Berean Study Bible Samuel Anoints SaulSamuel formally consecrated Saul for the office God had appointed him to fill. Oil was used in Israel to set apart those chosen for sacred service, including priests and kings. 2Ki 9:1-3 Elisha the prophet summoned one of the sons of the prophets… poured it on Saul’s head, The anointing publicly marked Saul as the man selected by God to lead Israel. His authority would not rest merely on popular approval or personal strength, but on the LORD’s appointment. This foreshadows Jesus Christ, the Messiah, whose title means “Anointed One.” Psa 133:2 It is like fine oil on the head, running down… kissed him, Samuel’s kiss expressed honor and acceptance of God’s choice. The prophet who had led Israel now acknowledged Saul as the nation’s appointed ruler. Gen 33:4 Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him… and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you Samuel made clear that Saul’s kingship came from the LORD. Though Samuel performed the act, God Himself had chosen Saul. 1Sa 9:16 At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land… ruler over His inheritance? Israel belonged to the LORD by covenant, and Saul was entrusted with governing God’s people rather than ruling them as his own possession. His kingship carried the duty to lead Israel under God’s authority. Deu 32:9 But the LORD’s portion is His people, Jacob… When you leave me today, Samuel gives Saul an immediate sign confirming that God has chosen him for a larger purpose. 1Sa 9:27 As they were going down to the edge of the city… you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb Rachel’s tomb marked the burial place of Benjamin’s mother near Bethlehem, connecting Saul’s coming kingship with the history of his own tribe. Gen 35:19-20 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath… in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. The precise location on Benjamin’s border confirms the certainty of Samuel’s prediction and keeps the event within Saul’s tribal homeland. Jos 18:28 Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem)… They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, Saul’s original task had been completed, freeing him from the errand that had led him to Samuel. 1Sa 9:20 As for the donkeys you lost three days ago… and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, Kish’s concern had turned from his lost animals to the safety of his son, who had been gone longer than expected. 1Sa 9:5 When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant… asking, “What should I do about my son?”’ The report would assure Saul that he could return home without fear and would serve as the first confirmation of Samuel’s anointing and promise. Gen 37:34-35 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist,… Then you will go on from there until you come to the Oak of Tabor. Samuel directed Saul along a route marked by a recognized oak, though its location is now unknown. It was likely a familiar landmark rather than Mount Tabor. The journey moved Saul from the private confirmation of his anointing toward the public signs that would establish God’s choice. Gen 35:8 Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under… Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, Bethel, meaning “house of God,” was an important place of worship associated with Israel’s early history. The men were traveling there to present offerings, and their meeting with Saul was another appointed sign that the Lord was directing his steps. Gen 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel.”… one carrying three young goats, The goats were likely intended for sacrifice, showing that the travelers were preparing for worship. 1Sa 16:20 And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine… another carrying three loaves of bread, The bread provided food for the journey and for the sacrificial meal connected with worship. Luk 11:5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you… and another carrying a skin of wine. The wine completed the provisions commonly associated with offerings and festive meals before the Lord. 1Sa 25:18 Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread… They will greet you Their greeting would publicly recognize Saul with peace and goodwill, confirming that he was no longer returning home as an unknown man but as the one God had chosen to lead Israel. Rut 2:4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem… and give you two loaves of bread, Bread was a practical gift of hospitality and provision. The two loaves would meet Saul’s immediate need and serve as a visible sign that God was supplying for him through the people he encountered. Lev 23:17 Bring two loaves of bread from your dwellings… which you will accept from their hands. Saul was to receive the gift as God’s provision. His acceptance showed obedience to Samuel’s instruction and affirmed the signs God gave to confirm his calling as king. 1Sa 25:35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had… After that you will come to Gibeah of God, Gibeah was Saul’s hometown in Benjamin and would become closely associated with his reign. Its designation as “of God” points to its religious significance. 1Sa 11:4-5 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul… where the Philistines have an outpost. A Philistine garrison in Benjamin showed the extent of Philistine control over Israel and anticipated the conflict Saul would soon lead against them. 1Sa 13:3-4 Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba,… As you approach the city, Saul’s return brought him toward the signs Samuel had given to confirm God’s choice of him as king. 1Sa 9:14 So Saul and his servant went up toward the city,… you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, These prophets had been worshiping at a local place of sacrifice and were returning together in public devotion. 1Sa 9:11-13 And as they were climbing the hill to the city,… preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, Music accompanied their worship and prophetic ministry, marking the occasion as one of praise and spiritual activity. 2Sa 6:5 David and all the house of Israel were celebrating… and they will be prophesying. Their inspired speech would be followed by the Spirit’s coming upon Saul, providing visible confirmation that God had set him apart for Israel’s leadership. 1Sa 19:20-24 he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group… Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, God would empower Saul in a sudden, unmistakable way for the kingship to which He had called him. As with the judges of Israel, the Spirit’s coming demonstrated that Saul’s authority and ability to lead were to depend upon the LORD’s presence rather than natural strength alone. Jdg 14:6 and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him,… and you will prophesy with them; Saul would join the company of prophets in speaking under God’s influence, publicly confirming that the LORD had set him apart. The event would assure Saul and those around him that God was directing the transition from the period of judges to the monarchy. 1Sa 19:20-24 he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group… and you will be transformed into a different person. The change involved new capacity and responsibility suited to Saul’s calling as Israel’s king. God gave him what was needed to begin ruling according to His command, though Saul would later be tested by whether he continued to submit to the LORD. Ezk 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit… When these signs have come, When these signs occurred, they confirmed that the Lord had chosen and equipped Saul to be king over Israel, removing any doubt that his anointing was directed by God. Exo 4:8-9 And the LORD said, “If they refuse to believe you… do as the occasion demands, Saul was to respond faithfully and wisely to the circumstances before him, carrying out the responsibilities God placed in his path rather than waiting for further instruction in every matter. Ecc 9:10 Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it… for God is with you. The Lord’s presence assured Saul of the help, authority, and strength needed for his calling. His success as king would depend on continuing to act under God’s rule. 1Sa 18:14 and he continued to prosper in all his ways,… And you shall go before me to Gilgal, Gilgal, Israel’s first encampment after crossing the Jordan, was associated with covenant renewal and the beginning of the conquest. Saul was to go there ahead of Samuel and wait in submission to the Lord’s appointed order. 1Sa 11:14-15 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal”… and surely I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Samuel would lead the worship, offering sacrifices that expressed Israel’s need for atonement and fellowship with God. Saul’s rule was not independent of the Lord but was to remain under God’s worship, covenant, and prophetic direction. 2Sa 6:17-18 So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place… Wait seven days until I come to you Saul was required to wait for Samuel rather than act according to pressure, fear, or military necessity. His later failure to obey this command revealed a heart unwilling to submit fully to God’s authority. 1Sa 13:8-10 And Saul waited seven days for the time appointed… and show you what you are to do.” Saul was to receive further instruction through Samuel, demonstrating that the king of Israel was accountable to God and governed by His revealed will. Psa 25:4-5 Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.…
Samuel’s Signs FulfilledSaul departed bearing the weight of an unexpected calling. Samuel had anointed him privately as Israel’s first king after the nation demanded a monarch like the surrounding peoples. His departure marked the beginning of his transition from an ordinary Benjamite to the man appointed to lead Israel. 1Sa 9:27 As they were going down to the edge of the city… God changed Saul’s heart, God prepared Saul inwardly for the task ahead, granting him the disposition and capacity needed for leadership. The change confirmed that Saul’s appointment did not rest merely on human selection or appearance, but on God’s enabling. 1Sa 11:6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God… and all the signs came to pass that day. Each event Samuel had foretold occurred exactly as promised, confirming both Saul’s anointing and Samuel’s authority as God’s prophet. God gave Saul immediate assurance that his new role came by divine direction. 1Ki 13:3-5 That day the man of God gave a sign, saying,… When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, Gibeah, Saul’s hometown in Benjamin, stood a few miles north of Jerusalem. It was also remembered for the grievous crime that brought civil war upon Israel in the days of the judges. Saul returned there not merely as a private citizen, but as the man God had chosen to lead Israel. 1Sa 9:14 So Saul and his servant went up toward the city,… a group of prophets met him. These prophets were traveling in worship and ministry, and their appearance fulfilled the sign Samuel had given Saul. Their presence publicly confirmed that God was directing Saul’s appointment. 1Sa 19:20-21 he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group… Then the Spirit of God rushed upon him, God’s Spirit came upon Saul with immediate power, equipping him for the responsibilities connected with his calling as king. 1Sa 11:6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God… and he prophesied along with them. Saul joined the prophets in Spirit-inspired worship, providing a visible sign that God had set him apart for Israel’s leadership. 1Sa 19:23-24 So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God… When all those who had formerly known Saul Those who had known Saul as Kish’s son, occupied with ordinary family responsibilities, were astonished to see his new public identity as one empowered by God’s Spirit. Act 9:26-27 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join… saw him prophesying with the prophets, Saul was acting under the Spirit’s power among the prophetic company, providing visible confirmation that God had set him apart for Israel’s kingship. Num 11:25-29 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him,… they asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Their astonishment reflected the unexpected nature of God’s choice and the sudden change they observed in Saul. Act 9:21 All who heard him were astounded and asked,… Is Saul also among the prophets?” The question became a proverb for an unexpected change in a person’s conduct or position, though Saul’s later failures showed that a dramatic spiritual experience did not remove the need for continued obedience to God. 1Sa 19:20-24 he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group… Then a man who lived there replied, A resident of Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, responded to the reports of Saul prophesying with the band of prophets. Those who knew Saul were startled because nothing in his earlier life had marked him as a prophet or spiritual leader. 2Ki 2:15 When the sons of the prophets who were watching him… “And who is their father?” The question challenged the assumption that prophetic ministry depended on family standing or human credentials. The prophets belonged to the Lord, and He could empower Saul apart from his background or reputation. Amo 7:14 “I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son…”… So the saying became a proverb: The incident became widely known and entered common speech because Saul’s change was so unexpected. His experience demonstrated that God’s Spirit could set apart and equip the man He had chosen as Israel’s king. 1Ki 9:7 then I will cut off Israel from the land… “Is Saul also among the prophets?” The proverb expressed amazement that Saul had been included among the prophets. God’s empowering presence confirmed Saul’s anointing, even though his later life would reveal his failure to continue in faithful obedience. 1Sa 19:23-24 So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God… And when Saul had finished prophesying, Saul had received the sign Samuel foretold, as the Spirit of God came upon him among the prophets. His public participation showed that God had set him apart for the kingship and equipped him for the calling before him. 1Sa 19:23-24 So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God… he went up to the high place. Saul then went to the established place of worship, where sacrifices and fellowship were held. His presence there marked the close of the signs confirming God’s choice of him as Israel’s king. 1Sa 9:19-24 “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up before me”… Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” Returning from the search, Saul and his servant were questioned by a close relative about their journey. The family knew they had been sent to recover Kish’s missing donkeys, but their prolonged absence invited explanation. Gen 16:8 “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from,… “To look for the donkeys,” Saul replied. Saul began with the ordinary purpose of their trip, the task his father had given him. What had begun as a search for lost animals had brought him to Samuel and into God’s plan for Israel’s first king. 1Sa 9:3-5 One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off… “When we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.” Saul explained that, after failing to locate the donkeys, they sought Samuel’s counsel. He did not disclose Samuel’s anointing or the kingdom that had been promised to him, showing restraint while the Lord’s purpose was still unfolding. 1Sa 9:6-10 “Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man… “Tell me,” Saul’s uncle spoke with the concern and familiarity expected within a close family. Saul had returned from an unexpected encounter with Samuel, Israel’s leading prophet and judge, and his uncle recognized that the meeting may have been significant. 1Sa 14:43 “Tell me what you have done,” Saul commanded him…… Saul’s uncle asked, The unnamed uncle belonged to Saul’s Benjamite family. Though Benjamin was one of Israel’s smaller tribes, Saul’s family was about to become central to the nation’s future through God’s choice of Saul as king. 1Sa 14:50-51 His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz.… “what did Samuel say to you?” Samuel’s words carried great authority because he spoke for the Lord. Saul’s uncle naturally wanted to know why Samuel had met with him, unaware that Samuel had anointed Saul to become Israel’s first king. 1Sa 3:17 “What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked.… And Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” Saul reported only the practical outcome of his journey. The lost animals had prompted his search, and Samuel’s confirmation ended the concern of Saul and his father’s household. 1Sa 9:20 As for the donkeys you lost three days ago… But Saul did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship. Samuel had privately anointed Saul and revealed that he would become Israel’s first king. Saul withheld this news, likely recognizing the weight of the calling and awaiting God’s appointed time for it to be made known publicly. Mat 16:20 Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone…
Saul Proclaimed KingAfter Saul’s private anointing, Samuel summoned Israel to Mizpah to present God’s chosen king before the nation. 1Sa 11:14-15 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal”… Samuel summoned the people As Israel’s judge and prophet, Samuel summoned the people to a formal national assembly to confirm the Lord’s direction. Jos 24:1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem.… to the LORD The gathering recognized that Israel remained under God’s authority even as it received a human king. Deu 31:12 Assemble the people—men, women, children… at Mizpah This important place of national repentance and renewal lay in Benjamin’s territory, the tribe from which Saul came. 1Sa 7:5-6 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah”… and said to the Israelites, Samuel addressed the nation as a whole, calling them to remember their shared history and covenant obligations before the Lord. 1Sa 12:1 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened… “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: The message came with God’s own authority. The Lord who had bound Himself to Israel at Sinai remained their true King and covenant God. 1Ki 14:7 Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD says:… ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, Israel’s existence as a nation began with God’s deliverance from slavery. The Exodus stood as the central proof of His power, faithfulness, and care for His people. Jdg 2:1 Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim… and I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians God had acted decisively against Pharaoh and Egypt, preserving Israel when they had no power to save themselves. Exo 18:10 Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD…”… and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ After the Exodus, the Lord repeatedly delivered Israel from hostile nations during the period of the judges. Their request for a human king ignored the pattern of God’s past protection and rule over them. 1Sa 12:11 So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel… But today you have rejected your God, Israel’s demand for a king was not merely a political preference but a refusal of the Lord’s direct rule over the nation. Though God had raised up judges to lead and deliver them, the people wanted a ruler like the surrounding nations. 1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice… who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, Their request ignored the Lord’s repeated faithfulness in rescuing them from enemies, oppression, and distress. Israel’s security had never depended on a human throne but on God’s mercy and power. Psa 34:17-19 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears;… and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ The people insisted on visible human leadership in place of trusting the King who had brought them out of danger. God permitted their request, while making clear that their desire exposed a deeper rejection of His authority. 1Sa 8:19-20 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel… Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.” The nation was summoned before the Lord for the selection of its first king. The process would show that Saul’s appointment came under God’s sovereign direction, even as Israel entered a new and troubled era of monarchy. Jos 7:14-18 In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe.… Thus Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, At Mizpah, Samuel assembled the nation before the LORD and directed the selection of Israel’s king by lot. The public process showed that the choice was not Samuel’s personal decision but God’s appointment, while involving every tribe in the transition from judgeship to monarchy. Jos 7:14-18 In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe.… and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. Benjamin was one of Israel’s smaller tribes and had suffered severe losses during the period of the judges. From this tribe would come Saul, the son of Kish, whom the LORD had chosen to rule Israel. Benjamin’s central location also placed Saul’s tribe near the heart of the nation. Jos 18:11 The first lot came up for the clans of the tribe of Benjamin… Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, Benjamin, one of Israel’s smallest tribes, had nearly been destroyed during the civil war recorded in Judges. Yet the Lord brought Israel’s first king from this troubled tribe, showing that His purposes are not limited by a tribe’s strength or reputation. Jos 7:14-18 In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe.… and the clan of Matri was selected. Though little is known of Matri, the selection narrowed according to God’s direction rather than popular preference. The casting of lots publicly confirmed the man whom the Lord had already chosen. 1Sa 14:41-42 So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel,… Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. Saul’s selection answered Israel’s demand for a king while placing upon him the responsibility to lead the people under God’s authority. His family came from an otherwise obscure clan within Benjamin. 1Sa 9:17-21 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man…”… But when they looked for him, they could not find him. Saul had hidden among the baggage, revealing his fear and reluctance at the moment he was presented to the nation. His hesitation stood in contrast to the visible confidence Israel expected from its king and anticipated later weaknesses in his rule. 2Ki 2:16-18 “Look now,” they said to Elisha, “we your servants…… So again they inquired of the LORD, The assembly sought God’s direction when Saul could not be found, recognizing that the selection of Israel’s king remained under the Lord’s authority. Jdg 20:27-28 And the Israelites inquired of the LORD.… “Has the man come here yet?” Saul’s absence delayed his public presentation before the people gathered at Mizpah. 1Sa 16:11-12 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons”… And the LORD replied, God disclosed Saul’s location, confirming that the choice had not been frustrated by his reluctance. 2Sa 2:1 Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, … “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” Saul had concealed himself among the supplies of the gathering, revealing his hesitation as he was about to be publicly identified as king. 1Sa 17:22 Then David left his supplies in the care of… So they ran and brought Saul, The people responded quickly when Saul was identified as the man chosen to be Israel’s first king. His public presentation marked a decisive change from the era of judges to a monarchy under God’s direction. 1Sa 16:11 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons”… and when he stood among the people, Saul took his place before the assembled nation as their appointed leader. Though he had hidden among the baggage, he now stood publicly before those he would govern and lead in battle. 1Sa 16:12 So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in.… he was a head taller than any of the others. Saul’s exceptional height gave him the commanding appearance the people expected in a king. His outward stature distinguished him before Israel, though the course of his reign would show that physical presence alone could not sustain faithful leadership. 1Sa 17:4 Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath,… Samuel said to all the people, Samuel publicly presented Saul before the nation, exercising his God-given authority as judge and prophet during Israel’s transition to monarchy. The gathering affirmed that Saul’s appointment concerned all Israel and had been directed by the Lord. 1Sa 11:14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal”… “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? Saul had not gained the throne by personal ambition or popular vote. God had designated him to rule, though Israel’s demand for a king had revealed its desire to resemble the surrounding nations. Deu 17:15 Appoint a king from among your brothers;… There is no one like him among all the people.” Saul’s unusual height and commanding appearance made him stand out before the people. His outward qualities suited their expectations for a king, though his later reign would show that appearance alone could not secure faithful leadership. 1Sa 9:2 And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome,… And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” Israel accepted Saul as king with a public acclamation of loyalty and hope for his reign. The cry marked the beginning of Israel’s monarchy under a ruler chosen by God. 2Ki 11:12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son,… Then Samuel explained to the people the rights of kingship. Samuel set forth the established order for Israel’s monarchy, defining the king’s duties and limits under God’s authority. Israel would now have a human ruler, yet the king was not independent or supreme; he remained accountable to the LORD and responsible to govern His people according to His law. 1Sa 8:9 Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them…… He wrote them on a scroll and laid it up before the LORD. Recording these requirements made the arrangement public and binding. By placing the scroll before the LORD, Samuel identified God as witness and judge over both king and nation. The monarchy was therefore not a replacement for God’s rule, but a form of government subject to Him. Deu 31:24-26 When Moses had finished writing in a book… And Samuel sent all the people away, each to his own home. The assembly ended after Saul’s public selection and the establishment of the kingdom’s order. The people returned to their tribal communities knowing that Israel now had a king, though the nation’s future would depend on whether its king and people remained faithful to the LORD. Jos 24:28 Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own… Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, Saul returned to Gibeah in Benjamin, his hometown and the place from which he would begin his public service as Israel’s king. Gibeah carried painful memories for Benjamin because of the outrage and civil war recorded in Judges 19–21, when the tribe was nearly destroyed. From this humbled tribe, God raised Israel’s first king. 1Sa 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home… and the men of valor Courageous and capable men accompanied Saul, forming an early band of supporters prepared to stand with him as Israel faced threats from surrounding nations. 1Sa 14:52 And the war with the Philistines was fierce… whose hearts God had touched Their loyalty to Saul was not merely political enthusiasm. God moved them to recognize Saul’s appointment and to support the king He had chosen. Ezr 1:5 So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin,… went with him. These men left with Saul for Gibeah, marking the beginning of his transition from private life to the responsibilities of kingship. 1Sa 27:2 So David set out with his six hundred men… But some worthless men said, A group within Israel rejected Saul despite the public confirmation of his kingship. Their contempt revealed resistance not merely to Saul, but to the Lord’s choice of him as Israel’s ruler. 1Sa 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for… “How can this man save us?” They questioned whether Saul, who had come from an obscure family and had initially appeared hesitant, could deliver Israel from its enemies. Their doubt stood against the need for unity as Israel faced continuing threats from surrounding nations. Mat 27:42 He saved others, but He cannot save Himself.… So they despised him and brought him no gifts; Gifts were customary signs of loyalty and submission to a new king. By withholding them, these men openly refused to honor Saul’s authority and treated his appointment with scorn. 1Ki 10:24-25 The whole world sought an audience with Solomon… but Saul remained silent about it. Saul did not immediately punish or confront them. His restraint gave time for his leadership to be established through action, though it also left the opposition unresolved. Isa 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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