Bible Strands
1 Samuel 10:20
Thus Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Samuel stands before the assembled people of Israel at the moment they demand a human king, executing his prior command to present themselves before the Lord tribe by tribe (1 Samuel 10:19).
The words — The verb וַיַּקְרֵב (va-yakrev) means "he brought near," describing the physical gathering of the tribes, while וַיִּלָּכֵד (va-yillakhed) means "it was taken by lot," specifying the method of selection.
The thread — This lot-casting procedure mirrors Joshua’s selection of Judah in Joshua 7:16, reappears in Saul’s later inquiry in 1 Samuel 14:41, and echoes the apostolic prayer in Acts 1:24.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to observe how divine choice operates through concrete, communal processes rather than abstract declarations, demanding attention to the mechanics of how God’s will is disclosed.
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 when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
Cross-references
- Joshua 7:16 So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected.
- 1 Samuel 14:41 So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.
- Acts 1:24 And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen