But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul remained silent about it.
Parallel translations
- WEB But certain worthless fellows said, “How could this man save us?” They despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.
- KJV But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
- NKJV But some rebels said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
- NASB But certain useless men said, “How can this one save us?” And they despised him and did not bring him a gift. But he kept silent about it.
- NLT But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them. [Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the people of Gad and Reuben who lived east of the Jordan River. He gouged out the right eye of each of the Israelites living there, and he didn’t allow anyone to come and rescue them. In fact, of all the Israelites east of the Jordan, there wasn’t a single one whose right eye Nahash had not gouged out. But there were 7,000 men who had escaped from the Ammonites, and they had settled in Jabesh-gilead.]
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Some worthless men despise Saul and bring no gift, doubting he can save them. Saul wisely holds his peace.
Overview
Opposition arises immediately, exposing the divisions a king cannot fully heal. Saul's restraint shows initial patience and good judgment, qualities his reign will later lack. The doubt 'How could this man save us?' will be answered in the next chapter, where God grants Saul a decisive victory through which his kingship is confirmed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Deut 13:13that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known),
- 2 Chr 17:5So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor.
- 1 Kgs 10:25Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
- Acts 7:35This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
- Matt 27:12–14And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.
- 2 Chr 13:7Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young, inexperienced, and unable to resist them.
- 1 Kgs 4:21And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
- 1 Sam 2:12Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD
- Isa 36:21But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”
- 2 Sam 20:1Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
- 2 Sam 8:2David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.
- Ps 72:10May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
- Acts 7:51–52You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
- Matt 2:11On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
- 1 Sam 11:12Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!”
- Ps 38:13But like a deaf man, I do not hear; and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth.
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 10:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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