View 1st Samuel 9 in the note window.
A short account of Saul, ver. 1, 2.
Seeking his father's asses, he is advised to consult Samuel, ver. 3 - 10.
He is directed to him, ver. 11 - 14.
Samuel being informed of God concerning him, treats him with respect,
and prepares him for the news, that he must be king, ver. 15 - 27.
2: Goodly - Comely and personable. Higher - A tall stature was
much valued in a king in ancient times, and in the eastern countries.
3: The asses - Which were there of great price, because of the
scarcity of horses, and therefore not held unworthy of Saul's seeking,
at least in those ancient times, when simplicity, humility, and industry
were in fashion among persons of quality.
6: Honourable men - One of great reputation for his skill and
faithfulness. Acquaintance with God and serviceableness to the kingdom of
God, makes men truly honourable. The way - The course we should take to
find the asses. He saith, peradventure, because he doubted whether so
great a prophet would seek, or God would grant him a revelation concerning
such mean matters: although sometimes God was pleased herein to condescend
to his people, to cut off all pretence or occasion of seeking to heathenish
divination.
7: A present - Presents were then made to the prophets, either as a
testimony of respect: or, as a grateful acknowledgement: or, for the support
of the Prophets themselves: or, of the sons of the prophets: or, of other
persons in want, known to them.
9: Seer - Because he discerned and could discover things secret and
unknown to others. And these are the words, either of some later sacred
writer, who after Samuel's death, inserted this verse. Or, of
Samuel, who, being probably fifty or sixty years old at the writing of
this book, and speaking of the state of things in his first days, might
well call it before time.
12: Came to - day to the city - He had been travelling abroad, and was
now returned to his own house in Ramah.
High place - Upon the hill mentioned ver.(11), and near the altar which
Samuel built for this use.
13: Find him - At home and at leisure. To eat - The relicks of the
sacrifices. Doth bless - The blessing of this sacrifice seems to have
consisted both of thanksgiving, this being a thank - offering, and of prayer
to God for its acceptance.
15: His ear - That is, secretly, perhaps by a still small voice.
16: Philistines - For though they were now most pressed with the
Ammonites, yet they looked upon these as a land - flood, soon up, and soon
down again: but the Philistines, their constant and nearest enemies,
they most dreaded. And from these did Saul in some measure save them,
and would have saved them much more, if his and the people's sins had not
hindered.
20: On whom - Who is he that shall be that, which all Israel
desire to have, namely, a king. Father's house - That honour is designed
for thee, and, after thy death, for thy family or posterity, is by thy sin
thou dost not cut off the entail.
21: The smallest - For so indeed this was, having been all cut off
except six hundred, (Jdg 20:46-48), which blow they never recovered,
and therefore they were scarce reckoned as an entire tribe, but only as a
remnant of a tribe; and being ingrafted into Judah, in the division
between the ten tribes and the two, they in some sort lost their name, and
together with Judah were accounted but one tribe.
22: Chief place - Thereby to raise their expectation, and to prepare
them for giving that honour to Saul, which his approaching dignity
required.
24: I said - When I first spake that I had invited the people to join
with me in my sacrifice, and then to partake with me of the feast, I then
bade the cook reserve this part for thy use.
25: Communed - Concerning the kingdom designed for him by God.
27: Pass on - That thou and I may speak privately of the matter or
the kingdom. Which Samuel hitherto endeavoured to conceal, lest he
should be thought now to impose a king upon them, as before he denied one
to them; and that it might appear by the lot mentioned in the next chapter,
that the kingdom was given to Saul by God's destination, and not by
Samuel's contrivance. Word of God - That is, a message delivered to
me from God, which now I shall impart to thee.
