1 Samuel 10:26 kjv
And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
1 Samuel 10:26 nkjv
And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched.
1 Samuel 10:26 niv
Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.
1 Samuel 10:26 esv
Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched.
1 Samuel 10:26 nlt
When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him.
1 Samuel 10 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 17:15 | "You may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses..." | God's sovereign choice in appointing leadership. |
| Judg 7:7 | "...With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you..." | God equips and provides a loyal, though small, group. |
| 1 Sam 9:16 | "...I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him ruler..." | God's prior declaration of Saul as His chosen leader. |
| 1 Sam 10:1 | "...Is it not because the LORD has anointed you ruler over his inheritance?" | Saul's anointing by Samuel as a divine act. |
| 1 Sam 10:6 | "...and the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you..." | God's spiritual empowerment and enablement for Saul. |
| 1 Sam 10:9 | "...And when he turned to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart..." | God's internal transformation of Saul's nature. |
| 1 Sam 11:6 | "When the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul..." | Divine empowerment for leadership and action. |
| 1 Sam 22:1-2 | "And everyone who was in distress, in debt, or discontented gathered to him..." | Contrast: David later gathers the downtrodden. |
| 1 Kgs 11:3-4 | "for his wives turned his heart away after other gods..." | Contrast: Heart not touched by God, but turned. |
| 1 Chr 12:18 | "...Then the Spirit came upon Amasai..." | Divine enabling and alliance for David's support. |
| Ezra 1:5 | "...everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild..." | God stirring hearts for His purposes and initiatives. |
| Ezra 7:27-28 | "...who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king..." | God influencing the hearts of powerful individuals. |
| Neh 2:12 | "...my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem..." | God implanting specific plans or desires in hearts. |
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD..." | God's sovereign control over the intentions of leaders. |
| Jer 24:7 | "...And I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD..." | God's promise to give a responsive heart. |
| Jer 31:33 | "...I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts..." | God's work of transforming and indwelling hearts. |
| Ezek 36:26 | "...And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you..." | God's promise of inner transformation. |
| John 6:44 | "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him..." | God's divine drawing and enabling for salvation. |
| Acts 16:14 | "...The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul." | God enabling reception and understanding of truth. |
| Rom 8:29-30 | "...those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image..." | God's sovereign plan and calling of individuals. |
| Phil 2:13 | "...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." | God's active internal work, enabling obedience. |
| Heb 13:21 | "...equip you with everything good that you may do his will..." | God's provision and enablement for all good works. |
1 Samuel 10 verses
1 Samuel 10 26 Meaning
1 Samuel 10:26 describes Saul's return to his hometown of Gibeah following his public anointing and acclamation as Israel's first king. Crucially, the verse highlights that he was accompanied by a select "band of men" whose allegiance and willingness to serve were not due to human persuasion or Saul's charisma, but rather directly resulted from God's divine influence, having "touched" their hearts. This establishes God's direct and sovereign hand in assembling the foundational support for His chosen king.
1 Samuel 10 26 Context
This verse is situated immediately after Saul's public presentation and selection as king at Mizpah (1 Sam 10:17-25). Earlier in the chapter (1 Sam 10:1-16), Saul had been secretly anointed by Samuel, confirmed by prophetic signs, and "given another heart" by God. While the assembly at Mizpah had revealed him as king through divine lot and initial acclamation, there were some "worthless fellows" (1 Sam 10:27) who despised him. Verse 26, therefore, signifies the nascent stage of Saul's kingship, as he withdraws to his hometown accompanied not by the whole nation, but by a specially prepared core group. This initial gathering of loyal men provides Saul with a foundational base of support, highlighting God's direct hand in establishing his authority even before his first military triumph and full consolidation of power, setting the stage for future events like the confrontation with Nahash the Ammonite in 1 Samuel 11.
1 Samuel 10 26 Word analysis
- Saul: (Hebrew:
Shā'ūl). The man personally chosen by God to be the first king of Israel. His initial humility and obscurity contrast with the sudden weight of his new calling. - went home: This suggests a return to his private residence and familiar surroundings after the dramatic public events. It could indicate a brief pause or reflection before fully embracing his royal duties, demonstrating a grounded rather than power-hungry immediate response.
- Gibeah: Saul's hometown, located in the territory of Benjamin. It would naturally serve as his initial seat of power and personal base before establishing a more formal capital.
- band of men: (Hebrew:
hā·ḥayil- literally "the strength" or "men of strength/valor/ability"). This term indicates that these were not random followers but a distinct group of capable and perhaps militarily strong individuals. They represented the elite or more devoted element among the people, ready to actively support Saul's reign from its outset. - whose hearts God had touched: This phrase is the theological core.
- hearts: (Hebrew:
liḇbāmfromlēḇ). In biblical usage, the heart encompasses the entire inner person: the will, intellect, emotions, and conscience. It signifies their inner disposition and the very core of their being. - God: (Hebrew:
hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm). Refers to the sovereign, true God of Israel. The subject of the verb "touched" is explicitly God, making this a divine action, not a human one. - had touched: (Hebrew:
nā·ḡaʿfromnāga). To reach, to strike, to affect, to extend to. Here, it denotes a profound and direct divine influence, a spiritual and internal persuasion. This was not mere human loyalty, but a divinely inspired conviction that inclined their wills towards active support for God's chosen king. It implies God providentially disposed them to affirm and follow Saul.
- hearts: (Hebrew:
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- And Saul also went home to Gibeah: This depicts a return to normalcy for Saul immediately after momentous national events. "Also" signifies he did not stay at Mizpah but returned to his known place, emphasizing a transitional phase from private life to public leadership.
- and there went with him a band of men: This indicates the crucial immediate formation of a loyal support group around the newly anointed king. This small retinue formed the very first cadre of his official (though informal at this point) leadership and military strength.
- whose hearts God had touched: This climactic phrase underscores that the legitimacy and initial strength of Saul's rule rested firmly on God's active, direct intervention. It demonstrates divine orchestration and validation of His chosen one, highlighting that genuine support for God's purposes ultimately originates from His working within individuals, transforming their wills. This spiritual enablement set apart this group from mere political adherents.
1 Samuel 10 26 Bonus section
This verse offers an important theological insight into the nature of true allegiance in the Kingdom of God—it is often supernaturally inspired rather than purely humanly orchestrated. It contrasts with Saul's later trajectory where his own heart turned away from God, leading to the departure of the Spirit from him (1 Sam 16:14). Here, God's divine touch ensures faithful support, emphasizing His ability to influence wills for His sovereign purposes. This principle is not limited to ancient kings but applies to all aspects of God's work, where He still "touches" hearts to respond to His call for service, giving, and leadership within His church and in the world.
1 Samuel 10 26 Commentary
1 Samuel 10:26 powerfully articulates that God's plan for Saul's kingship was not left to chance or human persuasion alone. While Saul was publicly chosen, the initial gathering of his vital support base was directly God's doing. The phrase "whose hearts God had touched" signifies a divine work of conviction and alignment, an inner persuasion that prompted these men of valor to commit their allegiance to Israel's first king. This reveals God's sovereignty not only in choosing the leader but also in providentially providing the necessary human support to establish and sustain His chosen one. It speaks to the theological truth that where God calls, He also equips and provides.
- Example: Just as God prepared these men to support Saul, in a church context, God moves the hearts of specific individuals to rise as faithful volunteers, devoted prayer warriors, or financial supporters for a ministry, enabling the work beyond mere human effort. This divine touching ensures a commitment rooted in conviction rather than obligation.