1 samuel 10:21 - He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families; and the family of the Matrites was chosen. Then Saul the son of Kish was chosen; but when they looked for him, he could not be found.

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 10:21

What does "1 samuel 10:21" mean?


This verse describes the final steps in the process of choosing Saul as the first king of Israel in 1 Samuel 10. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families; and the family of the Matrites was chosen." This refers to Samuel, the prophet, conducting a selection process to identify the king. He narrowed down the choices progressively. First, he selected the entire tribe of Benjamin (the smallest and least significant tribe, perhaps to avoid jealousy from other tribes). Then, within Benjamin, he further narrowed it down to a specific family unit, the family of the Matrites. This suggests a deliberate, divinely guided process of elimination.

"Then Saul the son of Kish was chosen..." From the family of the Matrites, Saul, son of Kish, was specifically selected. This means God's choice had become very precise: Saul was the divinely appointed individual.

"...but when they looked for him, he could not be found." This is the ironic and somewhat humorous part. Despite being chosen as king by divine selection, Saul is nowhere to be found. This portrays Saul as hesitant, humble, or perhaps even intimidated by the enormous responsibility placed upon him. It creates a suspenseful pause before the formal coronation. It also highlights Saul's initial humility or reluctance, which is a stark contrast to the pride and disobedience he would display later in his reign.

In essence, this verse describes a divinely orchestrated selection process leading to Saul's anointing as king. However, Saul's disappearance introduces an element of uncertainty and foreshadows potential issues with his leadership. It also contrasts the immense honour placed upon him with his initial discomfort or hesitancy. This sets the stage for the complexities and eventual downfall of Saul's reign.

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