Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 9

Verse 1

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Kish. Compare 1 Samuel 14:51 . 1 Chronicles 8:33 ; 1 Chronicles 9:39 . For the difficulties of the genealogy, see note on 1 Chronicles 8:33 .

a Benjamite . As was Saul of Tarsus (Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:5 ).

mighty man . Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .

Verse 2

Saul . Many points of resemblance and contrast with Saul of Tarsus.

Name = Asked for: i.e. by man.

children = sons.

Verse 3

lost . Contrast David, who had charge of his father's "sheep", and " kept them "(1 Samuel 16:11 ); with Saul, who lost his father's "asses" (1 Samuel 9:3 ).

servants = young men. Tradition says "Doeg". Compare 1 Samuel 21:7 .

Verse 4

he . Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate, read "they", as in 1 Samuel 9:6 .

mount = the hill country of.

take thought = be anxious. Compare Matthew 6:25 , Matthew 6:27 , Matthew 6:28 , Matthew 6:31 , Matthew 6:34 .

Verse 6

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

man of God = God's man: i.e. a prophet, because God's spokesman. See App-49 . (Hebrew. 'ish and Elohim)

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . Literally "the God".

Verse 7

present . Hebrew. teshurah. Occurs only here. It is from shur, to behold. Hence, that which procures and secures an interview, or sight of the person sought.

Verse 8

shekel. See App-51 .

that will I give . Septuagint reads "which thou canst give".

Verse 9

Beforetime . Note the parenthesis.

seer . Hebrew. ro'eh = a seer of visions. Another name for seer was chozeh, which referred rather to spiritual apprehension of what was seen. In 1 Chronicles 29:29 all three words occur in the same verse.

Prophet. Hebrew. nab'i = one who spoke for or was moved by God.

Verse 10

let. Some codices, with one early printed edition, and Septuagint, read "and let".

Verse 11

up the hill = by the ascent of.

Verse 12

of = by. Genitive of Instrument. See App-17 .

the high place . In Numbers 21:19 = Bamoth-Baal. Shiloh was now forsaken. No "place" within the meaning of Deuteronomy 12:0 . Compare 1 Samuel 7:10 , 1 Samuel 7:17 .

Verse 14

out against = opposite, so as to meet them.

Verse 15

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

told Samuel in his ear = opened or uncovered the ear of Samuel.

a = one.

Verse 16

captain = leader.

My people . Aramaean and Syriac read "the oppression". In that case the Figure of speech Ellipsis should be supplied after it, "of My People" being implied.

Verse 17

reign = control, restrain, or rule.

Verse 18

in the gate . Hebrew "in the midst of the gate": i.e. the open place near the gate where judgment was given.

Verse 20

mind. Hebrew "heart " = "do not regard them".

Verse 21

Am not I . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

the smallest . Very true, since the events recorded in Judges 20:35 .

so to me = according to this word.

Verse 24

left! = reserved.

Verse 27

the word of God. First occurrence of this expression. "Word of Jehovah "frequent from Genesis 15:1 .

God = Elohim . App-4 . Creation relationship.