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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 9:18

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:23

And Samuel said unto the cook ,.... That dressed and prepared the food for the entertainment of the guests: bring the portion which I gave thee ; to dress; for part of the provisions of the feast was Samuel's, and the other part the people's that brought the peace offerings: of which I said unto thee, set it by thee ; do not bring it in with the rest, but keep it in the kitchen till called for. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:24

And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it ,.... Meaning either, as some think, some sauce that was poured on it, or garnish about it; or the thigh, as the Targum, and so Jarchi, Kimchi, and others; or rather the breast, as a more ancient Jew F15 R. Eliezer in T. Bab. Avodah Zara, fol. 25. 1. ; since this joined to the shoulder before separated, and in sacrifices went along with it; though most think this was the left shoulder and breast, because the right shoulder... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:25

And when they came down from the high place into the city ,.... After the feast was ended; and though Ramah itself was situated on an eminence, yet it seems this high place was higher than that, being without the city upon an hill, and therefore they are said to come down from the one to the other; or they came down from the high place, and then ascended the hill to the city: Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house : of Samuel's house; when they were come thither, Samuel took... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:26

And they arose early ,.... Neither of them being able to sleep, as Abarbinel supposes; not Samuel for thinking what he was to do the next morning, anoint Saul king over Israel; nor Saul for what Samuel had hinted to him about the desire of all Israel being upon him, and for the honour done him at the feast, and because of the conversation they had together afterwards: and it came to pass about the spring of the day ; or the "ascents of the morning" F24 כעלות השחר "circa ascendere... read more

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