1Samuel 9:1 ¶ 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 mighty man of power.
1Samuel 9:2 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.
As this chapter opens, we are introduced to Saul, the future king of Israel. He is identified as descended from Benjamin, through Aphiah, Bechorath, Zeror and Abiel through his father Kish. Kish was evidently a man of great influence in the tribe of Benjamin.
Saul is described as a beautiful and kind young man (from the Hebrew) without equal among the children of Israel. He was also taller than anyone else. In other words, he sounds like the obvious choice for king.
1Samuel 9:3 ¶ 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.
1Samuel 9:4 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.
1Samuel 9:5 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.
Some donkeys belonging to Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off, so he sent Saul with one of his servants to go and find them. They traveled throughout the hill country of Ephraim and the lands of Shalisha and Shalim and the territory of Benjamin but still could not find them. When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul told his servant that they needed to go back home before his father started worrying about them more than about the donkeys.
The lost donkeys are an example of how God often, but not always, uses the normal circumstances of life to bring about His will in our lives. I liked Guzik’s observation on this section: “There are two mistakes people make regarding God's guidance through circumstances. One mistake is to think every event of life is heavy with meaning from God. This is wrong, because though nothing happens by accident, not everything happens for a great purpose. The second mistake is to ignore the moving of God in our lives through circumstances. God wanted to use this situation to guide Saul, and God will often use circumstances in our lives the same way. We need to trust in God's goodness and in His ability to make all things work together for good (Romans 8:28).”
1Samuel 9:6 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.
The servant told Saul that there was a man of God in the city that might be able to help them. He was known as an honorable man who always spoke the truth.
1Samuel 9:7 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?
1Samuel 9:8 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.
Saul was willing to go see the man of God, but he was concerned that they had no gift to offer him for his help. The servant told Saul that he had a fourth shekel of silver to offer him for his assistance in directing them.
The IVP Old Testament Commentary offers this insight: “A quarter of a shekel of silver would have been the equivalent of a week or so of wages for the ordinary working man. This would be appropriate considering the value of the donkeys that had been lost.”
1Samuel 9:9 (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.)
This verse provides a parenthetical note. It is basically informing us that those known as Prophets (at the time this record was written) were formerly known as Seers.
1Samuel 9:10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
1Samuel 9:11 ¶ 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?
1Samuel 9:12 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 sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
1Samuel 9:13 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 time ye shall find him.
Saul liked the servant’s suggestion, so they went into the city to find the man of God. As they went up the hill to the city, they encountered some girls that were headed to the well to draw water and asked them if the seer was there. They answered that he was and told them that if they hurried, they could find him before the sacrifice that was scheduled to take place in the high place that day. They should find him right away before he went to eat at the high place because the people would not eat until he came to bless the sacrifice. After the sacrifice, there would be a meal for all that were invited.
1Samuel 9:14 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.
1Samuel 9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
1Samuel 9:16 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.
1Samuel 9:17 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.
Saul and his servant went up into the city and encountered Samuel coming toward them headed toward the high place. The LORD had told Samuel the day before that He would send a man from the land of Benjamin that he was to anoint as captain over the people of Israel. He had been chosen to deliver the people from the Philistines because the LORD had heard the cries of distress. Saul’s anointing represented the fact that God would be with him.
When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him that this was the man that would reign over His people.
It is always so amazing to me to hear the LORD continue to identify the people of Israel as His people in spite of their continual rebellion against Him.
1Samuel 9:18 ¶ Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.
1Samuel 9:19 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.
1Samuel 9:20 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?
Saul approached Samuel and asked him where to find the seer’s house, and Samuel told him that he was the seer. Samuel asked Saul to go with him to the high place and invited him to the meal that followed the sacrifice. He then told Saul that he would help him the next day. His next statement must have amazed Saul. He told him that his donkeys that had been lost for the last three days had been found.
Samuel then asked Saul two questions that he readily understood though the meaning to us might not be quite as clear at first.
“On whom is all the desire of Israel?”
“Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?”
Saul knew that Samuel was telling him that he was meant to be the king as shown by his answer in the next verse.
1Samuel 9:21 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 so to me?
Saul pointed out that he was of the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel; and his family was least important of all others in the tribe. (Seems that this was a bit of false humility in light of verse 1.) How could Samuel possibly make such a statement to him in light of those facts?
I am reminded that the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out (as recorded in Judges 19-21), so that is why they were the smallest tribe.
1Samuel 9:22 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.
1Samuel 9:23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
1Samuel 9:24 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.
It seems that Samuel didn’t really answer him right away. He took Saul and his servant into the room in which the feast was being held and had them sit with 30 of those considered to be the most important guests. Samuel then told the cook to bring Saul the shoulder portion that he had told him to set aside. Samuel told Saul that this portion had been reserved for him since inviting people to the meal. Then they ate their meal.
1Samuel 9:25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
1Samuel 9:26 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.
1Samuel 9:27 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, that I may shew thee the word of God.
When they came down from the feast, Samuel and Saul had a talk on the roof of the house. Samuel woke Saul up at daybreak and told him to get up so he could send him on his way. Saul (and his servant) got up and Samuel headed out with them. As they got to the edge of the city, Samuel asked Saul to tell his servant to go on ahead while he talked to Saul. He wanted to tell Saul privately what God had told him.
1Samuel 10:1 ¶ Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
Continuing narrative from the last chapter…
Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him declaring that the LORD had anointed him as the leader of His people. Samuel’s kiss was an acknowledgement of God’s choice and a sign of respect toward Saul as that choice.
Because I know Saul’s future as revealed in scripture, I can say: If only Saul had remembered that he was to serve the LORD God of Israel as his king and the people as God’s people.
1Samuel 10:2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
1Samuel 10:3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
1Samuel 10:4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
1Samuel 10:5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
1Samuel 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
Samuel then told Saul what would happen to him on his journey home. He would encounter two men by Rachel’s tomb (near Bethlehem, Genesis 35:19 “And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.”) on the border of Benjamin’s territory at Zelzah. These men would inform him that his donkeys had been found and that his father was really worried about what might have happened to Saul.
As he continued on his way and got to the plain of Tabor, he would meet three men on their way to worship God in Bethel. One of the men would be carrying three young goats, one carrying three loaves of bread and another carrying wine. The men would greet him as a friend and give him two of the loaves of bread.
When Saul got to the hill of God where a garrison of Philistines was encamped, he would meet a company of prophets as he entered the city. Clarke provides this note on “the hill of God”: “The Targum says, "The hill on which the ark of the Lord was.” We know that the ark was located at the home of Abinadab in Kirjathjearim. Note: The Targum is the Aramaic Jewish translation of the scripture.
Samuel said that the prophets would be coming down from the high place, the place of worship, playing musical instruments and prophesying. The Spirit of the LORD would come upon him at that time, and he would begin to prophesy with them. This would result in Saul becoming a different man.
This last part made me think of how the Holy Spirit indwells the believer who has been born again to new life.
1Samuel 10:7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
1Samuel 10:8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
Samuel told Saul that when all these things came to pass, he was to act according to what he thought best and God would be with him—essentially, would empower and strengthen him. Saul was to go to Gilgal and wait for Samuel to come and offer burnt offerings and peace offerings on his behalf. He was to wait seven days for Samuel to come and tell him what to do.
1Samuel 10:9 ¶ And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
1Samuel 10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
Saul left Samuel and all came to pass exactly as he had foretold. It sounds like God changed his heart right after he left Samuel and before the Spirit came over him. After encountering the prophets and experiencing the Spirit of God come upon him, he prophesied.
1Samuel 10:11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
1Samuel 10:12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
1Samuel 10:13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
Those who knew Saul and saw him prophesying among the prophets wondered what had come over the son of Kish. They wondered if he was also prophet—unlikely, seems to be implied.
The CJB helps a little with verse 12: Someone in the crowd answered, “Must prophets’ fathers be special?” So it became an expression — “Is Sha’ul a prophet, too?”
When Saul had finished prophesying, he came to the place of worship.
1Samuel 10:14 And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.
1Samuel 10:15 And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.
1Samuel 10:16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
Evidently, Saul’s uncle was there; and he asked Saul where he had been. Saul told him that he had gone to find the donkeys and had sought Samuel’s help when they couldn’t find them. His uncle wanted to know what Samuel had told him. Saul replied that Samuel had told him that the donkeys had been found but told him nothing else.
1Samuel 10:17 ¶ And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
1Samuel 10:18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
1Samuel 10:19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
Samuel called all the people of Israel to assemble at Mizpeh. They must have been anticipating this call after their last meeting with him.
Samuel gave them a message from the LORD God of Israel. God reminded them that He had delivered them from Egypt and other enemies that had oppressed them. Still they had chosen to reject “your God” as their king. In spite of all He had done for them, they insisted on having a human king.
After those words of rebuke, Samuel called for the tribes to present themselves before the LORD by thousands.
1Samuel 10:20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
1Samuel 10:21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
1Samuel 10:22 Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.
1Samuel 10:23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
After the tribes had been assembled, Samuel chose the tribe of Benjamin. When the tribe of Benjamin presented themselves by family, the family of Matri was chosen and Saul the son of Kish singled out; however, Saul could not be found. They sought the LORD’s guidance yet again, and He revealed that Saul had hidden himself among the “stuff,”—the Hebrew, “implements, utensils, vessels, weapons, etc.” There must have been a designated storage area identified by this direction, so they were able to quickly find him and bring him before Samuel. As he stood before them, he was neck and head taller than everyone else.
I can understand how the Urim and Thummim could be used or lots cast for yes and no answers. I would think He would had to have given Samuel a word of knowledge to reveal Saul’s hiding place.
1Samuel 10:24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
1Samuel 10:25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
Samuel announced to the people that the LORD had chosen Saul as their king pointing out that there was none like him among the people. The people shouted their approval saying, “May the king live” or “Long live the king.” (better translations from the Hebrew)
Samuel went on to explain to the people how the kingdom should function; he then wrote down those instructions on a scroll and “laid it up before the LORD.” This probably meant with or near the ark in the tabernacle.
I would assume his instructions included those given to Moses.
Deuteronomy 17:14–20 “When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.”
Samuel then sent everyone back home.
1Samuel 10:26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
1Samuel 10:27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
Saul returned home to Gibeah. He was joined by a group of men whose hearts God had touched to do so.
There was a group of ungodly, wicked men that did not approve the choice of Saul. They refused to honor him in any way. Saul held his tongue—implied, but noted who they were.