1 Samuel 9:16-17

16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, 1and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. 2For I have seen[a] my people, because their cry has come to me."
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, 3"Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people."

1 Samuel 9:16-17 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 3

  • 1. 1 Samuel 10:1
  • 2. Exodus 2:25; Exodus 3:7, 9
  • 3. [1 Samuel 16:12]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Septuagint adds the affliction of
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.