King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 10:2 Mean?

1 Samuel 10:2 in the King James Version says “When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Z... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 10 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? care: Heb. business

1 Samuel 10:2 · KJV


Context

1

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

2

When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? care: Heb. business

3

Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:

4

And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. salute: Heb. ask thee of peace


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

Samuel provides the first of three confirming signs to validate Saul's divine appointment. The location at Rachel's tomb is deeply symbolic: Rachel was the mother of Benjamin, Saul's tribe, and her death while giving birth to Benjamin (Genesis 35:16-20) connects to themes of tribal identity and destiny. The Hebrew 'sorroweth' (da'ag) indicates anxious care, showing Kish's fatherly concern had shifted from property to person. God's providence orchestrated mundane circumstances (lost donkeys) for monumental purposes (establishing kingship). This sign would build Saul's confidence that Samuel's words were genuinely from God. The specificity of the prophecy - two men, precise location, exact words - demonstrates God's exhaustive knowledge of future events, a hallmark of true prophecy distinguishing Israel's God from pagan deities.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Rachel's tomb near Bethlehem was a significant landmark in Benjamin's territory. The mention of Zelzah, whose exact location is now uncertain, demonstrates the text's authentic preservation of geographic details from Saul's era. Such precision would have been verifiable to the original audience.

Reflection Questions

  1. How has God used ordinary circumstances in your life to accomplish His greater purposes?
  2. What does the specificity of biblical prophecy teach us about God's sovereignty over history?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 31 words
הָלַ֣כְתָּ1 of 31

which thou wentest

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

הַיּוֹם֙2 of 31

to day

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

מֵֽעִמָּדִ֔י3 of 31

from me

H5978

along with

נִמְצְא֤וּ4 of 31

are found

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

שְׁנֵ֨י5 of 31

two

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

אֲנָשִׁ֜ים6 of 31
H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

עִם7 of 31
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

קְבֻרַ֥ת8 of 31

sepulchre

H6900

sepulture; (concretely) a sepulcher

רָחֵ֛ל9 of 31

by Rachel's

H7354

rachel, a wife of jacob

בִּגְב֥וּל10 of 31

in the border

H1366

properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed

בִּנְיָמִ֖ן11 of 31

of Benjamin

H1144

binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory

בְּצֶלְצַ֑ח12 of 31

at Zelzah

H6766

tseltsach, a place in palestine

לֵאמֹ֔ר13 of 31

and they will say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלֶ֗יךָ14 of 31
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

נִמְצְא֤וּ15 of 31

are found

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

הָֽאֲתֹנ֔וֹת16 of 31

of the asses

H860

a female donkey (from its docility)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר17 of 31
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הָלַ֣כְתָּ18 of 31

which thou wentest

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

לְבַקֵּ֔שׁ19 of 31

to seek

H1245

to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

וְהִנֵּ֨ה20 of 31
H2009

lo!

נָטַ֤שׁ21 of 31

hath left

H5203

properly, to pound, i.e., smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusive

אָבִ֙יךָ֙22 of 31

and lo thy father

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

אֶת23 of 31
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

דִּבְרֵ֣י24 of 31

the care

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

הָֽאֲתֹנ֔וֹת25 of 31

of the asses

H860

a female donkey (from its docility)

וְדָאַ֤ג26 of 31

and sorroweth

H1672

be anxious

לָכֶם֙27 of 31
H0
לֵאמֹ֔ר28 of 31

and they will say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מָ֥ה29 of 31
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה30 of 31

What shall I do

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

לִבְנִֽי׃31 of 31

for my son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 10:2 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 10:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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