1 Samuel 10:1

“Then Samuel took a vial of oil, etc.] Out of his pocket very probably, which he brought along with him on purpose for the use he made of it: this, as the Jews f195 say, was not the anointing oil that was in the tabernacle, which was at another and distant place, and with which only the kings of the house of David were anointed; but common oil, or, as they say, oil of balsam; and this was not an horn, but a vial, which held a small quantity, and was brittle; and they observe that Saul and Jehu, who were anointed with a vial, their reigns were short, whereas David and Solomon, who were anointed with a horn, their reigns were long; and as oil is a symbol of the gifts and graces of the Spirit,…”

“SAMUEL ANOINTS SAUL, AND CONFIRMS HIM BY THE PREDICTION OF THREE SIGNS. (1Sa. 10:1-27) Then Samuel took a vial of oil--This was the ancient (Jdg 9:8) ceremony of investiture with the royal office among the Hebrews and other Eastern nations. But there were two unctions to the kingly office; the one in private, by a prophet (Sa1 16:13), which was meant to be only a prophetic intimation of the person attaining that high dignity--the more public and formal inauguration (Sa2 2:4; Sa2 5:3) was performed by the high priest, and perhaps with the holy oil, but that is not certain. The first of a dynasty was thus anointed, but not his heirs, unless the succession was disputed (Kg1 1:39; Kg2 11:12; Kg2…”

“Is it not because ... - Samuel answers Saul’s tacit or expressed wonder, by telling him why he did as he did. (Compare 1 Samuel 9:21.) return to 'Top of Page'”

“Poured it - Which Is was the usual rite in the designation, as of priests and prophets, so also of kings, whereby was signified the pouring forth of the gifts of God's spirit upon him, to fit him for the administration of his office. These sacred unctions then used, pointed at the great Messiah, or anointed One, the King of the church, and High - priest of our profession, who was anointed with the oil of the spirit without measure, above all the priests and princes of the Jewish church. Kissed - As a testimony of his sincere friendship and affection to him. His inheritance - That is, over his own peculiar people. Whereby he admonisheth Saul, that this people were not so much his, as God's;…”

“10:1 Samuel later repeated this process by anointing David with olive oil (16:13). • The people of Israel did not belong to the king but to the Lord. The king was to act as manager rather than owner (cp. 8:10-18).”

“a vial: Sa1 2:10, Sa1 9:16, Sa1 16:13, Sa1 24:6, Sa1 26:11; Kg2 9:3-6; Act 13:21; Rev 5:8 kissed him: Sa2 19:39; Kg1 19:18; Psa 2:12; Hos 13:2; Th1 5:26 captain: Sa1 8:9, Sa1 8:19, Sa1 13:14; Jos 5:14, Jos 5:15; Sa2 5:2; Kg2 20:5; Heb 2:10 his inheritance: Exo 19:5, Exo 19:6; Deu 32:9; Psa 78:71, Psa 135:4; Jer 10:16 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 10:2”

“Samuel then took the oil-flask, poured it upon his (Saul's) head, kissed him, and said, "Hath not Jehovah (equivalent to 'Jehovah assuredly hath') anointed thee to be captain over His inheritance?" הלוא, as an expression of lively assurance, receives the force of an independent clause through the following כּי, "is it not so?" i.e., "yea, it is so, that," etc., just as it does before אם in Gen 4:7. נחלתו, (His (Jehovah's) possession, was the nation of Israel, which Jehovah had acquired as the people of His own possession through their deliverance out of Egypt ( Deu 4:20; Deu 9:26, etc.). Anointing with oil as a symbol of endowment with the Spirit of God; as the oil itself, by virtue of the…”