1 Samuel 9:1-27 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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1 Samuel 9:2. Saul, a choice young man. Elect and good, as the Vulgate reads, endowed with intellect and elegance of figure. Higher than any of the people; about eight feet in stature. David was not much short of Saul's height, as appears from his putting on of Saul's armour. Frederick the great, of Prussia, had in his tall regiment of guards, a man eight feet high. Many of our Saxon ancestors, and several Irish giants, were not less in stature. But stature had no connection with his election, which was altogether divine: 1 Samuel 10:21.

1 Samuel 9:5. Zuph, or Ziph. Hence the Ziphites; 1 Samuel 23:14-19. See the note on Deuteronomy 1:1. Samuel now, it would seem, occupied the house of his father, in Ramathaim-zophim: 1 Samuel 1:1.

1 Samuel 9:7. What shall we bring the man? Prophets would receive no gifts as wages for their work; for what can purchase the highest favours of heaven? This was Balaam's trade. Simony is ever attended with a curse. But it always was and still is the custom of the east to approach magistrates with presents. Hence Saul and his servant proposed this on the ground of custom, being ignorant of Samuel's superior purity.

1 Samuel 9:9. A seer. The ancient name of a prophet, from his seeing the visions of the Almighty. Numbers 24:4. The Sybils and poets give the same appellation to their vates, calling them “discerners of fate.” Vidi Poli in loc. Troy also had its seers. Iliad 13. But Moses in his time uses the word nabbi or prophet.

1 Samuel 9:25. Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. Septuagint: “And they made a bed for Saul in an upper room of the house; and Samuel, about the spring of the morning, called Saul, &c.” This proves that Samuel was an early riser; and surely the best of the day should be devoted to the Lord. We blush for him whose breakfast reproaches the sluggard. Early rising adds one fourth to the length of human life.

REFLECTIONS.

How good and gracious is the Lord. Though Israel had distrusted him in asking a king; yet he ceased not to be their true king and constant friend. They feared Philistia, and he had compassion on their cries. Mark now this fine scheme of providence: mark the diminutive pivots on which the wheels of providence turn. Kish lost his asses. Saul in the search missed his way, and wandered to Ramah, ere he was aware. Samuel, but the day before, returned from his circuit. All these incidents seem to be chance; but they were all providence. Let every man therefore learn to confide in the divine care, and to ask the blessing of God on all the journeys or duties of the day; for who can tell how eventful the smallest incidents of life may prove to an individual or a family.

Mark also the humility of the high prophet and judge of Israel. He appears to have been content with the plain house in which he was born: his person was undistinguished with robes, chains of gold, or retinue. When Saul met the venerable plain old man, he asked for the seer's house, little expecting the answer, “I am the seer.” He at once proved his character to the tall and wondering stranger, by inviting him to the sacrifice, and by telling him his errand, and the secrets of his heart. Hence we learn, that holy men, whose minds are filled with the love of God and his truth, are not delighted with the exterior decorations of dress and equipage: they shun alike the distinctions of meanness and pride.

Farther observe, how much this good man had the hearts of the people at Ramah: they made a feast of peace-offerings on his return. Every family revered him as its father; nor would they taste the sacrifice till he had blessed the food. Happy is that feast where meats and drinks constitute the smallest part of the cheer. Happy is that feast where hymns, prayer, and enlightened conversation, delight the assembly. This is, “the feast of reason and the flow of soul,” hallowed to religion. Then the guests separate hoping to meet again, and live for ever in the presence of God. Here Saul made a good beginning. He found in Samuel more than a mentor; and had the pupil been worthy of his master, all had been happy.

See lastly, the effects of grace. Though Saul was the tallest and one of the most comely men in Israel; yet when Samuel plainly told him how God had pointed him out as the king, and captain general of his people, he said that he was of Benjamin the youngest tribe, and destitute of regal claims; and that his family was the least of all his tribe. David also, blushing at the largeness of grace, said, Lord, what am I, or what is my father's house, that thou art mindful of me? So the centurion was quite overcome with humiliations, when Christ offered to go to his house. St. Paul, viewing his call to the ministry, and all the grace which followed, exclaimed, I am less than the least of all saints. Fine sentiments, and grateful to God. Let every public character learn hence, to retain those sentiments to the end of life. Let him spread his roots of humility in proportion as providence exalts his head, and spreads his branches. Yea, let him charge his soul to do this; otherwise all his laurels will fade on the mountains of Gilboa.

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.