1 Samuel 9:14

14 And they went up into the city. And when they went into the midst of the city, Samuel appeared going out against them, that he should go up into the high place (Samuel appeared coming out toward them, as he went on his way up to the hill shrine).

1 Samuel 9:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 9:14

And they went up into the city
Saul and his servant went up the hill to the city of Ramah: and

when they were come into the city;
were within it, within the walls of it;

behold, Samuel came out against them;
came out of a door of his house upon them, just as they came up: or "to meet them" F9; his way to the high place lay where they were coming; unless it can be thought he went out purposely to meet them, having, as in the following verse, an intimation, that about that time one from the tribe of Benjamin, who should be king, would come to him, and so made this his way, knowing that one coming from that tribe must come that way; but it seems most likely that this was his readiest way:

for to go up to the high place;
or place of sitting down, or feasting, as the Targum, (See Gill on 1 Samuel 9:12).


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (Mtarql) "in occursum eorum", Pagninus, Montanus; "eis obviam", V. L. Tigurine version.

1 Samuel 9:14 In-Context

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.
14 And they went up into the city. And when they went into the midst of the city, Samuel appeared going out against them, that he should go up into the high place (Samuel appeared coming out toward them, as he went on his way up to the hill shrine).
15 And the day before that Saul came, the Lord (had) made (a) revelation in the ear of Samuel, and said,
16 In this same hour which is now, tomorrow, I shall send to thee a man of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him duke upon my people Israel (and thou shalt anoint him the ruler over my people Israel), and he shall save my people from the hand(s) of (the) Philistines; for I have beheld my people, forsooth their cry hath come to me.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.