1 Samuel 10 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter continues the section of the book about Saul. It describes how Samuel told Saul in advance several things that would happen to him. Samuel did that to show Saul that Yahweh genuinely had instructed him to appoint Saul as king. The chapter also describes how Samuel gathered all of the Israelites together at the city of Mizpah to demonstrate, through the casting of lots, that Yahweh had chosen Saul as king.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Gibeah of God

In 10:5, the author refers to a city called Gibeah of God. The word “gibeah” means “hill,” so this could be a general reference to a “hill of God,” that is, to some high place on which people worshiped God. However, the context suggests that Gibeah of God is the name of the same city that the author calls “Gibeah of Saul” in [11:4](../11/04.md) and [15:34](../15/34.md). This was Saul’s home city, and people gave it that name later when he became famous as king. But at this point people distinguished this city from others by the same name by referring to the high place near it. That is why Samuel calls it Gibeah of God. We recommend that you use that name here in your translation.