1 Samuel 10:1

1. Then Samuel took a vial of oil—This was the ancient ( :-) ceremony of investiture with the royal office among the Hebrews and other Eastern nations. But there were two unctions to the kingly office; the one in private, by a prophet ( :-), which was meant to be only a prophetic intimation of the person attaining that high dignity—the more public and formal inauguration (2 Samuel 2:4; 2 Samuel 5:3) was performed by the high priest, and perhaps with the holy oil, but that is not certain. The first of a dynasty was thus anointed, but not his heirs, unless the succession was disputed (1 Kings 1:39; 2 Kings 11:12; 2 Kings 23:30; 2 Chronicles 23:11).

kissed him—This salutation, as explained by the words that accompanied it, was an act of respectful homage, a token of congratulation to the new king (2 Chronicles 23:11- :).