1 Samuel 9:15-27

God's Choice for King

15 Now a day before Saul's coming, ¹the LORD had revealed * this to Samuel saying,

16 "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and ²you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For ³I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me."

17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "⁴Behold, 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 "⁵As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And ⁶for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's household?"

21 Saul replied, "⁷Am I not a Benjamite, of ⁸the 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.

23 Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion that I gave you, concerning which I said to you, 'Set it aside.' "

24 Then the cook ⁹took up the leg with what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, "Here is what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, since I said I have invited the people." So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul ¹⁰on the roof.

26 And they arose early; and at daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, "Get up, that I may send you away." So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Say to the servant that he might go ahead of us and pass on, but you remain standing now, that I may proclaim the word of God to you."

1 Samuel 9:15-27 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

• 1. 1 Samuel 15:1; Acts 13:21
• 2. 1 Samuel 10:1
• 3. Exodus 3:7, 9
• 4. 1 Samuel 16:12
• 5. 1 Samuel 9:3
• 6. 1 Samuel 8:5; 1 Samuel 12:13
• 7. 1 Samuel 15:17
• 8. Judges 20:46-48
• 9. Exodus 29:22, 27; Leviticus 7:32, 33; Numbers 18:18
• 10. Deuteronomy 22:8; Luke 5:19; Acts 10:9

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "uncovered the ear"
• [b]. Lit "answered"
• [c]. So some ancient versions; Heb "tribes"
• [d]. Lit "Give"
• [e]. Lit "with you"
• [f]. Lit "saying"
• [g]. Gr adds "and they spread a bed for Saul on the roof and he slept"