1 Samuel 9:25

25 When they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the top of the house.

1 Samuel 9:25 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 9:25

And when they came down from the high place into the city,
&c.] After the feast was ended; and though Ramah itself was situated on an eminence, yet it seems this high place was higher than that, being without the city upon an hill, and therefore they are said to come down from the one to the other; or they came down from the high place, and then ascended the hill to the city:

Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house:
of Samuel's house; when they were come thither, Samuel took Saul up to the roof of his house, which was flat, as the roofs of houses in this country were; see ( Deuteronomy 22:8 ) on which they could walk to and fro, and converse together; hence you read of preaching and praying on housetops, ( Matthew 10:27 ) ( Acts 10:9 ) what they communed about is not said, but may be guessed at, that it was about Saul's being made king; of the certainty of it, by divine designation; of the manner of executing that office wisely and justly; about the objections Saul had made of the smallness of his tribe and family; and of Samuel's willingness to resign the government to him, with other things of the like kind.

1 Samuel 9:25 In-Context

23 And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, 'Set it apart.' "

24 So the cook took up the thigh with its upper part and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, "Here it is, what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat; for until this time it has been kept for you, since I said I invited the people." So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the top of the house.

26 They arose early; and it was about the dawning of the day that Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house, saying, "Get up, that I may send you on your way." And Saul arose, and both of them went outside, he and Samuel.

27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us." And he went on. "But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God."

Footnotes

• [a]. Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint omits He spoke with Saul on top of the house; Septuagint and Vulgate add And he prepared a bed for Saul on top of the house, and he slept.