I Samuel 10:17-11:15
Dear RTB’ers,
First, a couple of small items… Today we have the first mention of Saul being named “king”: And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen?…” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” (v. 10:24) Earlier the title had been only prince or ruler or leader. Second, as Saul gathered an army, …the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. (v. 11:8) This is the first place that I recall a mention of the distinction between Israel (later, the Northern Kingdom) and Judah (later, the Southern Kingdom).
Today Saul looks good! He’s humble (shy, even!): and the LORD said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” (v. 10:22b) He goes back to work until he feels the Lord calling: Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. (v. 11:5a) He shows himself to be a leader (also recognizing Samuel’s position as judge and prophet): He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” (v. 11:7a) And finally, he dismisses revenge against those who were against his kingship: Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” (vv. 11:12-13) In this last quote, he also recognizes the Lord’s deliverance, not his own.
So Israel has its king and everything looks great going forward. End of story…? Maybe not!
Blessings!