Shmuel Alef 9:5

5 And when they were come to Eretz Tzuph, Sha’ul said to his na’ar that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest Avi stop caring for the donkeys, and become concerned for us.

Shmuel Alef 9:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 9:5

And when they were come to the land of Zuph
In which was Ramathaimzophim, the native place of Samuel, ( 1 Samuel 1:1 ) and so the Targum here,

``the land in which was the prophet''

Saul said to the servant that was with him, come, and let us return;
home, despairing of finding the asses after so long a search in divers places:

lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us;
fearing some evil should have befallen his son and his servant, in comparison of whom, and especially his son, the asses would be of no account, and so give himself no concern for them, but be in great care and uneasiness for his son and servant; wherefore Saul thought it most advisable to return home as soon as possible, lest his father should be overwhelmed with grief and trouble.

Shmuel Alef 9:5 In-Context

3 And the donkeys of Kish Avi Sha’ul were lost. And Kish said to Sha’ul bno, Take now one of the ne’arim with thee, and arise, go look for the donkeys.

4 And he passed through har Ephrayim, and passed through Eretz Shalisha, but they found them not; then they passed through Eretz Sha’alim, and they were not there; and he passed through the territory of Binyamin, but they found them not.

5 And when they were come to Eretz Tzuph, Sha’ul said to his na’ar that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest Avi stop caring for the donkeys, and become concerned for us.

6 And he said unto him, Hinei now, there is in this town an Ish Elohim, an ish nikhbad (an honorable man); all that he saith cometh surely to pass; now let us go there; perhaps he can show us darkeinu (our way) that we should go.

7 Then said Sha’ul to his na’ar, But, hinei, if we go, what shall we bring the Ish? For the lechem is all gone in our vessels, and there is not a teshurah (gift) for the Ish HaElohim: what have we?