1 Samuel 10:2

“When thou art departed from me today, etc.] Not as soon as he was departed, for he had some few miles to go from Ramah to Rachel’s grave near Bethlehem: thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin, at Zelzah; the Jews move a difficulty here, that Rachel’s sepulchre should be said to be in the border of Benjamin, when it was by Bethlehemephrath, in the tribe of Judah, (<013519>Genesis 35:19 <330502>Micah 5:2) and which they solve by observing, that these men were now, at the time Samuel was speaking, by the grave of Rachel, but as they were coming on he would meet them at Zelzah, in the border of Benjamin f196; but there is no need of this, Rachel’s grave was not…”

“When thou art departed from me to-day--The design of these specific predictions of what should be met with on the way, and the number and minuteness of which would arrest attention, was to confirm Saul's reliance on the prophetic character of Samuel, and lead him to give full credence to what had been revealed to him as the word of God. Rachel's sepulchre--near Beth-lehem (see on Gen 35:16). Zelzah--or Zelah, now Bet-jalah, in the neighborhood of that town.”

“How should Saul know that what Samuel said was the word of the Lord? Samuel gives him a sign, “Thou shalt find two men,” etc. (Compare Judges 6:36-40; Isaiah 7:11-14; John 6:30; Mark 11:2; Mark 14:13, etc.) Zelzah - A place absolutely unknown. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Rachel's sepulchre - In the way to Bethlehem, which city was in Judah; her sepulchre might be either in Judah, or in Benjamin; for the possessions of those two tribes were bordering one upon another. The first place he directs him to was a sepulchre, the sepulchre of one of his ancestors. There he must read a lecture of his own mortality, and now he had a crown in his eye, must think of his grave, in which all his honour would be laid in the dust. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 10:3”

“10:2-6 These three “signs” were to convince a reluctant Saul (9:21) that he had in fact been chosen to be king. 10:2 Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah: See Gen 35:16-20; the precise location is unknown.”

“Rachel's: Gen 35:19; Jer 31:15 Zelzah: Jos 18:28 The asses: Sa1 10:16, Sa1 9:3-5 care: Heb. business 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 10:3”

“To confirm the consecration of Saul as king over Israel, which had been effected through the anointing, Samuel gave him three more signs which would occur on his journey home, and would be a pledge to him that Jehovah would accompany his undertakings with His divine help, and practically accredit him as His anointed. These signs, therefore, stand in the closest relation to the calling conveyed to Saul through his anointing. Sa1 10:2 The first sign: "When thou goest away from me to-day (i.e., now), thou wilst meet two men at Rachel's sepulchre, on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses of thy father, which thou wentest to seek, are found. Behold, they father…”