CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Samuel 9
Chapter 9 of 31
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Samuel 9
A tall, handsome young man named Saul goes looking for his father's lost donkeys and ends up meeting the prophet Samuel. God has already told Samuel that Saul is the one who will be king over Israel.
Scripture
1 Samuel 9
Saul Searches for His Father's Donkeys
Study note
Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. His father Kish was a wealthy and respected man. Saul himself was remarkably tall and handsome, head and shoulders above everyone else. When his father's donkeys wandered off, Kish sent Saul with a servant to find them. They searched through several regions without success, and Saul was ready to give up and go home.
1 There was a man in the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. His family line went back through Abiel, Zeror, Becorath, and Aphiah. He was a respected and wealthy man. 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.
2 Kish had a son named Saul. He was a striking young man, the most handsome person in all of Israel. He stood head and shoulders above everyone else. 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 One day some donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish wandered off and got lost. Kish told Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go find the donkeys." 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 Saul and the servant searched all through the hill country of Ephraim and the region of Shalisha without any luck. They went through the region of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. They searched through the whole territory of Benjamin and still came up empty. 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 When they reached the region of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, "Let us go home. My father is probably done worrying about the donkeys by now and has started worrying about us instead." 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.
Saul Decides to Visit the Prophet
Study note
The servant suggested they visit a 'man of God' in a nearby town, a prophet whose predictions always came true. This was Samuel. The text explains that in earlier times, prophets were called 'seers' because they could see what others could not. Saul worried they had no gift to bring, but the servant had a small piece of silver. They arrived at the town just as Samuel was heading up to a high place for a sacrifice and feast.
6 But the servant had an idea. He said, "Hold on. There is a man of God living in this town. People truly respect him because everything he says turns out to be true. Let us go talk to him. Maybe he can point us in the right direction." 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 Saul hesitated. "If we go see him, what do we have to offer? Our bread is all gone. We do not have any gift to bring the man of God. What can we give him?" 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?
8 The servant reached into his pocket and said, "Look, I happen to have a small piece of silver right here. I will give it to the man of God, and he can tell us which way to go." 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.
9 (A quick note: in the old days in Israel, when people wanted to hear from God, they would say, "Let us go talk to the seer." The person we now call a prophet used to be known as a seer.) (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire 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 Saul agreed, "That is a good plan. Let us go." So they headed toward the town where the man of God lived. Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11 While they were climbing the hill toward town, they ran into some young women coming out to draw water. Saul and his servant asked them, "Is the seer around?" 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?
12 The women said, "Yes, he is! He is just up ahead. You need to hurry because he just got to town today. There is a sacrifice happening at the high place." 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:
13 "If you go into the town right now, you will catch him before he heads up to the high place for the meal. Nobody starts eating until he arrives because he is the one who blesses the food. After that, the guests eat. So go quickly and you will find him right away." 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.
14 Saul and his servant headed into the town. Right as they walked through the entrance, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place. 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.
God Reveals Saul to Samuel
Study note
The day before Saul arrived, God had privately told Samuel that he would send a man from the tribe of Benjamin to be anointed as ruler over Israel. When Samuel saw Saul, God said, 'This is the man I told you about. He will lead my people.' Samuel surprised Saul by telling him not to worry about the donkeys because they had been found, and then hinted at Saul's special destiny. Saul was confused and humble, pointing out that he came from the smallest tribe and the least important family.
15 The day before Saul appeared, the Lord had privately tipped off Samuel about what was coming. Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 God told him, "Right around this time tomorrow, I am going to send you a man from the tribe of Benjamin. I want you to anoint him as the leader of my people Israel. He is going to rescue my people from the Philistines. I have seen how much my people are suffering, and their cries for help have reached me." 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 The moment Samuel laid eyes on Saul, the Lord spoke to him: "That is the man I was telling you about. He is the one who will govern my people." 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 Saul walked right up to Samuel at the town gate and asked, "Excuse me, could you tell me where the seer's house is?" Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
19 Samuel said, "I am the seer. Come with me up to the high place. You are going to have dinner with me today. In the morning, I will send you on your way, but first I will tell you everything that is weighing on your mind." 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 about those donkeys that wandered off three days ago, stop worrying about them. They have already been found. Besides, who is it that all of Israel is looking for with excitement? Is it not you and your whole family?" 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?
21 Saul was shocked. He said, "What? I am from Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel! And my family is the least important family in the entire tribe! Why would you say something like that to me?" 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?
Samuel Honors Saul at the Feast
Study note
Samuel brought Saul and his servant to the feast and gave them the most honored seat among about thirty guests. Samuel had set aside the best portion of meat especially for Saul. After the feast, Samuel spoke privately with Saul on the rooftop. The next morning, Samuel sent the servant ahead so he could speak to Saul alone and share God's message with him.
22 Samuel brought Saul and his helper into the dining hall. He gave them the best seats at the head of the table. About thirty guests were there. 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 Samuel said to the cook, "Bring out that special cut of meat I told you to set aside." And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24 The cook brought out the leg and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, "This piece was saved just for you. It was set apart for this very occasion. Enjoy your meal." So Saul had dinner with Samuel that day. 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 After they came down from the high place back into town, Samuel had a long talk with Saul up on the roof of his house. And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26 They were up early the next morning. As the sun was just coming up, Samuel called out to Saul on the roof, "Time to get going! Let me see you off." Saul got up, and the two of them walked outside together. 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 As they neared the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell your servant to walk on ahead." After the servant went on, Samuel said, "Wait here a moment. I have a message from God for you." 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.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Samuel 9
God's sovereign direction of ordinary eventsOutward appearance versus divine selectionThe intersection of human searching and divine purposeGod preparing leaders before they know their calling
Apply This Today
Living 1 Samuel 9
Saul went looking for donkeys and found a kingdom. God often works through the ordinary, mundane events of life to direct us toward His purposes. We may not recognize a divine appointment while it is happening. Staying faithful in small tasks and daily responsibilities positions us to receive what God has been preparing.
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