שמואל א, פרק י׳, פסוק י״א

When an ordinary person suddenly reaches a highly elevated spiritual state, it naturally shocks those around them. The people who knew Saul well over the recent days stand completely amazed at his sudden transformation [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון].

Their profound surprise stems from the standard understanding of how prophecy works. Typically, prophets and their disciples were outliers in society, living lives of deep solitude and separation [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that attaining prophecy requires two main types of preparation. The first is a natural readiness inherited from father to son, and the second is a practical preparation involving solitude, purity, and intense study. Saul, however, lacked both of these prerequisites [מלבי״ם].

The absence of a natural, inherited readiness is highlighted when the people question what exactly happened to Kish's son. By specifically mentioning his father, the onlookers emphasize that Kish was not a prophet. Therefore, it is entirely unclear where Saul obtained this sudden spiritual power [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Alternatively, some view the people's wonder from a different angle regarding his lineage. Knowing the family possessed ancestral merit, they question why Kish did not receive the gift of prophecy instead of his son. The underlying reason is that Saul did not rely solely on the merit of his ancestors. He earned the right to prophecy through his own personal actions, such as his bravery in snatching the tablets away from Goliath [חומת אנך].

The crowd also expresses disbelief at seeing him actively prophesying, pointing to his complete lack of practical preparation. Everyone knew he had never trained with prophetic groups or engaged in the necessary spiritual readiness. Instead, he had always been occupied with the everyday needs of his father's household. Finding him suddenly immersed among dedicated spiritual seekers was perceived as a wondrous and incomprehensible event [מלבי״ם].