1 Samuel 9:12-22

12 They answered them and said, "He is; see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for ¹the people have a sacrifice on ²the high place today.

13 "As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because ³he must bless the sacrifice; afterward * those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up for you will find him at once."

14 So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.

God's Choice for King

15 Now a day before Saul's coming, ⁴the LORD had revealed * this to Samuel saying,

16 "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and ⁵you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For ⁶I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me."

17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "⁷Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people."

18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."

19 Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on your mind.

20 "⁸As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And ⁹for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's household?"

21 Saul replied, "¹⁰Am I not a Benjamite, of ¹¹the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?"

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men.

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1 Samuel 9:12-22 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 11

1. Genesis 31:54; Numbers 28:11-15; 1 Kings 3:2
2. 1 Samuel 7:17; 1 Samuel 10:5
3. Luke 9:16; John 6:11
4. 1 Samuel 15:1; Acts 13:21
5. 1 Samuel 10:1
6. Exodus 3:7, 9
7. 1 Samuel 16:12
8. 1 Samuel 9:3
9. 1 Samuel 8:5; 1 Samuel 12:13
10. 1 Samuel 15:17
11. Judges 20:46-48

Footnotes 4

[a]. Or "behold"
[b]. Lit "uncovered the ear"
[c]. Lit "answered"
[d]. So some ancient versions; Heb "tribes"