The Beginning:
Israel asks for a king, and the prophet Samuel is told by the LORD to listen to the people while warning them of the cost of monarchy. Saul, a Benjaminite, goes searching for his father’s lost donkeys and travels with his servant toward Samuel, hoping the seer can help. The LORD reveals to Samuel that Saul is the one to be appointed as ruler over Israel.
The Middle:
Samuel honors Saul at a meal and privately tells him that Israel’s desire is centered on him, then anoints him with oil as a sign of the LORD’s choice. Samuel gives Saul specific signs—encounters and messages that confirm God’s calling—and Saul experiences a change as “God gave him another heart,” and he prophesies among a group of prophets. Samuel gathers the people at Mizpah and, after reminding them that they have asked for a king, oversees a public selection by lot that identifies Saul.
The End:
Saul is found hiding among the baggage, but is brought out and presented to the people, who acclaim him as king. Samuel explains the “rights and duties of the kingship,” records them, and sends the people home. Some respond with loyalty to Saul, while others despise him, yet Saul initially remains restrained.
This account shows that Israel’s monarchy begins under God’s authority: the king is not self-appointed but chosen and confirmed by the LORD through prophetic word, anointing, and public recognition. The narrative holds together two truths—Israel’s request for a king reflects a turning from God’s direct rule, yet God still works within that request to guide and preserve his people. Saul’s anointing highlights that leadership in Israel is meant to be accountable to God’s word, not merely to popular demand or human strength.
In the ancient Near East, anointing with oil was a recognized act of commissioning, marking a person as set apart for a divinely sanctioned role. The use of lots at Mizpah reflects an accepted Israelite practice for seeking a public, community-verified decision under God’s oversight (cf. earlier uses of lots in Israel’s traditions), reinforcing that Saul’s elevation was presented as God-directed rather than purely political.
“Has not the LORD anointed you to be prince over his people Israel?” — 1 Samuel 10:1
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. Why did Saul first travel with his servant toward Samuel?
2. Where was Saul publicly identified as king through a selection by lot?