1 Samuel 9:1-6

Saul's Search

1 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was ¹Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite *, a mighty man of valor.

2 He had a son whose name was Saul, a ²choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; ³from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, "Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys."

4 He passed through ⁴the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of ⁵Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of ⁶Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

5 When they came to the land of ⁷Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, and let us return, ⁸or else my father will cease to be concerned about the donkeys and will become anxious for us."

6 He said to him, "Behold now, there is ⁹a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; ¹⁰all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, ¹¹perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out."

1 Samuel 9:1-6 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

• 1. 1 Samuel 14:51; 1 Chronicles 8:33; 1 Chronicles 9:36-39
• 2. 1 Samuel 10:24
• 3. 1 Samuel 10:23
• 4. Joshua 24:33
• 5. 2 Kings 4:42
• 6. Joshua 19:42
• 7. 1 Samuel 1:1
• 8. 1 Samuel 10:2
• 9. Deuteronomy 33:1; 1 Kings 13:1; 2 Kings 5:8
• 10. 1 Samuel 3:19
• 11. Genesis 24:42

Footnotes

• [a] Or "wealth" or "influence"