1 Samuel 10:19

King James Version (KJV)

And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Present yourselves - by your tribes - It appears that, in order to find out the proper person who should be made their king, they must determine by lot:

The tribe.

The thousands or grand divisions by families.

The smaller divisions by families. And,

The individual.

When the lot was cast for the tribe, Benjamin was taken; when for the thousand, the division of Matri was taken; when for the family, the family of Kish was taken; when for the individual, Saul, the son of Kish, was taken.

Was this helpful?

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

For the use of “thousand” as equivalent to “family,” see 1 Samuel 23:23; Judges 6:15 margin. In Numbers 1:16 it may mean whole tribes.

Was this helpful?

Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Samuel tells the people, Ye have this day rejected your God. So little fond was Saul now of that power, which soon after, when he possessed it, he could not think of parting with, that he hid himself. It is good to be conscious of our unworthiness and insufficiency for the services to which we are called; but men should not go into the contrary extreme, by refusing the employments to which the Lord and the church call them. The greater part of the people treated the matter with indifference. Saul modestly went home to his own house, but was attended by a band of men whose hearts God disposed to support his authority. If the heart bend at any time the right way, it is because He has touched it. One touch is enough when it is Divine. Others despised him. Thus differently are men affected to our exalted Redeemer. There is a remnant who submit to him, and follow him wherever he goes; they are those whose hearts God has touched, whom he has made willing. But there are others who despise him, who ask, How shall this man save us? They are offended in him, and they will be punished.

Was this helpful?