10:17-27

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Saul made king

(1Sa 10:17-27)

Some time later, Samuel called a meeting of the leaders of all the tribes and families in Israel to select a king (1Sa 10:17-19).

The selection was made by a system of drawing lots that finally led to one man being chosen.

Two people, a confident Samuel and a nervous Saul, knew through God’s previous private revelation who would be chosen (1Sa 10:20-24).

After the selection had been made, Samuel announced publicly the rights and duties of a king (1Sa 10:25; cf. Deut 17:14-20).

Many of the people were delighted when they saw the appearance of the man who had been chosen king, but some doubted and mocked.

Saul therefore made no immediate changes in the nation’s administration, but returned to his farm at Gibeah (1Sa 10:26-27).

(Gibeah became the administrative centre of Israel during Saul’s reign; see 1Sa 11:4; 14:2; 15:34; 22:6; 26:1.)