וַיִּקַּח שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת פַּךְ הַשֶּׁמֶן וַיִּצֹק עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וַיִּשָּׁקֵהוּ וַיֹּאמֶר הֲלוֹא כִּי מְשָׁחֲךָ ה' עַל נַחֲלָתוֹ לְנָגִיד

When they were alone, Samuel took the flask of oil that was in his hand, and poured onto his, Saul’s head and kissed him, and he said: Truly, for the Lord has anointed you as ruler over His heritage. Nothing had prepared Saul for this moment. It can be assumed that he was a relatively young man, although he was probably already married and a father. He had almost certainly never imagined becoming king.

בְּלֶכְתְּךָ הַיּוֹם מֵעִמָּדִי וּמָצָאתָ שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים עִם קְבֻרַת רָחֵל בִּגְבוּל בִּנְיָמִן בְּצֶלְצַח וְאָמְרוּ אֵלֶיךָ נִמְצְאוּ הָאֲתֹנוֹת אֲשֶׁר הָלַכְתָּ לְבַקֵּשׁ וְהִנֵּה נָטַשׁ אָבִיךָ אֶת דִּבְרֵי הָאֲתֹנוֹת וְדָאַג לָכֶם לֵאמֹר מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לִבְנִי

Samuel provided Saul with instructions for his next steps, which, among other purposes, were meant to prepare him for his important role. Upon your departure from me today, you will find two men, who are currently located in Bethlehem in Judah, by the tomb of Rachel; you will meet them at the border of Benjamin at Tzeltzah. And they will say to you: The donkeys that you went to seek have been found, and behold, your father has abandoned the matter of the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying: What shall I do about my son? You will discover that indeed, as you feared, your father has begun to worry more about you than the donkeys, as he has not seen nor heard from you for several days now.

וְחָלַפְתָּ מִשָּׁם וָהָלְאָה וּבָאתָ עַד אֵלוֹן תָּבוֹר וּמְצָאוּךָ שָּׁם שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים עֹלִים אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים בֵּית אֵל אֶחָד נֹשֵׂא שְׁלֹשָׁה גְדָיִים וְאֶחָד נֹשֵׂא שְׁלֹשֶׁת כִּכְּרוֹת לֶחֶם וְאֶחָד נֹשֵׂא נֵבֶל יָיִן

You shall pass on from there and beyond, and you will come to the plain of Tavor, and three men who are going up to God, to Beit El, will meet you there. You will identify them by the fact that one of them will be carrying three kids and one carrying three loaves of bread and one carrying a jug full of wine.

וְשָׁאֲלוּ לְךָ לְשָׁלוֹם וְנָתְנוּ לְךָ שְׁתֵּי לֶחֶם וְלָקַחְתָּ מִיָּדָם

They will greet you, and they will give you two loaves, which you shall take from their hand.

אַחַר כֵּן תָּבוֹא גִּבְעַת הָאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר שָׁם נְצִבֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וִיהִי כְבֹאֲךָ שָׁם הָעִיר וּפָגַעְתָּ חֶבֶל נְבִיאִים יֹרְדִים מֵהַבָּמָה וְלִפְנֵיהֶם נֵבֶל וְתֹף וְחָלִיל וְכִנּוֹר וְהֵמָּה מִתְנַבְּאִים

Thereafter you will come to the hill of God, which was perhaps called by this name because a prophet, or the Ark of the Covenant, was located there (see 7:1), where the Philistine governors are. It shall be upon your arrival there, at the city, that you will encounter a band of prophets descending from the shrine, and before them will be a lyre, a drum, a flute, and a harp, and they will be prophesying. You will encounter them at the height of an ecstatic prophetic experience.

וְצָלְחָה עָלֶיךָ רוּחַ ה' וְהִתְנַבִּיתָ עִמָּם וְנֶהְפַּכְתָּ לְאִישׁ אַחֵר

The spirit of the Lord will rest upon you, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be transformed into another man.

וְהָיָה כִּי תָבֹאנָה הָאֹתוֹת הָאֵלֶּה לָךְ עֲשֵׂה לְךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא יָדֶךָ כִּי הָאֱלֹהִים עִמָּךְ

It shall be when these signs will come to you, do for you that which will be in your power, as God is with you. I cannot give you more precise instructions, but when you feel that the hand of God is upon you, act as you see fit.

וְיָרַדְתָּ לְפָנַי הַגִּלְגָּל וְהִנֵּה אָנֹכִי יֹרֵד אֵלֶיךָ לְהַעֲלוֹת עֹלוֹת לִזְבֹּחַ זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תּוֹחֵל עַד בּוֹאִי אֵלֶיךָ וְהוֹדַעְתִּי לְךָ אֵת אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה

Then you shall go down before me to Gilgal, and behold, I will go down to you, when you are there, to offer up burnt offerings, and to present peace offerings, in a large, public ceremony. Seven days shall you wait until I come to you, and I will tell you that which you shall do. At that stage you will receive further instructions.

וְהָיָה כְּהַפְנֹתוֹ שִׁכְמוֹ לָלֶכֶת מֵעִם שְׁמוּאֵל וַיַּהֲפָךְ לוֹ אֱלֹהִים לֵב אַחֵר וַיָּבֹאוּ כָּל הָאֹתוֹת הָאֵלֶּה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא

It was as he, Saul, turned his shoulder to go from Samuel; God transformed him with another heart. He already felt like a new person. And all these signs came to pass on that day.

וַיָּבֹאוּ שָׁם הַגִּבְעָתָה וְהִנֵּה חֶבֶל נְבִאִים לִקְרָאתוֹ וַתִּצְלַח עָלָיו רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים וַיִּתְנַבֵּא בְּתוֹכָם

They, Saul and his lad, came there, to the hill, and behold, a band of prophets was approaching him, and the spirit of God rested upon him, and he too prophesied in their midst.

וַיְהִי כָּל יוֹדְעוֹ מֵאִתְּמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם וַיִּרְאוּ וְהִנֵּה עִם נְבִאִים נִבָּא וַיֹּאמֶר הָעָם אִישׁ אֶל רֵעֵהוּ מַה זֶּה הָיָה לְבֶן קִישׁ הֲגַם שָׁאוּל בַּנְּבִיאִים

It was that all who knew him previously saw, and behold, he was prophesying with the prophets, and the people said one to another: What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul among the prophets too?We have known Saul for a long time; how did he suddenly become a prophet? Apparently, the prophets and their pupils were conspicuous in their ascetic, lonely way of life.

וַיַּעַן אִישׁ מִשָּׁם וַיֹּאמֶר וּמִי אֲבִיהֶם עַל כֵּן הָיְתָה לְמָשָׁל הֲגַם שָׁאוּל בַּנְּבִאִים

A man from there replied to those who posed that question, and said: But who is their, the prophets’, father? Prophecy is not an inherited trait, and it is not confined to specific families. Rather, prophets actively choose their way of life. Why, then, are you so astonished that Saul is also prophesying? Therefore, over the generations, it, the above comment, became a proverb, stated in reference to someone who has suddenly risen to a position of greatness: Is Saul among the prophets too? Indeed, Saul was among the prophets.

וַיְכַל מֵהִתְנַבּוֹת וַיָּבֹא הַבָּמָה

He concluded prophesying and came to the shrine, from where the prophets had descended.

וַיֹּאמֶר דּוֹד שָׁאוּל אֵלָיו וְאֶל נַעֲרוֹ אָן הֲלַכְתֶּם וַיֹּאמֶר לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת הָאֲתֹנוֹת וַנִּרְאֶה כִי אַיִן וַנָּבוֹא אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל

Saul’s uncle [dod] said to him and to his lad: Where did you go? He, Saul, said: To seek the donkeys, but we saw that they were nowhere to be found and came to Samuel to ask about them. This uncle was possibly Ner, whose son Avner would become Saul’s loyal companion (see 14:50–51). Alternatively, perhaps the term dod in this context means a friend rather than a family relative.

וַיֹּאמֶר דּוֹד שָׁאוּל הַגִּידָה נָּא לִי מָה אָמַר לָכֶם שְׁמוּאֵל

Saul’s uncle said: If you met the prophet, tell me, please, what Samuel said to you.

וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל דּוֹדוֹ הַגֵּד הִגִּיד לָנוּ כִּי נִמְצְאוּ הָאֲתֹנוֹת וְאֶת דְּבַר הַמְּלוּכָה לֹא הִגִּיד לוֹ אֲשֶׁר אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל

Saul said to his uncle: He told us that the donkeys had been found, which Samuel had indeed said. But the matter of the kingship that Samuel had also said he did not tell him. Saul did not relate that Samuel had anointed him, as he was still confused about the incident, and had yet to fully grasp its implications. Despite the appointment, he still felt like a private individual returning to the daily routine of his father’s home.

וַיַּצְעֵק שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת הָעָם אֶל ה' הַמִּצְפָּה

Now that Samuel had found a king, he wished to inform the people of this development, for which they had been waiting. Samuel mobilized the people to gather together to the Lord, to the Mitzpa, a sacred, well-known meeting place.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּה אָמַר ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָנֹכִי הֶעֱלֵיתִי אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם וָאַצִּיל אֶתְכֶם מִיַּד מִצְרַיִם וּמִיַּד כָּל הַמַּמְלָכוֹת הַלֹּחֲצִים אֶתְכֶם

He said to the children of Israel: So said the Lord, God of Israel: I took up Israel from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of Egypt and subsequently from the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.

וְאַתֶּם הַיּוֹם מְאַסְתֶּם אֶת אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא מוֹשִׁיעַ לָכֶם מִכָּל רָעוֹתֵיכֶם וְצָרֹתֵיכֶם וַתֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ כִּי מֶלֶךְ תָּשִׂים עָלֵינוּ וְעַתָּה הִתְיַצְּבוּ לִפְנֵי ה' לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶם וּלְאַלְפֵיכֶם

But today you have spurned your God, who Himself saves you from all your calamities and your troubles, and you have said to Him: Rather, appoint a king over us. The meaning of your request for the reign of a human king is that you do not accept God as your exclusive ruler, as was the case until now. Nevertheless, God has granted your request. Now, stand before the Lord to receive His command and to cast a lot according to your tribes and according to your thousands.

וַיַּקְרֵב שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת כָּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּלָּכֵד שֵׁבֶט בִּנְיָמִן

Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was indicated by the lot.

וַיַּקְרֵב אֶת שֵׁבֶט בִּנְיָמִן לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָיו וַתִּלָּכֵד מִשְׁפַּחַת הַמַּטְרִי וַיִּלָּכֵד שָׁאוּל בֶּן קִישׁ וַיְבַקְשֻׁהוּ וְלֹא נִמְצָא

He brought the tribe of Benjamin near according to its families, according to their division into families, and in another lot, the family of the Matrite was indicated, and Saul son of Kish was indicated from that family. They sought him, but he was not found.

וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ עוֹד בַּה' הֲבָא עוֹד הֲלֹם אִישׁ וַיֹּאמֶר ה' הִנֵּה הוּא נֶחְבָּא אֶל הַכֵּלִים

They inquired of the Lord again: Did the man come here yet? The Lord said: Behold, he is hidden among the baggage, between the vessels or the garments in the wardrobe.

וַיָּרֻצוּ וַיִּקָּחֻהוּ מִשָּׁם וַיִּתְיַצֵּב בְּתוֹךְ הָעָם וַיִּגְבַּהּ מִכָּל הָעָם מִשִּׁכְמוֹ וָמָעְלָה

They ran and took him from there, and he reluctantly stood among the people, and he was found to be taller than any of the people from his shoulders up.

וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל כָּל הָעָם הַרְּאִיתֶם אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בּוֹ ה'כִּי אֵין כָּמֹהוּ בְּכָל הָעָם וַיָּרִעוּ כָל הָעָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ יְחִי הַמֶּלֶךְ

Samuel said to the entire people: Have you seen he whom the Lord has chosen, for there is no one like him among the entire people? His appearance is a sign of his chosen status. All the people cheered in joy, and said: Long live the king.

וַיְדַבֵּר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל הָעָם אֵת מִשְׁפַּט הַמְּלֻכָה וַיִּכְתֹּב בַּסֵּפֶר וַיַּנַּח לִפְנֵי ה' וַיְשַׁלַּח שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת כָּל הָעָם אִישׁ לְבֵיתוֹ

Samuel spoke to the people of the practice of the kingship, the laws of the king and the proper attitude toward the institution, and he wrote it in a book and placed it before the Lord. Samuel sent all the people, each man to his home. The formal process of selecting a king was thereby concluded. All had witnessed that the lot had fallen upon Saul, and that he had been chosen by the prophet. His appointment became an established fact before their eyes.

וְגַם שָׁאוּל הָלַךְ לְבֵיתוֹ גִּבְעָתָה וַיֵּלְכוּ עִמּוֹ הַחַיִל אֲשֶׁר נָגַע אֱלֹהִים בְּלִבָּם

Saul too, went to his home, to Giva, later called Givat Shaul; (see 11:4, 15:34) and with him went the host whom God had touched their heart.

וּבְנֵי בְלִיַּעַל אָמְרוּ מַה יֹּשִׁעֵנוּ זֶה וַיִּבְזֻהוּ וְלֹא הֵבִיאוּ לוֹ מִנְחָה וַיְהִי כְּמַחֲרִישׁ

Others reacted differently: But wicked people said: How will this one save us? Who is this king? What is the use of an unfamiliar youth, this lanky, shy fellow? They wanted a king, but they expected someone very different, to whom they could look with pride. They scorned him and did not bring him a tribute, but he was as one who remains silent. Saul did not react to their provocations, which is not the normal behavior of a king.