1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 39a person believes God's promise, and there is no indication in the context that Saul didthat at this time. Probably it means that God gave him a different viewpoint on thingssince he had received the Holy Spirit. 116 In Old Testament psychology the heart was theseat of the intellect, emotions, and will.God's Spirit also gave Saul the ability toprophesy (v. 10). This was the outwardevidence that God was with Saul. Itapparently involved the Holy Spiritcontrolling these men and themmanifesting His control by praising God(cf. 19:20-24; 1 Chron. 25:1-3). 117 Theevidence of this new gift surprised peoplewho knew Saul, and they took note of it (v.11).TOWNS MENTIONEDIN 1 SAMUEL 10—11Jabesh-gileadBezek **The question, "Who is their father?" (v.12) inquired about the source of thebehavior of all the prophets including Saul.It was indeed an evidence of God'spresence and working in their lives. 118 Theproverb that evolved from this incident (cf.19:24) was derogatory. Some of the peopleGeba Gilgal (?)Gibeon * * *Gibeah *felt that the behavior of prophets was inappropriate, especially for their king (cf. 2 Sam.6:13-16). Ironically their question did not express doubt that Saul was a prophet butconfidence that God had empowered him. 119The high place referred to in verse 13 is probably the same one mentioned earlier (vv. 5,10), namely, Geba. Geba was only four miles from Saul's hometown, Gibeah (lit. hill).Saul's uncle may have been Ner, the father of Abner (14:50-51), or some other uncle. 120"These passages in 1 Samuel indicate that the writer of Samuel had noproblem with high places so long as they were dedicated to Yahweh."In Kings, however, the attitude of the historian is clearly hostile to highplaces. He conceded the necessity of the people worshiping there (and by116 One writer who took this as Saul's conversion is Zane C. Hodges, "The Salvation of Saul," GraceEvangelical Society News 9:4 (July-August 1994):1, 3.117 Leon Wood, "Ecstasy and Israel's Early Prophets," Bulletin of the Evangelical Theological Society 9(Summer 1966):125-37, argued that prophesying involved praising God but not behaving in an ecstaticmanner (cf. 1 Chron. 25:1). See also idem, The Prophets of Israel, pp. 40-56, 91-92. Bright, p. 166,believed the prophets did behave ecstatically.118 Keil and Delitzsch, pp. 104-5.119 Another view is that the question expressed a negative opinion such as, "Saul is no prophet." See JohnSturdy, "The Original Meaning of 'Is Saul Also Among the Prophets?' (1 Samuel X 11, 12; XIX 24)," VetusTestamentum 20:2 (April 1970):210.120 See D. R. Ap-Thomas, "Saul's 'Uncle'," Vetus Testamentum 11 (1961):241-45.