1 Samuel 10:17 kjv
And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
1 Samuel 10:17 nkjv
Then Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah,
1 Samuel 10:17 niv
Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the LORD at Mizpah
1 Samuel 10:17 esv
Now Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah.
1 Samuel 10:17 nlt
Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the LORD at Mizpah.
1 Samuel 10 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 17:15 | "you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses." | God chooses Israel's king. |
| 1 Sam 8:5 | "Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations." | People demand a king like others. |
| 1 Sam 8:7 | "they have rejected me from being king over them." | God views request as rejection of Himself. |
| 1 Sam 9:15-17 | "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man..." | God had already chosen Saul for Samuel to anoint. |
| 1 Sam 10:1 | "Then Samuel took a flask of oil... and said, 'Has not the Lord anointed you...'" | Saul's private anointing by Samuel. |
| 1 Sam 10:20-22 | Saul hidden, found by lots. | Public revelation of the king by lot. |
| 1 Sam 11:15 | "Then all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king..." | Public reaffirmation of kingship after victory. |
| Judg 20:1 | "Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba..." | Mizpah as a site for national assembly and judgment. |
| Judg 21:1 | "Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah..." | Mizpah as a place for national oath/resolution. |
| Jos 24:1 | "Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem..." | National assembly for covenant renewal. |
| Exod 19:17 | "And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God..." | People gathering before God (at Sinai). |
| Deut 4:10 | "Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb..." | Assembly before God to receive His words. |
| 1 Chr 29:22 | "They ate and drank before the Lord..." | Royal establishment done before God. |
| Prov 29:2 | "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice..." | The nature of righteous rule. |
| Hos 13:10-11 | "I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath." | God's perspective on kings given to displeased Israel. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "For to us a child is born... and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor..." | Prophecy of Messiah, the true eternal King. |
| Jer 23:5-6 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch..." | Prophecy of Christ, a righteous king from David's line. |
| Matt 28:18 | "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." | Christ's supreme authority and ultimate Kingship. |
| Luke 1:32-33 | "He will be great... and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever..." | Christ's eternal kingship, fulfilling prophecies. |
| Acts 1:26 | "And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias..." | Drawing lots (though in a different context). |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." | God's people as His unique possession. |
1 Samuel 10 verses
1 Samuel 10 17 Meaning
Samuel’s solemn convocation of the Israelites at Mizpah signals a crucial moment in Israel’s history: the formal establishment of the monarchy. This assembly, held "to the Lord," emphasizes divine oversight and authorization for the king's revelation, transitioning Israel from a judgeship to a kingly rule chosen by God, despite the people's motivations.
1 Samuel 10 17 Context
1 Samuel 10:17 is a pivotal verse, initiating the public process of establishing Israel’s monarchy after Samuel’s private anointing of Saul. The nation had expressed a desire for a king "like all the nations" (1 Sam 8:5), a request viewed by God as a rejection of His direct rule (1 Sam 8:7). Despite their impure motives, God permits a king, orchestrating the selection through His prophet, Samuel. Chapter 10 has already recounted Samuel anointing Saul privately and giving him prophetic signs. This verse now describes Samuel's public convocation of the entire nation at Mizpah, a site with historical significance as a place for national assemblies, prayers, and covenant reaffirmation (e.g., Judg 20:1, 21:1). The phrase "to the Lord" underscores that this assembly is under divine authority and supervision, setting the stage for the formal revelation and selection of Israel's first king before God.
1 Samuel 10 17 Word analysis
- Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל, Shmu'el): Means "heard of God" or "name of God." As prophet, priest, and judge, Samuel served as God's primary messenger and intercessor. His central role here emphasizes the divine appointment of the king, contrasting with purely human political ambition. He embodies God's voice in this transitional period.
- called (וַיַּצְהֵר, vayyaṣheyr): A verb suggesting a public proclamation, a summons, or giving a formal testimony. It indicates a deliberate and authoritative convocation by Samuel, acting under divine command, not a casual gathering. This formal assembly underscores the gravity and divinely-ordained nature of the event.
- the people (הָעָם, ha'am): Refers to the entire nation of Israel. Their unified presence signifies a national consensus for the monarchy and public legitimization of the selection process. It underscores that this was a nationwide decision and transformation, involving all tribal representatives.
- together (כֻּלּוֹ, kullo): Emphasizes the completeness and unity of the gathering. It highlights that representatives from all tribes were expected to attend, making the decision truly national and publicly witnessed. This reinforces the covenant community's involvement.
- to the Lord (אֶל יְהוָה, el YHWH): This crucial phrase indicates the spiritual nature and ultimate authority of the assembly. The people were being summoned into God’s presence, making the event a divine tribunal where God's will concerning the kingship would be revealed. It aligns with covenant renewals or important national decisions being made "before the Lord."
- at Mizpah (בַּמִּצְפָּה, baMitzpah): "Watchtower" or "lookout." Mizpah was a place of significant national and religious gatherings (Gen 31:49; Judg 20-21; 1 Sam 7:5-6). Its selection for this event evokes past instances of national prayer, repentance, and the renewal of covenant, thereby lending historical and sacred legitimacy to the establishment of the monarchy. The name also subtly implies divine observation over Israel's affairs.
1 Samuel 10 17 Bonus section
The scene at Mizpah underscores a profound tension between human desire and divine will. While Israel's request for a king was rooted in their desire to be "like all the nations" and thus a rejection of God, God allows the monarchy to proceed, but insists that the process remains "to the Lord." This illustrates God's sovereignty working through human decisions, even flawed ones. Furthermore, Mizpah often served as a border point, symbolizing transition; fittingly, it becomes the stage for Israel's transition from a loose tribal confederacy under judges to a centralized monarchy under a king. This gathering also highlights the enduring significance of the prophetic office as the primary conduit for God's will, even as the kingly office emerges.
1 Samuel 10 17 Commentary
1 Samuel 10:17 serves as the public culmination of a significant theological and political shift in Israel. Samuel, acting as God's instrument, calls the entire nation to Mizpah, explicitly placing this critical transition under the direct gaze and authority of "the Lord." This was not merely a secular assembly for a political decision; it was a sacred convocation. Despite the people's desire for a king originating from a rejection of God’s direct rule, God condescends to their request, yet dictates the process of selection through His chosen prophet, maintaining His sovereignty over their destiny. This verse sets the stage for God's formal presentation of Israel's first king, highlighting His control over the nation's leadership, even when yielding to their flawed demands. It demonstrates divine guidance amidst human failing, providing legitimacy for a monarchy God foresaw but did not inherently desire as humanity did.