1 Samuel 10:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.

NIV: "Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine.

NASB: Then you will go on further from there, and you will come as far as the oak of Tabor, and there three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you: one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a jug of wine.

CSB: "You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a clay jar of wine.

NLT: When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God at Bethel. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a wineskin full of wine.

KJV: Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:

NKJV: Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.

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.