1 Samuel 10:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 10 Samuel anointeth Saul, 1 Samuel 10:1; confirms him by prediction of three signs, 1 Samuel 10:2-8. Saul prophesies, 1 Samuel 10:9-13. He cometh to his uncle; telleth him what Samuel had said concerning the asses, but concealeth the matter of the kingdom, 1 Samuel 10:14-16. Samuel assembleth the people at Mizpeh, 1 Samuel 10:17-20. Saul is chosen king by lot; but hideth himself; is discovered by God. His stature, 1 Samuel 10:21-23. Samuel presents him to the people, who receive him with shouting, 1 Kings 10:24. Samuel writeth the manner of the kingdom in a book, 1 Kings 10:25. God inspires the people with reverence towards Saul; but the children of Belial despise him, 1 Samuel 10:26,27. This was the usual rite in the designation, as of priests and prophets, so also of kings, as 1 Samuel 16:1 13 1 Kings 1:39 2 Kings 9:1,3,6; whereby was signified the pouring forth of the gifts of God's Spirit upon him, to enable him for the administration of his office, which he might expect, and should receive upon the discharge of his duty. And kissed him; partly in token of that reverence which he did owe, and that subjection which he and all the people were shortly to perform to him, whereof kissing was a sign, as Genesis 41:40 1 Kings 19:18; and partly as a testimony of his sincere friendship and affection to him, and how far he was from envying his successor in the supreme dignity. Over his inheritance, i.e. 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 and manage them according to his own will and pleasure, but according to the will and mind of God.