שמואל א, פרק י״ט, פסוק כ״ד

A powerful divine revelation can completely strip a person of their social standing and physical senses. King Saul's encounter with prophecy is an overwhelming experience where he loses control and disconnects from worldly reality, a state that ultimately allows David to escape safely. Saul removes his magnificent royal garments. The primary approach among commentators is that this action demonstrates humility, ensuring he does not appear arrogant over the other prophets and instead resembles them in his dress [מצודת דוד], or perhaps to wear the simple clothes of a student [רש"י]. This practice of removing outer garments was common among prophets when they experienced a vision [רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Beyond the physical act, this shedding of clothes symbolizes a deep spiritual process. When an overwhelming abundance of prophecy descends upon a person, their physical strength fails and their senses are nullified, as their mind and soul become entirely enveloped in the kingdom of God [רד"ק, מלבי"ם]. Saul disconnects completely from worldly matters, akin to someone entering higher spiritual realms. Because of this profound elevation, his earthly jealousy of David vanishes from his heart as if it had never existed [אלשיך].

In this overwhelming state, the king falls to the ground. Being described as naked does not necessarily imply complete nudity; rather, it indicates that he is exposed and stripped of his royal attire [מצודת דוד], or that he is in a state of lost senses resembling madness [רש"י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Collapsing to the earth is a characteristic physical reaction for prophets, similar to the experiences of figures like Balaam and Daniel, whose physical bodies simply could not bear the weight of the divine vision [רד"ק, מצודת דוד].

The uniqueness of this specific prophetic encounter lies in Saul's proximity to Samuel. In the past, Saul could only experience prophecy when he was distanced from Samuel, because the prophet's immense spiritual intensity was like a blinding sun that was too difficult to absorb up close. Now, however, Saul is elevated to a spiritual level where he can absorb the light of prophecy while standing directly in front of Samuel [אלשיך]. Furthermore, while the messengers Saul had sent earlier only experienced prophecy in short, brief flashes like lightning, Saul remains continuously attached to the prophetic vision for an entire day and night [מלבי"ם].

This extraordinary event causes a famous saying about Saul being among the prophets to resurface. Although people had used this phrase at the very beginning of his reign, it now becomes deeply established among the public, turning into a common idiom to describe someone who reaches a high level they are not normally accustomed to [מצודת דוד]. The public amazement is much greater now because his prophecy is far longer and more powerful than his previous experiences [מלבי"ם, אלשיך], and because it directly follows the prophetic episodes of his three groups of messengers [אלשיך]. The profound astonishment also stems from the massive contradiction in Saul's current state. On one hand, the natural traits of his soul make him a fitting vessel for prophecy, which is why he is so completely gripped by it [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. On the other hand, he has been plagued by an evil spirit during this period. The true core of the wonder is that Samuel's overwhelming spiritual power manages to repel the impure forces clinging to Saul, allowing the spirit of prophecy to rest upon the king once again [חומת אנך].