1 Samuel 9:11

11 And when they went up into the highness of the city, they found damsels going out to draw water, and they said to the damsels, Whether the seer is here? (Is the seer here?)

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 Sometime in Israel each man going to counsel with God spake thus, Come ye, and go we to the seer; for he, that is said now a prophet, was called sometime a seer (for he, who now is called a prophet, before was called a seer).

10 And Saul said to his servant, Thy word is the best; come thou, go we. And they went into the city, in which the man of God was (And they went to the city, where the man of God was).

11 And when they went up into the highness of the city, they found damsels going out to draw water, and they said to the damsels, Whether the seer is here? (Is the seer here?)

12 And the damsels answered, and said to them, He is here; lo! he is before thee; haste thou now, for today he came into the city; for today is sacrifice of the people in the high place. (And the young women answered, and said to them, He is here; lo! he is ahead of thee; haste thou now, for he came into the city today; for there is a sacrifice by all the people at the hill shrine today.)

13 Ye shall enter into the city, and at once ye shall find him, before that he ascend into the high place to eat; for the people shall not eat till he come, for he shall (first) bless the sacrifice, and afterward they shall eat that be called (and then afterward they who be called shall eat). Now therefore go ye up, for today ye shall find him.