1 samual 19:23

[Jessie]

it says saul is phrophesying,

what on earth does that mean? he joined a bunch of others doing the same.

[CoreIssue]

18 When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. 19 Word came to Saul: "David is in Naioth at Ramah"; 20 so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men and they also prophesied. 21 Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Secu. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?"
"Over in Naioth at Ramah," they said. 23 So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. 24 He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel's presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

The Hebrew for prophecy, heree, means:
Strong's Number: 05012)bnOriginal WordWord Origin )bn a primitive rootTransliterated WordPhonetic Spelling Naba' naw-baw' http://www.studylight.org/images/audio.gif (http://www.studylight.org/cgi-bin/Lexicon.pl?id=5012h.rm) Parts of SpeechTWOT Verb 1277 Definition
to prophesy
(Niphal)
to prophesy 1a
under influence of divine spirit 1a
of false prophets
(Hithpael)
to prophesy 1b
under influence of divine spirit 1b
of false prophets
It means they spoke under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.

It could have been warnings, teachings or declaration. They could have been present day or future in nature.

My guess is these men spoke of the consequences of what Saul was doing. And maybe even the consequences to them if they carried through, since they gave up trying.

[Brandli5]

I agree with what core says on that. I kept on reading and this verse puzzles me too,

19:24 And he stripped off his clothes (http://www.godrules.net/library/topics/topic372.htm) also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked (http://www.godrules.net/library/topics/topic1303.htm) all that day and all that night (http://www.godrules.net/library/topics/topic1324.htm). Wherefore they say, [Is] Saul (http://www.godrules.net/library/topics/topic1660.htm) also among the prophets (http://www.godrules.net/library/topics/topic1486.htm)?

What do you think he did this for?? Was it because he was in like a protest?? OR was he just ill because he thought he would die?? What was this for?? This chapter is quite a bit interesting but at the same time a tad bit hard to understand.

[Jessie]

I was wondering the same things.

????? was'nt he in rebellion at that point?

[CoreIssue]

I cannot give an answer with absolute assurance. But I think I am correct.

Saul was lying to his son about killing David.

Each group of men sent to kill David prophecied and gave up trying to kill David. I would guess they are revealing that David will replace Saul as King. And they are not to touch him.

Saul comes to confront and kill David himself.

Note he lays naked before Samuel, not David. Samuel is a prophet of God.

I believe this shows Saul laid naked before David, Samuel and all others present, not only in the flesh but in his mind, spirit and intention. All is revealed since we are all naked before God.

God showed Saul completely naked and revealed before himself via his prophet Samuel.

The Israelites would understand the meaning very well.

[Brandli5]

Sounds like a good explaintion to me.