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Selected Verse: 1 Samuel 10:5 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
1Sa 10:5 |
Strong Concordance |
After [0310] that thou shalt come [0935] to the hill [01389] of God [0430], where is the garrison [05333] of the Philistines [06430]: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither [0935] to the city [05892], that thou shalt meet [06293] a company [02256] of prophets [05030] coming down [03381] from the high place [01116] with a psaltery [05035], and a tabret [08596], and a pipe [02485], and a harp [03658], before [06440] them; and they shall prophesy [05012]: |
|
King James |
After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
the hill of God--probably Geba (Sa1 13:3), so called from a school of the prophets being established there. The company of prophets were, doubtless, the pupils at this seminary, which had probably been instituted by Samuel, and in which the chief branches of education taught were a knowledge of the law, and of psalmody with instrumental music, which is called "prophesying" (here and in Ch1 25:1, Ch1 25:7). |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Hill of God - Rather, "Gibeah" of God, and so in Sa1 10:10. Two things are clear; "one" that Saul had got home when he got to Gibeah of God, for there he found his uncle, and no further journeying is so much as hinted at, and the same word "Gibeah" describes his home at Sa1 10:26. The "other" that there was a high place at Gibeah just above the city, from which he met the company of prophets "coming down." Hence, it is obvious to conclude that the name "Gibeah of God" (which occurs nowhere else) was sometimes given to Gibeah of Saul on account of the worship on its high place, or, possibly, that the name "Gibeah of God" described the whole hill on a part of which the city Gibeah stood.
Where is the garrison of the Philistines - It seems strange that Samuel should give this description of Gibeah to Saul, who must have been so well acquainted with it. Possibly they may be explanatory words inserted by the narrator with reference to Sa1 13:2.
Musical instruments were the accompaniments of the prophetic song Ch1 13:8; Ch1 25:3. The "Psaltery" is a kind of lyre with ten strings, in the shape of an earthen wine bottle (נבל nebel, whence νάβλα nabla) which was something like a sugar-loaf or a delta. The tabret is a kind of drum or tambourine, or timbrel, usually played by dancing women (Exo 15:20; Jdg 11:34. Compare Jer 31:4). The pipe חליל châlı̂yl, literally the "bored" or "pierced" instrument) is a kind of flute used on occasions of joy and mirth Isa 5:12; Kg1 1:40; Psa 68:25. The "harp" כנור kı̂nnôr, whence the Greek κινύρα kinura was a stringed instrument, and that played upon by David Sa1 16:16; Sa1 19:9; Psa 43:4; Psa 57:8. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Prophets - By prophets he understands persons that wholly devoted themselves to religious studies and exercises. For the term of prophesying is not only given to the most eminent act of it, foretelling things to come; but also to preaching, and to the making or singing of psalms, or songs of praise to God. And they that wholly attended upon these things, are called sons of the prophets, who were commonly combined into companies or colleges, that they might more conveniently assist one another in God's work. This institution God was pleased so far to honour and bless, that sometimes he communicated unto those persons the knowledge of future things. Psaltery - Such instruments of musick being then used by prophets and other persons, for the excitation of their spirits in God's service. Prophesy - Either sing God's praises, or speak of the things of God, by a peculiar impulse of his spirit. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
The hill of God - The Targum says, "The hill on which the ark of the Lord was. Calmet supposes it to be a height near Gibeah.
The garrison of the Philistines - Probably they kept a watch on the top of this hill, with a company of soldiers to keep the country in check.
A company of prophets - A company of scribes, says the Targum. Probably the scholars of the prophets; for the prophets seem to have been the only accredited teachers, at particular times, in Israel; and at this time there does not appear to have been any other prophet besides Samuel in this quarter. Probably the teacher of this school was not an inspired man, but one acting under the direction of Samuel. Mr. Harmer thinks that the following custom among the Mohammedans greatly illustrates this obscure place: "When the children have gone through the Koran, their relations borrow a fine horse and furniture, and carry them about the town in procession, with the book in their hand, the rest of their companions following, and all sorts of music of the country going before. Dr. Shaw, in p. 195, mentions the same custom; adding the acclamations of their school-fellows, but taking no notice of the music. We have no reason, however, to doubt the fact on account of the doctor's silence; especially as it relates to another part of Barbary, and is given us by those who resided some years in that country. The doctor makes no use of this circumstance relating to the education of youth in Barbary; but the account of the procession above given seems to be a lively comment on that ancient Jewish custom mentioned in these verses. That the word prophet often signifies sons or scholars of the prophets, and that prophesying often implies singing, has been already remarked; but no author that I know of has given any account of the nature of this procession, or its design. We are sometimes told that high places were used for sacrifices; and in one case music, it is certain, played before them when they went up to worship, Isa 30:29. But did they not also return from sacrifice with it? We are told that music was used by the prophets to calm and compose them, and to invite the Divine influences; which is indeed very true. But is it to the purpose? Did they go forth in this manner from their college into the noise and interruptions of the world, to call down the prophetic impulse? But if we consider them as a company of the sons of the prophets, going in procession with songs of praise and music playing before them, and recollect that it is usual in this day for young scholars to go in procession with acclamations and music, the whole mystery seems to be unravelled. To which may be added, that Saul was to meet them, and find himself turned into another man; into a man, perhaps, who is instantaneously made as knowing in the law of God as the youth to whom they were doing the above honors, or any of his convoy; which acquaintance with the law of God was very necessary for one who was to judge among his brethren as their king. For this reason the Jewish kings were to write out a copy of the law of God, and read it continually, that they might be perfect masters of it, Deu 17:18, Deu 17:20, which accomplishment some youth had gained whom Saul met with, and who was honored with the solemnity the sacred historian speaks of, if the customs of South Barbary may be supposed to be explanatory of those of Judea."
On the word prophet, and the general account given here, I shall introduce the following illustrations from another work: -
"The word prophet generally conveys the idea of a person so far acquainted with futurity as to discern some purpose of the Divine Being relative to his government of the natural and moral world, but which is not sufficiently matured by the economy of Providence to make, as yet, its public appearance among men, and to prophesy is usually understood to imply the foretelling such an event, the time of its appearance, and the place of its operation, with some preceding and subsequent circumstances. But that this was the original and only meaning of the word prophet or prophesy, is very far from being clear. The first place the word occurs in is Gen 20:7, where the Lord says of Abraham to Abimelech, He is a prophet, (נביא הוא nabi hu), and will pray (ויתפלל veyith-pallel, will make earnest intercession) for thee. In the common acceptation of the word it is certain Abraham was no prophet; but here it seems to signify a man well acquainted with the Supreme Being, capable of teaching others in Divine things, and especially a man of prayer - one who had great influence with the God he worshipped, and whose intercessions were available in the behalf of others. And in this sense the original word נביא nabi is used in several places in the Old Testament.
"It was through inattention to this meaning of the word, which appears to me to be the true, original, and ideal one, that all the commentators and critics that I have met with have been so sadly puzzled with that part of the history of Saul which is related Sa1 10:9-13; Sa1 19:20-24. In these passages the sacred historian represents Saul, who was neither a prophet nor the son of one, associating with the prophets, and prophesying among them, to which he was led by the Spirit of the Lord which came upon him.
"That this can mean no more here than prayer and supplication to God, accompanied probably with edifying hymns of praise and thanksgiving, (for they had instruments of music, Sa1 10:5), needs, in my opinion, little proof. If Saul had prophesied in the common acceptation of the word, it is not likely that we should have been kept absolutely in the dark concerning the subject and design of his predictions, of which, by the way, not one syllable is spoken in the oracles of God. The simple fact seems to have been this: God, who had chosen this man to govern Israel, designed to teach him that the Most High alone is the fountain of power, and that by him only kings could reign so as to execute justice properly, and be his ministers for good to the people. To accomplish this gracious purpose, he gave him another heart (Sa1 10:9)-a disposition totally different from what he had ever before possessed, and taught him to pray.
"Coming among the sons of the prophets, on whom the Spirit of the Lord rested, and who were under the instruction of Samuel, (Sa1 19:20), while they worshipped God with music and supplication, Saul also was made a partaker of the same Divine influence, and prophesied, i.e., made prayer and supplication among them. To see one who did not belong to the prophetic school thus incorporated with the prophets, pouring out his soul in prayer and supplication, was an unusual sight, which could not pass unnoticed, especially by those of Saul's acquaintance who probably knew him in times past to have been as careless and ungodly as themselves, (for it was only now he got that other good Spirit from God, a sufficient proof that he had it not before). These companions of his, being unacquainted with that grace which can in a moment influence and change the heart, would, according to an invariable custom, express their astonishment with a sneer: Is Saul also among the prophets? That is, in modern language, 'Can this man pray or preach? He whose education has been the same as our own, employed in the same secular offices, and formerly companion with us in what he now affects to call folly and sin? Can such a person be among the prophets?' Yes, for God may have given him a new heart; and the Spirit of God, whose inspiration alone can give sound understanding in sacred things, may have come upon him for this very purpose, that he might announce unto you the righteousness of the Lord, and speak unto your ruined souls to edification, and to exhortation, and to comfort.
"The history of Elijah and the priests of Baal, mentioned in 1 Kings 18:17-40, throws farther light on this subject. In Kg1 18:26 it is said, 'They (the priests of Baal) took a bullock and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal, from morning to noon, saying, O Baal, hear us! And they leaped upon the altar, and cried aloud, and cut themselves with knives, till the blood gushed out; and they prophesied (ויתנבאו vaiyithnabbeu, and they made supplication) until the time of the evening sacrifice.' From the whole context it is plain that earnest, importunate prayer, is alone what is meant by prophesying in this text. See also Co1 14:3 (note).
"And as all the prophets of God, whose principal business it was to instruct the people in the way of righteousness, were men of prayer, who were continually interceding with God in behalf of those to whom they ministered, the term נביא nabi became their proper appellative; and thus a part of their office, intercessors for the people, might have given rise to that name by which the Spirit of God thought proper in after times to distinguish those whom he sent, not only to pray for and instruct the people, but also to predict those future events which concerned the punishment of the incorrigible and the comfort and exaltation of his own servants." See a sermon which I have printed on Co1 14:3, entitled, "The Christian Prophet and his Work;" and see the note on Gen 20:7.
A psaltery - נבל nebel. As the word signifies in other places a bottle or flagon, it was probably something like the utricularia tibia or Bag-Pipe. It often occurs both with the Greeks and Romans, and was evidently borrowed from the Hebrews.
A tabret - תף toph; a sort of drum or cymbal.
A pipe - חליל chalil, from חל chal, to make a hole or opening; a sort of pipe, flute, hautboy, clarionet, or the like.
A harp - כנור kinnor; a stringed instrument similar to our harp, or that on the model of which a harp was formed. On these different instruments I shall have occasion to speak more at large when I come to the Psalms. |
7 So the number [04557] of them, with their brethren [0251] that were instructed [03925] in the songs [07892] of the LORD [03068], even all that were cunning [0995], was two hundred [03967] fourscore [08084] and eight [08083].
1 Moreover David [01732] and the captains [08269] of the host [06635] separated [0914] to the service [05656] of the sons [01121] of Asaph [0623], and of Heman [01968], and of Jeduthun [03038], who should prophesy [05012] [05030] with harps [03658], with psalteries [05035], and with cymbals [04700]: and the number [04557] of the workmen [0582] [04399] according to their service [05656] was:
3 And Jonathan [03129] smote [05221] the garrison [05333] of the Philistines [06430] that was in Geba [01387], and the Philistines [06430] heard [08085] of it. And Saul [07586] blew [08628] the trumpet [07782] throughout all the land [0776], saying [0559], Let the Hebrews [05680] hear [08085].
8 Awake up [05782], my glory [03519]; awake [05782], psaltery [05035] and harp [03658]: I myself will awake [05782] early [07837].
4 Then will I go [0935] unto the altar [04196] of God [0430], unto God [0410] my exceeding [08057] joy [01524]: yea, upon the harp [03658] will I praise [03034] thee, O God [0430] my God [0430].
9 And the evil [07451] spirit [07307] from the LORD [03068] was upon Saul [07586], as he sat [03427] in his house [01004] with his javelin [02595] in his hand [03027]: and David [01732] played [05059] with his hand [03027].
16 Let our lord [0113] now command [0559] thy servants [05650], which are before [06440] thee, to seek out [01245] a man [0376], who is a cunning [03045] player [05059] on an harp [03658]: and it shall come to pass, when the evil [07451] spirit [07307] from God [0430] is upon thee, that he shall play [05059] with his hand [03027], and thou shalt be well [02895].
25 The singers [07891] went before [06923], the players on instruments [05059] followed after [0310]; among [08432] them were the damsels [05959] playing with timbrels [08608].
40 And all the people [05971] came up [05927] after [0310] him, and the people [05971] piped [02490] with pipes [02485], and rejoiced [08056] with great [01419] joy [08057], so that the earth [0776] rent [01234] with the sound [06963] of them.
12 And the harp [03658], and the viol [05035], the tabret [08596], and pipe [02485], and wine [03196], are in their feasts [04960]: but they regard [05027] not the work [06467] of the LORD [03068], neither consider [07200] the operation [04639] of his hands [03027].
4 Again I will build [01129] thee, and thou shalt be built [01129], O virgin [01330] of Israel [03478]: thou shalt again be adorned [05710] with thy tabrets [08596], and shalt go forth [03318] in the dances [04234] of them that make merry [07832].
34 And Jephthah [03316] came [0935] to Mizpeh [04709] unto his house [01004], and, behold, his daughter [01323] came out [03318] to meet [07125] him with timbrels [08596] and with dances [04246]: and she was his only child [03173]; beside her he had neither son [01121] nor [0176] daughter [01323].
20 And Miriam [04813] the prophetess [05031], the sister [0269] of Aaron [0175], took [03947] a timbrel [08596] in her hand [03027]; and all the women [0802] went out [03318] after [0310] her with timbrels [08596] and with dances [04246].
3 Of Jeduthun [03038]: the sons [01121] of Jeduthun [03038]; Gedaliah [01436], and Zeri [06874], and Jeshaiah [03470], Hashabiah [02811], and Mattithiah [04993], six [08337], under the hands [03027] of their father [01] Jeduthun [03038], who prophesied [05012] with a harp [03658], to give thanks [03034] and to praise [01984] the LORD [03068].
8 And David [01732] and all Israel [03478] played [07832] before [06440] God [0430] with all their might [05797], and with singing [07892], and with harps [03658], and with psalteries [05035], and with timbrels [08596], and with cymbals [04700], and with trumpets [02689].
2 Saul [07586] chose [0977] him three [07969] thousand [0505] men of Israel [03478]; whereof two thousand [0505] were with Saul [07586] in Michmash [04363] and in mount [02022] Bethel [01008], and a thousand [0505] were with Jonathan [03129] in Gibeah [01390] of Benjamin [01144]: and the rest [03499] of the people [05971] he sent [07971] every man [0376] to his tent [0168].
26 And Saul [07586] also went [01980] home [01004] to Gibeah [01390]; and there went [03212] with him a band of men [02428], whose hearts [03820] God [0430] had touched [05060].
10 And when they came [0935] thither to the hill [01389], behold, a company [02256] of prophets [05030] met [07125] him; and the Spirit [07307] of God [0430] came [06743] upon him, and he prophesied [05012] among [08432] them.
7 Now therefore restore [07725] the man [0376] his wife [0802]; for he is a prophet [05030], and he shall pray [06419] for thee [01157], and thou shalt live [02421]: and if thou restore [07725] her not, know [03045] thou that thou shalt surely [04191] die [04191], thou, and all that are thine.
3 But [1161] he that prophesieth [4395] speaketh [2980] unto men [444] to edification [3619], and [2532] exhortation [3874], and [2532] comfort [3889].
3 But [1161] he that prophesieth [4395] speaketh [2980] unto men [444] to edification [3619], and [2532] exhortation [3874], and [2532] comfort [3889].
26 And they took [03947] the bullock [06499] which was given [05414] them, and they dressed [06213] it, and called [07121] on the name [08034] of Baal [01168] from morning [01242] even until noon [06672], saying [0559], O Baal [01168], hear [06030] us. But there was no [0369] voice [06963], nor any that answered [06030]. And they leaped [06452] upon the altar [04196] which was made [06213].
20 And Saul [07586] sent [07971] messengers [04397] to take [03947] David [01732]: and when they saw [07200] the company [03862] of the prophets [05030] prophesying [05012], and Samuel [08050] standing [05975] as appointed [05324] over them, the Spirit [07307] of God [0430] was upon the messengers [04397] of Saul [07586], and they also prophesied [05012].
9 And it was so, that when he had turned [06437] his back [07926] to go [03212] from Samuel [08050], God [0430] gave [02015] him another [0312] heart [03820]: and all those signs [0226] came [0935] to pass that day [03117].
5 After [0310] that thou shalt come [0935] to the hill [01389] of God [0430], where is the garrison [05333] of the Philistines [06430]: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither [0935] to the city [05892], that thou shalt meet [06293] a company [02256] of prophets [05030] coming down [03381] from the high place [01116] with a psaltery [05035], and a tabret [08596], and a pipe [02485], and a harp [03658], before [06440] them; and they shall prophesy [05012]:
20 And Saul [07586] sent [07971] messengers [04397] to take [03947] David [01732]: and when they saw [07200] the company [03862] of the prophets [05030] prophesying [05012], and Samuel [08050] standing [05975] as appointed [05324] over them, the Spirit [07307] of God [0430] was upon the messengers [04397] of Saul [07586], and they also prophesied [05012].
21 And when it was told [05046] Saul [07586], he sent [07971] other [0312] messengers [04397], and they prophesied [05012] likewise. And Saul [07586] sent [07971] messengers [04397] again [03254] the third [07992] time, and they prophesied [05012] also.
22 Then went [03212] he also to Ramah [07414], and came [0935] to a great [01419] well [0953] that is in Sechu [07906]: and he asked [07592] and said [0559], Where [0375] are Samuel [08050] and David [01732]? And one said [0559], Behold, they be at Naioth [05121] in Ramah [07414].
23 And he went [03212] thither to Naioth [05121] in Ramah [07414]: and the Spirit [07307] of God [0430] was upon him also, and he went [03212] on [01980], and prophesied [05012], until he came [0935] to Naioth [05121] in Ramah [07414].
24 And he stripped off [06584] his clothes [0899] also [01571], and prophesied [05012] before [06440] Samuel [08050] in like manner, and lay down [05307] naked [06174] all that day [03117] and all that night [03915]. Wherefore they say [0559], Is Saul [07586] also among the prophets [05030]?
9 And it was so, that when he had turned [06437] his back [07926] to go [03212] from Samuel [08050], God [0430] gave [02015] him another [0312] heart [03820]: and all those signs [0226] came [0935] to pass that day [03117].
10 And when they came [0935] thither to the hill [01389], behold, a company [02256] of prophets [05030] met [07125] him; and the Spirit [07307] of God [0430] came [06743] upon him, and he prophesied [05012] among [08432] them.
11 And it came to pass, when all that knew [03045] him beforetime [0865] [08032] saw [07200] that, behold, he prophesied [05012] among the prophets [05030], then the people [05971] said [0559] one [0376] to another [07453], What is this that is come unto the son [01121] of Kish [07027]? Is Saul [07586] also among the prophets [05030]?
12 And one [0376] of the same place answered [06030] and said [0559], But who is their father [01]? Therefore it became a proverb [04912], Is Saul [07586] also among the prophets [05030]?
13 And when he had made an end [03615] of prophesying [05012], he came [0935] to the high place [01116].
7 Now therefore restore [07725] the man [0376] his wife [0802]; for he is a prophet [05030], and he shall pray [06419] for thee [01157], and thou shalt live [02421]: and if thou restore [07725] her not, know [03045] thou that thou shalt surely [04191] die [04191], thou, and all that are thine.
20 That his heart [03824] be not lifted up [07311] above his brethren [0251], and that he turn not aside [05493] from the commandment [04687], to the right hand [03225], or to the left [08040]: to the end that he may prolong [0748] his days [03117] in his kingdom [04467], he, and his children [01121], in the midst [07130] of Israel [03478].
18 And it shall be, when he sitteth [03427] upon the throne [03678] of his kingdom [04467], that he shall write [03789] him a copy [04932] of this law [08451] in a book [05612] out of that which is before [06440] the priests [03548] the Levites [03881]:
29 Ye shall have a song [07892], as in the night [03915] when a holy [06942] solemnity [02282] is kept [06942]; and gladness [08057] of heart [03824], as when one goeth [01980] with a pipe [02485] to come [0935] into the mountain [02022] of the LORD [03068], to the mighty One [06697] of Israel [03478].