_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 ]