John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:11
And as they went up the hill to the city ,.... For the city was built upon an hill, from whence it had the name of Ramah, which signifies high and lifted up: they found young maidens going out to draw water : going out of the city, to a fountain which was at the bottom of the hill; and this was the usual business of maidens in those countries to fetch water for the service of the family; see Gill on Genesis 24:11 ; see Gill on Genesis 24:15 ; see Gill on Genesis 24:16 . R. Akiba ... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:11-17
Here, I. Saul, by an ordinary enquiry, is directed to Samuel, 1 Sam. 9:11-14. Gibeah of Saul was not twenty miles from Ramah where Samuel dwelt, and was near to Mizpeh where he often judged Israel, and yet, it seems, Saul had lived so very privately, and had taken so little notice of public affairs, that he had never seen Samuel, for when he met him (1 Sam. 9:18) he did not know him, so that there was no cause to suspect any secret compact or collusion between them in this matter. I knew him... read more