1 Samuel 9:2

_AND HE HAD A SON, WHOSE NAME WAS SAUL, A CHOICE YOUNG MAN, AND A GOODLY: AND THERE WAS NOT AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL A GOODLIER PERSON THAN HE: FROM HIS SHOULDERS AND UPWARD HE WAS HIGHER THAN ANY OF THE PEOPLE._ Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly, х_ SHAA'UWL_ (H7592); Septuagint, _ SAOUL_ (G4549)]. He had a presence; because it is evident that he must have been only a little under seven feet high. A gigantic stature and an athletic frame must have been a popular recommendation at that time in that country....

1-10 Saul readily went to seek his father's asses. His obedience to his father was praise-worthy. His servant proposed, that since they were now at Ramah, they should call on Samuel, and take his advice. Wherever we are, we should use our opportunities of acquainting ourselves with those who are wise and good. Many will consult a man of God, if he comes in their way, that would not go a step out of their way to get wisdom. We sensibly feel worldly losses, and bestow much pains to make them up; but how little do we attempt, and how soon are we weary, in seeking the salvation of our souls! If ministers could tell men how to secure their property, or to get wealth, they would be more consulted and honoured than they now are, though employed in teaching them how to escape eternal misery, and to obtain eternal life. Most people would rather be told their fortune than their duty. Samuel neede...

Verse 1 Samuel 9:2. _FROM HIS SHOULDERS AND UPWARDS_] It was probably from this very circumstance that he was chosen for king; for, where kings were _elective_, in all ancient times great respect was paid to _personal appearance_....

EXPOSITION SELECTION OF SAUL AS KING BY THE VOICE OF PROPHECY. GENEALOGY OF SAUL (1 Samuel 9:1). 1 SAMUEL 9:1 A MAN … WHOSE NAME WAS KISH. The genealogy of Saul is rendered obscure by the Hebrew custom of abbreviating such records by the omission of names. The family documents were no doubt kept in full, but when transcribed, as here and in the First Book of Chronicles, only a summary is given, and as the omitted links are not always the same, great difficulty is necessarily the result. The most satisfactory genealogy is that given b

AND HE HAD A SON WHOSE NAME WAS SAUL,.... Of this name was the great apostle of the Gentiles before his conversion, and was of the same tribe also; but very different in stature; he was a little man, this a large tall man, like his father perhaps; A CHOICE YOUNG MAN, AND A GOODLY; 1 Samuel 2:1 of a goodly aspect, a comely man, tall and well shaped, in the prime of his age, a very agreeable person, one among a thousand: AND THERE WAS NOT AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL A GOODLIER PERSON THAN HE; meaning not for the endowments of his mind, or his moral character and behaviour. There might be as good, or better men than he, on such accounts, but for his outward appearance, his bodily shape, and the dignity of his person: FROM HIS SHOULDERS AND UPWARDS HE WAS HIGHER THAN ANY OF THE PEOPLE; this description of him is enlarged upon and explaine

2. THE STORY OF SAUL AND HIS ANOINTING Chapter S 9:1-10:16 _ 1. Saul the son of Kish and the lost asses (1 Samuel 9:1)_ 2. Samuel and Saul (1 Samuel 9:11) 3. Saul anointed King (1 Samuel 9:25; 1 Samuel 10:1) And now the Lord gives them a king according to their choice. “He should possess all the natural attractions and martial qualities which the people could desire in their king; he should reflect their religious standpoint at their best; but he should also represent their national failings and the inmost defects of their religious life; that of combining zeal for the religion of Jehovah, and

1 SAMUEL 9:1 TO 1 SAMUEL 10:16. SAMUEL ANOINTS SAUL AS KING. (J), taken from one of the oldest narratives (see Introduction, p. 273). Note the absence of any connexion with the Deuteronomic narrative in the previous chapter also the inconsistencies; in 1 Samuel 7:13 the Philistines were permanently disposed of; in 1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 10:5, they are oppressing Israel and have a garrison in the heart of the country; in our present narrative we have no trace of hostility to the Monarchy. This section preserves important features of primitive religious l

SAUL. Many points of resemblance and contrast with Saul of Tarsus. NAME. Asked for: i.e. by man. CHILDREN. sons....

_whose name was Saul_ Heb. Shâûl = "asked." It occurs as the name (_a_) of an Edomite prince (Genesis 36:37-38); (_b_) of a son of Simeon (Genesis 46:10); (_c_) of a Kohathite in the genealogy of Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:24); (_d_) of Saul of Tarsus, "who is also called Paul" (Acts 7:58, &c.); and thus it became "the most distinguished name in the genealogies of the tribe of Benjamin," in the N.T. as well as in the O.T. (Philippians 3:5). _a choice young man, and a goodly_ CHOICE AND GOODLY. Cp....

A CHOICE YOUNG MAN, AND A GOODLY— Almost all ancient writers supply us with proofs of the singular regard which, in early days, was had to appearance and person in the choice of monarchs. See Doughty's Annal. Sacr. Excurs. 76....