1 Samuel 10:3 Commentary and Bible Study

There will be a second sign. Saul will come to the plain of Tabor – this has nothing to do with Mount Tabor; we have no idea where this Tabor was, but it's clearly a different place. There he will meet three men going up to Bethel carrying three goats, for sacrifice no doubt, bread for an offering, and wine for a libation. ‘And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.’ What a mysterious sign this is! Three people are going to worship, and they are ready to part with some of the objects of worship, elements of their sacrifice, and give them to Saul, because they realise this is the one who is anointed to be king. God has caused them to understand that you, Saul, are now greatly significant.The instruction is they will give you two loaves. However it is a very mean offering to give him in a way. A loaf was very small at that time, rather like a large scone. They will give you two loaves. They are poor people. They have got their sacrifice to take to the house of God. But from what they are carrying these poor people will give you two loaves, small barley cakes or loaves. Don't you despise it, Saul. Humble yourself. Thank them, receive the loaves. He could be offended; he could be made to feel like a beggar by the wayside, receiving two loaves of bread from these passers-by. But God is teaching him that, although he is king, he is going to be the servant of and supported by God's worshipping people. Don't milk the nation! Don't rifle the nation, and collect enormous taxes, and amass wealth! Actually, Saul, to his credit, didn't do that for much of his reign. The later kings did. So this sign is also a message. ‘You are serving these people, you are leading them, you are delivering them from the Philistines, you are to be a great general; but you are dependent upon them and their worship and their prayers, and you are to humbly receive from them. You are not to receive grand things from them, huge things; you are to live simply. That is the plain and obvious message of these very humble offerings from passers-by which he is to receive.