1 Samuel 10:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Saul 's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel."

NIV: Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, "Where have you been?" "Looking for the donkeys," he said. "But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel."

NASB: Now Saul’s uncle said to him and his servant, 'Where did you go?' And he said, 'To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel.'

CSB: Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, "Where did you go?" "To look for the donkeys," Saul answered. "When we saw they weren’t there, we went to Samuel."

NLT: Where have you been?' Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant. 'We were looking for the donkeys,' Saul replied, 'but we couldn’t find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were.'

KJV: And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.

NKJV: Then Saul’s uncle said to him and his servant, “Where did you go?” So he said, “To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel.”

First Samuel 10:1–16 starts where the previous chapter left off. Samuel anoints Saul's head with oil and tells him the Lord has anointed him to be Israel's prince. Saul will reign over the people and save them from their enemies. Three signs will confirm this is true. All three signs happen, including God's Spirit rushing on Saul and him prophesying with a group of musical prophets. Saul's uncle asks about Samuel, but Saul doesn't tell him about becoming king.

Samuel anoints Saul as the next prince of Israel and gives him three signs of things that will happen to confirm his prophecy. The Spirit of God rushes on Saul and he joins in prophesying with a group of musical prophets. Saul tells his uncle he met Samuel, but he doesn't reveal what Samuel told him about the kingship. Samuel calls all of Israel to Mizpah. Saul is selected king by casting lots. Though Saul hides at first, the people shout, "long live the king!" A group of valiant men accompany Saul back home while another group opposes him.

Despite being warned, Israel demanded to have a human king (1 Samuel 8:19–20). God allowed this, telling Samuel to anoint Saul (1 Samuel 9:15–17). The old prophet gives the young man three signs that will confirm this appointment is from God; everything happens as Samuel describes. Samuel calls the people to Mizpah where the new king is selected by casting lots. Saul hides, is discovered, and then is warmly accepted as Israel's new king. However, some are dubious that Saul is equipped for the task. Saul will be successful at first (1 Samuel 11:11) but will eventually reject God and be replaced by David (Samuel 16:1).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.