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SAMUEL ANOINTS SAUL AS CAPTAIN

I Samuel 10:14-27

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.       Outline the text:

 

i.                    SAUL CONVERSES WITH HIS UNCLE (I Sam. 10:14-16)

ii.                  SAMUEL CALLS ISRAEL (I Sam. 10:17-19)

iii.                GOD CHOOSES A KING (I Sam. 10:20-26)

iv.                CHILDREN OF BELIAL CENSURE THE KING (I Sam. 10:27)

 

2.       Who asked Samuel and his servant: “Whither went ye?” (I Sam. 10:13)

 

And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither when ye?

 

A.     Saul’s uncle

 

B.      We do not know who this man was.  We do not know if he was an uncle from his mother’s side of the family or his father’s side of the family.

 

3.       T – F    Samuel told his uncle that they came to Samuel. (I Sam. 10:14)

 

…And he said, To seek the asses:  and when we saw that they were nowhere, we came to Samuel.

 

A.     True

 

4.       When Samuel’s uncle heard they came to Samuel, what did he then want to know? (I Sam.10:15)

 

And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

 

A.     He wanted to know what Samuel said unto him.

 

B.      This would be a legitimate question.

1.       Samuel was a prominent figure in Israel.

2.       Not many individuals would get to speak to him personally.

3.       Too, there was a lot going on in Israel at the time.  A king was anticipated.

 

5.       What did Saul reveal to his uncle? (I Sam. 10:16)

 

And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. 

 

A.     He told him only that Samuel had told him specifically that his father’s donkeys were found.

 

6.       What did he conceal from his uncle? (I Sam. 10:16)

 

But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.

 

A.     He did not reveal anything that Samuel had said about the kingdom.

 

B.      LESSON:  There are times when it is proper to withhold information from another.  Just because we know something does not mean that we have to tell all we know.

7.       Why do you think he concealed “the matter of the kingdom” from his uncle?

 

A.     We know that Saul was an extremely humble man at this time.  He could have been somewhat embarrassed to reveal that he was told he would be the king of Israel.

 

B.      Samuel was still processing the information that he had received.  It was not a time to put more pressure upon himself by making the news public.

 

C.     It could have been that he did not trust his uncle.  He may have been a man who loved to spread news about others.

 

D.     Since his anointing was done in private, he may have assumed that the time of the revelation was not his.  He would wait upon God and His prophet, Samuel to reveal it.

 

8.       Where did Samuel ask the people of Israel to gather? (I Sam. 10:17)

 

And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh.

 

A.     Mizpeh

 

 

9.       What four things had God done for Israel? (I Sam. 10:18)

 

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.

 

A.     Brought Israel out of Egypt                                 

B.      Delivered out of hand of Egyptians

            C.   Delivered out of hand of all kingdoms               

D.  Delivered them from all oppressors

 

10.   “And ye have this day rejected your God” (I Sam. 10:19)

 

11.   Define:  rejected (I Sam. 10:19)

 

A.     Strong (3988):  to spurn, to disappear                 :- abhor, cast away, cast off, contemn, despised, disdain, loathe, melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, X (utterly), vile person

 

B.      BDB:  to reject, despise, refuse

 

C.     Not only was there action taken by the Israelites, but their feelings were involved therein as well.  They despised God.  They wished for Him to disappear.  They did not hold Him in high esteem.  Thus, they longed for another they could honor and respect.

 

12.   Even though God delivered them from their adversaries and tribulations, who did Israel desire to be over them? (I Sam. 10:19)

 

…who himself saved you out of all your adversaries and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us…

 

A.     They desired a king to be over them.

B.      LESSON:  Sometimes, it does not matter how good and gracious God is to us, we still do not want Him to reign over us.  He can bless and we reject.  He delivers us and we disdain Him.   

 

13.   How were they to present themselves unto the Lord? (I Sam. 10:19).

 

…Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.

 

A.     By your tribes                                                      

B.      By your thousands

 

NOTE:  The word “tribes” involved the 12 family names, and the term “thousands” involved the great number that each tribe had become.

 

14.   What tribe was taken from all of the tribes? (I Sam. 10:20)

 

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

 

A.     Benjamin

 

15.   What family was taken from the tribe of Benjamin? (I Sam. 10:21)

 

When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken…

 

A.     The family of Matri

 

B.      This name occurs nowhere else among the families of Benjamin, or in the genealogy of Saul (Barnes, e-sword).

 

16.   What person was taken from the family of Matri? (I Sam. 10:21)

 

…and Saul the son of Kish was taken…

 

A.     Saul the son of Kish

 

B.      Can you imagine the shock of all those who knew Saul?  His friends?  Neighbors?  His own family?  He was not selected to be the king of Israel?

 

17.   “…and when they sought him, he could not be found.” (I Sam. 10:21)

 

A.     Some say he hid out of fear.

 

B.      Others believe that it was due to his modesty.

 

18.   Who did Israel go to with their inquiry? (I Sam. 10:22)

 

Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, if the man should come thither…

 

A.     Since Saul was not in their presence, the people wondered if the Lord really wanted him to be their king.

 

B.      Since he was not there, perhaps God would choose another to be their captain.

 

19.   Where was Saul hidden? (I Sam. 10:22)

 

…And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

 

A.     Stuff

1.       Strong (3627):  something prepared

2.       BDB:  article, vessel, implement, utensil

 

B.      Those who had come to Mizpeh had brought things with them on their journey.  These were stored in a particular section of the city.  Saul had hidden himself among their carts and baggage.

 

C.     It is a humbling experience for most to be exalted to high and lofty positions.

 

20.   How much higher did Saul stand above all the people? (I Sam. 10:23)

 

And they ran and fetched him thence:  and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

 

A.     He stood higher from his shoulders an upward.

 

B.      He was a foot to a foot and a half taller than all of the other men in Israel.  He would tower above them as he walked among them.

 

21.   When Samuel showed Saul to the people, who did he say had chosen Saul? (I Sam. 10:24)

 

And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him

among all the people? 

 

A.     He said:  “whom the Lord hath chosen.”

 

B.      God knew what was in the heart of the people.  He understood what kind of man they desired.  Therefore, when he made the selection, he fulfilled their desires even though He chose the actual man.

 

C.     LESSON:  We are impressed with a truth that runs throughout Scripture.  God is always the one who puts men into their position of authority (See Rom. 13:1).

 

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers:  For there is no power but of God:  the powers that be are ordained of God.

 

22.   How did the people respond when they saw Saul? (I Sam. 10:24)

 

…And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

 

A.     God save the king.

 

B.      Other versions have:  “May the king live,” or, “May the king prosper.”

 

 

 

23.   What did Samuel write in a book? (I Sam. 10:25)

 

Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book…

 

A.     The manner of the kingdom.

 

B.      NOTE:  This is different from the manner of the king (I Sam. 8:9).

 

C.     “…it is the right which regulated the attitude of the earthly monarchy in the theocracy, and determined the duties and rights of the human king in relation to Jehovah the divine King on the one hand, and to the nation on the other. This right could only be laid down by a prophet like Samuel, to raise a wholesome barrier at the very outset against all excesses on the part of the king (e-sword, Keil & Delitzsch).

 

24.   Where did he put the book? (I Sam. 10:25)

 

…and laid it up before the Lord.

 

A.     He “laid it up before the Lord.”

 

B.      He placed it somewhere in the sanctuary.  We are not told the exact spot within the sanctuary.

 

25.   After Saul was shown to the people, what did Samuel tell the people to do? (I Sam. 10:25)

 

…And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

 

A.     Everyone was sent back to his house.

 

B.      After leaders are installed into their offices, the people return to their normal walks of life. 

 

26.   Who went with Saul to Gibeah? (I Sam. 10:26)

 

And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

 

A.     A band of men whose hearts God had touched.

 

27.   What is meant by the words:  “…whose hearts God had touched”? (I Sam. 10:26)

 

A.     There are three questions that come to mind as we read about these individuals?

1.       Who are they?

2.       What were their responsibilities?

3.       How did God touch their hearts?

 

B.      Let’s look at each question:

1.       Who are these men? 

a.       They may have been friends of Saul.

b.      They may have been any number of men who had gathered to see Saul anointing.

c.       These men stand in contrast to the “children of Belial” (See v. 27).

2.       What were their responsibilities?

a.       They became an escort to Saul as the king.

b.      They probably became some of Saul’s closet advisors.

c.       Most do not believe that they were military men.

3.       How did God touch their hearts?

a.       It could have done simply by their seeing the man who had been chosen as king.  They were touched at the sight of such an excellent choice.  They saw a large man who was very humble.

b.      It may have been some type of miraculous endowment that God put within them.

 

28.   Who despised Saul that day? (I Sam. 10:27)

 

But the men of Belial said…

 

A.     The men of Belial

 

B.      Belial

1.       Strong (1100):  without profit, worthless, wicked

2.       BDB:  worthless, good for nothing, unprofitable, base fellows

 

29.   What did they ask? (I Sam. 10:27)

 

…How shall this man save us?  And despised him…

 

A.     These men doubted Saul’s abilities to be the captain of Israel.

 

B.      LESSON:  “But as it generally happens that, where a person is suddenly lifted up to exalted honours or office, there are sure to be envious people found, so was it here: there were…worthless people, even among the assembled Israelites, who spoke disparagingly of Saul” (e-sword, Keil and Delitzsch).

1.       Sometimes these men are family (See John 7:5).

2.       Sometimes these man are friends.

3.       Sometimes they are people who dislike us.

4.       Sometimes they are individuals who envy us.

 

30.   T – F    Even though the children of Belial despised Saul, they brought him gifts. (I Sam.10:27)

 

…and brought him no presents…

 

A.     False

 

B.      Presents:

1.       Strong (4503):  apportionment, donation, tribute, sacrificial offering (bloodless and voluntary

2.       BDB:  gift, tribute, offering, present.

3.       Barnes:  “token of homage and acknowledgement from the subject to the sovereign” (e-sword).

4.       Clarke:  Saul was now a public character, and had a right to support from the public. These sons of Belial refused to bear their part; they brought him no presents” (e-sword).

 

 

31.   How did Saul respond to the actions of the children of Belial? (I Sam.10:27)

 

…But he held his peace.

A.     He held his peace.  He was “as if he were deaf” (e-sword, K&D).

 

B.      Saul manifested another positive as a leader.

1.       He was not soon angry.

2.       He did not try to get revenge that day.

3.       He manifested patience.

 

C.     Saul would not let the negative actions of others ruin a very important day in Israel.

1.       This was the day a king was anointed in Israel.

2.       Regardless of their reaction, God had placed Saul into his position as king.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAUL SLAYS THE AMMONITES

I Samuel 11:1-15

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.       Outline the text:

 

v.                  I Samuel 11:1-3

vi.                I Samuel 11:4-9

vii.              I Samuel 11:10-11

viii.            I Samuel 11:12-15

 

2.       What king came against Jabesh-gilead? (I Sam. 11:1)

 

 

3.       What did the men of Jabesh-gilead desire of Nahash? (I Sam. 11:1)

 

 

4.       What condition did Nahash put on the covenant? (I Sam. 11:2)

 

 

5.       Why did he desire this condition? (I Sam. 11:2)

 

 

6.       How much time did the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead desire from Nahash? (I Sam. 11:3)

 

 

7.       Where did the people go tell of the threat of Nahash? (I Sam. 11:4)

 

 

8.       What did the people do when they heard the news? (I Sam. 11:4)

 

 

9.       Where was Saul before hearing the news? (I Sam. 11:5)

 

 

10.   What came upon Saul when he heard “these tideings”? (I Sam. 11:6)

 

 

11.   “…and his _________________ was kindled ________________” (I Sam. 11:6)

 

12.   How did Saul threaten the people of Israel if they refused to come with Saul? (I Sam. 11:7)

 

 

 

13.   T – F    The threat of Saul did not work (I Sam. 11:7)

 

14.   How many people came to the assistance of Saul? (I Sam. 11:8)

 

A.     Israel:                                            B.         Judah:

 

15.   At what time did they tell the man of Jabesh-gilead that they would have help? (I Sam. 11:9)

16.   What did the men of Jabesh do when they heard the news? (I Sam. 11:9)

 

17.   T – F    The men of Jabesh told Nahash they would come out the following day. (I Sam. 11:10)

 

18.   Into how many companies did Saul divide his army? (I Sam. 11:11)

 

19.   When did they come against the Ammonites? (I Sam.11:11)

 

20.   How long did the battle last? (I Sam. 11:11)

 

21.   T – F    The Ammonites were scattered so that no two were left together (I Sam. 11:11)

 

22.   What did the people want to do to those who had opposed Saul’s being king? (I Sam. 11:12)

 

23.   T – F    Saul immediately commanded for all of those who opposed him to be slain (I Sam.

11:13)

 

24.   Why did Saul refuse to put his opposition to death that day? (I Sam. 11:13)

 

25.   Where did Saul want all the people to go? (I Sam. 11:14)

 

26.   Why did he want them to go to that city? (I Sam. 11:14)

 

27.   When they went to Gilgal, what three things happened? (I Sam. 11:15)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.