1 Samuel 9:1, 1 Samuel 9:15-17, 1 Samuel 9:2 NKJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:1-2

We are here told, 1. What a good family Saul was of, 1 Sam. 9:1. He was of the tribe of Benjamin; so was the New-Testament Saul, who also was called Paul, and he mentions it as his honour, for Benjamin was a favourite, Rom. 11:1; Phil. 3:5. That tribe had been reduced to a very small number by the fatal war with Gibeah, and much ado there was to provide wives for those 600 men that were the poor remains of it out of that diminished tribe, which is here called, with good reason, the smallest of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:1

Now there was a man of Benjamin ,.... Of the tribe of Benjamin, which had its name from the youngest son of Jacob, and one of this tribe was the first king of Israel: whose name was Kish : whom the apostle calls Cis, Acts 13:21 , and Josephus F9 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 4. sect. 1. Cises; his name, according to Hillerus F11 Onomastic. Sacr. p. 405. , signifies "ensnared"; for what reason it was given him is not certain: the son of Abiel ; in 1 Chronicles 8:33 , he is called... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 9:1

A mighty man of power - Literally, a strong man; this appears to be the only power he possessed; and the physical strength of the father may account for the extraordinary size of the son. See 1 Samuel 9:2 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:1

EXPOSITION SELECTION OF SAUL AS KING BY THE VOICE OF PROPHECY . GENEALOGY OF SAUL ( 1 Samuel 9:1-27 ). 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:1-10

Divine consideration. The facts are— 1 . Saul the son of Kish, a wealthy Benjamite, and remarkable for stature and goodliness, seeks his father's asses. 2 . Not finding them, he fears lest his father should be anxious about his own safety, and suggests a return home. 3 . His servant advises a recourse to a distinguished man of God then in those parts. 4 . Obtaining a small present, Saul resolves to consult the man of God concerning the lost asses. A great crisis has come in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 9:1

The genealogy of Saul is here given as far as Aphiah (“Abiah,” 1 Chronicles 7:8), who was of the house of Becher the son of Benjamin Genesis 46:21. “Kish” 1 Chronicles 9:35-39 was the son of “Ner” the son of “Jehiel,” (or, “Abiel” here and 1 Samuel 14:51), the first settler (“father,” 1 Chronicles 9:35) at Gibeon, or Gibeah of Saul, and who married “Maachah,” a daughter or granddaughter of Caleb. If so, it is obvious that the names of several generations are omitted between Kish and Abiel, and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 9:1-2

1 Samuel 9:1-2. 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 stature was much valued in a king in ancient times, and in the eastern countries. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:1-27

Samuel’s prediction about Saul (9:1-10:16)Saul, who became Israel’s first king, originally had no desire for political power and little interest in the spiritual ministry of Samuel. As the son of a wealthy landowner, he was more concerned about the loss of his father’s donkeys, and the worry he might cause his father by being away so long in search of them (9:1-5). This concern led him to seek help from Samuel. He thought that Samuel, with his ability to see visions and make predictions, could... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 9:1

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . Kish. Compare 1 Samuel 14:51 . 1 Chronicles 8:33 ; 1 Chronicles 9:39 . For the difficulties of the genealogy, see note on 1 Chronicles 8:33 . a Benjamite . As was Saul of Tarsus (Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:5 ). mighty man . Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 9:1

GOD DESIGNATES THE FUTURE KING OF ISRAEL; THE GENEALOGY OF SAUL"There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth; and he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people."The appearance of this genealogy at this point in the narrative is the clear signal that... read more

1 Samuel 9:1, 1 Samuel 9:15-17, 1 Samuel 9:2 Nkjv