Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. Ver. 1. _Now there was a man of Benjamin._] Here beginneth the second part of this book: and here properly begin the Books of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 2. _And he had a son, whose name was Saul._] Which signifieth desired o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses._ Ver. 3. And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost.] This was the rise of Saul's royalty: _Nam ex agasone factus est rex, et David ex opilione._... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found [them] not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and [there they were] not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found [them] not._ Ver. 4. _Through the land of Shalim._] Near... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Samuel 9:5 [And] when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that [was] with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave [caring] for the asses, and take thought for us. Ver. 5. _And when they were come to the land of Zuph._] Samuel's country. 1Sa 1:1 Saul's city, Gib... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of God, and [he is] an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go. Ver. 6. _A man of God._] A prophet: this title is also given to ministers of... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? Ver. 7. _What shall we bring the man?_] _q.d., _ _Incivile esset sine honorario eum accedere antea ignot... [ Continue Reading ]
And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: [that] will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. Ver. 8. _Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel._] That was but a little, to the value of about our fivepence.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Samuel 9:9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) Ver. 9. _Beforetime in Israel._] Of old, _Antiquitus._ Such was the piety of the people in the purer times, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God [was]. Ver. 10. _Well said._] Heb., Thy word is good. He scorned not to take advice from a servant: no more did Job, Job 31:23 nor Naaman. 2Ki 5:14 “ _Saepe etiam est holitor valde opportuna... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Samuel 9:11 [And] as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? Ver. 11. _Is the seer here?_] Seers then the prophets were called, not only beforetime, but now also: though that name began to be antiquated. “ _Multa... [ Continue Reading ]
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is] before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for [there is] a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: Ver. 12. _And they answered them, and said, He is._] Courtesy to strangers is very commendable. But that these maid... [ Continue Reading ]
As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him. Ve... [ Continue Reading ]
And they went up into the city: [and] when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place. Ver. 14. _Samuel came out against them._] Not without divine direction. 1Sa 9:15 When God will have a thing done, there shall be a sweet subordination of ca... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, Ver. 15. _The Lord had told Samuel in his ear._] By the instinct of his Spirit: Samuel was his favourite, and had communication of his secrets. Every saint hath likewise "the mind of Christ" 1Co 2:16 "revealed unto him by his S... [ Continue Reading ]
To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him [to be] captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. Ver. 16. _I will send th... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people. Ver. 17. _This same shall reign over my people._] Heb., Restrain my people, viz, from loose and lewd practices. Princes must do so, or they are guilty of a passive injusti... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house [is]. Ver. 18. _In the gate._] Heb., In the midst of the gate; Sept., In the midst of the city; Chaldee, Within the gate. Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.] It seemeth, then, that Samue... [ Continue Reading ]
And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I [am] the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that [is] in thine heart. Ver. 19. _And will tell thee all that is in thine heart._] And much more: for that he had dre... [ Continue Reading ]
And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom [is] all the desire of Israel? [Is it] not on thee, and on all thy father's house? Ver. 20. _And on whom is all the desire of Israel?_] _Sed cuius est omne desiderabile Israelis?_ so Mart... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Saul answered and said, [Am] not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?_ Ver. 21. _Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest, &c._] Yet out of the rubbish of Benjamin doth... [ Continue Reading ]
And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which [were] about thirty persons. Ver. 22. _And made them sit in the chiefest place._] He envied not Saul's new dignity, though it were to the diminution of... [ Continue Reading ]
And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. Ver. 23. _Bring the portion which I gave thee._] A choice mess, that Saul might see by his cheer what his welcome was: and that the rest at table might take notice that Saul was no ordinar... [ Continue Reading ]
And the cook took up the shoulder, and [that] which [was] upon it, and set [it] before Saul. And [Samuel] said, Behold that which is left! set [it] before thee, [and] eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. Ve... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they were come down from the high place into the city, [Samuel] communed with Saul upon the top of the house. Ver. 25. _Samuel communed with Saul._] Gave him good counsel, better than any is to be found in Lipsius's "Beehive," Macchiavel's "Spider's Web," or Castalio's "Curialis," the book... [ Continue Reading ]
And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. Ver. 26. _To the top of the house._] Which was made flat in manner of... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Samuel 9:27 [And] as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God. Ver. 27. _Stand thou still a while._] And so show thy reverence to the divine oracle th... [ Continue Reading ]