MPV Commentary

God Reveals to Samuel Saul's Coming, and His Appointment

15-16 The Lord had previously told Samuel about a future king of Israel who would fight battles on behalf of God and protect his people. This revelation was likely in response to the urgent demands from the Israelites for a king due to their struggles with the Philistines (1Sa 10:5; 13:3).

18-20 When Saul asked Samuel where the seer's house was, Samuel invited him to join the feast and stay until the next day. To ease any concerns about the delay, Samuel told Saul that his lost donkeys had been found.

20-21 Samuel then said, "Isn't all Israel looking for you and your family?" This subtle hint at Saul's royal destiny was not immediately acknowledged by Saul, who responded with a mixture of humility and skepticism.

21 Saul replied, "Am I not from the smallest tribe in Israel? From Benjamin?" By choosing a king from this relatively insignificant tribe (Jud 20:46-48), God intended to eliminate any potential jealousy among the other tribes.

22 Samuel took Saul and his servant into the main room, where they were treated as honored guests alongside the town's leaders.

24 The cook brought out the shoulder of the sacrifice and set it before Saul. Samuel said, "Here is what was left; eat from it." This gesture likely involved the right shoulder, which belonged to the priest (Ge 18:7; Ge 43:34). It's probable that the other guests understood the significance of this act.

25-27 That evening, Samuel and Saul spoke on the roof of the house. Before retiring for the night, they discussed the responsibilities of a king in Israel, a nation closely tied to God (Jos 2:6). The next morning, Samuel escorted Saul towards the city's outskirts, seeking a private meeting before parting ways – an encounter that would be described in the following chapter.