1 Samuel 9:15-27

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:18-27

Providence having at length brought Samuel and Saul together, we have here an account of what passed between them in the gate, at the feast, and in private. I. In the gate of the city; passing through that, Saul found him (1 Sam. 9:18), and, little thinking that he was Samuel himself, asked him the way to Samuel's house: Tell me where the seer's house is; for there he expected to find him. See how mean a figure Samuel made, though so great a man: he took not any state, had no attendants, no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:15

Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear ,.... In a private manner, whispering in his ear, telling him in a free, familiar, friendly way, as a secret: a day before Saul came ; that he might prepare for the entertainment of him, and not be surprised at his coming, as well as hereby be assured he was the person designed to be king of Israel, when he should come: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:16

Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin ,.... Who without any thought or design of his own, but merely directed by the providence of God, should come to him, not expecting a kingdom; at most only to hear of his father's asses, and which way he should take to find them; missing the finding of which would and did bring him thither: and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel ; the leader, ruler, and governor of them; to which high... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:17

And when Samuel saw Saul ,.... Who could not but take notice of him for his height, and which might give him a suspicion he was the man the Lord had spoken of to him; and the rather, because this was the exact time in which he was to be sent to him, and therefore he fixed his eyes upon him: and that he might be assured it was he, and be left at no uncertainty about it: the Lord said unto him ; by a still small voice, or by an impulse upon his mind: behold the man whom I spake to thee... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:18

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate ,.... Either at the door of his own house, just as he was coming out of it, or within the gate of the city as Saul entered that, Samuel came to it, in order to go through it to the high place, which it is probable was without the city; wherefore it is very properly said that Samuel came out to meet them, 1 Samuel 9:14 . and said, tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is ; one knows not which to wonder at most, the simplicity and humility... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:19

And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer ,.... For he supposed, by inquiring for his house, that his business was with him; wherefore this he said, not as boasting of his character and office, or in the pride and vanity of his mind, but merely for information sake: go up before me unto the high place ; instead of returning home with him, he invited him to go to the place of feasting, as the Targum, whither he was going to partake of the entertainment there; and he bids him go... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:20

And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago ,.... Which, according to Kimchi, is to be understood not of the time from whence they were lost, but to be reckoned from the time that Saul had been seeking of them; so the Targum,"as to the business of the asses, which are lost to thee, and thou art come to seek them today, these three days:'though it is probable enough that the same day they were lost Saul set out to seek them, Now Samuel telling him of the asses that were lost, and of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:21

And Saul answered and said, am not I a Benjamite ,.... Or the son of Jemini, the name of one of his ancestors, see 1 Samuel 9:1 or rather, as the Targum, a son of the tribe of Benjamin: of the smallest of the tribes of Israel ? having been greatly reduced, even to the number of six hundred men, by the fatal war between that tribe and the rest, on account of the Levite's concubine, and is called little Benjamin, Psalm 68:27 . and my family the least of all the families of the tribe... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:22

And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour ,.... The dining room of the house, which belonged to the high place: and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden ; and who very probably were the principal persons in the city; and yet Saul was placed at the head of them by Samuel, to convince him that what he had said to him was in earnest, and to do him honour before all the people; and for the sake of him, and to show his respect to him,... read more

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