1 Samuel 9

1 Saul despairing to find his father's asses,

6 by the counsel of his servant,

11 and direction of young maidens,

15 according to God's revelation,

18 comes to Samuel.

19 Samuel entertains Saul at the feast.

25 Samuel, after secret communication, brings Saul on his way.

9:1

Kish <07027> [Kish.]

[Cis. a Benjamite. or, the son of a man of Jemini. power. or, substance.]

9:2

young man <0970> [choice.]

shoulders <07926> [from his shoulders.]

9:3

9:4

hill country <02022> [mount.]

Shalisha <08031> [Shalisha.]

Shaalim <08171> [Shalim.]

9:5

Zuph <06689> [Zuph.]

becomes anxious <01672> [take thought.]

9:6

town <05892> [city.]

respected <03513> [an honourable.]

says <01696> [all that he saith.]

9:7

bring .................. take <0935> [what shall.]

bags ... used up <0235 03627> [spent in. Heb. gone out of, etc. there is not.]

We are not to suppose from this that the prophets took money to predict future events: Saul only refers to an invariable custom, that no man approached a superior without some present or another, however small in value. Dr. Pococke tells us of a present of fifty radishes! Other authors mention a flower, an orange, or similar trifles; and Mr. Bruce says, that one who wished to solicit a favour from him, presented him with about a score of dates! "I mention this trifling circumstance," says Mr. B. "to shew how essential to human and civil intercourse presents are considered to be in the East; whether it be dates, or whether it be diamonds, they are so much a part of their manners, that without them, an inferior will never be at peace in his own mind, or think that he has hold of his superior for protection. But superiors give no presents to their inferiors." Presents then are tokens of honour; not intended as offers of payment or enrichment.

[have we. Heb. is with us.]

9:8

happen to have .... hand <03027 04672> [I have here at hand. Heb. there is found in my hand.]

9:9

inquire <01875> [enquire.]

<07200> [a Seer.]

9:10

[Well said. Heb. Thy word is good.]

9:11

ascent .... town <04608 05892> [the hill to the city. Heb. in the ascent of the city. found.]

9:12

sacrifice <02077> [sacrifice. or, feast.]

high place <01116> [the high place.]

9:13

bless <01288> [he doth bless.]

time <03117> [this time. Heb. to-day.]

9:15

Lord <03068> [the Lord.]

told Samuel <08050 0241 01540> [told Samuel in his ear. Heb. revealed the ear of Samuel.]

9:16

consecrate <04886> [thou shalt.]

people ....... people ........... looked ...... people <07200 05971> [looked upon.]

9:17

man <0376> [Behold.]

[reign over. Heb. restrain in.]

9:19

<07200> [the seer.]

The word {roaih} literally signifies one who sees; particularly preternatural sights. A seer and a prophet were the same in most cases; only with this difference, the seer was always a prophet, but the prophet was not always a seer. A seer seems to imply one who frequently met with and saw some symbolical representation of God. All prophets, true or false, profess to see God, (see Nu 24:4, 16. Jer 14:4;) and diviners, in their enthusiastic flights, boasted that they had those things exhibited to their sight which should come to pass.

tell <05046> [and will tell.]

9:20

three days <07969 03117> [three days ago. Heb. to-day three days.]

concerned <07760 03820> [set not.]

desire <02532> [on whom.]

9:21

Benjaminite <01145> [a Benjamite.]

family clan <04940> [my family.]

way <01697> [so to me. Heb. according to this word.]

9:22

head <07218> [in the chiefest.]

9:23

Give ......... gave <05414> [Bring.]

9:24

leg <07785> [the shoulder.]

Probably the shoulder was set before Saul, not because it was the best part, but because it was an emblem of the government to which he was now called. (See Isa 9:6.)

was kept <07604> [left. or, reserved.]

9:25

down <03381> [And when.]

roof <01406> [the top.]

9:26

Samuel ............................. Samuel <08050> [Samuel.]

Saul had no doubt slept there all night, as is usual in the East; and now, being the break of day, "Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house:" there was no calling him to the top of the house a second time; he was sleeping there, and Samuel called him up.

Get ............. got <06965> [Up.]

9:27

Tell ... servant <0559 05288> [Bid the servant.]

awhile <03117> [a while. Heb. to-day. that I may.]