1 Samuel 9
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 9
NJB (MT versing) Saul's Search Saul Chosen to Be King The Secret Choice of Saul (9:1-10:16) Saul Meets Samuel Saul and His Father's Donkeys 9:1-2 9:1-4 9:1-2 9:1-2 9:1-2 9:3-4 9:3-4 9:3-5 9:3-10 9:5-10 9:5-10 9:5-10 9:6 9:7 9:8 9:9-11a Saul Meets Samuel 9:11-14 9:11-14 9:11-14 9:11-13 9:11b 9:12-14 God's Choice for King 9:14-21 9:15-21 9:15-24 9:15-21 9:15-16 9:17-18 9:19-20 9:21 9:22-24 9:22-24d 9:22-24b 9:22-24 9:24e-26 9:24c-26a 9:25-27 9:25-26 9:25 Samuel Anoints Saul As Ruler Consecration of Saul Saul Anointed As King 9:26b-10:16 9:26-10:8 9:27-10:8 9:27-10:8 Etc.
1 Samuel 9:1-2
9:1 "Kish" Saul's family lineage is given in 1 Chr. 9:35-44 (also note 1 Sam. 14:49-51). The MT seems to list six different ancestors. ▣ "a mighty man of valor" This Hebrew idiom can refer to military skill (i.e., Jdgs. 11:1) wealth/property (i.e., Ruth 2:1; 2 Kgs. 15:20) social influence and standing (NJB "a person of rank") 9:2 Notice the things said about Saul. young ‒ BDB 104 a choice man ‒ (lit. "good," BDB 373) handsome ‒ BDB 373 taller than others ‒ BDB 147 He was the kind of Israelite that could be king.
1 Samuel 9:3-4
9:4 "Shalishah" This refers to a district in Ephraim, not far from Gilgal. It is also known as "Baal-shalishah" (cf. 2 Kgs. 4:42). ▣ "Shaalim" This site/region appears only here in the OT. It may be be in the tribal allocation of Ephraim. Some scholars speculate it should read: Shaalbiim ‒ Jdgs. 1:35; 1 Kgs. 4:9 Shual ‒ 1 Sam. 13:17
1 Samuel 9:5-10
9:5 Saul was concerned about the feelings of his father. This says something about his character. 9:6 Notice how Samuel is characterized. a man of God, vv. 6,7,8,10 (title of Moses in Deut. 33:1) held in honor (from כבד, BDB 457, KB 455, Niphal PARTICIPLE; see SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (OT) accurate in his predictions (cf. Deut. 18:14-22) called "seer" (v. 9) and "prophet" (v. 9); see SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHET (the different Hebrew terms) Notice he is not called a "priest," even though a Peace Offering at a local High Place is involved. ▣ "surely comes true" This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 97, KB 112, Qal), which denotes intensity. 9:8 "a fourth of a shekel of silver" Divisions of the shekel were common. half-shekel ‒ Exod. 30:13 one-third shekel ‒ Neh. 10:33 quarter of a shekel ‒ here SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES 9:9 "seer. . .prophet" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHET (the different Hebrew terms). Verse 9 is in parentheses in many translations, which denotes it as a later editorial addition, given for information to a later reader.
1 Samuel 9:11-14
9:13 "he must bless the sacrifice" This is the only place in the OT where a prophet blesses a sacrifice. ▣ "afterward those who are invited will eat" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERING.
1 Samuel 9:15-21
9:15 NASB, NRSV, JPSOA "revealed" NKJV, TEV, Peshitta "told" "given. . .a revelation" "disclosed" "uncovered. . .ear" The MT has the idiom "uncovered the ear" (NOUN "ear," BDB 217 and the VERB "uncovered," BDB 162, KB 191, Qal PERFECT, cf. 1 Sam. 20:2, 12, 13; 22:8, 17; 2 Sam. 7:27; Isa. 50:5). 9:16 Notice how Samuel was to identify the new king. this time tomorrow send a man from the land of Benjamin The new king's task was, like a judge, to deliver Israel militarily (i.e., from the Philistines). This was the result of Israel's prayers. ▣ "anoint" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE. ▣ NASB, NJB, REB "prince" NKJV, NAB "commander" NRSV, TEV, JPSOA, LXX, Peshitta "ruler" The MT has the NOUN "prince" (BDB 617). BDB suggests it is literally "one in front." It was used of Saul, here; 1 Sam. 10:1 David, 1 Sam. 13:14; 25:30; 2 Sam. 6:21; 7:8 Solomon, 1 Chr. 29:22 Hezekiah, 2 Kgs. 20:5 ▣ "deliver" Some scholars (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 501) think the two terms should be translated together as "ruler-deliverer." SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT Term) 9:20 "for whom is all that is desirable in Israel" "on whom is all are desired of Israel" "on whom is all Israel's desire fixed" "But who is it that the people of Israel want so much?" "for whom is the whole wealth of Israel destined" "For whom is all Israel yearning" "whose is the beauty of Israel" "on whom is all the hope of the house of Israel" The key term is "desirable" (BDB 336). Here, it denotes the longing of national Israel for a king who would defeat the Philistines. This statement by Samuel surprised Saul (cf. v. 21)! 9:21 The small size of Benjamin is related to the almost complete destruction of the tribe described in Judges 20-21.
1 Samuel 9:22-24
9:22 "into the hall" As the worship site at Shiloh, so too, the worship site here (i.e., land of Zuph, cf. 1 Sam. 1:1), had a fellowship room for corporate events. Here, eating a Peace Offering. ▣ "thirty men" The LXX, followed by Josephus (Antiq. 6.4.1), has "seventy." Josephus speculates these were leaders like the Sanhedrin and their presence was to alert Saul that they would be his counselors. Apparently the MT and LXX represent two different Hebrew manuscript traditions. 9:23 Apparently Samuel reserved for YHWH's choice leader the biggest and best part of the Peace Offering meal. Everyone present would have recognized this symbolic act.
1 Samuel 9:25-27
9:25 "on the roof" The LXX adds "they spread a bed for Saul on the roof and he slept." 9:27 The context continues into chapter 10, where the anointing of Saul is described.