1 Samuel 9:1-3 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:3-10

Here is, I. A great man rising from small beginnings. It does not appear that Saul had any preferment at all, or was in any post of honour or trust, till he was chosen king of Israel. Most that are advanced rise gradually, but Saul, from the level with his neighbours, stepped at once into the throne, according to that of Hannah, He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, to set them among princes, 1 Sam. 2:8. Saul, it should seem, though he was himself married and had children grown up, yet lived... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:2

And he had a son whose name was Saul ,.... Of this name was the great apostle of the Gentiles before his conversion, and was of the same tribe also; but very different in stature; he was a little man, this a large tall man, like his father perhaps: a choice young man, and a goodly ; 1 Samuel 2:1 of a goodly aspect, a comely man, tall and well shaped, in the prime of his age, a very agreeable person, one among a thousand: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:3

And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost ,.... Had got out of the stables or fields, in which they were kept, and strayed from thence: and Kish said to Saul his son, take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses ; he chose not to send his servants only, who might not be so careful and diligent in searching for them, but his son, and not him alone, but a servant with him to wait upon him, and assist him. And it was quite agreeable to the simplicity of those... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 9:2

From his shoulders and upwards - It was probably from this very circumstance that he was chosen for king; for, where kings were elective, in all ancient times great respect was paid to personal appearance. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 9:3

The asses of Kish - were lost - What a wonderful train of occurrences were connected in order to bring Saul to the throne of Israel! Every thing seems to go on according to the common course of events, and yet all conspired to favor the election of a man to the kingdom who certainly did not come there by the approbation of God. Asses grow to great perfection in the East; and at this time, as there were no horses in Judea, they were very useful; and on them kings and princes rode. 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

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:3-10

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:3

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 9:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 9:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:1

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:1-10

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