1 Samuel 9:11-17

11 As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?”
12 “He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place.
13 As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.”
14 They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.
15 Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel:
16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.”
17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”

1 Samuel 9:11-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 9

This chapter gives an account of Saul, the person the Lord had appointed to be king of Israel; it relates his descent, and describes his person, 1Sa 9:1,2 and how seeking his father's asses, which were lost, he providentially came to the place where Samuel dwelt, 1Sa 9:3-5 and being advised by his servant, and approving of his advice, he concluded to go to him, and inquire the way he should go, 1Sa 9:6-10 and being directed by some young maidens, they found him presently in the street going to a feast, 1Sa 9:11-14 and Samuel having some previous notice from the Lord of such a person's coming to him that day, when he met him invited him to dine with him, and obliged him to stay with him that day, 1Sa 9:15-19 satisfied him about his asses, and gave him a hint of the grandeur he was to be raised to, to which Saul made a modest reply, 1Sa 9:20,21 and Samuel treated him at the feast in a very respectable manner, 1Sa 9:22-24 and privately communed with him of things preparatory to what he was about to make known unto him, 1Sa 9:25-27.

Cross References 10

  • 1. S Genesis 24:11,13
  • 2. Numbers 28:11-15; S 1 Samuel 7:17
  • 3. S Leviticus 26:30; Genesis 31:54; 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Kings 3:2
  • 4. S Matthew 14:19; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Timothy 4:3-5
  • 5. Exodus 30:25; S 1 Samuel 2:35; 1 Samuel 12:3; 1 Samuel 15:1; 1 Samuel 26:9; 2 Kings 11:12; Psalms 2:2; 1 Samuel 10:1
  • 6. 2 Samuel 7:8; 1 Kings 8:16; 1 Chronicles 5:2
  • 7. Exodus 3:7-9
  • 8. 1 Samuel 23:4; 2 Samuel 3:18
  • 9. S Genesis 16:11; Psalms 102:1
  • 10. 1 Samuel 16:12
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