Definition: And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Samuel 15:12. It’s a really important passage about God's plan for Israel and its leader, Saul. Here’s the explanation in simpler terms: Basically, it means: “Samuel was going to meet with Saul – a powerful king – in the morning. But Saul left Carmel (a place of significance) and went away. He was busy, exploring, and eventually disappeared.” Let's unpack it a little further: “Samuel rose early…” : Samuel was getting ready to see Saul. “…to meet Saul in the morning” : This is the key part. It’s a scheduled meeting. “it was told Samuel, saying…” : Samuel received this information from someone else – likely a prophet or messenger. “…Saul came to Carmel…” : Saul was traveling to a specific place called Carmel. It's important because Carmel is linked to a significant event in the Old Testament. "...and, behold, he set him up a place…” : This is a dramatic phrase. Saul created a place for himself at Carmel. It implies he made it his own. "...and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal." : This describes Saul’s actions after he left Carmel. He continued exploring and moved away. "Gone about" means he was busy with something. “Passed on” means he continued his journey. “Gone down to Gilgal” refers to a specific location – likely a place of significance for the Israelites in that time. What's the big takeaway? This verse is a promise from God. God wants to remove a powerful, troublesome king (Saul) from Israel. God is saying, "We are going to take away this person and their influence." It’s about God’s plan of deliverance and establishing a new order. In essence, it's a story of divine intervention and God’s judgment – but also a testament to God’s faithfulness. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the significance of Carmel in more detail?