1 Samuel 10 2

1 Samuel 10:2 kjv

When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

1 Samuel 10:2 nkjv

When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, 'The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?" '

1 Samuel 10:2 niv

When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel's tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, "What shall I do about my son?"?'

1 Samuel 10:2 esv

When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, 'The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?"'

1 Samuel 10:2 nlt

When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachel's tomb at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you. He is asking, 'Have you seen my son?'

1 Samuel 10 verses

1 Samuel 10 2 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecy to Saul after his anointing as king. It provides Saul with specific, verifiable signs: he would encounter two men at Rachel's tomb near Zelzah, who would confirm that the lost donkeys he was seeking had been found. Furthermore, these men would relay the message that his father, Kish, was no longer worried about the donkeys but was instead distressed about Saul's prolonged absence, asking "What shall I do about my son?" This prophecy served to authenticate Samuel's divine commission and assure Saul of God's guidance, transforming his mundane errand into a direct confirmation of his newly received royal anointing.

1 Samuel 10 2 Context

1 Samuel 10:2 is a pivotal verse occurring immediately after Samuel has secretly anointed Saul as Israel’s first king. Saul’s original mission was mundane: searching for his father’s lost donkeys (1 Sam 9:3-4). This verse details the first of three precise signs Samuel gives Saul to confirm the divine legitimacy of his anointing and the calling on his life. The immediate geographical context is the journey Saul takes upon departing from Samuel, leading him to specific locations like Rachel’s tomb and Zelzah. Historically, kingship in Israel was a new concept, a shift from the judges. God’s direct intervention through Samuel’s detailed prophecy would lend significant credibility and divine backing to Saul’s ascension, which was not publicly known yet. This sign provides assurance to Saul personally, bridging the gap from his identity as a donkey-finder to his future as king, while also alleviating a practical concern that would otherwise draw him away from considering his higher calling.

1 Samuel 10 2 Word analysis

• "When you depart" (וְהָלַכְתָּ֣): From the Hebrew root halak (הָלַךְ), meaning "to walk" or "to go." Implies immediate action and a journey that is divinely ordained, transitioning from Samuel's presence to Saul's path.
• "from me today": Emphasizes immediacy and the precision of the prophetic timing. The fulfillment is not far off but will begin almost at once, making the signs verifiable upon Saul’s very first steps after the anointing.
• "you will find two men": Specificity in number. This detail, seemingly small, contributes to the undeniable accuracy of Samuel's prophecy. It highlights that God's plan is meticulously detailed, precluding mere coincidence.
• "by Rachel’s tomb" (עִם־קְבֻרַ֥ת רָחֵ֖ל): Hebrew qeburat Rachel. This is a significant landmark, marking the traditional burial place of Rachel, Jacob's beloved wife and mother of Benjamin (Gen 35:19). For Saul, a Benjaminite, it connected him to his ancestral roots and the history of Israel, rooting his destiny in a sacred space.
• "in the territory of Benjamin": Explicitly connects the location to Saul's own tribe. This reinforces that God's chosen king is from their own people, a local reference point confirming the divine choice.
• "at Zelzah" (בְצֶלְצַח): Hebrew tzeltsakh. A precise place name, demonstrating the granular detail of God's knowledge given to Samuel. This specificity leaves no room for doubt about the prophecy's authenticity.
• "And they will say to you": Indicates an active, verbal confirmation. The men are not just a static sign; they deliver a message directly addressing Saul's earlier concern, emphasizing the communicative aspect of God's providence.
• "‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found.": The mundane purpose of Saul’s original journey is resolved by divine foresight. This confirmation frees Saul from his immediate, secular preoccupation, allowing his mind to turn fully to his sacred, newly revealed calling as king. It showcases God's care for even life's practical details.
• "And now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and is distressed about you, saying, 'What shall I do about my son?'": This sentence marks a profound shift in Kish's concern from lost property to his lost son, illustrating deep parental love and anxiety. For Saul, it confirms that his prolonged absence due to God’s redirecting has been noticed and worried over by his family, validating his eventual return home while processing his new destiny. It brings relatable human emotion into the grand narrative of God choosing a king.

1 Samuel 10 2 Bonus section

• The meticulous detail of Samuel's prophecy, fulfilled almost immediately upon Saul's departure, would serve as a powerful faith-builder for Saul, affirming the validity of his anointing and the source of his new authority.
• The fact that God provides signs related to Saul's earthly concern (donkeys) before escalating to signs concerning spiritual endowment (prophecy with the prophets) highlights God's holistic approach to calling, first settling the practical matters to clear the way for the spiritual.
• The exact locations, like "Rachel's tomb" and "Zelzah," provided tangible, geographically verifiable elements, ensuring that Saul could not mistake the fulfillment of the prophecy for mere coincidence or an illusion.

1 Samuel 10 2 Commentary

This verse functions as a divinely appointed signpost in Saul's journey towards kingship. Samuel's prophecy is not vague but remarkably specific, detailing location, number of people, and the very content of their message, thus offering immediate, verifiable proof of God's involvement and Samuel's prophetic accuracy. The transition in Kish's worry, from lost donkeys to a lost son, subtly foreshadows the dramatic shift in Saul's life—from seeking livestock to being sought by God for a kingdom. This serves to release Saul from his earthly duty and focus his mind on the supernatural implications of his recent encounter with Samuel. God meets Saul in the context of his mundane life, transforming it with a divine calling, reassuring him through tangible signs, and paving the way for his acceptance of the monumental task ahead. It underlines God's precise foreknowledge and personal care, addressing even the worries of Saul's father.