What does Judaism teach about Saul's experience in 1 Samuel 10:1-9?

[Guardian]

Do they teach that Saul was born again that day? What does Sanuel mean when he says,
" 6 Then (L)the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily, and (M)you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man."?

1 Samuel 10:1-9

New American Standard Bible (NASB)


Saul among Prophets

10 Then (A)Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, (B)kissed him and said, “Has not (C)the Lord anointed you a ruler over (D)His inheritance? 2 When you go from me today, then you will find two men close to (E)Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘(F)The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. Now behold, your father has [a]ceased to be concerned about the donkeys and is anxious for you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’ 3 Then you will go on further from there, and you will come as far as the (G)oak of Tabor, and there three men going up (H)to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a jug of wine; 4 and they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from their hand. 5 Afterward you will come to [c](I)the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is; and it shall be as soon as you have come there to the city, that you will meet (J)a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre before them, and (K)they will be prophesying. 6 Then (L)the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily, and (M)you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man. 7 It shall be when these signs come to you, (N)do for yourself what [d]the occasion requires, for (O)God is with you. 8 And (P)you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and (Q)sacrifice peace offerings. (R)You shall wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you should do.”

9 Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God (S)changed [e]his heart; and all those signs came about on that day

 

[Chaya]

It means he changed from someone chasing donkeys and hiding in the baggage to king. To do so, according to Rashi, one of the foremost Jewish Biblical commentators, his soul was broadened and he received a regal kingly portion in order to do the job he was chosen to do.

Saul was out looking for some of his father's lost donkeys (chapter 9) and he and his attendant decided to go to Samuel the prophet to see if Samuel could tell them where to look for the donkeys. Gd had informed Samuel a day before of Saul's arrival and had told Samuel that Saul was to be anointed leader of Gd's people Israel. So, Saul was still pre-occupied with finding these donkeys....and Samuel invites him to a ritual sacrifice as an honored guest. Saul doesn't get it, he goes on about the donkeys until Samuel says "fahget about the donkey's already -- they're found".

Samuel tells Saul it is him Israel is looking for. Saul's response to that was not possible, that he was from the smallest of the tribes, his family the most junior of all the clans (much like Gideon had said). At the meal eating the sacrifice, Saul asked for the tail, but Samuel gave him the best piece and told him what Gd had said aout him. Then..........chapter 10 is when Samuel the prophet, the one with the authority to anoint the king, does so. Well, after he is singled out and they had to pull him out from hiding in the baggage. Saul changes from chasing donkeys and hiding in the baggage to king. Whenever he got close to the school of the prophets, he would start prophesying himself, which surprised everyone. The Divine Presence brought down by that group of prophets was able to be experienced by others around them. There is another example of this- of people getting close to prophets and some of it 'rubbing off' on them --it may be in the book of Samuel again later.

The comment of him being a new man, according to Rashi and other Jewish sages, was that he received a new regal soul in order to be king. In Jewish thought, the soul grows and matures, and can be reinforced and changed. It is not 'born again' as the Christians mean accepting a human/Gd - it is a matter of Gd increasing his soul, of becoming closer to the Divine Presence to in this case lead Israel.