1 Samuel 9:1-27 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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1 Samuel 9:1 to 1 Samuel 10:16. Samuel Anoints Saul as King. (J), taken from one of the oldest narratives (see Introduction, p. 273). Note the absence of any connexion with the Deuteronomic narrative in the previous chapter also the inconsistencies; in 1 Samuel 7:13 the Philistines were permanently disposed of; in 1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 10:5, they are oppressing Israel and have a garrison in the heart of the country; in our present narrative we have no trace of hostility to the Monarchy. This section preserves important features of primitive religious life and faith; the local seer, taking fees for fortune-telling, standing in some relation to the ecstatic prophet, nabhi-' ; Samuel, seer, and possibly also prophet, but yet an outstanding inspired personality, far more than the mere professional seer or prophet, a forerunner of Elijah, Elisha, and the canonical prophets. At the same time the ecstatic prophets, in conjunction with Saul, had their share in keeping Israel loyal to Yahweh and in rousing the people to the patriotic struggle with the Philistines (pp. 66, 85). Note also how the Spirit of Yahweh leaps upon a man, takes violent possession of him, and moves him to violent acts, especially deeds of warlike prowess (Judges 3:10 *), as in the story of Samson. 99, 108 are editorial additions (see below).

1 Samuel 9:1-14. Kish, a Benjamite chief, had a son Saul, exceptionally tall and handsome. Kish had lost some asses, and sent Saul and a slave to look for them. After a long and futile search, they found themselves at Ramah, the home of Samuel. Saul proposed to abandon the search, but adopted a suggestion of the slave that they should consult Samuel. They learnt that Samuel was about to preside over a sacrificial feast at the local sanctuary, high place, bama (see 1 Samuel 7:17; Leviticus 26:30, p. 98). As they went to the high place, they fell in with Samuel, who was also on his way thither.

1 Samuel 9:1. mighty man of valour: rather man of wealth and position.

1 Samuel 9:2. Saul: Sha-' ul, asked (of God) (cf. 1 Samuel 1:20).

1 Samuel 9:4. Shalishah. Shaalim: sites unknown

1 Samuel 9:5. Zuph, see 1 Samuel 9:11.

1 Samuel 9:8. shekel: Genesis 23:15 *.

1 Samuel 9:9. An explanatory note; perhaps originally seers and prophets were two distinct classes, afterwards merged in one under the title prophet.

1 Samuel 9:14. within the city: read probably within the gate (cf. 1 Samuel 9:18).

1 Samuel 9:15-21. Yahweh had prepared Samuel for this meeting; He would send to him the future king. When they met, Samuel recognised the man chosen by Yahweh and made himself known to Saul; invited him to the feast; told him the asses were found, and that all that Israel could offer of wealth and honour were at his disposal, thus practically offering him the throne. According to the formula of Oriental etiquette which is no more to be taken literally than Your obedient servant at the end of a letter Saul protested his unworthiness.

1 Samuel 9:16. upon my people: read with LXX. upon the affliction of my people.

1 Samuel 9:22 to 1 Samuel 10:12. Samuel brings Saul to the sacrificial feast, gives him the place of honour and the portion reserved for the chief guest. Saul spends the night on the housetop of Samuel's house a usual guest-chamber. In the morning he leaves, and Samuel sets him on his way. Before they part, Samuel keeps him with him, while the slave goes on. Then Samuel anoints him, and tells him plainly that he is to be king; and that certain things are to happen to him as signs. After he leaves Samuel, these duly come to pass. The last sign is Saul's encounter with a band of ecstatic prophets, i.e. men who excited themselves by music (2 Kings 3:15) to wild singing and dancing, like the Mohammedan dervishes. When Saul left Samuel God gave him another heart; when he met the prophets, the Spirit of God leaped upon him; he caught the contagion of their ecstasy and prophesied joined in the singing and dancing, to the astonishment of his friends: Is Saul also among the prophets? (1 Samuel 19:24). Respectable people, of good family, with a father, did not join in the antics of these mad fanatics that would be the common view (cf. 2 Kings 9:11). Then Saul went home.

1 Samuel 9:24. that which was upon it: read the fat tail of the sheep, a special delicacy.

1 Samuel 9:25 f. he communed. arose early: read with LXX, RVm, They spread a couch for Saul on the housetop, and he lay down.

1 Samuel 10:2. Rachel's sepulchre: see Genesis 35:16 *. Zelzah: unknown.

1 Samuel 10:3. going up to God: i.e. to the sanctuary.

1 Samuel 9:7. The occasion or opportunity which actually presents itself is the appeal from Jabesh-gilead, 1 Samuel 11:4-7 (p. 66). A. S. P.

1 Samuel 10:8. An editorial insertion, to connect this narrative with 1 Samuel 13:7 b - 1 Samuel 13:15 a, an excerpt from another document.

1 Samuel 10:14-16. Saul's uncle tells him that the asses are found. Saul tells of his visit to Samuel, but says nothing as to the kingship.

Related Commentaries of 1 Samuel 9:1

1 Samuel 9:1-27

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 a mighty man of power.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spentb in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I havec 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.

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.)

10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said;d come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

11 And as they went up the hille to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

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 sacrificef of the people to day in the high place:

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 timeg ye shall find him.

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.

15 Now the LORD had toldh Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

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.

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.

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.

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.

20 And as for thine asses that were lost threei 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?

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 soj to me?

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.

23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

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.

25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

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.

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,k that I may shew thee the word of God.