Bethel. . .Where there was at that time an altar of God; it being one of the places where Samuel judged Israel.
10:4. And they will salute thee, and will give thee two loaves, and thou shalt take them at their hand.
10:5. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is: and when thou shalt be come there into the city, thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place, with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp before them, and they shall be prophesying.
The hill of God. . .Gabaa, in which there was also at that time, a high place or altar.—Prophets. . .These were men whose office it was to sing hymns and praises to God; for such in holy writ are called prophets, and their singing praises to God is called prophesying. See 1 Par. alias 1 Chr. 15.22, and 25.1. Now there were in those days colleges, or schools for training up these prophets; and it seems there was one of these schools at this hill of God; and another at Najoth in Ramatha. See 1 Kings 19.20, 21, etc.
10:6. And the Spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be changed into another man.
10:7. When therefore these signs shall happen to thee, do whatsoever thy hand shall find, for the Lord is with thee.
10:8. And thou shalt go down before me to Galgal, (for I will come down to thee), that thou mayst offer an oblation, and sacrifice victims of peace: seven days shalt thou wait, till I come to thee, and I will shew thee what thou art to do.
Galgal. . .Here also by dispensation was an altar of God.
10:9. So when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave unto him another heart, and all these things came to pass that day.
10:10. And they came to the foresaid hill, and behold a company of prophets met him: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he prophesied in the midst of them.