1 Samuel 10 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

1 Samuel 10 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Samuel was born in approximately 1100 B.C.

• Samuel lived until approximately 1012 B.C.

• Israel’s first king was appointed in approximately 1050 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Samuel – He grew up in Shiloh under the care of Eli. He judged Israel until his death. He was a prophet who received messages from God.

• Saul – God selected Saul to be the first king of Israel. He was from the tribe of Benjamin.

WHERE:

• Samuel gave Saul 3 signs which each took place at a unique location: Rachel’s tomb (at Bethlehem), the oak of Tabor (location unknown), and Gibeath-elohim (location debated, perhaps near Geba, 4 miles north-east of Gibeah).

• Samuel introduced Saul as king in Mizpah.

OUTLINE:

• SAMUEL ANOINTS SAUL KING (10:1-16):

  • At the end of 1 Samuel 9, Samuel sent Saul’s servant home ahead of him so he could talk to Saul privately.

  • When the servant was gone, Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head, anointing him.

  • He told Saul God had chosen him to be king over Israel.

  • As a witness that Samuel spoke the truth, Samuel told Saul about 3 signs he would encounter on his way back to his father’s house.

  • (1) Saul would meet 2 men near Rachel’s tomb who would confirm his father’s donkeys had been found.

  • (2) Near the oak of Tabor, Saul would meet three men. Between them, they would be carrying 3 young goats, 3 loaves of bread, and a skin of wine. The men would give him 2 of their loaves of bread.

  • (3) Saul would meet a group of prophets at Gibeath-elohim, the Spirit of the Lord would rush on him, and he would prophecy with the prophets.

  • After these signs were accomplished, Saul was to go to Gilgal and wait for Samuel to give him the next steps.

  • As Saul was departing from Samuel “God gave him another heart” (10:9).

  • All 3 signs were fulfilled as Saul made his way home.

  • Saul told his uncle about his meeting with Samuel, but he didn’t mention anything about being anointed king of Israel.

• SAMUEL ANNOUNCES SAUL AS KING (10:17-27):

  • Samuel gathered the Israelites at Mizpah.

  • He reminded the people that they had rejected God by asking for a king.

  • That said, God would allow them to appoint a king.

  • To show it was God’s will for Saul to be king, Samuel cast lots.

  • The lot fell on the tribe of Benjamin, then the clan of the Matrites was indicated, then Saul specifically was chosen.  

  • But there was a problem, no one could find Saul.

  • The Lord revealed that Saul was hiding in the baggage.

  • The men found him and presented him to the people.

  • Samuel announced that he would be king over Israel, and all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

  • After the ceremony, Saul went home to Gibeah.

  • Some of the Israelites murmured against Saul because they didn’t approve of his selection.

APPLICATION:

• Samuel anointed Saul king of Israel. This anointing was very important and it’s a key part of why we call Jesus “the Christ.”

• Christ wasn’t Jesus’ last name.

• “Christ” is a title that has its origins in the Hebrew language. The word מָשחַ (Mašíaḥ, messiah) in Hebrew meant “anointed [one]” (A Greek English Lexicon). Several men in Jewish history were described using this term. It was used to refer to anointed priests (Lev 4:3) and David used it when describing Saul (1 Sam 26:9).

• 1Sa 26:9   - But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?”

• When the Old Testament scriptures were translated into Greek, the term מָשחַ (Mašíaḥ, messiah) was translated using the word χριστός (chrīstós), meaning "anointed one”. χριστός is derived from the Greek verb χρίω (chrī́ō), meaning "to anoint” (Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology). When the Bible was translated from Greek to English, χριστός (chrīstós) became Christ.

• When reading the Old Testament, the term was applied to individuals who God selected to fill special roles. But in a more specific sense, a New Testament sense, the Jews came to recognize this title as referring to a specific individual who God would send to redeem their nation. Throughout their history, they had many messiahs, but the 1st Century Jews were on the lookout for The Messiah.