Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 10:14

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.

14. Saul’s uncle ] Possibly Ner. See note on 1Sa 14:50. He may have been at the high-place for some public solemnity, at which the prophets also had been present; or the conversation may have occurred on a subsequent occasion.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

From the order of the narrative, and the mention of Sauls servant, it looks as if Saul found his uncle at the high place. Perhaps some solemnity similar to that mentioned in 1Sa 9:19 was going on at this time, in which the prophets had been taking part.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. Saul’s uncle] The word dod signifies a beloved one, love, a lover, friend, c. and is the same as David. It is supposed to mean uncle here; but I think it means some familiar friend.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Sauls uncle, being there present, and observing this great alteration in his nephew.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And Saul’s uncle said unto him, and to his servant, whither went ye?…. Since they had been absent so long a time. This was his father’s brother, as the Targum, and so Aquila; whose name was Ner, the father of Abner, 1Sa 14:50 who met with him at the high place, or found him in the city, in his father’s house it may be. Josephus g says, Saul went into the house of his kinsman Abner, whom he loved above all his relations, and that it was he that discoursed with Saul, and asked him, the questions before and after related:

and he said, to seek the asses: he first observes the end of their going, the business they went upon, in which not succeeding, then he answers more directly to the question:

and when we saw that [they were] nowhere; could not see them, nor find them any where, or hear of them where they went:

we came to Samuel; at Ramah, to inquire of him, if he could direct us which way to go, and what methods to take, to find the asses.

g Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 4.) sect. 3.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(14) Sauls uncle.Most probably, this uncle was the subsequently famous Abnerso Ewald, Josephus, and others. Kish, the father of Saul, a quiet, plain man, evidently was quite content that his beasts were found, and that his son had returned in safety and so asks no curious questions about his sons journey. Not so Abner, who was a restless, ambitious man, and who, very probably, had heard something already from the servant who accompanied Saul (traditionally supposed to have been Doeg) of the strange honours paid to his nephew by the great and revered judge of Israel, the famous Samuel, and also of the long private interview between them. Abner, the uncle of the future king, an observant man, might well have been struck with the change that had passed over his nephew since he had last seen him; hence his question, Tell me what Samuel said unto you?

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

14. Saul’s uncle Perhaps Abner, who was afterwards captain of Saul’s host. 1Sa 14:50. But the word , here translated uncle, frequently means a beloved friend, and may here refer to some familiar friend of Saul who was not a relative. The earnestness with which he asks what Samuel had said to Saul is another intimation that Saul’s relatives and friends were interested in his case, and had possibly proposed him as a proper person for king. Compare note on 1Sa 9:20.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Saul’s Uncle Asks Him About His Search, But As Samuel Had Clearly Wanted, He Says Nothing About What He Has Been Told About The Kingship ( 1Sa 10:14-16 ).

This incident could have taken place either at Gibeah, or it could have taken place at a regular feast where all the male members of the family would be present. Its point is to bring out the fact that Saul kept all that he knew to himself.

1Sa 10:14

‘ And Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” And he said, “To look for the asses, and when we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.” ’

Saul’s uncle seems simply to be asking a casual question. ‘I had noticed your absence, where have you been?’ For Saul explains that he had been out looking for lost asses, and that this had brought them in contact with Samuel.

1Sa 10:15

‘ And Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me, I pray you, what Samuel said to you.” ’

Being aware of the rumours of what had happened to Samuel among the prophets this appears to have aroused his uncle’s interest, and he enquires as to what Samuel had said to him.

1Sa 10:16

‘ And Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the asses were found.” But concerning the matter of the kingship, of which Samuel spoke, he did not tell him.’

But Saul was keeping matters to himself, especially in view of the fact that that was how Samuel seemed to have wanted it, and he simply informed him that Samuel had told them that the asses had been found. He said nothing about the matter of the kingship. That was a private matter between him and Samuel.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Saul Chosen King by Lot

v. 14. And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, upon their return home, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses; and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.

v. 15. And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you, he was anxious to have a detailed account of the visit.

v. 16. And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found, hoping therewith to dispose of this matter. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not, for it was evident from Samuel’s entire manner that the matter was not yet to be made public.

v. 17. And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh, for a great popular assembly;

v. 18. and said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all kingdoms and of them that oppressed you, these were the mighty deeds performed by God under the old order, when He was still the only acknowledged King of the nation;

v. 19. and ye have this day rejected your God, who Himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations, all the evils and oppressions which they suffered from the very kingdoms after which they now intended to pattern their state; and ye have said unto Him, Nay, but set a king over us. This was a last warning regarding a step the taking of which they might some day bitterly repent. Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands, the divisions of the people by the command of the Lord, Num 1:16. This solemn act took place in the presence of Jehovah, before the altar which had been erected in Mizpeh.

v. 20. And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, in order that lots might be cast or drawn, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

v. 21. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come nearby their families, the largest subdivision of the tribe, the family of Matri was taken, and, after the father-houses had been treated the same way and the individual heads of families came forward, Saul, the son of Kish, was taken; and when they sought him, he could not be found, his shyness having caused him to hide himself, since he knew the outcome of the selection.

v. 22. Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, through the Urim and Thummim of the high priest, if the man should yet come thither, whether they should search for Saul at home or elsewhere. And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff, the traveling baggage of the great assembly.

v. 23. And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, having been obliged to overcome his diffidence, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward, he extended above them, head and shoulders, a magnificent specimen of physical manhood, truly kingly in appearance.

v. 24. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, the election being the confirmation of the previous divine choice, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, in a cry of salutation and homage, God save the king! literally, “May the king live!”

v. 25. Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, the relation of the temporal monarchy to the theocracy, the rule of God, for it was Jehovah’s purpose to rule through Saul as His instrument, Cf Deu 17:14-20, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord, to be preserved for future generations, the Lord Himself being a witness of the act. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

v. 26. And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men whose hearts God had touched, of their own free will they constituted themselves his body-guard, his escort of honor. They represented the majority of the people, who were willing to bow under the authority of the man whom God had chosen as their leader.

v. 27. But the children of Belial, the worthless, vain rabble, said, How shall this man save us? They questioned his fitness for the office and declared their unwillingness to submit to his authority. And they despised him and brought him no presents, gifts which were a part of the regular income of the princes. But he held his peace, literally, “he was as a deaf man,” paying no attention to these foolish attacks, and thus showing great foresight and prudence. To this day men in the public office of the Church are subjected to mocking attacks by vain and foolish people. The best way of meeting such a situation is by ignoring attacks of this kind; for the truly faithful, men whose hearts God has. touched, will be on the side of right and justice.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

1Sa 10:14 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.

Ver. 14. And Saul’s uncle.] Ner, the father of Abner, likely, wondering with the rest, was thus inquisitive after the news. We have all a natural itch after novelties.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

the People Have Their Desire

1Sa 10:14-27

Samuel dealt faithfully with the people, reminding them once more of their guilty mistake in demanding a king; and indeed they came to rue their choice. But as they would have it, so it was ordered. We may well ask God not to give us what we desire so earnestly, except as it accords with His purposes of love and wisdom. We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. Sometimes we know His will, at other times we have to confide in it blindly.

Sauls modesty was very commendable. There were many beautiful traits in his character in those early days, but, as we shall see, all the music was finally silenced when that terrible monster jealousy stole into his heart. Among other evidences of a naturally noble disposition was his determination not to heed the detracting voices which challenged his elevation to the throne. Note the r.v. margin of 1Sa 10:27 -he was as though he were deaf. It was both wise and magnanimous. So for us all. When we are sure that we are in the line of Gods purpose, and sincerely desire to do His will, we may be deaf to all other voices. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers! See Psa 37:1-40.

Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary

And he said: 1Sa 9:3-10

no where: 2Ki 5:25

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge