10:2 the burial site of Rachel See Gen 35:20.

female donkeys that you went to search for have been found This first sign will authenticate Samuel’s words in 1 Sam 9:20. Saul originally sought the prophet’s help because of the lost donkeys.

10:3 three men will meet you, who are going up to God at Bethel The items these men carry are for offerings.

10:4 will give you two loaves This second sign confirms Samuel’s act of anointing Saul. The men had intended for these loaves to be used by an anointed person—a priest. In accepting the loaves, Saul essentially accepts his kingly anointing (compare note on 2:10).

10:5 a procession of prophets Samuel himself is seen at the head of such a group in 19:20.

harp, tambourine, flute, and zither Music sometimes accompanied prophetic ministry (e.g., 2 Kgs 3:15).

10:6 the Spirit of Yahweh will rush This third sign will confirm that God has selected Saul and empowered him to fight against the Philistines (1 Sam 9:16).

10:8 to Gilgal One of the cities on Samuel’s circuit (7:16). Saul would later be crowned king there (11:15).

You must wait seven days Even though 13:7–8 refers to Samuel asking Saul to wait seven days at Gilgal, that probably does not refer to this event. Since the intervening chapters seem to narrate a long period of time, they were likely several years apart.

10:9 God changed his heart This new heart will be conditioned to do His work (compare ch. 11), but this change in Saul is not permanent (16:14).

all these signs were fulfilled Confirms Samuel’s prophetic office, as well as Saul’s selection as king.

10:10 to Gibeah The Hebrew word used here can refer generically to a hill, or it can be a proper noun referring to Gibeah, Saul’s hometown (see also v. 5).

10:11 Saul also among the prophets A derisive statement by those in his hometown (compare Matt 13:54–57). This emphasizes the incongruity between his current behavior and his previous behavior.

10:16 the female donkeys had been found This deceptively incomplete answer hints at Saul’s true character. The rest of his story portrays him as dishonest, reluctant, and fearful.

10:17 at Mizpah The same gathering place where the Israelites confessed their sin in 7:5–6. In Judges, Mizpah is where the chiefs decided to eradicate the tribe of Benjamin—Saul’s tribe (Judg 20:1–11).

10:19 have rejected your God See 1 Sam 8:7 and note.

10:20 was selected by lot Casting lots were sometimes used to discern God’s will (see Josh 14:2 and note; compare Acts 1:26).

10:22 is hiding himself among the baggage While this might seem modest at first, Saul has already been anointed as king and received signs confirming that anointing. Saul should have been confident in God by this point, but he is characterized throughout the narrative as a fearful and insecure man.

10:25 the custom of the kingship See 1 Sam 8:10–18.

10:26 troops whose hearts God had touched God has probably stirred their hearts to fight for and reclaim Israel.

10:27 some worthless men The Hebrew term used here also occurs in 2:12 (see note on 2:12; compare note on 1:16).

brought no gift to him They do not acknowledge his kingship.

he kept silent Rather than having them killed, Saul acts diplomatically.