| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
1 Samuel
Chapter Nine
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 9
This
chapter gives an account of Saul
the person the Lord had appointed to be king
of Israel; it relates his descent
and describes his person
1 Samuel 9:1 and
how seeking his father's asses
which were lost
he providentially came to the
place where Samuel dwelt
1 Samuel 9:3 and
being advised by his servant
and approving of his advice
he concluded to go
to him
and inquire the way he should go
1 Samuel 9:6 and
being directed by some young maidens
they found him presently in the street
going to a feast
1 Samuel 9:11 and
Samuel having some previous notice from the Lord of such a person's coming to
him that day
when he met him invited him to dine with him
and obliged him to
stay with him that day
1 Samuel 9:15
satisfied him about his asses
and gave him a hint of the grandeur he was to be
raised to
to which Saul made a modest reply
1 Samuel 9:20 and
Samuel treated him at the feast in a very respectable manner
1 Samuel 9:22 and
privately communed with him of things preparatory to what he was about to make
known unto him
1 Samuel 9:25.
1 Samuel 9:1 There was a man
of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel
the son of Zeror
the
son of Bechorath
the son of Aphiah
a Benjamite
a mighty man of power.
YLT
1And there is a man of
Benjamin
and his name [is] Kish
son of Abiel
son of Zeror
son of Bechorath
son of Aphiah
a Benjamite
mighty of valour
Now there was a man of Benjamin
.... Of the tribe of
Benjamin
which had its name from the youngest son of Jacob
and one of this
tribe was the first king of Israel:
whose name was Kish: whom the apostle calls
Cis
Acts 13:21
and
JosephusF9Antiqu. l. 6. c. 4. sect. 1. Cises; his name
according to
HillerusF11Onomastic. Sacr. p. 405.
signifies
"ensnared"; for what reason it was given him is not certain:
the son of Abiel; in 1 Chronicles 8:33
he is called Ner that begat Kish; and in this book
1 Samuel 14:50 Ner
and Kish are represented as brethren
the sons of Abiel: to reconcile this
it
may be observed
that Ner being the elder brother
on the death of his father
Abiel
had the care and bringing up of his younger brother Kish; and therefore
when he is said to beget him
the meaning is
not that he was the parent of
him
but the bringer up of him; or rather
as Kimchi thinks
Abiel had two
sons
one of which was Ner; and that he had two sons
one that was called after
his own name Ner
who was the father of Abner; and the other Kish
the father
of Saul:
the son of Zeror
the son of Bechorath
the son of Aphiah
a
Benjamite; of these persons we nowhere else read:
a mighty man of power; not a man of riches
or
of authority
neither a wealthy man
nor a magistrate
for his family was mean
and contemptible
1 Samuel 9:21 but a
man of great strength
an able bodied man
and of great natural fortitude
and
courage of mind.
1 Samuel 9:2 2 And
he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was
not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his
shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
YLT
2and he hath a son
and his
name [is] Saul
a choice youth and goodly
and there is not a man among the
sons of Israel goodlier than he -- from his shoulder and upward
higher than
any of the people.
And he had a son whose name was Saul
.... Of this
name was the great apostle of the Gentiles before his conversion
and was of
the same tribe also; but very different in stature; he was a little man
this a
large tall man
like his father perhaps:
a choice young man
and a goodly; 1 Samuel 2:1 of a
goodly aspect
a comely man
tall and well shaped
in the prime of his age
a
very agreeable person
one among a thousand:
and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person
than he; meaning not for the endowments of his mind
or his moral
character and behaviour. There might be as good
or better men than he
on such
accounts
but for his outward appearance
his bodily shape
and the dignity of
his person:
from his shoulders and upwards he was higher than any of the
people; this description of him is enlarged upon and explained
to show
that he was just such a person the people were desirous of having king over
them
such an one as the nations about them had; and it was usual with the
eastern people
and so with the Greeks and Romans
to choose persons to the
highest offices of magistracy that made a personable appearance superior to
others
and is what they often take notice of
as a recommendation of them as
princes. HerodotusF12Thalia
sive
l. 3. c. 20. reports of the
Ethiopians
that they judged the largest of the people
and him who had
strength according to his size
most worthy to be king. And the same writer
observesF13Polymnia
sive
l. 7. c. 187.
that among the many
thousands of men of the army of Xerxes
there was not one who for comeliness and
largeness was so worthy of the empire as Xerxes himself; so Ulysses
because of
his height
was the more acceptable to the people of CorfuF14Homer.
Odyss. 8. ver. 20
21. ; so Alexander's captains
it is saidF15Justin.
e Trogo
l. 13. c. 1.
might be thought to be kings for their beautiful form
height of body
and greatness of strength and wisdom. Julius Caesar is said to
be of high stature; and so DomitianF16Sueton. Vit. Caesar. c. 45.
Domitian. c. 18. ; VirgilF17Aeneid. l. 7. ver. 783
784. & 9.
ver. 29. represents Turnus as in body more excellent than others
and by the
entire head above them; and Anchises as walking statelier and higher than the
restF18Ib. l. 8. ver. 162. ; among the many encomiums PlinyF19Panegyr.
c. 4
22. gives of Trajan
as to his outward form and appearance
this is one
"proceritas corporis"
height of body
being higher than others; the
Gentiles had a notion that such men came nearer to the deities
and looked more
like them; so Diana is described as taller than any of the nymphs and goddessesF20"Tamen
altior illis ipsa dea est". Ovid. Metam. l. 3. fab. 2. ver. 180
181. .
Solomon
according to JosephusF21Antiqu. l. 8. c. 7. sect. 3.
chose such young men to ride horses
and attend his person
when he himself
rode
who were conspicuous for their height
and greatly above others.
1 Samuel 9:3 3 Now the donkeys of Kish
Saul’s father
were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul
“Please take one of
the servants with you
and arise
go and look for the donkeys.”
YLT
3And the asses of Kish
father of Saul
are lost
and Kish saith unto Saul his son
`Take
I pray thee
with thee
one of the young men
and rise
go
seek the asses.'
And the asses of Kish
Saul's father
were lost
.... Had got
out of the stables or fields
in which they were kept
and strayed from thence:
and Kish said to Saul his son
take now one of the servants with
thee
and arise
go seek the asses; he chose not to send his
servants only
who might not be so careful and diligent in searching for them
but his son
and not him alone
but a servant with him to wait upon him
and
assist him. And it was quite agreeable to the simplicity of those times for
persons of equal or greater substance to be employed in such an affair; asses
made a considerable part of the wealth and riches of men
were rode upon by
persons of quality
and were fed and taken care of by the sons of dukes and
princes; see Job 1:3. The JewsF23Hieron.
Trad. Heb. in Paralip
fol. 83. A. have a tradition
that this servant was Doeg
the Edomite.
1 Samuel 9:4 4 So he passed through the
mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha
but they did not find them.
Then they passed through the land of Shaalim
and they were not there.
Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites
but they did not find them.
YLT
4And he passeth over through
the hill-country of Ephraim
and passeth over through the land of Shalisha
and
they have not found; and they pass over through the land of Shaalim
and they
are not; and he passeth over through the land of Benjamin
and they have not
found.
And they passed through Mount Ephraim
.... The
mountainous part of that tribe
which lay contiguous to the tribe of Benjamin
where it might be supposed the asses had strayed to:
and passed through the land of Shalisha; a tract in
the tribe of Benjamin
so called from some illustrious person
prince
and duke
of it; in it very probably was the place called Baalshalisha; 2 Kings 4:42 and
which perhaps is the same Jerom callsF24De loc. Heb. fol. 89. K.
Bethshalisha; and says there was a village of this name in the borders of
Diospolis
almost fifteen miles distance from it to the north
in the Tamnitic
country; though BuntingF25Travels of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 129.
says it was situated in Mount Ephraim
eight miles from Jerusalem to the
northwest:
but they found them not; the asses
neither in
Mount Ephraim
nor in the land of Shalisha:
then they passed through the land of Shalim which some
take to be the same with Salim
where John was baptizing
John 3:23 but Jerom
saysF26De loc. Heb. fol. 94. L. it was a village on the borders of
Eleutheropolis
to the west
seven miles distant from it:
and there they were not; the asses could not be
found there:
and he passed through the land of the Benjamites; or rather of
Jemini
which was in Benjamin
so called from a famous man of that name; for it
cannot be thought they should pass through the whole tribe of Benjamin in one
day. And
according to BuntingF1Travels of the Patriarchs
&c.
p. 126.
from Gibeah
the native place of Saul
through the mountain of
Ephraim
and the land of Shalisha
to the borders of Shalim
were sixteen
miles; and from thence to Jemini
in the tribe of Benjamin
sixteen more:
but they found them not; the asses.
1 Samuel 9:5 5 When they had come to the
land of Zuph
Saul said to his servant who was with him
“Come
let us
return
lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried
about us.”
YLT
5They have come in unto the
land of Zuph
and Saul hath said to his young man who [is] with him
`Come
and
we turn back
lest my father leave off from the asses
and hath been sorrowful
for us.'
And when they were come to the land of Zuph
.... In which
was Ramathaimzophim
the native place of Samuel
1 Samuel 1:1 and so
the Targum here
"the land in which was the prophet"
Saul said to the servant that was with him
come
and let us
return; home
despairing of finding the asses after so long a search in
divers places:
lest my father leave caring for the asses
and take thought for us; fearing some
evil should have befallen his son and his servant
in comparison of whom
and
especially his son
the asses would be of no account
and so give himself no
concern for them
but be in great care and uneasiness for his son and servant;
wherefore Saul thought it most advisable to return home as soon as possible
lest his father should be overwhelmed with grief and trouble.
1 Samuel 9:6 6 And he said to him
“Look
now
there is in this city a man of God
and he is an honorable
man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can
show us the way that we should go.”
YLT
6And he saith to him
`Lo
I
pray thee
a man of God [is] in this city
and the man is honoured; all that he
speaketh doth certainly come; now
we go there
it may be he doth declare to us
our way on which we have gone.'
And he said unto him
.... That is
the servant
of Saul:
behold
now
there is in this city a man of God; a prophet of
the Lord
as the Targum; such were called men of God
because not only
partakers of the grace of God
but of extraordinary gifts
which qualified them
for the office of prophets. The city near to which they now were was Ramah
the
place where Samuel lived
and he is the man of God here meant:
and he is an honourable man; of great esteem among
men for his wisdom and knowledge
integrity and faithfulness
and particularly
for his gift of prophecy
being a true prophet of the Lord; so the
Targum
"and he is a man that prophesies truth
'and that made him
honourable
and gave him great credit:
all that he saith cometh surely to pass; as his
prophecies concerning Eli's family
and other things
which were well known to
have had their accomplishment
and this had gained him universal esteem
see 1 Samuel 3:19
now let us go thither; being very near it
within sight of it
insomuch that the servant could point at it
and say
"this city"
as in the preceding part of the verse:
peradventure he can show us our way that we should go; to find the
asses; he was not certain he could or would
but thought it possible and
probable he might.
1 Samuel 9:7 7 Then Saul said to his
servant
“But look
if we go
what shall we bring the man? For the bread
in our vessels is all gone
and there is no present to bring to the man
of God. What do we have?”
YLT
7And Saul saith to his young
man
`And lo
we go
and what do we bring in to the man? for the bread hath
gone from our vessels
and a present there is not to bring in to the man of God
-- what [is] with us?'
Then Saul said to his servant
but behold
if we go
.... The
Targum is
"if he receives money
'which it seems Saul was not clear in;
some sort of persons that set up for prophets
and a sort of diviners and
fortune tellers
did; but he could not tell whether so eminent and honourable a
person as Samuel was
did; in as much he was not better known by him
who had
been so many years a judge in Israel:
what shall we bring the man? it being usual
when
persons addressed great men for a favour
to carry a present with them; or a
man of God
a prophet of the Lord
to inquire of the Lord by him concerning any
thing
see 1 Kings 14:2
for the bread is spent in our vessels; the food they
brought with them in their bags or scrips for their journey
this was all
exhausted; not that he meant by it
that if they had had any quantity
they
might present it to the man of God
though yet sometimes such things were done
as the instances before referred to show; but that since their stock of bread
was gone
what money they had
if they had any
must be spent in recruiting
themselves
and therefore could have none to spare to give to the man:
and there is not a present to bring to the man of God; neither bread
nor money
without which he seems to intimate it would be to no purpose to go
to him:
what have we? Saul knew he had none
he had spent what he
brought out
with him for the journey
and he put this question to try what his
servant had; unless it can be supposed it was the custom now
as afterwards
among the RomansF2A. Gell. Noct. Attic. l. 20. c. 1.
for servants
to carry the purse
and as it was with the Jews in Christ's time
John 12:6 though
this may have respect not to a price of divination
but to the common custom in
eastern countries
and which continues to this day with the Turks
who reckon
it uncivil to visit any person
whether in authority
or an inferior person
without a present; and even the latter are seldom visited without presenting a
flower
or an orange
and some token of respect to the person visitedF3Maundrell's
Journey from Aleppo
&c. p. 26
27. .
1 Samuel 9:8 8 And the servant answered
Saul again and said
“Look
I have here at hand one-fourth of a shekel of
silver. I will give that to the man of God
to tell us our way.”
YLT
8And the young man addeth to
answer Saul
and saith
`Lo
there is found with me a fourth of a shekel of
silver: and I have given to the man of God
and he hath declared to us our
way.'
And the servant answered Saul again
and said
.... As he had
answered him before
when Saul proposed to return home
by telling him there
was an honourable man of God in the city near at hand
that might possibly be
able to direct them which way they should go to find the asses: so he answers
him again with respect to the present it was proper to carry with them
and
what he had in his hands to make:
behold
I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: a
"zuze" of silver
as the Targum
four of which made a shekel
about
seven pence halfpenny of our money
and scarce so much:
that will I give to the man of God to tell us our way; that they
should go to find the asses: which he would give him very freely for that
purpose: both Saul and his servant must entertain a mean opinion of prophets
and men of God
and especially of so great a man as Samuel
that he should be
employed at any time in directing persons in such cases
and take money for so
doing
and so small a gratuity as this before mentioned; though it seems as if
at some times
something of this kind was done by prophets
and men of God
which might be permitted to keep the people from going to diviners and
soothsayers.
1 Samuel 9:9 9 (Formerly in Israel
when a
man went to inquire of God
he spoke thus: “Come
let us go to the seer”; for he
who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)
YLT
9Formerly in Israel
thus
said the man in his going to seek God
`Come and we go unto the seer
' for the
`prophet' of to-day is called formerly `the seer.'
Before time in Israel
when a man went to inquire of God
.... To ask
doctrine of him
as the Targum
to be taught by him
to have his mind and will
in any affair of moment and importance; which was usually done by applying to
some man of God
eminent for grace and piety
and a spirit of prophecy:
thus he spake
come
and let us go to the seer; a man used to
say to his friend
when he wanted some instruction or direction
let us go
together to such an one
the seer
and ask counsel of him what is proper to be
done in such an affair:
for he that is now called a prophet was before called a
seer; for though these names are used freely of the same persons
both
before and after this time; yet now the more common appellation which obtained
was that of a prophet; custom
and the use of language
varied at different
times
though the same was meant by the one and the other; such men were called
seers
because of the vision of prophecy
because they saw or foresaw things to
come; and they were called prophets
because they foretold what they saw
or
delivered out their predictions by word of mouth. This verse is put in a
parenthesis
and is commonly supposed to be the words of the writer of this
book: hence some draw an argument against Samuel being the writer of it
as
Abarbinel does
who concludes from hence that it was written by Jeremiah
or
some other person long after Samuel
or that this verse was added by Ezra; but
as this book might be written by Samuel in the latter part of his life
he
might with propriety observe this
that in his younger time
and quite down to
the anointing of Saul king
both when there was no open vision
and afterwards
when there was scarce any that had it but himself
he was used to be called the
seer; but in his latter days
when there were many that had the vision of
prophecy
and there were schools set up
it was more common to call them
prophets; though perhaps these are the words of Saul's servant
spoken to
encourage Saul to go to the man of God
and inquire of him
since in former
times
as he could remember
being perhaps an old servant
or he had heard his
parents so say
that such men used to be called seers
because they saw what
others did not
and declared and made others to see what they did; and
therefore there was a probability that this man of God
who was a seer
might
show them the way they should go to find the asses.
1 Samuel 9:10 10 Then Saul said to his
servant
“Well said; come
let us go.” So they went to the city where the man
of God was.
YLT
10And Saul saith to his young
man
`Thy word [is] good; come
we go;' and they go unto the city where the man
of God [is].
Then said Saul to his servant
well said
.... Or
"good is thy word"F4טוב דברך "bonum verbum tuum"
Pagninus
Montanus.
thou hast well spoken; it is a good proposal thou hast made
and thou art very
generous to give all thou hast to the man; and very promising it is
that since
he is a seer he may inform us where the asses are
or which way we must take to
find them. Things look feasible enough:
come
let us go: to the city
and to the man of God there
and hear what he will say to us
and what information he will give us:
so they went unto the city where the man of God was; to Ramah
where Samuel dwelt.
1 Samuel 9:11 11 As they went up the hill
to the city
they met some young women going out to draw water
and said to
them
“Is the seer here?”
YLT
11They are going up in the
ascent of the city
and have found young women going out to draw water
and say
to them
`Is the seer in this [place]?'
And as they went up the hill to the city
.... For the
city was built upon an hill
from whence it had the name of Ramah
which
signifies high and lifted up:
they found young maidens going out to draw water: going out of
the city
to a fountain which was at the bottom of the hill; and this was the
usual business of maidens in those countries to fetch water for the service of
the family; see Gill on Genesis 24:11; see
Gill on Genesis 24:15; see
Gill on Genesis 24:16. R.
AkibaF5In Pirke Eliezer
c. 36. fol. 39. 1. 2. makes this
observation
that whenever a man meets maidens coming out of a city before he
goes into it
it is a token of prosperity to him; and instances in the cases of
Abraham's servant
of Jacob
and of Moses
and here of Saul
who was informed
of a kingdom
and anointed for it
see Genesis 24:14 Exodus 2:16
and said unto them
is the seer here? meaning
is
he in the city? or is he at home? or is he in the country?
1 Samuel 9:12 12 And they answered them and
said
“Yes
there he is
just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to
this city
because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place.
YLT
12And they answer them and
say
`He is; lo
before thee! haste
now
for to-day he hath come in to the
city
for the people hath a stated sacrifice in a high place.
And they answered them
and said
he is
.... That is
he is in the city
at home
and to be spoken with:
behold
he is before you; his house is straight
before you as you go along
you cannot miss of it. Some Jewish writers sayF6Midrash
Schemuel & Pesikta apud Abarbinel in loc. they gave a token to know it by
that there was a cloud at the door
and when they saw that
they might know it
was the seer's house:
haste now
for he came today to the city; from the
suburbs to it
or from his country house
or from the other Ramah
for there
were two of them
one over against the other
see 1 Samuel 1:1
for
that he was just now come off a circuit
is not so probable
since he was now
old
and past riding his circuits; and indeed the meaning may be no more than
as it may be rendered
"today he comes into the city"F7בא "venit"
Pagninus
Montanus. ; that is
he
comes out of his own house into the city
and was then just coming out; so
that
if they made haste
they might meet him in the street before he got to
the place of sacrifice and feasting:
for there is a sacrifice of the people today in the high place; whether it
was the new moon
or some festival they observed
though the tabernacle was not
there
is not certain; at which
besides the offerings required
freewill
offerings and peace offerings were brought by the people
on part of which they
feasted with their friends; and very probably
as Samuel was acquainted by the
Lord that he who was to be king of Israel would be with him that day
he might
add to the sacrifices of the people
to make the entertainment the more grand
and liberal; since he had a principal concern in ordering the guests
and
dividing the portions
as well as blessing the food
which indeed he might take
upon him
as being judge
priest
and prophet: this was an high place where
this sacrifice or feast was; for Shiloh being destroyed
and the tabernacle
removed elsewhere
and that being in one place
and the ark in another
and
they not together
no distinction of places was made
none being yet chosen
all were fit; and particularly high places
which were always reckoned the most
proper for divine service and sacrifice.
1 Samuel 9:13 13 As soon as you come into
the city
you will surely find him before he goes up to the high place to eat.
For the people will not eat until he comes
because he must bless the sacrifice;
afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore
go up
for about this
time you will find him.”
YLT
13At your going in to the
city so ye do find him
before he doth go up in to the high place to eat; for
the people do not eat till his coming
for he doth bless the sacrifice;
afterwards they eat
who are called
and now
go up
for at this time ye find
him.'
As soon as ye come into the city
ye shall straightway find him
.... By which
it seems that the house of Samuel was at that end of it at which they entered;
and with which agrees what is observed in the preceding verse
that "he
was before them"
his house was in sight of them:
before he go up to the high place to eat; intimating
they would
if they made haste
come up to him before he got thither to sit
down and eat with the people; for if they did not
they would not be able to
see him and speak with him for some time
if on that day:
for the people will not eat until he come; partly out of
affection and veneration for him
being their chief magistrate
as well as seer
or prophet
and partly for the reason following:
because he doth bless the sacrifice; ask a blessing upon it
upon the meat of the peace offerings before it was eaten; for as this was
usually done at every common meal
then much more at such a solemn festival as
this. Jarchi gives us the form of blessing used on such an
occasion
"blessed art thou
O Lord our God
the King of the world
who
hath sanctified us by his commandments
and hath commanded us to eat the sacrifice:'and
"afterwards they eat that be bidden"; for when a man offered his
peace offerings
he not only had his family with him
but invited his friends
and the poor
and the fatherless
the strangers
and the Levites
to partake
with him
see Deuteronomy 12:18
the number of the guests at this time
see in 1 Samuel 9:22.
Now therefore get ye up; ascend the hill as fast
as ye can:
for about this time ye shall find him; that is
by
the time they could get up the hill into the city they would find him coming
out of his house to go to the sacrifice: or "as this day"F8כהיום "invenietis cum tam certo quam certum est hunc
diem esse"
Drusius; so Jarchi. ; so sure as the day is
so sure shall ye
find him.
1 Samuel 9:14 14 So they went up to the
city. As they were coming into the city
there was Samuel
coming out toward
them on his way up to the high place.
YLT
14And they go up in to the
city; they are coming in to the midst of the city
and lo
Samuel is coming out
to meet them
to go up to the high place;
And they went up into the city
.... Saul and his servant
went up the hill to the city of Ramah: and
when they were come into the city; were within it
within
the walls of it:
behold
Samuel came out against them; came out of a
door of his house upon them
just as they came up: or "to meet them"F9לקרא־תאם "in occursum eorum"
Pagninus
Montanus;
"eis obviam"
V. L. Tigurine version. ; his way to the high place lay
where they were coming; unless it can be thought he went out purposely to meet
them
having
as in the following verse
an intimation
that about that time
one from the tribe of Benjamin
who should be king
would come to him
and so
made this his way
knowing that one coming from that tribe must come that way;
but it seems most likely that this was his readiest way:
for to go up to the high place; or place of sitting
down
or feasting
as the Targum; see Gill on 1 Samuel 9:12.
1 Samuel 9:15 15 Now the Lord had told
Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came
saying
YLT
15and Jehovah had uncovered
the ear of Samuel one day before the coming of Saul
saying
Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear
.... In a
private manner
whispering in his ear
telling him in a free
familiar
friendly way
as a secret:
a day before Saul came; that he might prepare
for the entertainment of him
and not be surprised at his coming
as well as
hereby be assured he was the person designed to be king of Israel
when he
should come:
saying; as follows.
1 Samuel 9:16 16 “Tomorrow about this time
I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin
and you shall anoint him
commander over My people Israel
that he may save My people from the hand of
the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people
because their cry has come
to Me.”
YLT
16`At this time tomorrow
I
send unto thee a man out of the land of Benjamin -- and thou hast anointed him
for leader over My people Israel
and he hath saved My people out of the hand
of the Philistines; for I have seen My people
for its cry hath come in unto
Me.'
Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of
Benjamin
.... Who without any thought or design of his own
but merely
directed by the providence of God
should come to him
not expecting a kingdom;
at most only to hear of his father's asses
and which way he should take to
find them; missing the finding of which would and did bring him thither:
and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel; the leader
ruler
and governor of them; to which high office he was to be appointed by
pouring oil upon him
and was the first king on whom this ceremony was
performed
and from whence he was called the Lord's anointed:
that he may save my people out of the hands of the Philistines; who
since Samuel
was grown old
made encroachments upon them
built garrisons on their borders
and made
it is very probable
incursions upon them
and ravages and
oppressions of them:
for I have looked upon my people; with an eye of pity and
compassion:
because their cry is come unto me; by reason of the
oppressions of the Philistines
and the war they were threatened with by the
Ammonites; though Abarbinel thinks this refers to their importunate cry
supplication
and request to have a king set over them.
1 Samuel 9:17 17 So when Samuel saw Saul
the Lord
said to him
“There he is
the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign
over My people.”
YLT
17When Samuel hath seen Saul
then hath Jehovah answered him
`Lo
the man of whom I have spoken unto thee;
this [one] doth restrain My people.'
And when Samuel saw Saul
.... Who could not but
take notice of him for his height
and which might give him a suspicion he was
the man the Lord had spoken of to him; and the rather
because this was the
exact time in which he was to be sent to him
and therefore he fixed his eyes
upon him: and that he might be assured it was he
and be left at no uncertainty
about it:
the Lord said unto him; by a still small voice
or by an impulse upon his mind:
behold the man whom I spake to thee of; yesterday
this is he:
this same shall reign over my people; be their
king
as they have desired: or "shall restrain"F11יעצר "cohibebit"
Montanus;
"continebit"
Tigurine version; "retinebit"
Drusius; i.e.
"coercebit"
Piscator. them
keep them in due bounds
in the
discharge of their duty to God and man; and keep them from doing that which is
evil
or walking in evil ways
which is the business of a good king; or who
shall restrain them from having their own will
but shall rule over them in an
absolute manner
according to his own arbitrary will and pleasure.
1 Samuel 9:18 18 Then Saul drew near to
Samuel in the gate
and said
“Please tell me
where is the seer’s
house?”
YLT
18And Saul draweth nigh to
Samuel in the midst of the gate
and saith
`Declare
I pray thee
to me
where
[is] this -- the seer's house?'
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate
.... Either at
the door of his own house
just as he was coming out of it
or within the gate
of the city as Saul entered that
Samuel came to it
in order to go through it
to the high place
which it is probable was without the city; wherefore it is
very properly said that Samuel came out to meet them
1 Samuel 9:14.
and said
tell me
I pray thee
where the seer's house is; one knows not
which to wonder at most
the simplicity and humility of Samuel to be in so
plain an habit
unattended by servants
and yet going to a public festival
so
that he seemed to be no other than a common man
to be inquired of whereabout
his house was; or the ignorance of Saul
who had lived so long in the world
and so near Samuel
and yet had never seen and knew not the chief magistrate in
the nation
so famous both for his civil and religious character.
1 Samuel 9:19 19 Samuel answered Saul and
said
“I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place
for you shall
eat with me today; and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is
in your heart.
YLT
19And Samuel answereth Saul
and saith
`I [am] the seer; go up before me into the high place
and ye have
eaten with me to-day
and I have sent thee away in the morning
and all that
[is] in thy heart I declare to thee.
And Samuel answered Saul
and said
I am the seer
.... For he
supposed
by inquiring for his house
that his business was with him; wherefore
this he said
not as boasting of his character and office
or in the pride and
vanity of his mind
but merely for information sake:
go up before me unto the high place; instead of returning
home with him
he invited him to go to the place of feasting
as the Targum
whither he was going to partake of the entertainment there; and he bids him go
before him
either because he was an old man
and could not go his pace
or he
had business to do by the way
or this was in honour to Saul
whom he knew was
to be king of Israel:
for ye shall eat with me today; he and his servant
at
the public feast: he insisted upon his dining
or it may be rather supping with
him:
and tomorrow I will let thee go; for it being in the
evening when this feast was
he could not depart that night
but must stay till
morning
and then he promised to dismiss him:
and will tell thee all that is in thine heart; answer all questions
he had in his mind to ask him
for which he came into the city
and inquired
for his house. The JewsF12Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 75.
G. have a tradition that it was in the heart of Saul that he should be a king
having in a vision seen himself placed on the top of a palm tree
which was a
sign of royalty
and this Samuel told him.
1 Samuel 9:20 20 But as for your donkeys
that were lost three days ago
do not be anxious about them
for they have been
found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you
and on all your father’s house?”
YLT
20As to the asses which are
lost to thee this day three days
set not thy heart to them
for they have been
found; and to whom [is] all the desire of Israel?' is it not to thee and to all
thy father's house?'
And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago
.... Which
according to Kimchi
is to be understood not of the time from whence they were
lost
but to be reckoned from the time that Saul had been seeking of them; so
the Targum
"as to the business of the asses
which are lost to thee
and
thou art come to seek them today
these three days:'though it is probable
enough that the same day they were lost Saul set out to seek them
Now Samuel
telling him of the asses that were lost
and of the time of their being lost
or of his seeking them
so exactly
before ever he said a word to him about
them
must at once convince him that he was a true prophet
and which must
prepare him to give credit to all that he should hereafter say to him:
set not thy mind on them
for they are found; of the truth
of which he could not doubt
after he had said the above words; and which he
said to make his mind easy
that he might the more cheerfully attend the feast
and be the more willing to stay all night:
and on whom is all the desire of Israel? which was to
have a king; in this they were unanimous
and who so fit and proper as Saul
it
is intimated
whom Samuel knew God had chosen and appointed to be king over
them?
is it not on thee
and on all thy father's house? not that the
Israelites had their eye on Saul
and their desire after him to be their king
though he was such an one as they wished for; but that as this desire of theirs
was granted
it would issue and terminate in him and his family; he should be
advanced to the throne
which would be attended with the promotion of his
father's house
as Abner particularly
who was his uncle's son
and was made
the general of the army.
1 Samuel 9:21 21 And Saul answered and
said
“Am I not a Benjamite
of the smallest of the tribes of Israel
and my family the least of all the families of the tribe[a] of
Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?”
YLT
21And Saul answereth and
saith
`Am not I a Benjamite -- of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my
family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? and why hast
thou spoken unto me according to this word?'
And Saul answered and said
am not I a Benjamite
.... Or the
son of Jemini
the name of one of his ancestors
see 1 Samuel 9:1 or
rather
as the Targum
a son of the tribe of Benjamin:
of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? having been
greatly reduced
even to the number of six hundred men
by the fatal war
between that tribe and the rest
on account of the Levite's concubine
and is
called little Benjamin
Psalm 68:27.
and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of
Benjamin? the smallest in number
had the least share of authority in the
tribe
and of land and cattle
wealth and substance:
wherefore then speakest thou so to me? Saul
presently understood Samuel's meaning
that he should be chosen king of Israel
the affair of a king being at this time in everyone's mind and mouth; but could
not believe that one of so small a tribe
and which sprung from the youngest
son of Jacob
and of so mean a family
would be raised to such dignity
but
that a person of great figure and character would be settled upon; and
therefore he took Samuel to be in joke
as JosephusF13Antiqu. l. 6.
c. 4. sect. 1. says
and not in earnest.
1 Samuel 9:22 22 Now Samuel took Saul and
his servant and brought them into the hall
and had them sit in the place of
honor among those who were invited; there were about thirty persons.
YLT
22And Samuel taketh Saul
and
his young man
and bringeth them in to the chamber
and giveth to them a place
at the head of those called; and they [are] about thirty men.
And Samuel took Saul and his servant
and brought them into the
parlour
.... The dining room of the house
which belonged to the high
place:
and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were
bidden; and who very probably were the principal persons in the city;
and yet Saul was placed at the head of them by Samuel
to convince him that
what he had said to him was in earnest
and to do him honour before all the
people; and for the sake of him
and to show his respect to him
he placed his
servant; his minister
also in the chief place with him; what was reckoned the
highest and most honourable places at table; see Gill on Matthew 23:6. The
guests were placed by the master of the feast according to their rank; and the
dignity of the person
as Jarchi observes
was known by his manners and place
of sitting:
which were about thirty persons; more or less; JosephusF14Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 4. sect. 1. says seventy
disagreeing with the text
the Targum
Syriac and Arabic versions
but agreeing with the Septuagint.
1 Samuel 9:23 23 And Samuel said to the
cook
“Bring the portion which I gave you
of which I said to you
‘Set it
apart.’”
YLT
23And Samuel saith to the
cook
`Give the portion which I gave to thee
of which I said unto thee
`Set
it by thee?'
And Samuel said unto the cook
.... That dressed and
prepared the food for the entertainment of the guests:
bring the portion which I gave thee; to dress; for part of
the provisions of the feast was Samuel's
and the other part the people's that
brought the peace offerings:
of which I said unto thee
set it by thee; do not bring
it in with the rest
but keep it in the kitchen till called for.
1 Samuel 9:24 24 So the cook took up the
thigh with its upper part and set it before Saul. And Samuel
said
“Here it is
what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat;
for until this time it has been kept for you
since I said I invited the
people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
YLT
24(and the cook lifteth up
the leg
and that which [is] on it
and setteth before Saul)
and he saith
`Lo
that which is left; set [it] before thee -- eat
for to this appointed
season it is kept for thee
saying
The people I have called;' and Saul eateth
with Samuel on that day.
And the cook took up the shoulder
and that which was upon it
.... Meaning
either
as some think
some sauce that was poured on it
or garnish about it;
or the thigh
as the Targum
and so Jarchi
Kimchi
and others; or rather the
breast
as a more ancient JewF15R. Eliezer in T. Bab. Avodah Zara
fol. 25. 1. ; since this joined to the shoulder before separated
and in
sacrifices went along with it; though most think this was the left shoulder and
breast
because the right shoulder and breast of the peace offerings were given
to the priest
to be eaten by him and his sons
Leviticus 7:34 but
in those unsettled times
with respect to sacrifices
many things were
dispensed with; and Samuel
though a Levite
might officiate as a priest
and
so the right shoulder and breast belonged to him as such; and this best
accounts for his having the disposal of it; and upon this extraordinary
occasion
Saul
though not the son of a priest
might be admitted to eat of it
it being the choicest part
and fit to be set before one designed to be king;
and to show that he was to live in friendship with the priests of the Lord
and
to take care of and protect the ministerial function:
and set it before Saul; by the direction of
Samuel no doubt
as a token of honour and respect unto him; it being usual in
other countries to commend the best dishes
or best pieces of flesh
to the
more excellent and worthy persons at tableF16Vid. Diodor. Sicul. l.
5. p. 306. ; and this was
as JosephusF17Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c.
4. sect. 1.) calls it
a royal portion: the arm or shoulder
especially the
right arm
being a symbol of strength
may denote that strength which was
necessary for him to bear the burden of government
to protect his people
and
fight in defence of them; and the breast being the seat of wisdom and prudence
of affection and love
may signify how necessary such qualities were for kingly
government
to know how to go in and out before the people
and be heartily
concerned for their good: and Samuel said:
behold that which is left; not by the guests
and
what they could not eat; for till Samuel came they did not begin to eat; and as
for this part
it was but just brought in
and was never set before the guests
but it was left by Samuel in the hands of the cook
and reserved for the use of
Saul:
set it before thee
and eat; it was already set
before him
but he would have him keep it by him
and eat of it
and make his
meal of it
it being the best dish at the table:
for unto this time hath it been kept for thee; by which he
gave him to understand that he knew of his coming before hand
and therefore
had made this provision for him; and which might serve to persuade him of the
truth and certainty of what he had hinted to him:
since I said I have invited the people; not the
thirty persons before mentioned
for it does not appear that they were invited
by Samuel
but rather by those who brought the peace offerings
who had a right
to invite any of their friends they thought fit; but by "the people"
are meant Saul and his servant; for in the eastern languages two or three
persons
and even one
are called a people; and this Samuel had said to his
cook
when he bid him set by the shoulder
and what was on it
because he had
invited some
for whom he had designed it:
so Saul did eat with Samuel that day: they dined
together.
1 Samuel 9:25 25 When they had come down
from the high place into the city
Samuel spoke with Saul on the top of
the house.[b]
YLT
25And they come down from the
high place to the city
and he speaketh with Saul on the roof.
And when they came down from the high place into the city
.... After the
feast was ended; and though Ramah itself was situated on an eminence
yet it
seems this high place was higher than that
being without the city upon an
hill
and therefore they are said to come down from the one to the other; or
they came down from the high place
and then ascended the hill to the city:
Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house: of Samuel's
house; when they were come thither
Samuel took Saul up to the roof of his
house
which was flat
as the roofs of houses in this country were; see Deuteronomy 22:8 on
which they could walk to and fro
and converse together; hence you read of
preaching and praying on housetops
Matthew 10:27 what
they communed about is not said
but may be guessed at
that it was about
Saul's being made king; of the certainty of it
by divine designation; of the
manner of executing that office wisely and justly; about the objections Saul
had made of the smallness of his tribe and family; and of Samuel's willingness
to resign the government to him
with other things of the like kind.
1 Samuel 9:26 26 They arose early; and it
was about the dawning of the day that Samuel called to Saul on the top of the
house
saying
“Get up
that I may send you on your way.” And Saul arose
and
both of them went outside
he and Samuel.
YLT
26And they rise early
and it
cometh to pass
at the ascending of the dawn
that Samuel calleth unto Saul
on
the roof
saying
`Rise
and I send thee away;' and Saul riseth
and they go
out
both of them -- he and Samuel
without.
And they arose early
.... Neither of them
being able to sleep
as Abarbinel supposes; not Samuel for thinking what he was
to do the next morning
anoint Saul king over Israel; nor Saul for what Samuel
had hinted to him about the desire of all Israel being upon him
and for the
honour done him at the feast
and because of the conversation they had together
afterwards:
and it came to pass about the spring of the day; or the
"ascents of the morning"F24כעלות
השחר "circa ascendere auroram"
Montanus;
"quum ascenderet aurora"
Junius & Tremellius.
when day was
about to break
before the sun was up:
that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house; where they
had conversed together the evening before:
saying
up
that I may send thee away; meaning not
rise from his bed
for he was risen; but that he would prepare to set out on
his journey
that Samuel might take his leave of him for the present
when he
had accompanied him some part of his way
as he intended; and he was the more
urgent upon him
because there was something to be done before people were
stirring:
and Saul arose
and they went out both of them
he and Samuel
abroad; out of Samuel's house
without doors
into the street.
1 Samuel 9:27 27 As they were going down to
the outskirts of the city
Samuel said to Saul
“Tell the servant to go on
ahead of us.” And he went on. “But you stand here awhile
that I may announce
to you the word of God.”
YLT
27They are going down in the
extremity of the city
and Samuel hath said unto Saul
`Say to the young man
that he pass on before us (and he passeth on)
and thou
stand at this time
and I cause thee to hear the word of God.'
And as they were going down to the end of the city
.... That end
of it that led the way to the place where Saul was going. As this city was
built on an hill
going to the end of it was a declivity
a descent:
Samuel said to Saul
bid the servant pass on before us; being another
man's servant
he did not choose of himself to bid him go on
but desired his
master to order him to go before them
that he might not hear what Samuel had
to say to Saul
or see what he did unto him; for as the choice of Saul to be
king was to be declared by lot
as coming from the Lord
all those precautions
were taken of rising early
and going abroad
and sending the servant before
them
that it might not be thought that Samuel did this of himself:
and he passed on; his master bidding him:
but stand thou still a while; that he might hear the
better
and more attentively than in walking; such a posture was most fitting
also for what was to be done
anointing him with oil:
that I may show thee the word of God: tell him more
of the mind of God concerning his being king
and declare more fully the word
will
and decree of God about that matter
by an action which would put it out
of all doubt that he was the man God designed to be king
as in the following
chapter.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)