1 Samuel 09
Samuel Meets with Saul
9:1 There was a Benjaminite man named Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. He was a prominent person.
Saul’s father was a Benjaminite. The Benjaminites were the tribe who was almost exterminated, because they created sodomite rape gangs in the city of Gibeah.
9:2 He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he was; he stood head and shoulders above all the people.
Saul was tall, dark, and handsome, but he had Benjaminite influence ingrained in him.
9:3 The donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, so Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys.”
God caused the donkeys to wander off so that Saul would search for them and run into Samuel.
9:4 So Saul crossed through the hill country of Ephraim, passing through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. So they crossed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he crossed through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.
God brought Saul a long way to connect with Samuel.
9:5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come on, let’s head back before my father quits worrying about the donkeys and becomes anxious about us!”
Saul was ready to give up.
9:6 But the servant said to him, “Look, there is a man of God in this town. He is highly respected. Everything that he says really happens. Now let’s go there. Perhaps he will tell us where we should go from here.”
God placed a servant with Saul who knew the reputation and location of Samuel.
9:7 So Saul said to his servant, “All right, we can go. But what can we bring the man, since the food in our bags is used up? We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
Most pagan seers, like many of the serfs today, demanded payment up front.
9:8 The servant went on to answer Saul, “Look, I happen to have in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us where we should go.”
The servant would offer his quarter shekel of silver to the seer.
9:9 (Now it used to be in Israel that whenever someone went to inquire of God he would say, “Come on, let’s go to the seer.” For today’s prophet used to be called a seer.)
The author explained to his modern readers that at one time in the past, prophets were also called seers. This term was no longer used at the time of authorship.
9:10 So Saul said to his servant, “That’s a good idea! Come on. Let’s go.” So they went to the town where the man of God was.
Saul agreed to meet the seer, possibly out of curiosity and excitement.
9:11 As they were going up the ascent to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water. They said to them, “Is this where the seer is?”
It was the responsibility of women to gather water every day. Gathering water was a social event for women.
9:12 They replied, “Yes, straight ahead! But hurry now, for he came to the town today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place.
After Shiloh was destroyed by the Philistines, Samuel built an altar in his hometown of Ramah. All of the sacrifices pointed to Christ.
9:13 When you enter the town, you can find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he arrives, for he must bless the sacrifice. Once that happens, those who have been invited will eat. Now go on up, for this is the time when you can find him!”
Samuel was a circuit-riding judge, but he happened to be in town at this time.
9:14 So they went up to the town. As they were heading for the middle of the town, Samuel was coming in their direction to go up to the high place.
Saul and his servant met Samuel on his way to the sacrifice.
9:15 Now the day before Saul arrived, the Lord had told Samuel: 9:16 “At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin. You must consecrate him as a leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked with favor on my people. Their cry has reached me!”
One day earlier, God informed Samuel that he would meet a Benjaminite man who would be the first King of Israel.
9:17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “Here is the man that I told you about! He will rule over my people.”
God revealed to Samuel the identity of the first King of Israel. This does not mean that God was satisfied with Saul’s ultimate requirement as king. God was simply giving the people the kind of king that they deserved.
9:18 As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
Saul had no idea of what was going on at this time. He thought that he was coming to Ramah to find his lost donkeys. He had no idea that he was sent to Ramah by God in order to become the first King of Israel.
9:19 Samuel replied to Saul, “I am the seer! Go up in front of me to the high place! Today you will eat with me and in the morning I will send you away. I will tell you everything that you are thinking.
Samuel invited Saul to become his special guest at a public banquet.
9:20 Don’t be concerned about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you, and all your father’s family?”
Before Saul even asked, Samuel informed Saul that his donkeys had been found. Saul knew that he was in the presence of a man who was receiving divine information from God.
9:21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the tribes of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?”
Saul began his career as a humble man.
9:22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present.
Saul was Samuel’s guest of honor at the city sacrifice banquet.
9:23 Samuel said to the cook, “Give me the portion of meat that I gave to you – the one I asked you to keep with you.”
Basically, the offering was a big barbecue event where God, the priests, and the people shared a picnic meal together in honor of Jehovah. Some of the meat of the sacrifice was offered as a burnt offering to God. Some of the meat was given to the priests. Some of the meat was given to the people. Samuel commanded the cook to bring the special meat of the sacrifice to the table.
9:24 So the cook picked up the leg and brought it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “What was kept is now set before you! Eat, for it has been kept for you for this meeting time, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
Saul was given the choice meet. The other thirty men at the table must have been wondering why this Benjaminite who had lost some donkeys was treated as the guest of honor at their banquet in their city.
9:25 When they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.
The roof was the family patio of ancient Israel. Samuel spoke privately with Saul.
9:26 They got up at dawn and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, so I can send you on your way.” So Saul got up and the two of them – he and Samuel – went outside.
Samuel woke Saul up in order to give him a private message.
9:27 While they were going down to the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” So he did. Samuel then said, “You remain here awhile, so I can inform you of God’s message.”
Samuel walked with Saul to the edge of town. He sent the servant ahead, so that he could give a private message to Saul.