In 9: 15-26 and 10, the account is given of how Samuel anointed Saul at God's command, gave him a sign that he was to be the chosen ruler of Israel, and then presented him to the assembly of the Israelites which was called at Mizpah. After Saul was accepted by the people to be their first king, Samuel explained publicly what were the rights and duties of their king and recorded these in writing.

Before presenting Saul to the Israelites, Samuel anointed him with oil, acting as the representative of Israel's God: 'The Lord anoints you as ruler of his people Israel.' Through the external act of anointing with oil, the Holy Spirit of God is given by God to the one he has elected to rule Israel.

Samuel then told Saul of the sign to be given to him that he had received the Spirit of the Lord. He would meet a group of ecstatic prophets, dancing and shouting and playing ecstatically on musical instruments. Saul himself would be overcome by the spirit of ecstasy which had seized these nebi'im of God, and would join them, to the astonishment of the people who had never seen that kind of behaviour in Saul before. 'Suddenly the Spirit of God took control of him and he joined in their dancing and shouting' (10: 10).

It was Samuel who called the people to come to Mizpah, and Samuel who said, 'Here is the man the Lord has chosen!' At every point in this account, it is the nabi of God, speaking and acting on behalf of God, and at his command, who holds the centre of interest. Israel must know, from the beginning of the monarchy, that their king is elected at the command of their God to the service of their God.