึ™ ื”ึธื™ึธึฃื” ืœึฐื‘ึถืŸึพืงึดึ”ื™ืฉื ื”ึฒื’ึทึฅื ืฉืึธืึ–ื•ึผืœ ื‘ึผึทื ึผึฐื‘ึดื™ืึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

When all who knew him previously saw him speaking in ecstasy together with the prophets, the people said to one another, โ€œWhatโ€™s happened to the son of Kish?hthe son of Kish To refer to a person merely as โ€œthe son (ben) ofโ€ฆโ€ is slighting; cf. 20.27, 30, 31; Isa. 7.4. Is Saul too among the prophets?โ€

Those who had known Saul previously are astonished to see him prophesying among the prophets, and they ask dismissively about 'the son of Kish' -- a deliberately slighting form of address. This gives rise to the famous proverb 'Is Saul too among the prophets?' expressing incredulity at the gap between Saul's former obscurity and his sudden spiritual elevation. Metzudat David explains their surprise: Saul's father was no prophet, so how could prophecy have come to him?
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืžื” ื–ื” ื”ื™ื”. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืžื” ื–ื” ื”ืกื™ื‘ื” ืœื‘ืŸ ืงื™ืฉ ืœื”ืชื ื‘ืื•ืช, ื•ื›ื™ ืื‘ื™ื• ื ื‘ื™ื, ืœื”ืชื ื‘ืื•ืช ื’ื ื”ื•ื, ื•ื›ื™ ื’ื ืฉืื•ืœ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ื•ื“ื•ืžื” ืœื”ื, ื•ื›ื™ ืžืื™ืŸ ื‘ืื” ืœื• ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื”:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืžืืชืžื•ืœ. ื‘ื—ื™ืจืง ื”ืืœืฃ ื•ื“ื’ืฉ ื”ืชื™"ื•:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื‘ ยท Verse 12

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทึจืขึทืŸ ืึดึฅื™ืฉื ืžึดืฉืึผึธึ›ื ื•ึทื™ึผึนึ–ืืžึถืจ ื•ึผืžึดึฃื™ ืึฒื‘ึดื™ื”ึถึ‘ื ืขึทืœึพื›ึผึตืŸึ™ ื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธึฃื” ืœึฐืžึธืฉืึธึ”ืœ ื”ึฒื’ึทึฅื ืฉืึธืึ–ื•ึผืœ ื‘ึผึทื ึผึฐื‘ึดืึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

But another fellow there spoke up and said, โ€œAnd who are their fathers?โ€ Thus the proverb arose: โ€œIs Saul too among the prophets?โ€

An anonymous bystander defends Saul with the retort 'And who are their fathers?' -- meaning prophecy does not come through lineage, so there is no reason to be surprised. Rashi and Radak both interpret this as arguing that God is the true 'father' (teacher) of all prophets, and He can bestow the spirit on whomever He chooses. This exchange crystallizes a key theological principle: divine election transcends human pedigree, a theme that runs throughout the book of Samuel.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
And who is their father? Why do you wonder about the matter as to who is the father of the prophets? Is prophecy hereditary?6Or can mean 'Who is their teacher?' for one's teacher is called his father as in II Melachim 2:12. He implied to the people that 'ื” is their teacher and just as He teaches the other prophets, He can teach Shaul too.โ€”Radak", hebrewText: "ื•ึผืžึดื™ ืึฒื‘ึดื™ื”ึถื. ืžึธื” ืชึตึผื™ืžึทื”ึผ ืœึฐืšึธ ื‘ึทึผื“ึธึผื‘ึธืจ ืžึดื™ ืึฒื‘ึดื™ื”ึถื ืฉึถืืœ ื ึฐื‘ึดื™ืึดื™ื, ื•ึฐื›ึดื™ ื ึฐื‘ื•ึผืึธื” ื™ึฐืจื•ึผืฉึธืื” ื”ึดื™ื:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืžืฉื. ืžืŸ ื”ื’ื‘ืขื”: ื•ืžื™ ืื‘ื™ื”ื. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืžื” ืชืชืžื”ื•, ื•ื›ื™ ืžื™ ืื‘ื™ื”ื ืฉืœ ื›ืœ ื—ื‘ืœ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื, ื”ืœื ื’ื ืื‘ื™ื”ื ืฉืœ ืืœื• ืœื ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ื”ื™ื•: ื”ื™ืชื” ืœืžืฉืœ. ื‘ื‘ื•ื ืื“ื ืœืžืขืœื” ืฉืœื ื”ื•ืจื’ืœ ื‘ื”, ืืžืจื• ืขืœื™ื• ื‘ืžืฉืœ, ื”ื’ื ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ืžื™ ืื‘ื™ื”ื. ืชืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื•ืžืืŸ ืจื‘ื”ื•ืŸ ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื”ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืžื™ ื”ืžืœืžื“ ืืœื” ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ื•ืžืฉืจื” ืขืœื™ื”ื ืจื•ื— ื ื‘ื•ืื” ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœืชืžื•ื” ื‘ื–ื” ื›ื™ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืœืžื“ ืืœื” ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืžืœืžื“ ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื–ื”, ื•ื™ืฉ ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ืื‘ื™ื”ื ื›ืžืฉืžืขื• ืœืคื™ ืฉืืžืจื• ืžื” ื–ื” ื”ื™ื” ืœื‘ืŸ ืงื™ืฉ ืืžืจื• ื•ืืœื” ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืžื™ ืื‘ื™ื”ื ื•ื›ื™ ืžืื‘ื™ื”ื ื”ื™ื” ืœื”ื ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื” ืฉืืชื ืชืžื”ื™ื ืขืœ ื‘ืŸ ืงื™ืฉ: ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ืชื” ืœืžืฉืœ. ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื–ืืช ื”ืืžื™ืจื” ื”ื™ืชื” ืœืžืฉืœ ืžื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื•ืžืขืœื” ื›ืฉื”ื™ื” ืื“ื ืฉืคืœ ืขื•ืœื” ื‘ืžืขืœื” ื”ื™ื” ืื•ืžืจ ื”ื’ื ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Verse 13

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึฐื›ึทืœึ™ ืžึตึฝื”ึดืชึฐื ึทื‘ึผึ”ื•ึนืช ื•ึทื™ึผึธื‘ึนึ–ื ื”ึทื‘ึผึธืžึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

And when he stopped speaking in ecstasy, he entered the shrine.

After the prophetic ecstasy subsides, Saul enters the shrine (bamah) at Gibeah. Radak explains that the prophets had met Saul outside the shrine, and once the episode concluded he went inside, presumably to worship. This brief transitional verse marks the end of the extraordinary spiritual signs and the return to normal life -- but Saul is no longer the same person who left home searching for donkeys.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืžื”ืชื ื‘ื•ืช. ื‘ื ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื‘ืขืœื™ ื”ื”"ื: ื•ื™ื‘ื ื”ื‘ืžื”. ื›ื™ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืžืฆืื•ื”ื• ื—ื•ืฅ ืœื‘ืžื” ื•ื›ืฉื›ืœื” ืžื”ืชื ื‘ื•ืช ืขืžื”ื ื‘ื ืœื‘ื™ืช ื”ื‘ืžื”:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื“ ยท Verse 14

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฉืืžึถืจึฉ ื“ึผึจื•ึนื“ ืฉืึธืึฅื•ึผืœ ืึตืœึธึ›ื™ื• ื•ึฐืึถึฝืœึพื ึทืขึฒืจึ–ื•ึน ืึธึฃืŸ ื”ึฒืœึทื›ึฐืชึผึถึ‘ื ื•ึทื™ึผึนึ—ืืžึถืจ ืœึฐื‘ึทืงึผึตืฉืึ™ ืึถืชึพื”ึธึฃืึฒืชึนื ึ”ื•ึนืช ื•ึทื ึผึดืจึฐืึถึฃื” ื›ึดื™ึพื๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึ”ื™ึดืŸ ื•ึทื ึผึธื‘ึ–ื•ึนื ืึถืœึพืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึฝืœืƒ

English:

Saulโ€™s uncle asked him and his servant, โ€œWhere did you go?โ€ โ€œTo look for the donkeys,โ€ he replied. โ€œAnd when we saw that they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.โ€

Saul's uncle encounters him and asks about his journey, and Saul mentions only the donkeys and their visit to Samuel. Radak suggests this meeting may have occurred either at the shrine or later when Saul returned home. The exchange sets up the crucial moment of discretion in the next verses, where Saul's restraint about the kingship will reveal his character.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืฉืื•ืœ. ื‘ื‘ื•ืื• ืืœ ื”ื‘ืžื”, ืžืฆืื• ื“ื•ื“ื• ื•ืฉืืœ ืœื”ื, ืืŸ ื”ืœื›ืชื: ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ. ืœื ืžืฆืื ื• ืื•ืชื, ื•ื‘ืื ื• ืืœ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืœืฉืืœื• ืขืœื™ื”ื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืฉืื•ืœ ืืœื™ื•. ืื•ืœื™ ืžืฆืื• ืฉื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื‘ืžื” ืื• ืงืฆืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื•ื”ืœืš ืœื• ืฉืื•ืœ ืืœ ืขื™ืจื• ื•ืžืฆืื• ื“ื•ื“ื• ืชื—ืœื” ื•ืฉืืœ ืื•ืชื ืขืœ ื“ืจื›ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื• ยท Verse 15

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึ–ืืžึถืจ ื“ึผึฃื•ึนื“ ืฉืึธืึ‘ื•ึผืœ ื”ึทื’ึผึดึฝื™ื“ึธื”ึพื ึผึธึฃื ืœึดึ”ื™ ืžึธื”ึพืึธืžึทึฅืจ ืœึธื›ึถึ–ื ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึฝืœืƒ

English:

โ€œTell me,โ€ said Saulโ€™s uncle, โ€œwhat did Samuel say to you?โ€

Saul's uncle presses further, asking specifically what Samuel told them. This probing question heightens the dramatic tension -- the uncle seems to sense that something significant occurred beyond a routine inquiry about lost donkeys. The next verse will reveal Saul's remarkable discretion in answering.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื– ยท Verse 16

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึคืืžึถืจ ืฉืึธืื•ึผืœึ™ ืึถืœึพื“ึผื•ึนื“ึ”ื•ึน ื”ึทื’ึผึตึคื“ ื”ึดื’ึผึดื™ื“ึ™ ืœึธึ”ื ื•ึผ ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ื ึดืžึฐืฆึฐืึ–ื•ึผ ื”ึธืึฒืชึนื ึ‘ื•ึนืช ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื“ึผึฐื‘ึทึคืจ ื”ึทืžึผึฐืœื•ึผื›ึธื”ึ™ ืœึนืึพื”ึดื’ึผึดึฃื™ื“ ืœึ”ื•ึน ืึฒืฉืึถึ–ืจ ืึธืžึทึฅืจ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึฝืœืƒย {ืค}

English:

Saul answered his uncle, โ€œHe just told us that the donkeys had been found.โ€ But he did not tell him anything of what Samuel had said about the kingship.

Saul tells his uncle only that Samuel confirmed the donkeys were found, deliberately concealing the matter of the kingship. Rashi praises this as genuine modesty (tzniut), and Radak agrees it likely stemmed from humility. This restraint is one of Saul's finest character moments in the narrative, standing in poignant contrast to the pride that will later undo him. The Talmud (Megillah 13b) cites this as evidence of Saul's worthy character.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
But about the matter of the kingship he did not tell him. He possessed a discretionary nature.7 See Maseches Megillah 13b.", hebrewText: "ื•ึฐืึถืช ื“ึฐึผื‘ึทืจ ื”ึทืžึฐึผืœื•ึผื›ึธื” ืœึนื ื”ึดื’ึดึผื™ื“. ื“ึถึผืจึถืšึฐ ืฆึฐื ึดื™ืขื•ึผืช ื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ื‘ึผื•ึน:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืœื ื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœื•. ืื•ืœื™ ืžืชื•ืš ืฆื ื™ืขื•ืช ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ื‘ื•:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื– ยท Verse 17

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทืฆึฐืขึตึคืง ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตืœึ™ ืึถืชึพื”ึธืขึธึ”ื ืึถืœึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ื”ึทืžึผึดืฆึฐืคึผึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

Samuel summoned the people to GOD at Mizpah

The narrative shifts from private to public as Samuel convenes all Israel at Mizpah for a formal assembly before God. Radak explains that Mizpah was a traditional gathering place where an altar and house of prayer stood, and the presence of the community there invoked the Divine Presence. This marks the transition from Saul's secret anointing to the public selection process that will formally establish the monarchy.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืฆืขืง. ืืกืฃ ืืช ื”ืขื: ืืœ ื”ืณ. ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืฉื ืืกืคื™ื ืจื•ื‘ ืฆื‘ื•ืจ, ืฉื ื”ืฉื›ื™ื ื” ืฉื•ืจื”:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืฆืขืง ืฉืžื•ืืœ. ื›ืžื• ื•ื™ืืกืฃ ื•ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ืืกื™ืคื” ื•ื”ืงื‘ื•ืฅ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื”ืฆืขืงื” ื™ื‘ื ื‘ื–ื” ื”ืœืฉื•ืŸ: ืืœ ื”' ื”ืžืฆืคื”. ื›ืžื• ืฉืคื™' ื‘ืกืคืจ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื•ื‘ืกืคืจ ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ื”ื˜ืขื ืœืžื” ื”ื™ื” ืžื ื”ื’ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื”ืงื‘ืฅ ื‘ืžืฆืคื” ื•ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ืžื–ื‘ื— ื•ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืชืคืœื”:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื— ยท Verse 18

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฃืืžึถืจโ€‰ื€ ืึถืœึพื‘ึผึฐื ึตึฃื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ—ืœย {ืค}ื›ึผึนึฝื”ึพืึธืžึทึคืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ึ™ ืึฑืœึนื”ึตึฃื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ”ืœ ืึธื ึนื›ึดึ›ื™ ื”ึถืขึฑืœึตึฅื™ืชึดื™ ืึถืชึพื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ืžึดืžึผึดืฆึฐืจึธึ‘ื™ึดื ื•ึธืึทืฆึผึดึคื™ืœ ืึถืชึฐื›ึถืึ™ ืžึดื™ึผึทึฃื“ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึ”ื™ึดื ื•ึผืžึดื™ึผึทื“ึ™ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพื”ึทืžึผึทืžึฐืœึธื›ึ”ื•ึนืช ื”ึทืœึผึนื—ึฒืฆึดึ–ื™ื ืึถืชึฐื›ึถึฝืืƒ

English:

and said to them,ithem Heb. โ€œthe Israelites.โ€ โ€œThus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel: โ€˜I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.โ€˜

Samuel opens the assembly with a prophetic rebuke in God's name, reminding Israel that it was God who brought them out of Egypt and delivered them from every oppressor. Radak notes that Samuel had already conveyed this message when the people first requested a king, and now repeats it publicly to frame the selection in its proper theological context. The rebuke establishes that the monarchy is a concession, not an improvement upon divine rule.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื›ื” ืืžืจ. ืžืชื—ื™ืœื” ื›ืฉืฉืืœืชื ืžืœืš ืืžืจ ืœื›ื ื–ื”:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื˜ ยท Verse 19

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืึทืชึผึถึจื ื”ึทื™ึผึœื•ึนื ืžึฐืึทืกึฐืชึผึถึฃื ืึถืชึพืึฑืœึนื”ึตื™ื›ึถึ—ื ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพื”ึจื•ึผื ืžื•ึนืฉืึดึฃื™ืขึท ืœึธื›ึถืึฎ ืžึดื›ึผื‡ืœึพืจึธืขื•ึนืชึตื™ื›ึถึฃื ื•ึฐืฆึธืจึนืชึตื™ื›ึถืึ’ ื•ึทืชึผึนึฃืืžึฐืจื•ึผ ืœึ”ื•ึน ื›ึผึดื™ึพืžึถึ–ืœึถืšึฐ ืชึผึธืฉื‚ึดึฃื™ื ืขึธืœึตึ‘ื™ื ื•ึผ ื•ึฐืขึทืชึผึธึ—ื” ื”ึดึฝืชึฐื™ึทืฆึผึฐื‘ื•ึผึ™ ืœึดืคึฐื ึตึฃื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ืœึฐืฉืึดื‘ึฐื˜ึตื™ื›ึถึ–ื ื•ึผืœึฐืึทืœึฐืคึตื™ื›ึถึฝืืƒ

English:

But today you have rejected your God who delivered you from all your troubles and calamities. For you said, โ€˜No,jNo So many Heb. mss. and ancient versions. Other mss. and editions read โ€œto Him.โ€ set up a king over us!โ€™ Now station yourselves before GOD, by your tribes and clans.โ€

Samuel sharpens the rebuke: by demanding a human king, the people have rejected God Himself as their deliverer. Yet he proceeds to instruct them to station themselves by tribes and clans for the selection by lot. Radak explains that the lot was conducted through the Urim and Tummim to prevent tribal jealousy -- if Samuel simply named Saul, other tribes would have contested the choice. The divine mechanism ensures the selection is seen as God's will, not human favoritism.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืœืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื›ื. ื›ืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ ืœื‘ื“, ืœื”ื˜ื™ืœ ื”ื’ื•ืจืœ ืžื™ ื™ืžืœื•ืš: ื•ืœืืœืคื™ื›ื. ื”ื ื”ืžืฉืคื—ื•ืช ื”ื—ืœื•ืงื•ืช ืœืืœืคื™ื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ืชืืžืจื• ืœื•. ื™ืฉ ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ื›ืžื• ืœื ื‘ืืœืฃ ื›ื™ ืื•ืชื™ื•ืช ืื”ื•"ื™ ืžืชื—ืœืคื•ืช ื•ื”ื ื›ื•ืŸ ื›ืžืฉืžืขื• ื›ืžื• ืฉืช"ื™ ื•ืืžืจืชื•ืŸ ืงื“ืžื•ื”ื™ ืœื™ืช ืื ื—ื ื ืžืชืคืจืงื™ืŸ ืืœื”ื™ืŸ ืžืœื›ื ืชืžื ื™ ืขืœื ื ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื•ืกื™ืฃ ื‘ื• ืžืœืช ืœื ื‘ืืœืฃ ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื‘ื—ื“ื•ืฉ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ื•ืชืืžืจื• ืœื ื›ื™ ืžืœืš ื™ืžืœื•ืš ืขืœื™ื ื•: ื”ืชื™ืฆื‘ื• ืœืคื ื™ ื”'. ืœืคื™ ืฉืื ื”ื™ื” ืื•ืžืจ ืœื”ื ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืฉืื•ืœ ื™ืžืœื•ืš ืขืœื™ื›ื ื”ื™ื• ืžืงื ืื™ื ืฉืืจ ื”ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื ืื ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื ืœื›ื“ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืžื™ื ื•ื–ื”ื• ืœืคื ื™ ื”' ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉื ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ืื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืžื™ื ื•ื”ื™ื• ืฉื•ืืœื™ื ื‘ื”ื ืขืœ ื”ื“ืจืš ืฉืคื™ืจืฉื ื• ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืคืœื’ืฉ ื‘ื’ื‘ืขื” ื•ืืคืฉืจ ืฉื”ื‘ื™ืื• ืฉื ื”ืืจื•ืŸ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืณ ยท Verse 20

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทืงึฐืจึตึฃื‘ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึ”ืœ ืึตึ–ืช ื›ึผื‡ืœึพืฉืึดื‘ึฐื˜ึตึฃื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ‘ืœ ื•ึทื™ึผึดืœึผึธื›ึตึ–ื“ ืฉืึตึฅื‘ึถื˜ ื‘ึผึดื ึฐื™ึธืžึดึฝืŸืƒ

English:

Samuel brought forward each of the tribes of Israel, and the lot indicated the tribe of Benjamin.

The lot falls first on the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest of Israel's tribes. Metzudat David explains that the names of the tribes were presented before the Urim and Tummim, and Benjamin's lot was drawn. The choice of the smallest tribe echoes a pattern in the book -- God often chooses the unlikely and the humble, though this same smallness will later become a source of insecurity for Saul.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืงืจื‘. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ืœ ื”ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืžื™ื, ืœื”ื˜ื™ืœ ื”ื’ื•ืจืœ: ื•ื™ืœื›ื“. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืขืœื” ื”ื’ื•ืจืœ ืœื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ, ื•ื ืœื›ื“ ืคืชืงื• ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืžืขืœื” ืžืŸ ื”ืงืœืคื™:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื ยท Verse 21

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทืงึฐืจึตึžื‘ ืึถืชึพืฉืึตึคื‘ึถื˜ ื‘ึผึดื ึฐื™ึธืžึดืŸึ™ ืœึฐืžึดืฉืึฐืคึผึฐื—ึนืชึธึ”ื• ื•ึทืชึผึดืœึผึธื›ึตึ–ื“ ืžึดืฉืึฐืคึผึทึฃื—ึทืช ื”ึทืžึผึทื˜ึฐืจึดึ‘ื™ ื•ึทื™ึผึดืœึผึธื›ึตื“ึ™ ืฉืึธืึฃื•ึผืœ ื‘ึผึถืŸึพืงึดึ”ื™ืฉื ื•ึทื™ึฐื‘ึทืงึฐืฉืึปึ–ื”ื•ึผ ื•ึฐืœึนึฅื ื ึดืžึฐืฆึธึฝืืƒ

English:

Then Samuel brought forward the tribe of Benjamin by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was indicated; and thenkthen Septuagint reads โ€œthen he brought up the family of the Matrites by their men andโ€ฆโ€ Saul son of Kish was indicated. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.

The lot narrows progressively from tribe to clan to individual: the Matrites clan is selected, and finally Saul son of Kish is identified -- but he cannot be found. Rashi explains that even though Saul was absent, his name was written on a parchment in the box and the lot fell on it. The dramatic detail that Saul is missing at the very moment of his public selection creates one of the chapter's most memorable scenes.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
And Shaulโ€ฆ was singled out. Even though he was not there, the lot fell upon him, for their names were written on pieces of parchment and placed in a box. The prophet would insert his hand and take one piece of parchment.", hebrewText: "ื•ึทื™ึดึผืœึธึผื›ึตื“ ืฉึธืืื•ึผืœ. ืึทืฃ ืขึทืœ ืคึดึผื™ ืฉึถืืœึนึผื ื”ึธื™ึธื” ืฉึธืื, ื ึธืคึทืœ ื”ึทื’ึผื•ึนืจึธืœ ืขึธืœึธื™ื•, ืฉึถืื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ื›ึฐึผืชื•ึผื‘ึดื™ืŸ ืฉึฐืืžึธื ื‘ึฐึผืึดื’ึฐึผืจื•ึนืช ื•ึผื ึฐืชื•ึผื ึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึฐึผืงึปืคึฐืกึธื, ื•ึฐื”ึทื ึธึผื‘ึดื™ื ืžึทื›ึฐื ึดื™ืก ื™ึธื“ื•ึน ื•ึฐื ื•ึนื˜ึตืœ ืึดื’ึถึผืจึถืช ืึทื—ึทืช:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืœื›ื“ ืฉืื•ืœ. ืื—ืจ ืฉื”ื˜ื™ืœื• ื”ื’ื•ืจืœ ืขืœ ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื, ื ืœื›ื“ ืคืชืงื• ืฉืœ ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืžืขืœื”:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืœื›ื“ ืฉืื•ืœ. ืžืงืจื ืงืฆืจ ื›ื™ ืงื•ื“ื ืœื›ืŸ ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืžืฉืคื—ืช ื”ืžื˜ืจื™ ืœื’ื‘ืจื™ื ื•ืื– ื ืœื›ื“ ืฉืื•ืœ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื‘ ยท Verse 22

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึดืฉืึฐืึฒืœื•ึผึพืขื•ึนื“ึ™ ื‘ึผึทึฝื™ื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื”ึฒื‘ึธึฅื ืขึ–ื•ึนื“ ื”ึฒืœึนึฃื ืึดึ‘ื™ืฉืย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฃืืžึถืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื”ึดื ึผึตื”ึพื”ึฅื•ึผื ื ึถื—ึฐื‘ึผึธึ–ื ืึถืœึพื”ึทื›ึผึตืœึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

They inquired of GOD again, โ€œHas anyone else come here?โ€œlHas anyone else come here? Or โ€œHas the man in question come here?โ€; cf. Septuagint. And GOD replied, โ€œYes; he is hiding among the baggage.โ€

Unable to find Saul, the people inquire of God, who reveals that Saul is hiding among the baggage. Rashi offers two readings: the plain sense is that Saul hid in the storage room out of humility, fleeing from honor; the midrash (R. Tanchuma) reads 'the vessels' as referring to the Urim and Tummim, meaning Saul insisted on divine confirmation before accepting kingship. Radak and Metzudat David both emphasize that Saul's hiding reflects genuine modesty -- a trait the narrative views with ambivalence.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Is hidden by the baggage. In the room where newcomers had placed their baggage; [he hid] because he was running away from the high position. But the Midrash Aggadah of R. Tanchuma8Vayikra 3. explains that 'ืึถืœ ื”ึทื›ึผึตืœึดื™ื' refers to the Urim and Tumim. He said [to himself], 'perhaps I am not worthy of this high position. [I will not assume it]. until they inquire of the Urim and Tumim.9 Shaul was convinced that the Urim and Tumim would confirm that he was not worthy of the kingship. But, on the contrary, it confirmed that nobody was equal to him. In Maseches Eiruvin 13b it states that he who runs away from honor is rightfully pursued by it. Thereupon they asked, and he accepted it.", hebrewText: "ื ึถื—ึฐื‘ึธึผื ืึถืœ ื”ึทื›ึตึผืœึดื™ื. ื‘ึทึผื‘ึทึผื™ึดืช ืฉึถืื ึธึผืชึฐื ื•ึผ ืฉึธืื ื”ึทื‘ึธึผืึดื™ื ื›ึฐึผืœึตื™ื”ึถืŸ, ืฉึถืื”ึธื™ึธื” ื‘ึผื•ึนืจึตื—ึท ืžึดืŸ ื”ึทื’ึฐึผื“ื•ึผืœึธึผื”. ื•ึผืžึดื“ึฐืจึทืฉื ืึทื’ึธึผื“ึธื” ืจึทื‘ึดึผื™ ืชึทึผื ึฐื—ื•ึผืžึธื: ื•ึฐืึถืœ ื”ึทื›ึตึผืœึดื™ื, ื‘ึธึผืื•ึผืจึดื™ื ื•ึฐืชื•ึผืžึดึผื™ื, ืึธืžึทืจ: ืฉึถืืžึธึผื ืึตื™ื ึดื™ ืจึธืื•ึผื™ ืœึดื’ึฐื“ึปืœึธึผื” ืขึทื“ ืฉึถืื™ึดึผืฉึฐืืึฒืœื•ึผ ื‘ึธึผืื•ึผืจึดื™ื ื•ึฐืชึปืžึดึผื™ื, ื•ึฐืฉึธืืึฒืœื•ึผ ื•ึฐืขึธืœึธื” ื‘ึฐึผื™ึธื“ื•ึน:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืฉืืœื• ืขื•ื“ ื‘ื”ืณ. ืื—ืจ ืฉื‘ืงืฉื•ื”ื•, ื”ื•ืกื™ืคื• ืœืฉืื•ืœ ืขื•ื“ ื‘ืื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืžื™ื, ื”ืื ื‘ื ืœืคื” ืขื•ื“ ืื™ืฉ ืžืœื‘ื“ ื”ื ืžืฆืื™ื ืฉื ื•ื”ื™ื“ื•ืขื™ื: ื ื—ื‘ื. ื”ืกืชื™ืจ ืขืฆืžื• ื‘ื™ืŸ ื›ืœื™ ื”ืขื, ื•ื”ื™ื” ืœื”ื ืžืงื•ื ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ ืœื”ืขืžื™ื“ ืฉื ื›ืœื™ ืชืฉืžื™ืฉื, ื•ื”ื™ื” ืฉืื•ืœ ืžื˜ืžื™ืŸ ืขืฆืžื• ืฉื, ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื•ืจื— ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืจืจื”:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื”ื‘ื ืขื•ื“ ื”ืœื•ื ืื™ืฉ. ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืื ื‘ื ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ื”ื ื” ืฉืื•ืœ: ืืœ ื”ื›ืœื™ื. ื›ืžื• ื‘ื›ืœื™ื ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื›ืœื™ ื”ืขื ื”ื‘ืื™ื ืฉื ืฉื ืชื ื• ื›ืœื™ื”ื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืื—ื“ ื•ื”ื•ื ื ื—ื‘ื ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ื›ืœื™ื ื”ื”ื ืฉื”ื™ื” ื‘ื•ืจื— ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืจืจื” ื•ื‘ื ืืœ ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื‘ื™"ืช ื”ืฉืžื•ืฉ ื›ืžื• ื•ืืœ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ืชืชืŸ ืืช ื”ืขื“ื•ืช ื›ืžื• ื•ื‘ืืจื•ืŸ, ื•ื‘ื“ืจืฉ ืืœ ื”ื›ืœื™ื ื‘ืื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืžื™ื ืืžืจ ืฉืื•ืœ ืฉืžื ืื™ื ื ื™ ื”ื’ื•ืŸ ืœืžืœื›ื•ืช ืขื“ ืฉื™ืฉืืœื• ื‘ืื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืžื™ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื’ ยท Verse 23

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึธืจึปึ™ืฆื•ึผึ™ ื•ึทื™ึผึดืงึผึธื—ึปึฃื”ื•ึผ ืžึดืฉืึผึธึ”ื ื•ึทื™ึผึดืชึฐื™ึทืฆึผึตึ–ื‘ ื‘ึผึฐืชึฃื•ึนืšึฐ ื”ึธืขึธึ‘ื ื•ึทื™ึผึดื’ึฐื‘ึผึทื”ึผึ™ ืžึดื›ึผื‡ืœึพื”ึธืขึธึ”ื ืžึดืฉืึผึดื›ึฐืžึ–ื•ึน ื•ึธืžึธึฝืขึฐืœึธื”ืƒ

English:

So they ran over and brought him from there; and when he took his place among the people, he stood a head tallerma head taller See note at 9.2. than all the people.

They bring Saul out from hiding and he stands among the people, towering a full head above everyone. His extraordinary physical stature, already noted in 9:2, serves as visible confirmation of divine choice -- in the ancient Near East, an imposing figure inspired confidence and commanded respect. The dramatic reveal of the hidden king, now standing tall above the assembled nation, is the visual climax of the public selection ceremony.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื“ ยท Verse 24

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึจืืžึถืจ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึœืœ ืึถืœึพื›ึผื‡ืœึพื”ึธืขึธึ—ื ื”ึทืจึผึฐืึดื™ืชึถืึ™ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ื‘ึผึธื—ึทืจึพื‘ึผึฃื•ึน ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื›ึผึดึ›ื™ ืึตึฅื™ืŸ ื›ึผึธืžึนึ–ื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึผึฐื›ื‡ืœึพื”ึธืขึธึ‘ื ื•ึทื™ึผึธืจึดึงืขื•ึผ ื›ื‡ืœึพื”ึธืขึธึ›ื ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึฐืจึ–ื•ึผ ื™ึฐื—ึดึฅื™ ื”ึทืžึผึถึฝืœึถืšึฐืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

And Samuel said to the people, โ€œDo you see the one whom GOD has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.โ€ And all the people acclaimed him, shouting, โ€œLong live the king!โ€

Samuel presents Saul to the nation, declaring that God has chosen him and that there is none like him among all the people. The crowd responds with the royal acclamation 'Long live the king!' (yehi ha-melekh). Radak explains that Samuel emphasized Saul's physical stature because an imposing appearance commands awe and is fitting for a king. Metzudat David notes this was a shout of coronation. Yet the enthusiasm is not universal, as the next verses will reveal.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื”ืจืื™ืชื. ืื ื ื•ืชื ื™ื ืืชื ืœื‘ ืœืจืื•ืช ื•ืœื”ืชื‘ื•ื ืŸ ื‘ื”ืžืœืš ืืฉืจ ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณ, ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื›ืžื•ื”ื• ื•ื›ื•ืณ, ื•ื”ื’ื•ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืœืžืœื•ื›ื”: ื•ื™ืจื™ืขื•. ืชืจื•ืขืช ืžืœื•ื›ื”:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื”ืจืื™ืชื. ื‘ื“ื’ืฉ ื”ืจื™"ืฉ ืฉืœื ื›ืžื ื”ื’ ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ืจืื™ืชื ื›ื™ ืฉืœื— ื‘ืŸ ื”ืžืจืฆื— ื”ื–ื”: ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื›ืžื•ื”ื•. ื›ื™ ืื“ื ื‘ืขืœ ืงื•ืžื” ื•ืฆื•ืจื” ื ืื” ื™ืื•ืช ืœืžืœื•ื›ื” ื•ื™ื™ืจืื• ื”ืขื ืื•ืชื• ื™ื•ืชืจ: ื™ื—ื™ ื”ืžืœืš. ืชืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื™ืฆืœื— ืžืœื›ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื” ยท Verse 25

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึฐื“ึทื‘ึผึตึจืจ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึœืœ ืึถืœึพื”ึธืขึธึ—ื ืึตึšืช ืžึดืฉืึฐืคึผึทึฃื˜ ื”ึทืžึผึฐืœึปื›ึธึ”ื” ื•ึทื™ึผึดื›ึฐืชึผึนึฃื‘ ื‘ึผึทืกึผึตึ”ืคึถืจ ื•ึทื™ึผึทื ึผึทึ–ื— ืœึดืคึฐื ึตึฃื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ‘ื” ื•ึทื™ึฐืฉืึทืœึผึทึงื— ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึ›ืœ ืึถืชึพื›ึผื‡ืœึพื”ึธืขึธึ–ื ืึดึฅื™ืฉื ืœึฐื‘ึตื™ืชึฝื•ึนืƒ

English:

Samuel expounded to the people the rules of the monarchy, and recorded them in a document that he deposited before GOD. Samuel then sent the people back to their homes.

Samuel establishes the constitutional framework of the monarchy by expounding its rules (mishpat ha-melukha) and recording them in a document deposited before God, likely beside the Ark. Metzudat David distinguishes this from the earlier 'manner of the king' in chapter 8, explaining that these are the proper Torah-based laws of kingship -- the king's obligations and the people's duty to obey him. Radak agrees the document was placed in the Ark, giving it covenantal authority.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืืช ืžืฉืคื˜ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื”. ื—ืง ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ื”ืจืื•ื™ ืขืœ ืคื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื”ืžืฆื•ื”, ืฉื™ื”ื ืžื•ืจืื• ืขืœ ื”ืขื ื•ืœื ื™ืžืจื• ืคื™ื•: ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ. ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืžืฉืคื˜ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื”. ื—ืง ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ืขืœ ื”ืขื ื›ืžื• ืฉื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœืžืขืœื”: ื•ื™ื ื— ืœืคื ื™ ื”'. ื‘ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ื ื™ื—ื•:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื• ยท Verse 26

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื’ึทึจืึพืฉืึธืึ”ื•ึผืœ ื”ึธืœึทึฅืšึฐ ืœึฐื‘ึตื™ืชึ–ื•ึน ื’ึผึดื‘ึฐืขึธึ‘ืชึธื” ื•ึทื™ึผึตืœึฐื›ึฃื•ึผ ืขึดืžึผึ”ื•ึน ื”ึทื—ึทึ•ื™ึดืœ ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพื ึธื’ึทึฅืข ืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ–ื™ื ื‘ึผึฐืœึดื‘ึผึธึฝืืƒ

English:

Saul also went home to Gibeah, accompanied by upstanding mennupstanding men In contrast to โ€œscoundrelsโ€ (v. 27); understanding Heb. แธฅayil as the equivalent of bene แธฅayil, as read by Septuagint and 4QSamแตƒ. whose hearts God had touched.

Saul returns home to Gibeah rather than establishing a royal court, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. Radak notes that Saul went home as before, not yet acting as king, because he saw that his support was not yet universal. Rashi, citing Targum Jonathan, identifies his companions as God-fearing men. The detail that God 'touched their hearts' parallels Saul's own transformation, suggesting that divine initiative is needed on both sides -- in the king and in his supporters.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
God had touched. [Targum renders], 'men who fear sin, in whose heart 'ื” has instilled fear.'", hebrewText: "ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื ึธื’ึทืข ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ื. ืดื’ึปึผื‘ึฐืจึดื™ืŸ ื“ึทึผื—ึฒืœึตื™ ื—ึฒื˜ึธืึธื” ื“ึฐึผืึดืชึฐื™ึฐื”ึตื‘ ื“ึทึผื—ึฒืœึธื ืžึดืŸ ืงึณื“ึธื ื”ืณ ื‘ึฐึผืœึดื‘ึฐึผื”ื•ึนืŸืด:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืืฉืจ ื ื’ืข ืืœื”ื™ื. ืืฉืจ ื ื’ืข ื™ืจืืช ืืœื”ื™ื ื‘ืœื‘ื, ืœื›ื‘ื“ ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ืืฉืจ ื ืžืฉื— ืขืœ ืคื™ ื”ื“ื‘ื•ืจ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื’ื ืฉืื•ืœ ื”ืœืš ืœื‘ื™ืชื•. ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืฉื”ืœืš ืœื• ืœื‘ื™ืชื• ื›ื‘ืชื—ื™ืœื” ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืจืื” ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ืžืงื•ื‘ืœ ื•ืžืจื•ืฆื” ืœื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ืœืš ืœื‘ื™ืชื• ื•ืœื ื”ืชื ื”ื’ ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ื›ืžืฉืคื˜ ืžืœืš: ืืฉืจ ื ื’ืข ืืœื”ื™ื ื‘ืœื‘ื. ืฉื ืชืŸ ืืœื”ื™ื ื‘ืœื‘ื ืœืจืฆื•ืช ืœื• ื•ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืชืจื’ื ื•ืื–ืœื• ืขืžื™ื” ืงืฆืช ืžืŸ ืขืžื ื’ื‘ืจื™ืŸ ื“ื—ืœื™ ื—ื˜ืื” ื“ืืชื™ื”ื‘ ื“ื—ืœื ืžืŸ ืงื“ื ื”' ื‘ืœื‘ื”ื•ืŸ ื•ื™ื•ื›ื™ื— ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ืœื™ืขืœ ืฉืืžืจ ืื—ืจ ื›ืŸ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื– ยท Verse 27

Hebrew:

ื•ึผื‘ึฐื ึตึงื™ ื‘ึฐืœึดื™ึผึทึฃืขึทืœ ืึธืžึฐืจึ—ื•ึผ ืžึทื”ึพื™ึผึนืฉืึดืขึตึ™ื ื•ึผึ™ ื–ึถึ”ื” ื•ึทื™ึผึดื‘ึฐื–ึปึ•ื”ื•ึผ ื•ึฐืœึนืึพื”ึตื‘ึดึฅื™ืื•ึผ ืœึ–ื•ึน ืžึดื ึฐื—ึธึ‘ื” ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดึ–ื™ ื›ึผึฐืžึทื—ึฒืจึดึฝื™ืฉืืƒย {ืค}

English:

But some scoundrels said, โ€œHow can this fellow save us?โ€ So they scorned him and brought him no gift. But he pretended not to mind.oBut he pretended not to mind Lit. โ€œBut he was as one who holds his peace.โ€ Septuagint and 4QSamแตƒ read โ€œAbout a month later,โ€ connecting with what follows.

The chapter ends on a divided note: 'sons of worthlessness' (bnei beliyaal) scorn Saul, refuse to bring the customary coronation gift, and question his ability to save them. Metzudat David explains their contempt stemmed from his family's insignificance. Yet Saul responds with silence -- 'as one who holds his peace' -- which the commentators view as his finest moment. Radak notes he withheld punishment, and this restraint contrasts sharply with the impulsiveness that will later characterize his reign.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืžื” ื™ื•ืฉื™ืขื ื• ื–ื”. ืขืœ ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื•ืช ืžืฉืคื—ืชื• ื”ืฆืขื™ืจื”, ื•ืžื™ ืื ื›ืŸ ื™ื—ื–ื™ืง ื‘ื™ื“ื•: ื•ืœื ื”ื‘ื™ืื• ืœื• ืžื ื—ื”. ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ื“ืจืš ืœื”ื‘ื™ื ืœืžืœืš ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืžืœื›ื•: ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ืžื—ืจื™ืฉ. ืขืฉื” ืขืฆืžื• ื›ื—ืจืฉ ืœื ื™ืฉืžืข ืื• ื›ืืœื ืœื ื™ืคืชื— ืคื™ื•:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ืœื ื”ื‘ื™ืื• ืœื• ืžื ื—ื”. ื›ืžื• ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื ื”ื’ ืฉืžื‘ื™ืื™ื ืžื ื—ื” ืœืžืœืš ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฉื”ื•ืงื ืžืœืš ื•ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืชืจื’ื ื•ืœื ืืชื• ืœืžืฉืืœ ื‘ืฉืœืžื™ื”:

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