1 Samuel 10:20-21
Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss here is that God orchestrated this selection through the casting of lots. Though it might seem like random chance, the text in Proverbs tells us that the lots were actually controlled by the Lord Himself, showing His divine hand even in the seemingly accidental. This reveals God's purposeful involvement in establishing His chosen king, weaving His will into the very fabric of Israel's future.
Before this, Saul has just been anointed king by Samuel and recognized by a few individuals, but it's not yet a formal public endorsement for the whole nation. This passage describes Samuel gathering all the tribes to publicly establish the monarchy, with the selection of Benjamin by lot serving as a crucial, divinely-ordained step in confirming Saul's kingship over all Israel. Immediately following, the people will search for Saul, who has been hiding, and then bring him before them as their chosen king.
When we think of 'casting lots,' it might feel like random chance. But for ancient Israel, it was a way to discern God's specific will.
In 1 Samuel 10, the people are asking for a king, and God responds by initiating a process to select one. Samuel gathers all the tribes, and then the tribe of Benjamin is singled out through the casting of lots. This isn't just a human decision; the text implies God's active involvement in the outcome.
Divine Selection
Ancient Near Eastern cultures often used lots to make decisions, believing that the outcome revealed divine intent. For Israel, this practice was incorporated into their understanding of God's sovereignty. It was a way for God to clearly designate individuals or groups for His purposes, removing ambiguity and establishing His chosen path. Even when people make requests, God can use their methods to enact His sovereign plan.
Why Benjamin? This small tribe held a significant, though sometimes tragic, place in Israel's history. Their selection here foreshadows a pivotal moment.
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The selection of Benjamin is noteworthy. This was the youngest son of Jacob, born to Rachel after a difficult birth. The tribe of Benjamin, though smaller than others, would eventually produce Israel's first king, Saul.
A New Era Dawns
This moment marks a turning point for Israel. They are moving from a period of judges to a monarchy, a decision driven by their desire to be like other nations. By selecting Benjamin, and specifically Saul from within Benjamin, God is inaugurating this new era according to His plan, even as the people initiated the request. It sets the stage for both the triumphs and failures that would characterize Israel's kingship.
Understand the original words
goral · Hebrew Noun
A method of divine decision-making or seeking God's will where the outcome was believed to be controlled by the LORD rather than by human chance.
mishpachah · Hebrew Noun
A division of a tribe in ancient Israel, often associated with family groupings or military units. It represents the extended kinship structure fundamental to Israelite society.
goral · Hebrew Noun
A method used in the Old Testament to determine the divine will or to make decisions, based on the belief that God sovereignly controls the outcome of casting objects. It was a recognized, authoritative means of discovering God's choice.
The introduction of monarchy, a system adopted from surrounding nations, was a significant shift for Israel. This dramatic moment of choosing a king through lot reveals a people transitioning from tribal confederation to a unified kingdom under God's (and now, a human king's) rule.
c. 1375 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites conquered and settled the Promised Land. Land was allotted to each tribe, though the political structure was decentralized.
c. 1075 BC
Period of the Judges
Israel experienced a period of recurring cycles of sin, oppression, and deliverance, lacking strong central leadership. Elders and judges like Gideon and Samson provided temporary leadership.
c. 1050 BC
Eli's Priesthood
Eli, a priest in Shiloh, served as a judge during a time of spiritual decline and Philistine oppression, highlighting the need for more stable leadership.
c. 1050 BC
Samuel's Ministry Begins
Samuel, born in response to fervent prayer, grew up under Eli and began to prophesy, serving as a pivotal spiritual leader for Israel.
c. 1043 BC
Philistines Defeat Israel
A major defeat of Israel by the Philistines resulted in the capture of the Ark of the Covenant, underscoring the dire need for unified national leadership.
c. 1043 BC
Israel Demands a King
Following repeated military failures and the chaos of the Judges' era, the elders of Israel demanded a king to rule over them like other nations.
c. 1043 BC— this verse
Saul Anointed King
Samuel, under divine guidance, secretly anoints Saul as the first king of Israel. Later, Samuel gathers the people to publicly present their new king.
This passage describes the process of dividing the land of Canaan by lot among the remaining tribes, echoing the theme of divine guidance in determining inheritance and position.
Proverbs 16:33This verse directly states that 'The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord,' reinforcing the idea that even seemingly random choices are under God's sovereign control.
Acts 1:24-26Here, the disciples cast lots to choose a replacement for Judas, demonstrating that the practice of using lots to discern God's will continued long after the events in 1 Samuel.
1 Chronicles 24:5-7This chapter details how the priests and Levites were organized into divisions by lot for their service, showing the application of this method in establishing order within God's people.
What's easy to miss here is that God orchestrated this selection through the casting of lots. Though it might seem like random chance, the text in Proverbs tells us that the lots were actually controlled by the Lord Himself, showing His divine hand even in the seemingly accidental. This reveals God's purposeful involvement in establishing His chosen king, weaving His will into the very fabric of Israel's future.
Before this, Saul has just been anointed king by Samuel and recognized by a few individuals, but it's not yet a formal public endorsement for the whole nation. This passage describes Samuel gathering all the tribes to publicly establish the monarchy, with the selection of Benjamin by lot serving as a crucial, divinely-ordained step in confirming Saul's kingship over all Israel. Immediately following, the people will search for Saul, who has been hiding, and then bring him before them as their chosen king.
Before this, Saul has just been anointed king by Samuel and recognized by a few individuals, but it's not yet a formal public endorsement for the whole nation. This passage describes Samuel gathering all the tribes to publicly establish the monarchy, with the selection of Benjamin by lot serving as a crucial, divinely-ordained step in confirming Saul's kingship over all Israel. Immediately following, the people will search for Saul, who has been hiding, and then bring him before them as their chosen king.
"Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. Bu…" — What's easy to miss here is that God orchestrated this selection through the casting of lots. Though it might seem like random chance, the text in Proverbs tells us that the lots were actually contro…
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