1 Samuel 9: Saul looks for his father's donkeys and meets Samuel
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What happens?
Kish of Benjamin has a son named Saul, a handsome young man, taller than anyone among the people. Kish's donkeys are lost, and Saul and a servant search for them in vain, until the servant says they should go to the man of God in the city, the seer. The day before, Yahweh had told Samuel that he would send him a man from Benjamin to anoint as leader over his people, and when Samuel sees Saul, Yahweh tells him this is the man. Samuel tells Saul the donkeys have been found, gives him the place of honor at the meal at the high place, and in the morning stops him at the edge of the city to give him God's message.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 2 of the 27 verses: what Yahweh had told Samuel the day before, in verse 16, and his words to Samuel when he sees Saul, in verse 17. Verse 15 says, in the narrator's words, that Yahweh had told Samuel. Kish speaks in verse 3, and Saul and his servant talk together in verses 5 to 8 and 10. Verse 9 is the narrator's aside about the word "seer". Saul and his servant ask the young women going out to draw water in verse 11, and the young women answer in verses 12 and 13. Saul and Samuel speak in verses 18 to 21, and Samuel speaks to the cook and to Saul in verses 23, 24, 26 and 27. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish 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.
In plain English: There was a man of Benjamin named Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite (literally: of a man of Benjamin). He was a mighty man of valor (or: a man of wealth).
The Hebrew words: "A mighty man of valor" is gibbor chayil. The dictionary gives gibbor as "powerful; by implication, warrior", and chayil as "probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength".
What changes: Read as "a mighty man of valor", Kish was a strong fighting man. Read as "a man of wealth", he was a man of standing and means. The verse does not say more about him.
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2He had a son whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.
In plain English: He had a son named Saul, a fine young man (this Bible: an impressive young man; literally: young and good). No one among the Israelites was more handsome (literally: better) than he. From his shoulders up he was taller than any of the people.
Good to know: The text does not explain the name Saul. The dictionary in this collection gives it as "asked", from sha'al, "to inquire; by implication, to request". The same word is used in of the people "who asked him for a king".
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3The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Now take one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys.”
In plain English: The donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. Kish said to his son Saul, "Please take one of the servants (literally: young men) with you, and get up and go look for the donkeys."
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4He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they weren’t there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them.
In plain English: He went through the hill country of Ephraim and through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they went through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he went through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.
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5When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come! Let’s return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys and be anxious for us.”
In plain English: When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, "Come, let's go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us."
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6The servant said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely happens. Now let’s go there. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”
In plain English: The servant said to him, "Look, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man people honor. Everything he says surely comes true. Let's go there now. Perhaps he can tell us about the journey we are on (this Bible: which way to go)."
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7Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what should we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our sacks, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
In plain English: Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what can we bring the man? The bread in our bags is used up, and we have no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"
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8The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.”
In plain English: The servant answered Saul again, "Look, I have a quarter of a shekel of silver in my hand. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way."
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9(In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come! Let’s go to the seer;” for he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer.)
In plain English: (In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to ask God for guidance (this Bible: to inquire of God), he would say, "Come, let's go to the seer." For the one who is now called a prophet used to be called a seer.)
The Hebrew words: "Seer" is ro'eh, from the common word "to see". The dictionary gives it as "a seer (as often rendered); but also (abstractly) a vision". "Prophet" is navi, which the dictionary gives as "a prophet or (generally) inspired man". In 1 Samuel ro'eh is in 4 verses, all in this chapter: here and verses 11, 18 and 19.
What changes: The verse is the narrator's own aside, in brackets in this Bible. It explains why Saul, his servant and Samuel say "seer" in this chapter: it was the older word. Read one way, the two words name the same person, with an old and a new name. Read the other way, the words keep their own sense: a seer is one who sees, and a prophet, in the dictionary's words, an "inspired man". The text says only that the name changed, and does not say when.
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10Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come! Let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
In plain English: Saul said to his servant, "Well said (literally: your word is good). Come, let's go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
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11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
In plain English: As they went up the slope to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water, and they asked them, "Is the seer here?"
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12They answered them and said, “He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.
In plain English: They answered them, "He is. Look, he is just ahead of you. Hurry now, because he has come into the city today, because the people have a sacrifice today at the high place.
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13As soon as you have come into the city, you will immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will find him.”
In plain English: As soon as you come into the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. After that, those who are invited eat. So go up now, because you will find him now (this Bible: at this time)."
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14They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place.
In plain English: So they went up to the city. As they were coming into the city, there was Samuel coming out toward them, on his way up to the high place.
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15Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
In plain English: Now the day before Saul came, Yahweh had told Samuel (literally: had uncovered Samuel's ear), saying,
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16“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.”God speaks
In plain English: "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. You are to anoint him to be leader (this Bible: prince) over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines, because I have looked on my people, because their cry has come to me."
The Hebrew word: "Prince" is nagid, which the dictionary gives as "a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious". This Bible gives it as "prince" or a longer form in 25 of the 44 verses that use it, and as "ruler" or a longer form in 12. In 1 Samuel it says "prince" in all 4 verses (here, , and ).
What changes: Read as "prince", it sounds like a title of royal birth. Read as "leader" or "commander", it is the man who goes in front of the people. Yahweh does not use the word "king" here.
Good to know: "Their cry has come to me" uses the same Hebrew word for "cry" as Yahweh's words about Israel in Egypt: "the cry of the children of Israel has come to me" (; see also ).
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17When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people.”God speaks
In plain English: When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him (literally: answered him), "Here is the man I told you about! He will rule over (or: hold back; this Bible: have authority over) my people."
The Hebrew word: "Have authority over" is atsar, which the dictionary gives as "to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble". In the same word is used of Doeg, "detained before Yahweh".
What changes: Read as "rule", Yahweh says Saul will govern his people. Read as "hold back" or "restrain", Saul will keep the people in check. The text does not say more.
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18Then Saul approached Samuel in the gateway, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
In plain English: Then Saul came up to Samuel in the gateway and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
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19Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
In plain English: Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, because you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go, and I will tell you all that is on your mind (literally: in your heart).
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20As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them, for they have been found. For whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you and all your father’s house?”
In plain English: As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not worry about them (literally: do not set your heart on them), because they have been found. And on whom is all Israel's desire set (or: to whom do all the treasures of Israel belong)? Is it not on you and on all your father's house?"
The Hebrew word: "Desire" is chemdah, which the dictionary gives as "delight". The Hebrew reads, word by word, "and to whom is all the desire of Israel?"
What changes: Read as "on whom is all Israel's desire set?", Samuel means Israel wants a king, and Saul is the one. Read as "to whom do all the treasures (the desirable things) of Israel belong?", he means the best of Israel will be Saul's. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "to whom does the excellency of Israel belong?"
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21Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?”
In plain English: Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is my family (or: clan) not the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? So why do you speak to me like this?"
Good to know: In and twenty-five thousand men of Benjamin fell in one day, and six hundred fled to the rock of Rimmon. Afterward Israel said, "There is one tribe cut off from Israel today" ().
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22Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.
In plain English: Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall (this Bible: guest room), and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men.
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23Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’”
In plain English: Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion I gave you, the one I told you, 'Set it aside.'"
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24The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, “Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before yourself and eat; because it has been kept for you for the appointed time, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
In plain English: The cook lifted up the thigh (or: the leg) and what was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, "Look, here is what was kept back! Set it in front of you and eat, because it has been kept for you for this set time, since I said, 'I have invited the people.'" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
The Hebrew word: "Thigh" is shoq, which the dictionary gives as "the (lower) leg". The law in says, "The right thigh you shall give to the priest" from the peace offerings. Here Samuel has the cook set the thigh in front of Saul. The text does not say which leg, and does not explain the choice. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "the shoulder".
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25When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.
In plain English: When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the roof (this Bible: housetop).
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26They arose early; and about daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” Saul arose, and they both went outside, he and Samuel, together.
In plain English: They got up early. About daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get up, so that I may send you on your way." Saul got up, and the two of them, he and Samuel, went outside together.
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27As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” He went ahead, then Samuel said, “But stand still first, that I may cause you to hear God’s message.”
In plain English: As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us." He went on ahead. Then Samuel said, "But you stand still now, so that I may let you hear God's message (literally: the word of God)."
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