1 Samuel 9:4-12

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

Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:4

And they passed through Mount Ephraim ,.... The mountainous part of that tribe, which lay contiguous to the tribe of Benjamin, where it might be supposed the asses had strayed to: and passed through the land of Shalisha ; a tract in the tribe of Benjamin, so called from some illustrious person, prince, and duke of it; in it very probably was the place called Baalshalisha; 2 Kings 4:42 and which perhaps is the same Jerom calls F24 De loc. Heb. fol. 89. K. Bethshalisha; and says... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:5

And when they were come to the land of Zuph ,.... In which was Ramathaimzophim, the native place of Samuel, 1 Samuel 1:1 and so the Targum here,"the land in which was the prophet" Saul said to the servant that was with him, come, and let us return ; home, despairing of finding the asses after so long a search in divers places: lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us ; fearing some evil should have befallen his son and his servant, in comparison of whom,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:6

And he said unto him ,.... That is, the servant of Saul: behold, now, there is in this city a man of God ; a prophet of the Lord, as the Targum; such were called men of God, because not only partakers of the grace of God, but of extraordinary gifts, which qualified them for the office of prophets. The city near to which they now were was Ramah, the place where Samuel lived, and he is the man of God here meant: and he is an honourable man ; of great esteem among men for his wisdom and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:7

Then Saul said to his servant, but behold, if we go ,.... The Targum is,"if he receives money,'which it seems Saul was not clear in; some sort of persons that set up for prophets, and a sort of diviners and fortune tellers, did; but he could not tell whether so eminent and honourable a person as Samuel was, did; in as much he was not better known by him, who had been so many years a judge in Israel: what shall we bring the man ? it being usual, when persons addressed great men for a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:8

And the servant answered Saul again, and said ,.... As he had answered him before, when Saul proposed to return home, by telling him there was an honourable man of God in the city near at hand, that might possibly be able to direct them which way they should go to find the asses: so he answers him again with respect to the present it was proper to carry with them, and what he had in his hands to make: behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver : a "zuze" of silver,... read more

John Gill

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

Before time in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God ,.... To ask doctrine of him, as the Targum, to be taught by him, to have his mind and will in any affair of moment and importance; which was usually done by applying to some man of God, eminent for grace and piety, and a spirit of prophecy: thus he spake, come, and let us go to the seer ; a man used to say to his friend, when he wanted some instruction or direction, let us go together to such an one, the seer, and ask counsel of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 9:10

Then said Saul to his servant, well said ,.... Or "good is thy word" F4 טוב דברך "bonum verbum tuum", Pagninus, Montanus. , thou hast well spoken; it is a good proposal thou hast made, and thou art very generous to give all thou hast to the man; and very promising it is, that since he is a seer he may inform us where the asses are, or which way we must take to find them. Things look feasible enough: come, let us go : to the city, and to the man of God there, and hear what he... read more

John Gill

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

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