Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 9

Introduction

Overview

1 Samuel 9:1, Saul despairing to find his father’s asses, 1 Samuel 9:6, by the counsel of his servant, 1 Samuel 9:11, and direction of young maidens, 1 Samuel 9:15, according to God’s revelation, 1 Samuel 9:18, comes to Samuel; 1 Samuel 9:19, Samuel entertains Saul at the feast; 1 Samuel 9:25, Samuel, after secret communication, brings Saul on his way.

Verse 1

Kish: 1 Samuel 14:51, 1 Chronicles 8:30-33, 1 Chronicles 9:36-39, Acts 13:21, Cis

a Benjamite: or, the son of a man of Jemini

power: or, substance. 1 Samuel 25:2, 2 Samuel 19:32, Job 1:3

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 11:5 - after the herd 1 Samuel 26:5 - Abner 2 Samuel 9:9 - I have given 1 Chronicles 8:33 - Ner Esther 2:5 - the son of Shimei

Verse 2

choice: 1 Samuel 16:7, Genesis 6:2, 2 Samuel 14:25, 2 Samuel 14:26, Jeremiah 9:23

from his shoulders: 1 Samuel 10:23, 1 Samuel 17:4, Numbers 13:33

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 1:6 - very Psalms 119:96 - I have seen Acts 13:21 - Cis

Verse 3

1 Samuel 10:2, Judges 5:10, Judges 10:4

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 9:20 - three days ago 1 Samuel 10:14 - And he said

Verse 4

mount: Judges 17:1, Judges 19:1

Shalisha: 2 Kings 4:42

Shalim: Genesis 33:18, John 3:23

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 2:27 - a man 1 Kings 11:12 - for David

Verse 5

Zuph: 1 Samuel 1:1

take thought: 1 Samuel 10:2, Matthew 6:25, Matthew 6:28, Matthew 6:34, Luke 12:11, Luke 12:22

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 11:12 - for David

Verse 6

city: 1 Samuel 2:27, Deuteronomy 33:1, 1 Kings 13:1, 2 Kings 6:6, 1 Timothy 6:11

an honourable: 1 Thessalonians 2:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:13

all that he saith: 1 Samuel 3:19, 1 Samuel 3:20, Isaiah 44:26, Zechariah 1:5, Zechariah 1:6, Matthew 24:35

Reciprocal: Judges 13:6 - A man Isaiah 9:15 - ancient Jeremiah 35:4 - a man

Verse 7

what shall: Judges 6:18, Judges 13:15-17, 1 Kings 14:3, 2 Kings 4:42, 2 Kings 5:5, 2 Kings 8:8

spent in: Heb. gone out of, etc

there is not: We are not to suppose from this that the prophets took money to predict future events: Saul only refers to an invariable custom, that no man approached a superior without some present or another, however small in value. Dr. Pococke tells us of a present of fifty radishes! Other authors mention a flower, an orange, or similar trifles; and Mr. Bruce says, that one who wished to solicit a favour from him, presented him with about a score of dates! "I mention this trifling circumstance," says Mr. B. "to shew how essential to human and civil intercourse presents are considered to be in the East; whether it be dates, or whether it be diamonds, they are so much a part of their manners, that without them, an inferior will never be at peace in his own mind, or think that he has hold of his superior for protection. But superiors give no presents to their inferiors." Presents then are tokens of honour; not intended as offers of payment or enrichment.

have we: Heb. is with us

Reciprocal: Genesis 43:11 - carry down Exodus 34:20 - none Numbers 22:7 - rewards of divination Deuteronomy 33:1 - the man 1 Kings 13:7 - I will give Matthew 10:10 - scrip

Verse 8

I have here at hand: Heb. there is found in my hand, 1 Samuel 9:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:20 - none Numbers 22:7 - rewards of divination 1 Kings 13:7 - I will give 1 Kings 14:3 - And take 2 Kings 5:5 - and took

Verse 9

inquire: Genesis 25:22, Judges 1:1

a Seer: 2 Samuel 24:11, 2 Kings 17:13, 1 Chronicles 26:28, 1 Chronicles 29:29, 2 Chronicles 16:7, 2 Chronicles 16:10, Isaiah 29:10, Isaiah 30:10, Amos 7:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 15:1 - in 2 Samuel 15:27 - a seer 1 Kings 22:17 - I saw 1 Chronicles 9:22 - Samuel 1 Chronicles 21:9 - Gad 1 Chronicles 25:5 - the king's seer 2 Chronicles 19:2 - the seer 2 Chronicles 33:18 - the seers 2 Chronicles 34:21 - inquire Jeremiah 24:3 - What Micah 3:7 - the seers 1 Corinthians 12:17 - General

Verse 10

Well said: Heb. Thy word is good, 2 Kings 5:13, 2 Kings 5:14

Verse 11

the hill to the city: Heb. in the ascent of the city, found. Genesis 24:11, Genesis 24:18-20, Exodus 2:16, Judges 5:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:13 - daughters Proverbs 24:15 - Lay

Verse 12

sacrifice: or, feast, 1 Samuel 16:2, Genesis 31:54, Deuteronomy 12:6, Deuteronomy 12:7, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 5:8

the high place: 1 Kings 3:2-4, 1 Chronicles 16:39

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 7:9 - a sucking 1 Samuel 16:3 - call Jesse 1 Samuel 20:6 - sacrifice 1 Corinthians 10:18 - are

Verse 13

he doth bless: Matthew 26:26, Mark 6:41, Luke 24:30, John 6:11, John 6:23, 1 Corinthians 10:30, 1 Timothy 4:4

this time: Heb. to-day

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 9:25 - And when 1 Samuel 16:3 - call Jesse 2 Samuel 15:11 - called Ezekiel 39:17 - Speak Matthew 14:19 - he blessed Matthew 15:36 - and gave thanks Matthew 22:3 - that Mark 8:6 - gave thanks Luke 22:17 - gave Acts 27:35 - and gave 1 Corinthians 10:18 - are 1 Timothy 4:3 - with

Verse 15

the Lord: 1 Samuel 9:17, 1 Samuel 15:1, Psalms 25:14, Amos 3:7, Mark 11:2-4, Mark 14:13-16, Acts 13:21, Acts 27:23

told Samuel in his ear: Heb. revealed the ear of Samuel, 1 Samuel 20:2, 2 Samuel 7:27, Job 33:16, *marg.

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 17:15 - whom 1 Chronicles 17:25 - told thy servant Isaiah 22:14 - it was Ezekiel 9:5 - hearing

Verse 16

thou shalt: 1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 15:1, 1 Samuel 16:3, 1 Kings 19:15, 1 Kings 19:16, 2 Kings 9:3-6

looked upon: Exodus 2:23-25, Exodus 3:7-9, Psalms 25:18, Psalms 106:44

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 26:7 - looked 1 Samuel 5:12 - the cry 1 Samuel 13:14 - captain over 1 Samuel 16:1 - horn with oil 1 Samuel 22:2 - a captain 2 Samuel 5:2 - a captain 2 Samuel 7:8 - ruler 2 Samuel 21:6 - whom the Lord did choose 2 Kings 20:5 - the captain Psalms 102:1 - let my Jeremiah 14:2 - the cry Jeremiah 32:8 - Then I

Verse 17

Behold: 1 Samuel 16:6-12, Hosea 13:11

reign over: Heb. restrain in, 1 Samuel 3:13, 2 Samuel 23:6, 2 Samuel 23:7, Nehemiah 13:19, Nehemiah 13:25, Acts 13:21, Romans 13:3, Romans 13:4

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 9:15 - the Lord 1 Samuel 16:12 - And the Lord 2 Samuel 21:6 - whom the Lord did choose Proverbs 8:15 - By Jeremiah 32:8 - Then I

Verse 19

the seer: The word roaih literally signifies one 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. All prophets, true or false, profess to see God - see Numbers 24:4, Numbers 24:16. Jeremiah 14:4, and diviners, in their enthusiastic flights, boasted that they had those things exhibited to their sight which should come to pass.

and will tell: John 4:29, 1 Corinthians 14:25

Verse 20

three days ago: Heb. to-day three days, 1 Samuel 9:3

set not: 1 Samuel 4:20, *marg. 1 Chronicles 29:3, Psalms 62:10, Colossians 3:2

on whom: 1 Samuel 8:5, 1 Samuel 8:19, 1 Samuel 12:13, 1 Samuel 12:15

Reciprocal: Proverbs 25:6 - in the presence Luke 1:29 - what

Verse 21

a Benjamite: Judges 20:46-48, Psalms 68:27

my family: 1 Samuel 10:27, 1 Samuel 15:17, 1 Samuel 18:18, 1 Samuel 18:23, Judges 6:14, Judges 6:15, Hosea 13:1, Luke 14:11, Ephesians 3:8

so to me: Heb. according to this word

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 10:22 - hid 1 Samuel 14:51 - Kish 2 Samuel 7:18 - Who am I 1 Chronicles 17:16 - what is Luke 1:29 - what

Verse 22

in the chiefest: Genesis 43:32, Luke 14:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 43:34 - was five times

Verse 23

Bring: 1 Samuel 1:5, Genesis 43:34

Reciprocal: Psalms 11:6 - portion

Verse 24

the shoulder: Probably the shoulder was 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. - See note on Isaiah 9:6. Leviticus 7:32, Leviticus 7:33, Ezekiel 24:4

left: or, reserved

Verse 25

And when: 1 Samuel 9:13

the top: Deuteronomy 22:8, 2 Samuel 11:2, Nehemiah 8:16, Jeremiah 19:13, Matthew 10:27, Acts 10:9

Verse 26

Samuel: Saul had no doubt slept there all night, as is usual in the East; and now, being the break of day, "Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house:" there was no calling him to the top of the house a second time; he was sleeping there, and Samuel called him up.

Up: Genesis 19:14, Genesis 44:4, Joshua 7:13, Judges 19:28

Reciprocal: Judges 4:14 - Up 1 Samuel 1:19 - they rose 1 Kings 11:21 - Let me depart

Verse 27

Bid the servant: 1 Samuel 20:38, 1 Samuel 20:39, John 15:14, John 15:15

a while: Heb. to-day

that I may: 1 Samuel 15:16, 2 Kings 9:5, 2 Kings 9:6

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 10:16 - matter