Bible Strands
1 Samuel 10:16
And Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But Saul did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul responds to his uncle’s direct inquiry about Samuel’s private message immediately following his anointing. He addresses his uncle while deliberately withholding the revelation concerning his future kingship.
The words — וַיֹּאמֶר (va.yomer) translates literally as "and he said," and נִמְצְאוּ (nim.tze'u) means "they had been found," anchoring Saul’s reply to the physical search rather than the spiritual commission.
The thread — The verse’s focus on the recovered donkeys directly references 1 Samuel 9:20, while the concealed kingship announcement precedes the public assembly at Mizpah in 1 Samuel 10:17. The restraint in Saul’s speech aligns with the wisdom pattern outlined in Proverbs 29:11.
Why it lands — The text explicitly states that Saul did not disclose Samuel’s words about the kingship before noting his evasion. It requires the reader to observe how human omission can temporarily mask a divine appointment until the stated timeline unfolds.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 29:11 A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.
- Judges 14:6 and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
- 1 Samuel 9:20 As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?”
- 1 Samuel 9:27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on.
- Exodus 4:18 Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see if they are still alive.” “Go in peace,” Jethro replied.