Chapter 10: Shaul is anointed King

1.      Shaul is anointed:

• Shmuel took the jar of oil and poured it on the head of Shaul and kissed him and said to him, “You have been anointed by G-d onto his inheritance [of Israel] as a leader.”

2.      Shmuel tells Shaul a prophecy of what will occur to him during his travels:  

• Shmuel tells Shaul that he will meet people who have a message regarding his mules: Shmuel told Shaul the following: When you leave me today you will find two people who are [currently[1]] by the burial place of Rachel, [and by the time you arrive, they will be[2]] in the territory of Benjamin, by the shade of G-d [i.e. Jerusalem[3]]. These men will tell you that the mules that you have been searching for have been found, and your father has moved on from finding the mules, as he is now worried about you saying what has become of my son.
• Shmuel tells Shaul that he will then meet people carrying food: You shall travel from there onwards until you reach the plane of Tavor, in which you will find three men who are traveling towards Beis Keil. One man will be carrying three young goats, and another will be carrying three loaves of bread, and another will be carrying a flask wine. They will ask you as to your wellbeing and will give you two loaves of bread, and you will take it from their hands.
• Shmuel tells Shaul that he will then meet a group of prophets and prophesize: You will then travel to the Valley of G-d [Kiryat Yearim[4]] where the Philistine appointees are standing. When you arrive to the city, you will meet a group of prophets that are descending from the altar and before them will be musical instruments, a flute, a tambourine, a drum, and a harp. The spirit of G-d will follow up on you and you will join them in prophecy and become a different person.
• Shmuel instructs Shaul of what to do after the above signs take place: After all the above signs occur to you, do as you see fit[5], as G-d will be with you. [After you become king] you shall then come down to me to Gilgal [and wait for me to come to you]. After seven days pass since your arrival, I will then come down to you to offer Olos and Shelamim sacrifices, and inform you as to your further instructions.

3.      The above signs occur to Shaul:

• When Shaul turned his shoulder to leave Shmuel, G-d turned him into another man [as he received the bravery and strength of a king[6]] and all the signs that Shmuel spoke of occurred to him that day.
• Shaul prophesizes and surprises the public: When Shaul arrived to the Giva he met a group of prophets, and the spirit of G-d rested upon him and he joined them in prophecy. When Shaul’s acquaintances saw that he was prophesizing together with the other prophets, they exclaimed to each other “Is the son of Kish also amongst the prophets?” A person who was present responded that they should not be surprised, as there is no father to the prophets [which requires it to come as an inheritance from father to son, and hence he too can become a prophet even if his father was not[7]]. It became a saying from that time and onwards “Is also Shaul amongst the prophets?”
• Shaul completed his prophecy and came to the Bama.
• Shaul is questioned by his uncle as to his whereabouts: The uncle of Shaul asked him and his lad as to their whereabouts, to which he replied that he had gone to search for the mules [of his father which had gotten lost] and they arrived to Shmuel [in search for the mules]. The uncle persisted to ask Shaul as to what Shmuel had told them. Shaul replied to his uncle that Shmuel had revealed to them that the mules had already been found. However, [due to his great humility[8]] he did not tell his uncle about his future coronation as king which Shmuel had confided in him.

[1] Rashi 10:2

[2] Rashi ibid

[3] Rashi ibid

[4] Rashi 10:5

[5] Radak 10:7; However, see Rashi ibid that this refers to Shmuel telling Shaul that he will make for him garments of kingship, and that he should therefore prepare all the accessories needed for his monarchy

[6] Rashi 10:9

[7] Rashi 10:12

[8] Rashi 10:16