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Text -- 1 Samuel 9:1-18 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
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 .
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 .
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 .”
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.
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!”
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 .”
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 ?”
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 .”
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 .)
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.
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?”
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 .
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!”
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 .
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!”
9:17 When Samuel saw Saul , the Lord said , “Here is the man that I told you about! He will rule over my people .”
9:18 As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate , he said , “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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Names, People and Places:
Dictionary Themes and Topics:
Saul |
Samuel |
Stray |
Herdsman |
ISRAEL, HISTORY OF, 2 |
HIGH PLACE |
Prophets |
SLAVE; SLAVERY |
Kish |
INTERCESSION |
SEER |
Government |
Zeror |
PALESTINE, 2 |
Anointing |
Abiel |
Zuph |
Aphiah |
Captain |
JUDGES, PERIOD OF |
more
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: 1Sa 9:3 The Syriac Peshitta includes the following words: “So Saul arose and went out. He took with him one of the boys and went out to look for his fat...
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NET Notes: 1Sa 9:13 The MT has “him” (אֹתוֹ, ’oto) here, in addition to the “him” at the end of the verse. The...
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NET Notes: 1Sa 9:14 Heb “to meet them.” This may indicate purpose on Samuel’s part. The next sentence indicates that the meeting was by design, not just...
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