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I Samuel 10:23

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So they ran and brought Saul, and when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of the others.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 23

We left Samuel and Saul walking together, probably some private way over the fields down from Ramah, perhaps in the paths of the vineyards, and Saul expecting to hear from Samuel the word of God. Now here we have, I. The anointing of Saul then and there (Sa1 10:1). The signs Samuel gave him (Sa1 10:2-6). And instructions (Sa1 10:7-8). II. The accomplishment of those signs to the satisfaction of Saul (Sa1 10:9-13). III. His return to his father's house (Sa1 10:14-16). IV. His public election by lot, and solemn inauguration (Sa1 10:17-25). V. His return to his own city (Sa1 10:26, Sa1 10:27). It is a great work that is here a doing, the setting up not only of a monarch, but of monarchy itself, in Israel; and therefore in all the advances towards it much of God is seen.

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 23

רוּץ (rûwts, H7323) — to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) יָצַב (yâtsab, H3320) — to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… גָּבַהּ (gâbahh, H1361) — to soar, i.e. be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty שְׁכֶם (shᵉkem, H7926) — the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of ahill מַעַל (maʻal, H4605) — properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from…

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Cross-references

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I Samuel 9:2rank 5

And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.

I Samuel 17:4rank 2

Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height,

I Samuel 16:7rank 2

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

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