Bible Strands
1 Samuel 10:24
Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Samuel addresses the assembled Israelites immediately after Saul steps forward and stands visibly taller than the rest. He poses a direct question to the crowd to publicly identify the divinely selected leader before they respond.
The words — The Hebrew verb בָּֽחַר (ba.char) literally means "he has chosen" and denotes deliberate, specific selection. Samuel applies it to Saul to mark him as the particular individual singled out by Yahweh.
The thread — The concept of divine choice for leadership appears in 2 Samuel 21:6 regarding Gibeah of Saul and 1 Kings 1:39 where Zadok anoints Solomon. These passages track the biblical pattern of God designating individuals for specific covenantal roles.
Why it lands — The text records a verbal declaration of selection followed by a crowd's acclamation, leaving the actual implementation of authority to later events. It requires the reader to note that public recognition of God's choice does not in itself ensure faithful leadership.
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 Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 21:6 let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.” “I will give them to you,” said the king.
- 1 Kings 1:25 For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
- 1 Kings 1:39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”
- Deuteronomy 17:15 you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers.
- 2 Kings 11:12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”
- 1 Kings 1:21 Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”
- 1 Kings 1:34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
- Matthew 21:9 The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”