1 Samuel 9:11

11 cumque ascenderent clivum civitatis invenerunt puellas egredientes ad hauriendam aquam et dixerunt eis num hic est videns

1 Samuel 9:11 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 9:11

And as they went up the hill to the city
For the city was built upon an hill, from whence it had the name of Ramah, which signifies high and lifted up:

they found young maidens going out to draw water:
going out of the city, to a fountain which was at the bottom of the hill; and this was the usual business of maidens in those countries to fetch water for the service of the family, (See Gill on Genesis 24:11), (See Gill on Genesis 24:15), (See Gill on Genesis 24:16). R. Akiba ^F5 makes this observation, that whenever a man meets maidens coming out of a city before he goes into it, it is a token of prosperity to him; and instances in the cases of Abraham's servant, of Jacob, and of Moses, and here of Saul, who was informed of a kingdom, and anointed for it, see ( Genesis 24:14 Genesis 24:21 ) ( Genesis 29:10 Genesis 29:11 ) ( Exodus 2:16 ) ,

and said unto them, is the seer here?
meaning, is he in the city? or is he at home? or is he in the country?

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 In Pirke Eliezer, c. 36. fol. 39. 1. 2.

1 Samuel 9:11 In-Context

9 olim in Israhel sic loquebatur unusquisque vadens consulere Deum venite et eamus ad videntem qui enim propheta dicitur hodie vocabatur olim videns

10 et dixit Saul ad puerum suum optimus sermo tuus veni eamus et ierunt in civitatem in qua erat vir Dei

11 cumque ascenderent clivum civitatis invenerunt puellas egredientes ad hauriendam aquam et dixerunt eis num hic est videns

12 quae respondentes dixerunt illis hic est ecce ante te festina nunc hodie enim venit in civitate quia sacrificium est hodie populo in excelso

13 ingredientes urbem statim invenietis eum antequam ascendat excelsum ad vescendum neque enim comesurus est populus donec ille veniat quia ipse benedicit hostiae et deinceps comedunt qui vocati sunt nunc ergo conscendite quia hodie repperietis eum