1 Samuel 9:11

SAUL AND HIS SERVANT APPROACH RAMAH

"As they went up the hill to the city, they met young maidens coming out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here"? They answered, "He is; behold he is just ahead of you. Make haste; he has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place. As soon as you enter the city, you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those eat who are invited. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately." So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place."

"Maidens coming out to draw water" (1 Samuel 9:11). It was the custom in cities of that day that the young women supplied the various households with water from a common source. Jacob met Rachel when she was performing such a task (Genesis 24:15).

"He must bless the sacrifice" (1 Samuel 9:13). "Such a blessing of the food at mealtime is not mentioned elsewhere in the O.T. The priestly blessing of the meal is seen in the Qumran literature and in the Lord's Supper."[13]

In this connection, Willis pointed out that, "To bless the sacrifice is the same as giving thanks for it, because Luke 9:16 says, `Jesus blessed the loaves and fishes,' and John 6:11 says that, `He gave thanks for them.'"[14]