_A.M. 2909. B.C. 1095._ A short account of Saul, _1Sa 9:1, 1 Samuel 9:2. Seeking his father's asses, he is advised to consult Samuel, 1 Samuel 9:3. He is directed to him, 1 Samuel 9:11. Samuel, being informed of God concerning him, treats him with respect, and prepares him for the news that he must... [ Continue Reading ]
_A mighty man of power_ This seems not to be meant of his wealth or interest in his country, for Saul himself says he was of a mean family, 1 Samuel 9:21; but of his great strength, courage, and fortitude. _A choice young man and goodly_ Comely and personable. _Higher than any of the people_ A tall... [ Continue Reading ]
_The asses of Kish were lost_ Asses were there of great price, because of the scarcity of horses, and therefore were not thought unworthy to be sought by Saul, especially in these ancient times, when simplicity, humility, and industry were in fashion among persons of quality.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A man of God and an honourable man_ One of great reputation for his skill and faithfulness. Acquaintance with God and serviceableness to the kingdom of God make men truly honourable. _He can show us our way _ The course we should take to find the asses. He saith _peradventure_, because he doubted w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man_ It was a part of the honour they did great men, in those countries, to make them a present when they had occasion to address themselves to them. Particularly their prophets were thus honoured; being _men of God_, before whom they judged they ought not... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come, let us go to the seer_ So termed, because he discerned and could discover things secret and unknown to others. And these are the words, either of some later sacred writer, who, after Samuel's death, inserted this verse, or of Samuel, who, being probably fifty or sixty years old at the time of... [ Continue Reading ]
_He came to-day to the city_ He had been travelling abroad, and was now returned to his own house in Ramah. _High place_ Upon the hill mentioned 1 Samuel 9:11, and near the altar which Samuel built for this use. _Ye shall straightway find him_ At home and at leisure. _Before he go up to eat_ The rel... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, Samuel came out against them_ Met them directly in his way to the sacrifice. For so God, in his providence, had disposed things, as it follows in the next words. _The Lord had told Samuel in his ear_ That is, secretly, perhaps by a small, still voice. In the Hebrew it is, _He revealed_, or... [ Continue Reading ]
_To-morrow I will send thee a man_, &c. This shows still that all was done by God's direction. _Out of the hand of the Philistines_ Though driven out of the country by Samuel, they were now ready, as appears by the following history, to invade it again; and being the constant and nearest enemies of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord said unto him_ Most probably, by a divine, silent suggestion, or secret notification to his mind, without any voice, 1 Samuel 9:15. _This same shall reign over my people_ The phraseology in the original is peculiar, the word rendered _reign_, implying coercion and restraint; יעצר בעמי, _ja... [ Continue Reading ]
_As for thine asses that were lost_, &c. This must have satisfied Saul that he was a prophet, as he hereby showed that he knew for what Saul came to him, though he had not told him. _And on whom is all the desire of Israel?_ That is, all Israel desire a king, and there is no one more fit for such an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of the smallest of the tribes of Israel_ Such indeed the tribe of Benjamin was, having been all cut off except six hundred, (Judges 20.,) which blow they never recovered, and therefore they were scarce reckoned as an entire tribe, but as a remnant of a tribe; and being ingrafted into Judah, in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the chiefest place_ Thereby to raise their expectation, and to prepare them for giving that honour to Saul which his approaching dignity required.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bring the portion_ The master of the house was wont to distribute to every one his portion. And Samuel had commanded the cook, before they sat down, not to set one dish upon the table, but to keep it till he called for it. _And set it before Saul_ As the principal place was given him at the feast,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Samuel communed with Saul_ Concerning the kingdom designed for him by God, and his administration of the government; _upon the top of the house_ For coolness in the evening, and privacy. The Vulgate adds here, _Saul prepared him a bed on the top of the house, and slept_, an addition which Houbigant... [ Continue Reading ]
_Samuel said, Bid the servant pass on before us_ That thou and I may speak privately of the matter of the kingdom. Which Samuel hitherto endeavoured to conceal, lest he should be thought now to impose a king upon them, as before he denied one to them: and that it might appear by the lot mentioned in... [ Continue Reading ]