By Rochel's Tomb, at the border of Binyomin. Isn't Rochel's Tomb within Yehudah's border, in Beis Lechem? [The answer is that] they are now by Rochel's Tomb, but, 'when you will meet them, you will find them within Binyomin's border, in Tzeltzoch.' Thus was taught by the Tosefta of [Maseches] Sotah.¹

footnotes: ¹ 11:7.

Tzeltzoch is a combination of the words צֵל לַצַּח of the Holy One, Blessed is He, Who is pure and ruddy;² and this is Yerusholayim.

footnotes: ² Shir Hashirim 5:10.

And is worrying about you. Has fears concerning you; every expression of דְּאָגָה [worry] is an expression of fear; dementer in O.F.

Eilon Tavor. The plain of Tavor.

The hill of God. The hill of Kiryas Ye'arim, where the Ark of God was now resting.

Philistine officers. Officers whom they had appointed over Yisroel, for they [the Philistines] were ruling over them and stationing officers in the cities of Yisroel.³

footnotes: ³ The Philistines had been conquering parts of Eretz Yisroel and had appointed officers to govern the areas that they dominated.—Mahri Kra

A band of prophets. Targum Yonoson renders, 'a band of scribes.' 'חֶבֶל' is a band, similar to, 'the חֶבְלֵי of the wicked surrounded me'⁴ [rendered by Targum as], 'the bands of the wicked surrounded me.'

footnotes: ⁴ II Shmuel 22:6.

From the high place. Targum Yonoson renders, 'from the banquet hall.'

And when these signs come upon you. And you will realize that my words are true; for just as these signs will come to you, so will the matter of the kingship be fulfilled.⁵

footnotes: ⁵ And therefore “prepare yourself…”

Prepare yourself as well as you can. [Targum renders,] 'prepare for yourself regal garments, and make ready for yourself the court ritual,' as well as you can.

Then you shall go down to Gilgol ahead of me. After you reign, you shall come down to Gilgol before me, i.e., before I go down.

And I will go down to you. At the end of seven days after you will have gone down.

Wait. You shall wait.

Transformed his heart. [To] a spirit of royal power.

And who is their father? Why do you wonder about the matter as to who is the father of the prophets? Is prophecy hereditary?⁶

footnotes: ⁶ Or וּמִי אֲבִיהֶם can mean “Who is their teacher?” for one’s teacher is called his father as in II Melachim 2:12. He implied to the people that ‘ה is their teacher and just as He teaches the other prophets, He can teach Shaul too.—Radak

But about the matter of the kingship he did not tell him. He possessed a discretionary nature.⁷

footnotes: ⁷ See Maseches Megillah 13b.

And Shaul… was singled out. Even though he was not there, the lot fell upon him, for their names were written on pieces of parchment and placed in a box. The prophet would insert his hand and take one piece of parchment.

Is hidden by the baggage. In the room where newcomers had placed their baggage; [he hid] because he was running away from the high position. But the Midrash Aggadah of R. Tanchuma⁸ explains that 'אֶל הַכֵּלִים' refers to the Urim and Tumim. He said [to himself], 'perhaps I am not worthy of this high position. [I will not assume it]. until they inquire of the Urim and Tumim.⁹ Thereupon they asked, and he accepted it.

footnotes: ⁸ Vayikra 3. ⁹ Shaul was convinced that the Urim and Tumim would confirm that he was not worthy of the kingship. But, on the contrary, it confirmed that nobody was equal to him. In Maseches Eiruvin 13b it states that he who runs away from honor is rightfully pursued by it.

God had touched. [Targum renders], 'men who fear sin, in whose heart 'ה has instilled fear.'