1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go.
7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God.
The book of 1 Samuel is a historical account of the Israelites during the time of the judges. It begins with the story of a woman named Hannah, who prayed for a child and was blessed with Samuel, a prophet who would eventually anoint the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. Chapter 9 of 1 Samuel continues the narrative of Saul's rise to power by introducing us to his character and the events that led to his anointing as king.
1. God's Sovereignty
One of the main themes of chapter 9 is the sovereignty of God. The chapter begins by introducing us to a man named Kish, who was from the tribe of Benjamin. He had a son named Saul, who was described as handsome and tall, standing head and shoulders above everyone else. This physical description of Saul may seem insignificant, but it is actually a foreshadowing of his future role as king. In the Old Testament, physical appearance was often associated with leadership and power, and Saul's tall stature would be seen as a sign of his authority.
However, the chapter also highlights that Saul's physical appearance was not the reason for his anointing as king, but rather it was God's choice. We see this when Samuel, the prophet, is instructed by God to anoint Saul as the leader of Israel. This shows that God is in control of the events and the people He chooses to fulfill His plans.
2. Obedience to God's Will
Another theme in this chapter is obedience to God's will. Saul's father, Kish, sends him on a journey to find some lost donkeys. During this journey, Saul meets Samuel, who is on his way to sacrifice to God. Samuel tells Saul that the donkeys have been found and that he is the one whom God has chosen to be the leader of Israel. However, Saul is hesitant and questions why God would choose him, a member of the smallest tribe of Israel. Despite his doubts, Saul obeys God's will and goes with Samuel to meet the people who will anoint him as king.
This theme of obedience to God's will is also seen in the actions of Samuel. As a prophet, he has been chosen by God to deliver His messages and anoint the future king. Despite facing opposition from the people of Israel who wanted a king like other nations, Samuel remains obedient to God's will and carries out His instructions.
3. The Role of a King
The concept of kingship is another important theme in this chapter. In the previous chapters, the Israelites had asked for a king to rule over them, like the other nations. In chapter 9, we see the beginning of the fulfillment of their request. Saul is presented as a potential king, and although he is hesitant at first, he eventually accepts the role. This shows that being a king was not a choice for Saul, but a responsibility given to him by God.
Furthermore, the chapter also highlights the role of a king as a leader and protector of the people. When Samuel anoints Saul as king, he tells him that he will "rule over the Lord's people and save them from the hand of their enemies" (1 Samuel 9:16). This emphasizes that the role of a king is not just to rule and have power, but also to serve and protect the people under his care.
Chapter 9 of 1 Samuel holds several meanings for readers, both in its historical context and its relevance to our lives today.
Firstly, the chapter shows that God's plans and choices are not limited by human standards. Saul may have been from a small tribe and may not have been the obvious choice for a king, but God saw something in him that made him suitable for the role. This reminds us that God's ways are higher than our ways, and He can use anyone to fulfill His plans, regardless of their background or qualifications.
Secondly, the chapter teaches us the importance of obedience to God's will. Both Saul and Samuel demonstrate their obedience to God's instructions, even when they may not fully understand the reasons behind them. This serves as a reminder for us to trust in God's plans and to follow His guidance, even when it may seem difficult or unclear.
Lastly, the chapter also gives us insight into the characteristics of a good leader. Saul's physical appearance may have made him a suitable candidate for the role of king, but it was his obedience to God and his willingness to serve and protect the people that truly made him a good leader. This teaches us that true leadership is not about power or status, but about serving others and following God's will.
In conclusion, chapter 9 of 1 Samuel is an important chapter in the biblical narrative of the Israelites and the establishment of the monarchy. It highlights the themes of God's sovereignty, obedience to His will, and the role of a king. The chapter also holds meaning for us as readers, reminding us to trust in God's plans, obey His will, and strive to be servant leaders in our own lives.
Share this page