John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And the Lord said unto Samuel , etc.] In a vision or dream, or by an articulate voice: how long wilt thou mourn for Saul? he does not blame him for mourning, but for mourning so long; but how long that was cannot be said; and though his affection for him might cause him to indulge to it, yet it was in vain, seeing the sentence was irreversible: seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel ? that is, his posterity; for he himself reigned as long as he lived, though in a very inglorious manner: fill thine horn with oil ; with common oil; for that this was the holy anointing oil kept in the tabernacle, as the Jewish writers generally suppose, with which they say David and Solomon, and the kings of Judah, were anointed, there is no reason to believe; since the tabernacle, where this oil was, was at a distance from Samuel, and which seems to have been only for the anointing of the priests. This was not a phial he was bid to take, as when he anointed Saul; but an horn, denoting the abundance of gifts bestowed on David, and the firmness and duration of his kingdom: and go, and I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite ; the son of Obed, whom Boaz begat of Ruth the Moabitess, ( Ruth 4:21,22) for I have provided me a king among his sons ; but which he says not; this was reserved for an later discovery; however God had in his own mind picked him, whom he would hereafter make known; this was a king for himself, raised up to fulfil his will; Saul was chosen by him, but then it was at the request of the people, and so he was rather their king than his; but this was not at their desire, nor with their knowledge, but of his own good will and pleasure; the one was given in wrath, and the other in love; the one was to the rejection of God as King, the other to the rejection of Saul by the will of God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - It appears that Saul was grown very wicked. Of what would he not be guilty, who durst think to kill Samuel? The elders of Bethlehe trembled at Samuel's coming. It becomes us to stand in awe of God' messengers, and to tremble at his word. His answer was, I com peaceably, for I come to sacrifice. When our Lord Jesus came into the world, though men had reason to fear that his errand was to condemn the world, yet he gave full assurance that he came peaceably, for he cam to sacrifice, and he brought his offering with him; A body hast tho prepared me. Let us sanctify ourselves, and depend upon His sacrifice.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 יהוה3068 אל413 שׁמואל8050 עד5704 מתי4970 אתה859 מתאבל56 אל413 שׁאול7586 ואני589 מאסתיו3988 ממלך4427 על5921 ישׂראל3478 מלא4390 קרנך7161 שׁמן8081 ולך1980 אשׁלחך7971 אל413 ישׁי3448 בית הלחמי1022 כי3588 ראיתי7200 בבניו1121 לי מלך׃4428
