1 Samuel 10 13

1 Samuel 10:13 kjv

And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

1 Samuel 10:13 nkjv

And when he had finished prophesying, he went to the high place.

1 Samuel 10:13 niv

After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place.

1 Samuel 10:13 esv

When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

1 Samuel 10:13 nlt

When Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship.

1 Samuel 10 verses

1 Samuel 10 13 Meaning

This verse states that Saul ceased his time of prophesying and subsequently went to a high place. It marks the conclusion of one of the signs given by Samuel to Saul, signifying the empowering work of the Spirit of God upon him for his newly bestowed office. The "high place" was a known location for worship and prophetic activity in that era.

1 Samuel 10 13 Context

First Samuel Chapter 10 details the pivotal moment of Saul's anointing as Israel's first king by the prophet Samuel. Following the private anointing, Samuel provides Saul with three specific signs that will confirm his kingship and divine empowerment. One of these signs involves meeting a company of prophets and experiencing a supernatural transformation, wherein "the Spirit of God rushed upon him" (10:10), causing him to prophesy among them. This unexpected display leads to the popular query, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" This verse (1 Samuel 10:13) concludes this specific prophetic encounter, noting that once his period of prophesying ended, Saul proceeded to a designated "high place." Historically, before the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, various "high places" (bamot) served as legitimate sites for worship and sacrifice in Israel. This particular high place was likely the one at Gibeath-elohim, associated with prophetic communities, providing a context for the interaction.

1 Samuel 10 13 Word analysis

• וַיִּכְלּוּ (Vayyikhlu): Transliteration: `vayyikhlu`. Meaning: "and they finished" or "and he finished". This Hebrew verb, `kalah` (כָּלָה), means "to complete," "to finish," or "to cease." While the plural form "they finished" appears here in the Masoretic Text, the immediate context clearly indicates Saul's personal actions and the ESV (and many other translations) appropriately render it as "he had finished." This reflects either a textual variant where an original singular form existed or a grammatical nuance allowing the plural for an indefinite group including the singular subject. It marks the distinct cessation of Saul's prophetic outburst.
• מִן־הִנָּבֹאוֹת (min-hinnabo'ot): Transliteration: `min-hinnabo'ot`. Meaning: "from prophesying" or "from the prophesying." `Min` (מִן) is a preposition meaning "from" or "out of." `Hinnabo'ot` (הִנָּבֹאוֹת) is a nominalized infinitive, derived from the root `nava` (נָבָא), "to prophesy," referring to the act or state of prophesying. This indicates that Saul had been engaged in this activity, and now he ceased from it.
• וַיָּבֹא (Vayyavo'): Transliteration: `vayyavo`. Meaning: "and he came." This verb `bo` (בֹּא) simply means "to come" or "to go." It denotes movement and direction, showing Saul's next action after his prophetic experience.
• הַבָּמָה (habbamah): Transliteration: `habbamah`. Meaning: "the high place." `Ha` (הַ) is the definite article "the." `Bamah` (בָּמָה) refers to an elevated place, typically a cultic site for worship or sacrifice. In early Israel, before the centralization of worship in Jerusalem, many `bamot` were legitimate places of worship (e.g., Gibeon). Here, it seems to be the place where the company of prophets gathered or a nearby place of significance. It signifies Saul returning from his ecstatic state to a recognized communal and religious setting.

• "he had finished prophesying": This phrase highlights the transient nature of Saul's prophetic experience. Unlike established prophets (e.g., Samuel), Saul's prophecy was an event, an episodic empowerment rather than an ongoing calling or character. It was a sign of God's Spirit coming upon him for a specific purpose (his anointing and initial divine confirmation), but it was not indicative of him becoming a "prophet" in the traditional sense. This foreshadows his later struggles with God's Spirit and his ultimate rejection.
• "he came to the high place": This indicates the destination of Saul immediately after his spiritual encounter. The `bamah` was a significant site, perhaps Gibeath-elohim where the prophetic band was. Its mention grounds the extraordinary spiritual event in a concrete, physical location known to the audience, suggesting a return to a more routine existence or the normal locus of religious activity.

1 Samuel 10 13 Bonus section

The "prophesying" engaged in by Saul and the company of prophets here is generally understood not as predictive prophecy of future events, but as ecstatic utterance, perhaps in praise, prayer, or declaring God's word in a spirit-filled manner, possibly accompanied by music. The question, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" suggests the unexpected and visible nature of this spiritual outpouring, transforming his ordinary demeanor. The temporary nature of this gifting to Saul foreshadows a crucial theological point: the Spirit's anointing in the Old Testament often rested upon individuals for specific tasks or periods, whereas the New Covenant promises a permanent indwelling for believers (e.g., Rom 8:9). The term "high place" (bamah) here is descriptive of a legitimate place of worship at this stage in Israel's history. It's not yet presented with the later condemnations that arose when these sites were used for idolatry or after the establishment of a centralized sanctuary. This indicates that prophetic and spiritual activities could authentically occur in such recognized locations before the full centralization of worship in Jerusalem.

1 Samuel 10 13 Commentary

This verse serves as the immediate concluding statement to Saul's extraordinary prophetic experience following his anointing. It confirms the fulfillment of one of Samuel's predictive signs (1 Sam 10:2-7). Saul's prophesying was not an acquired skill or a conscious decision, but an anointing and empowering by the Spirit of God, indicating a temporary, divine intervention to equip him for kingship. His arrival at "the high place" (likely a known cultic site like Gibeath-elohim mentioned in verse 5) demonstrates that this was not a random journey but a return to a specific, perhaps the gathering point for the prophetic company or a significant place in his vicinity. This momentary spiritual high would serve as evidence to Saul (and potentially others) that God was indeed with him, changing his heart and enabling him for leadership, though it was not an enduring characteristic for him, as later events would show. This period of Spirit-empowered prophesying validates his anointing.