I Samuel 10

Hook

The tragedy of Saul isn’t that he failed to be a king; it’s that he was given a "different heart" I Samuel 10:9 before he was ever given a kingdom. We often assume power changes a person, but this text suggests the internal transformation precedes the external appointment—a terrifying prospect for anyone tasked with leadership.

Context

The transition from the era of the Judges—a charismatic, decentralized leadership model—to the monarchy is a pivot point in biblical history. Saul is the "transitional figure," and his anointing is notably distinct from that of the Davidic line. As noted by the Radak on I Samuel 10:1, Saul was not anointed with the shemen hamishchah (the sacred anointing oil reserved for the Tabernacle and the Davidic house) but with shemen afarsimon (balsam oil). This distinction is critical: it frames Saul’s kingship as a functional, temporary, and precarious "nagid" (ruler/leader) role rather than an eternal, dynastic establishment.

Text Snapshot

"Samuel took a flask of oil and poured some on Saul’s head and kissed him, and said, 'G-OD herewith anoints you ruler over this people—God’s own... The spirit of G-OD will grip you, and you will speak in ecstasy along with them; you will become a different person.'" I Samuel 10:1–6

Close Reading

Insight 1: The Anatomy of anointing

The Malbim offers a fascinating psychological breakdown of the ritual act described in verse 1. He suggests the pouring of oil bestowed ruach gevurah (a spirit of strength/might), while the "kiss" represented a hitdabkut rucha berucha—a literal fusion of spirits. For an intermediate reader, this is a vital distinction: the physical act of anointing is not merely a legal coronation, but a metaphysical "plugging in" of the individual to a higher capacity. The Malbim argues that Samuel avoided a public anointing to ensure the subsequent casting of lots at Mizpah remained valid. If the people had seen the oil poured in public, the lottery would have been viewed as a staged, political charade rather than a genuine divine selection. The tension here is between divine appointment and social legitimacy.

Insight 2: The "Different Heart"

In verse 9, Saul receives "another heart." The Ralbag points out that this is the strongest "sign" of all, because Saul had no prior history of prophetic experience. Notice the shift in the text: Saul is transformed before he is confirmed by the lottery. This creates a psychological tension for the reader: If Saul is already changed, is he still an agent of free will, or is he a puppet of the "spirit of God"? The text doesn't resolve this. Instead, it juxtaposes this divine internal change with his immediate, mundane, and almost cowardly behavior—hiding among the baggage in verse 22. This is the central friction of Saul’s narrative: the disparity between his divine potential and his human insecurity.

Insight 3: The Kiss as Taxonomy

The Radak quotes a Midrashic tradition regarding the "kiss" in verse 1, classifying it as a "kiss of greatness" (neshikah shel gedulah). By categorizing this kiss alongside the "kiss of departure" (Orpah) and the "kiss of meeting" (Jacob/Rachel), the tradition elevates the gesture from a mere pleasantry to a formal, ritualized transition of authority. It is the moment where the private, intimate bond between prophet and candidate is solidified. However, the subsequent verses show that while Samuel and Saul share this intimate moment, the people remain skeptical, demanding to know if "the son of Kish" is actually worthy. The gap between the private anointing and the public perception is where the conflict of the monarchy begins.

Two Angles

The tension between Saul’s private selection and public performance is best captured by the contrast between Rashi and Ramban (and their interpretive heirs). One school of thought, echoed in the Metzudat David, views the entire process—from the anointing to the hiding among the baggage—as a deliberate, orchestrated drama by Samuel to humble the king-to-be and ensure the people realize that the choice is purely Divine.

Conversely, critical modern readers and some earlier commentators see in the "hiding among the baggage" a genuine, pathological flaw in Saul’s character. Under this reading, the "different heart" was not a complete overhaul of his personality, but an overlay that struggled to mask his inherent timidity. While the former view sees a king being "made" by the Prophet, the latter sees a man struggling to survive the crushing weight of a role he never truly sought.

Practice Implication

We often wait for a "sign" before we accept a responsibility, yet the text suggests that the sign often follows the commitment. Saul is told to "act when the occasion arises" I Samuel 10:7 only after he has been changed. In daily life, this flips the script on "readiness." Instead of waiting until we feel entirely transformed or fully capable of a task, we are invited to recognize that the "spirit" (our drive, our values, our sense of duty) often arrives in the middle of our journey—perhaps while we are still looking for our own versions of "lost donkeys." The lesson is to move forward, as the signs appear on the path, not before we step onto it.

Chevruta Mini

1. If the "spirit of God" physically grips Saul and changes his heart, to what extent is Saul responsible for his later failures? Can a person be held accountable for a nature that was "given" to them?
2. Samuel insists on the lottery system I Samuel 10:20 even after he has already privately anointed Saul. Why does the process of consensus matter if the divine choice has already been made? Does the "will of the people" ever trump the "will of God" in this narrative?

Takeaway

Saul’s story teaches that the internal capacity for leadership is often a divine gift, but the ability to inhabit that role publicly remains a persistent, and often painful, human struggle.