1-Samuel - 10:4



4 and they will greet you, and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive of their hand.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of 1-Samuel 10:4.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
And they will salute thee, and will give thee two loaves, and thou shalt take them at their hand.
And they will ask after thy welfare, and give thee two loaves, which thou shalt receive of their hands.
and they have asked of thee of welfare, and given to thee two loaves, and thou hast received from their hand.
And they will salute you, and give you two loaves of bread; which you shall receive of their hands.
They will say, Peace be with you, and will give you two cakes of bread, which you are to take from them.
And they will salute thee, and give thee two cakes of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hand.
and they will greet you and give you two wave offerings of bread, which you shall accept from their hand.
And when they will have greeted you, they will give you two loaves. And you shall accept these from their hand.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And they will salute thee - ושאלו לך לשלום veshaalu lecha leshalom, "And they will inquire of thee concerning peace," i.e., welfare. In the East, if this salutation be given, then the person or persons giving it may be reckoned friends; if the others return it, then there is friendship on both sides. Salaam alicum, Peace to you! is the mode of compellation: Alicum essalaam, To you be peace! is the return. If you give the former and receive not the latter, you may expect hostility. The meaning of the prophet is, When you come to the plain of Tabor, ye shall meet three men; you need not be afraid of them, for they are friends; and they will show this friendship, not only by bidding you good speed, but by giving you two loaves of bread, a provision which you will need for the remaining part of your journey.

And they will salute thee,.... Not as king, of which they knew nothing, but in a common way; and though a stranger and unknown to them, yet finding their hearts disposed and affected towards him, would inquire of his welfare, and wish him all happiness, peace, and prosperity:
and give thee two loaves of bread; which was pretty much that they should give him two out of three, and leave but one for themselves, and especially if they were going to sacrifice; but perhaps they knew they could buy more bread at Bethel, and so were disposed to give two of their loaves to Saul, one for himself and another for his servant; though Kimchi thinks that these are not the same before called loaves; and indeed the word "loaves" is not in the text, but cakes of bread, which were lesser than loaves, and which they carried for their own use, besides three loaves of bread:
which thou shall receive of their hands; being sent out by Samuel early that morning without eating any food, and having travelled some miles, might become weary and faint, and which the three men might discern, and so had compassion on them, and relieved them; and Saul was not to refuse the offer of them, but take them at their hands, though he was anointed to be king; and this was to teach him humility, and to be kind to the poor and needy, and relieve them when he was in more elevated circumstances. All these actions also were contingent, and when they came to pass, as they did, must be still more confirming than the former sign.

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