1 Samuel 9:21

21 Saul answered, "I belong to the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important one in the tribe. Why, then, do you talk like this to me?"

1 Samuel 9:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 9:21

And Saul answered and said, am not I a Benjamite
Or the son of Jemini, the name of one of his ancestors, see ( 1 Samuel 9:1 ) or rather, as the Targum, a son of the tribe of Benjamin:

of the smallest of the tribes of Israel?
having been greatly reduced, even to the number of six hundred men, by the fatal war between that tribe and the rest, on account of the Levite's concubine, and is called little Benjamin, ( Psalms 68:27 ) .

and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?
the smallest in number, had the least share of authority in the tribe, and of land and cattle, wealth and substance:

wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
Saul presently understood Samuel's meaning, that he should be chosen king of Israel, the affair of a king being at this time in everyone's mind and mouth; but could not believe that one of so small a tribe, and which sprung from the youngest son of Jacob, and of so mean a family, would be raised to such dignity, but that a person of great figure and character would be settled upon; and, therefore he took Samuel to be in joke, as Josephus

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 says, and not in earnest.

F13 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 4. sect. 1.

1 Samuel 9:21 In-Context

19 Samuel answered, "I am the seer. Go on ahead of me to the place of worship. Both of you are to eat with me today. Tomorrow morning I will answer all your questions and send you on your way.

20 As for the donkeys that were lost three days ago, don't worry about them; they have already been found. But who is it that the people of Israel want so much? It is you - you and your father's family."

21 Saul answered, "I belong to the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important one in the tribe. Why, then, do you talk like this to me?"

22 Then Samuel led Saul and his servant into the large room and gave them a place at the head of the table where the guests, about thirty in all, were seated.

23 Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the piece of meat I gave you, which I told you to set aside."