1Sa 10:5-18 | TNotes | STEP | 10:5 Gibeah of God, Saul’s hometown (10:26 ), had been a lawless city (Judg 19–21 ). Nowhere else is it described as being “of God.” This description might point to God’s ownership of the town despite the occupation of the Philistines . • band: Prophets often lived in groups (e.g., 2 Kgs 2:3 ). • harp ... lyre: Ancient prophets sometimes used musical instruments to stimulate and accompany prophesying (e.g., 2 Kgs 3:15 ).

10:5 ^a Gibeah of God, Saul’s hometown (10:26 ^b), had been a lawless city (Judg 19–21 ^c). Nowhere else is it described as being “of God.” This description might point to God’s ownership of the town despite the occupation of the Philistines.

• band: Prophets often lived in groups (e.g., 2 Kgs 2:3 ^d).

• harp ... lyre: Ancient prophets sometimes used musical instruments to stimulate and accompany prophesying (e.g., 2 Kgs 3:15 ^e).
10:6 ^f prophesy: Cp. 2 Sam 23:2 ^g; Acts 2:29-31 ^h.

• different person: Saul would become a spiritual and charismatic national leader (cp. 1 Sam 16:14 ⁱ).
10:7 ^j for God is with you: God’s presence empowered Saul to carry out his responsibilities.
10:8 ^k Gilgal: See study note on 7:16.

• wait for seven days: Saul apparently fulfilled this instruction in 11:14-15 ^l (cp. 13:8 ^m).
10:9 ⁿ a new heart: God gave Saul courage and strength, helping him overcome his hesitancy and enabling him to be king (10:6 ^o).
10:10 ^p the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul: See thematic note for The Spirit’s Presence at end of chapter; see also 11:6 ^q; Judg 14:6 ^r, 19 ^s; 15:14 ^t; cp. Acts 2:17-18 ^u, 39 ^v).

• When Saul ... began to prophesy, it was a clear sign that he had been chosen to lead Israel (see also 1 Sam 19:18-23 ^w).
10:11 ^x Those who knew Saul might have known him to be nonreligious and thus an unlikely candidate for prophet. Their surprise might indicate disappointment at receiving a prophet instead of a king (cp. John 6:14-15 ^y).
10:12 ^z “Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?” Unlike priests and kings, prophets never inherited their office. Possibly the people were asking why Saul, whose well-to-do father was well known, would associate himself with a group of people who had no pedigree.
10:16 ^aa Perhaps Saul didn’t tell his uncle because he had lingering uncertainty about what had transpired.
10:17 ^ab An earlier generation had gathered at Mizpah to decimate the tribe of Benjamin (Judg 20:1-4 ^ac), making the city an ironic place to inaugurate a man of Benjamin as king.
10:18 ^ad rescued you ... from all of the nations: Israel did not need a human king to rescue them; they needed God, but they had rejected him (10:19 ^ae).