1Sa 9:1 Now 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.
Now there was a man of Benjamin - Of the tribe of Benjamin.
whose name was Kish - signifies "ensnared"; for what reason it was given him is not certain:
the son of Abiel - in 1 Chronicles 8:33 Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal, he is called Ner that begat Kish ; and in 1 Samuel 14:50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 1 Chronicles 9:35-39 Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, dwelt at Gibeon. His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. And Mikloth begot Shimeam. They also dwelt alongside their relatives in Jerusalem, with their brethren. Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal. It is a common practice to skip generations when posting genealogies. One commentator thinks the lineage works out to Abiel (also known as Jeiel) who is the father of Ner, who is the father of Kish and Abner. Kish is the father of Saul. Abner is Saul’s uncle. Another commentator thinks that Abiel/ Jeiel is also named Ner.
the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah - 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. A mighty man of power - Literally, a strong man; this appears to be the only power he possessed; and the physical strength of the father may account for the extraordinary size of the son.
The genealogy of Saul is here given as far as Aphiah (“Abiah,” 1Ch_7:8), who was of the house of Becher the son of Benjamin Gen_46:21. “ Kish ” 1Ch_9:35-39 was the son of “Ner” the son of “Jehiel,” (or, “Abiel” here and 1Sa_14:51), the first settler (“father,” 1Ch_9:35) at Gibeon , or Gibeah of Saul, and who married “Maachah,” a daughter or granddaughter of Caleb. If so, it is obvious that the names of several generations are omitted between Kish and Abiel, and among them that from which the family of Matri 1Sa_10:21 was called.
1Sa 9:2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
From his shoulders and upwards - where kings were elective, in all ancient times great respect was paid to personal appearance. A tall stature was much valued in a king in ancient times, and in the eastern countries.
a choice young man, and a goodly - tall and well shaped, in the prime of his age, a very agreeable person, one among a thousand, not necessarily a description of his moral character.
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 behavior. 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.
1Sa 9:3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
Side note thought: As the first king of Israel was brought to Samuel because of donkeys, so was the true King of Israel (Jesus) brought to Jerusalem .
1Sa 9:4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
he passed through mount Ephraim --This being situated on the north of Benjamin, indicates the direction of Saul's journey. The district explored means the whole of the mountainous region, with its valleys and defiles, which belonged to Ephraim. Turning apparently southwards--probably through the verdant hills between Shiloh and the vales of Jordan (Shalisha and Shalim)--he approached again the borders of Benjamin, scoured the land of Zuph , and was proposing to return, when his servant recollected that they were in the immediate neighborhood of the man of God, who would give them counsel.
and passed through the land of Shalisha - it probably was the place called Baalshalisha; 2 Kings 4:42 And a man came from Baal-shalisha and brought the man of God bread from the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and full ears of grain in his sack. And he said, Give to the people that they may eat.
1Sa 9:5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought 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
1Sa 9:6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
Behold, in this city - The name of this town is not mentioned either here or in the further course of this history. Nearly all the commentators suppose it to have been Ramah, Samuel's home. But this assumption has no foundation at all in the text, and is irreconcilable with the statements respecting the return in 1Sa_10:2-5. The servant did not say there dwells in this city, but there is in this city. It is still more evident, from the answer given by the drawers of water, when Saul asked them, “Is the seer here?” (1Sa_9:11), - viz., “He came to-day to the city, for the people have a great sacrifice upon the high place” (1Sa_9:12), - that the seer (Samuel) did not live in the town, but had only come thither to a sacrificial festival.
1Sa 9:7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
There is no present - According to Eastern notions, it would be considered a want of respect for any person to go into the presence of a superior man of rank or of official station without a present of some kind in his hand, however trifling in value. 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, 1 Kings 14:2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Please arise, and disguise yourself, that they may not recognize you as the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Indeed, Ahijah the prophet is there, who told me that I would be king over this people. 3 Also take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him; he will tell you what will become of the child.”
the bread is spent in our vessels--Shepherds, going in quest of their cattle, put up in a bag as much flour for making bread as will last sometimes for thirty days. It appears that Saul thought of giving the man of God a cake from his traveling bag, and this would have been sufficient to render the indispensable act of civility--the customary tribute to official dignity.
1Sa 9:8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
1Sa 9:9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
for the prophet of today was called a seer - Apparently the same person/ office had 2 different names depending on the era of history. This is manifestly a gloss inserted in the older narrative by the later editor of the sacred text, to explain the use of the term in 1Sa_9:11, 1Sa_9:18-19. It is one among many instances which prove how the very letter of the contemporary narratives was preserved by those who in later times compiled the histories. We cannot say exactly when the term “seer” became obsolete.
Was beforetime called a seer - The word seer, roeh, occurs for the first time in this place; it literally signifies a person who Sees; particularly preternatural sights. A seer and a prophet were the same in most cases; only with this difference, the seer was always a prophet, but the prophet was not always a seer. A seer seems to imply one who frequently met with, and saw, some symbolical representation of God. The term prophet was used a long time before this; Abraham is called a prophet, Gen_20:7, and the term frequently occurs in the law. Besides, the word seer does not occur before this time; but often occurs afterwards down through the prophets, for more than three hundred years. See Amo_7:12; Mic_3:7.
1Sa 9:10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
1Sa 9:11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
they found young maidens going out to draw water - this was the usual business of maidens in those countries to fetch water for the service of the family.
1Sa 9:12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
1Sa 9:13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
because he doth bless the sacrifice - ask a blessing upon it, for this was usually done at every common meal, as well as 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, Deuteronomy 12:18 But you must eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all to which you put your hands.
1Sa 9:14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
1Sa 9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before--The description of Saul, the time of his arrival, and the high office to which he was destined, had been secretly intimated to Samuel from heaven.
1Sa 9:16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
That he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines - These words are not very easily reconcilable with 1Sa_7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. It is possible that the aggressive movements of the Philistines, after the long cessation indicated by 1Sa_7:13, coupled with Samuel’s old age and consequent inability to lead them to victory as before, were among the chief causes which led to the cry for a king. If this were so the Philistine oppression glanced at in this verse might be connected with Saul’s times than with Samuel’s.
Thou shalt anoint him to be captain - Not to be king, but to be nagid or captain of the Lord’s host.
1Sa 9:17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
1Sa 9:18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
1Sa 9:19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
go up before me unto the high place - instead of returning home with him, he invited him to go to the place of feasting.
go up before me to the high place - Letting a person go in front was a sign of great esteem.
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.
I am the seer - This declaration would prepare Saul for the communications afterwards made.
1Sa 9:20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
and on whom is all the desire of Israel - which was to have a king.
is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house - the Israelites had their desire after him to be their king; 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. This was a covert and indirect premonition of the royal dignity that awaited him; and, though Saul's answer shows that he fully understood it, he affected to doubt that the prophet was in earnest.
1Sa 9:21 And Saul answered and said, 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? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
Am I not a Benjamite - The tribe of Benjamin, originally the smallest of all the tribes Num_1:36, if Ephraim and Manasseh are reckoned as one tribe, had been nearly annihilated by the civil war recorded in Judg. 20. It had of course not recovered from that terrible calamity in the time of Saul, and was doubtless literally the smallest tribe at that time. Nothing could be more improbable, humanly speaking, than that this weak tribe should give a ruler to the mighty tribes of Joseph and Judah.
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.
wherefore then speakest thou so to me - This speech of Saul is exceedingly modest; 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 and not in earnest.
1Sa 9:22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
and made them sit in the chiefest place among them - Thereby to raise their expectation, and to prepare them for giving that honor to Saul, which his approaching dignity required.
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 honor before all the people
1Sa 9:23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
Bring that part which I gave you - the leg, as the largest and best portion, was to be a piece of honor for Saul (see Gen_43:34). It was Samuel's intention to distinguish and honour Saul above all his other guests, as is evident enough from what he said to Saul when the cook had brought the leg.
1Sa 9:24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
The shoulder, and that which was upon it - The right shoulder was the priest’s portion in the Levitical sacrifices. Probably it was Samuel’s own portion in this case, and he gave it to Saul as a mark of the highest honor. Probably the shoulder was covered with a part of the caul, that it might be the better roasted. The Targum has it the shoulder and its thigh; not only the shoulder merely, but the fore-leg bone to the knee; perhaps the whole fore-quarter. Why was the shoulder set before Saul? Not because it was the best part, but because it was an emblem of the government to which he was now called. Isa_9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
and set it before Saul - as a token of honor 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 table; the foreleg or shoulder, especially the right foreleg, 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 (which was likely still attached to it) 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:
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.
1Sa 9:25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house--Saul was taken to lodge with the prophet for that night. Before retiring to rest, they communed on the flat roof of the house, the couch being laid there. All the houses in the East were flat-roofed; on these people walked, talked, and frequently slept, for the sake of fresh and cooling air.
1Sa 9:26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
1Sa 9:27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
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.
Shew thee the word of God - That is, a message delivered to me from God, which now I shall impart to thee.
