1 Samuel 10 14

1 Samuel 10:14 kjv

And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.

1 Samuel 10:14 nkjv

Then Saul's uncle said to him and his servant, "Where did you go?" So he said, "To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel."

1 Samuel 10:14 niv

Now Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, "Where have you been?" "Looking for the donkeys," he said. "But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel."

1 Samuel 10:14 esv

Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel."

1 Samuel 10:14 nlt

"Where have you been?" Saul's uncle asked him and his servant. "We were looking for the donkeys," Saul replied, "but we couldn't find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were."

1 Samuel 10 verses

1 Samuel 10 14 Meaning

This verse details Saul's return home after his private anointing by Samuel and a transformative prophetic experience. His uncle inquires about their prolonged absence. Saul responds partially, mentioning only the search for donkeys, admitting their failure to find them, and vaguely stating they "went to Nahash," carefully omitting the pivotal encounter with Samuel and the divine call to kingship. This selective disclosure highlights Saul's discretion or initial humility regarding his recent anointing.

1 Samuel 10 14 Context

This verse unfolds immediately after a series of momentous events in Saul’s life. In 1 Samuel 9, Saul, a humble Benjaminite, embarks on a seemingly mundane errand to find his father's lost donkeys. This providential journey leads him to Samuel, God's prophet, in Ramah. In 1 Samuel 10:1, Samuel privately anoints Saul as king, a secret known only to Samuel, Saul, and perhaps his servant. Following the anointing, Samuel provides Saul with specific prophetic signs that would confirm God's word to him, culminating in Saul joining a band of prophets and prophesying among them, signifying that "the Spirit of God rushed upon him." Upon his return from this spiritual transformation, Saul is confronted by his uncle, who is naturally curious about their whereabouts given their extended absence. The historical context is Israel's transition from a loose confederacy under judges to a monarchy, fulfilling the people's desire for a king while still under divine orchestration.

1 Samuel 10 14 Word analysis

• And Saul's uncle (וְדוֹד שָׁאוּל, ve-dōd Sha’ul): "Dod" typically means "uncle" (father's brother) or "relative." The emphasis is on immediate family, highlighting the domestic setting from which God plucked Saul. This suggests natural, innocent curiosity from a close family member.
• said to him and to his servant: The inquiry is directed to both Saul and his attendant, indicating they had traveled together and implying the uncle assumed they were privy to the same information.
• 'Where have you gone?' (אֶן־הֲלַכְתֶּם, 'an halakh'tem): A straightforward, practical question. The implication is concern over their absence, as a simple search for donkeys shouldn't take this long.
• And he said: Refers to Saul's immediate response.
• 'To seek the donkeys' (לְבַקֵּשׁ הָאֲתֹנוֹת, lĕvaqēsh hā'ăthōnoht): The primary, stated purpose of their journey. This mundane task became the catalyst for Saul’s destiny, demonstrating God's use of ordinary circumstances for extraordinary ends (Providence).
• 'and when we saw that they were nowhere' (וְכִי לֹא מָצָאנוּ, wĕḵī lō mātsā'nu): Literally "and that we did not find [them]." It conveys the failure of their original mission and serves as a natural explanation for altering their course or seeking further. The lack of finding them is presented as a reason for continuing the journey, highlighting human limitation and God's sovereign leading.
• 'we went to Nahash.' (וַנָּבוֹא אֶל־נָחָשׁ, wā-nnāvō' 'el-Nākhāsh):
  • "Nahash" (נָחָשׁ, Nākhāsh): This Hebrew word can mean "snake" or refers to a place or person. In 1 Samuel, "Nahash" is famously the king of the Ammonites (1 Sam 11:1).
  • The mention of "Nahash" here is debated among scholars.
    • Some ancient textual traditions (Septuagint, some Dead Sea Scrolls) read "Nob" (נֹב, Nov), a priestly city known later in Saul's reign (1 Sam 21). This would imply Saul visited a religious center.
    • If it truly is "Nahash," king of the Ammonites, it would be an inexplicable diversion given the donkey search and Saul's role, raising questions about a deliberate deception by Saul, or simply a location or tribal name rather than the king.
    • Most scholarly consensus leans towards either a scribal error (preferring "Nob") or that Saul gave a vague, perhaps misleading, or even deliberately fabricated answer to avoid revealing the truth about Samuel. Given that 1 Samuel 10:16 explicitly states Saul kept silent about the kingship, the vagueness or evasiveness of this specific destination ("Nahash") strongly suggests Saul’s intentional withholding of information about his momentous encounter with Samuel.

1 Samuel 10 14 Bonus section

The vagueness in Saul's answer, particularly concerning "Nahash," is a significant literary device that accentuates the profound secret he is keeping. This quiet discretion is an early character trait, starkly contrasting with his later impulsive and prideful actions recorded in the same book. This narrative moment effectively sets up the public assembly in Mizpah where Saul is ultimately presented as king, adding dramatic tension by showing what is known "behind the scenes" versus what is presented to the public. It serves as a reminder that God often prepares individuals for great roles in obscurity before their public unveiling, testing their character and humility.

1 Samuel 10 14 Commentary

1 Samuel 10:14 subtly highlights the private unfolding of God's plan amidst public ignorance. Saul, having just received anointing and prophetic anointing, is questioned about his whereabouts by his uncle. His response is telling: he reports the trivial (the lost donkeys) but conspicuously omits the pivotal (his meeting with Samuel, his anointing as king, and his prophetic experience). This omission suggests Saul's initial humility, discretion, or perhaps his inability to fully comprehend or verbalize the divine weight of the encounter. It foreshadows a king who would struggle between obeying God and appeasing men, yet at this moment, it underscores his profound shift from ordinary tasks to a divine destiny without immediately revealing it. This silence allows for God’s timing in the public revelation of Israel’s first king.