A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

The second place mentioned in Samuel’s instructions to Saul was the terebinth tree of
Tabor (v. 3). The name Tabor means “purity” and stresses another area in the life of Saul which
needed to be dealt with. His actions surrounding the initial meeting with the prophet
demonstrated he did not have a pure walk with God. Like Christians today, Saul needed this
practical holiness to maximize his service for God. At the terebinth of Tabor, Saul would meet
three men with three kids, three loaves of bread, and a skin of wine. Some commentators believe
these items are representative of the sin offering and the body and blood of Christ which is the
means by which the Christian attains holiness.
The third place Saul was sent was to Bethel, also called the hill of God (v. 5). At Bethel,
the Spirit of the Lord would come on Saul and he would prophesy with the prophets gathered
there (v. 6). Saul’s unique relationship with the Holy Spirit at this place, together with the
meaning of the name Bethel and its historic role as a place of fellowship with God, suggest the
need for a deeper communion and fellowship with God for the man who would be king. Again,
this also is a need for any and all who would serve God in any capacity.
Finally, Samuel urged Saul to go to Gilgal where he would meet once again with the
aging prophet. Their burnt offerings and peace offerings were to be offered on Saul’s behalf.
Gilgal is the place of self-judgment in the Old Testament and stresses the importance of “taking
heed” to oneself. The burnt offerings and peace offerings to be offered during the course of the
week stress the place of commitment to and fellowship with God in the life of the believer. It is a
constant necessity in the Christian life to watch particularly these two areas of our relationship
with God because it is so easy to wane in our commitment and to wander from the place of
fellowship. Seven is often a number signifying completeness in Scripture; so some writers
suggest that spreading the sacrifices over seven days was a warning to Saul to continually judge
his commitment and fellowship throughout his reign as king.
Saul began following the Prophet Samuel’s instructions but did not apparently understand
the spiritual realities implied. When the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied with the
prophets, those who knew him questioned the apparent change in Saul asking, “Is Saul also
among the prophets?” (w. 11-12) The saying became a widely repeated proverb of the time, a
kind of national joke that someone like Saul might be considered among the prophets of the land.
Saul did not apparently go from Bethel to Gilgal as instructed.
Samuel called the nation back to Mizpah, the place of the great revival at the beginning
of his ministry where God gave Israel a great victory over the Philistines. There he again stressed
to the people how wrong they were in demanding a king and rejecting the rule of God in the
process. Using the means of casting lots, the prophet began what may have seemed like the
process of choosing a king. Eventually the lot fell on Saul, but he was nowhere to be found.
After inquiring of the Lord, the people were directed to the baggage where they found their new
king hiding. Some commentators suggest this demonstrates the great humility of Saul at the
beginning of his reign (cf. 15:17). Others suggest Saul was embarrassed and that his pride had
been offended, noting that the criticism surrounding his prophesying had turned him from his
appointed journey to Gilgal. Because of “false humility,” which is really pride, Saul was then
unwilling to tell even others in his family of the prophecy of Samuel concerning his reign as king
(10:16). Still, because of Saul’s physical attractiveness, most of the people were excited about
having him rule over them as king. Not everyone, however, was convinced Saul was capable of
saving Israel (v. 27).
Soon after Saul had been anointed as king over Israel, he was called on to lead Israel into
his first battle. Nahash the Ammonite camped against the city of Jabesh Gilead. In order to avert