History · Chapter 9 of 31

1 Samuel 9

Saul, a tall and handsome young Benjamite, sets out with a servant to find his father's lost donkeys. Unable to find them, they seek out the seer Samuel for guidance. God had already revealed to Samuel that He would send this man to be anointed captain over Israel. Samuel welcomes Saul, honors him at a feast, and prepares to reveal God's word to him the next morning.

What happens in 1 Samuel 9

Kish, a Benjamite of standing, has a son named Saul, an unusually tall and handsome young man. When Kish's donkeys go missing, Saul and a servant search across the hill country of Ephraim and beyond without finding them. Ready to turn back, the servant suggests they consult a seer in a nearby city whose words come true. They go, and young women drawing water direct them to Samuel, who has come for a sacrifice at the high place. The day before, the LORD had told Samuel He would send a man from Benjamin to be anointed captain over Israel to save the people from the Philistines.

When Samuel sees Saul, the LORD confirms this is the man. Samuel tells Saul the lost donkeys are found, and hints that the desire of Israel now rests on him. Saul protests his lowly tribe and family. Samuel honors him at the feast, seats him at the head, and prepares to reveal God's word.

1 Samuel 9 in context

Having agreed to give Israel a king, God now providentially brings the chosen man to Samuel. Saul is introduced through the mundane errand of searching for lost donkeys, showing God's hand guiding ordinary events toward His purpose. Saul comes from Benjamin, the smallest tribe, nearly destroyed in the civil war at the end of Judges.

This chapter sets up his private anointing in chapter ten. His impressive appearance foreshadows a kingship that will ultimately be judged not by height but by the heart.

Main themes of 1 Samuel 9

1 Samuel 9 (KJV)

1Now 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. 2And 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. 3And 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. 4And 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. 5And 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. 6And 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. 7Then 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? 8And 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. 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.) 10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was. 11And 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? 12And 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: 13As 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. 14And 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. 15Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16To 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. 17And 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. 18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is. 19And 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. 20And 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? 21And 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? 22And 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. 23And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 24And 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. 25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 26And 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. 27And 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.

Verses to carry from 1 Samuel 9

“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.”1 Samuel 9:2

“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.”1 Samuel 9:16

“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.”1 Samuel 9:17

Reflection

God was at work in Saul's ordinary errand long before Saul knew it, and He is at work in your ordinary days too. Trust that no mundane moment is wasted in His hands. And take warning from Saul, for God is far more concerned with the faithfulness of your heart than with how impressive you appear to others. Seek to be true within.

A prayer from 1 Samuel 9