1 Samuel 9

1 Samuel 9:1

KIsh] Chap. 14. 51. 1 Chron. 8. 33.

a Benjamie] Or, the son of a man of Jemini. power] Or, substance.

1 Samuel 9:2

a choice man] That is, a man singularly adorned with gifts both of body and minde.

higher then any, &c.] Chap. 20, 23.

1 Samuel 9:3

were lost] Which happened by Gods speciall providence, that hereby Saul might be brought to Samuel, and by him be anoynted king.

1 Samuel 9:4

Shalisha] A plain or champion countrey in the tribe of Benjamin, 2. King. 4. 44.

land of Shalim] Which also lay in the tribe of Benjamin, and in it Salim, a city not far from Gilgal by Jordan, spoken of, John 4:23.

1 Samuel 9:5

land of Zuph] Where was Ramath-zophin the city of Samuel.

1 Samuel 9:6

a man of God] That is, a prophet; to wit, Samuel. See Judg. 13. 6.

shew us our way] That is, what way we must take to finde our asses.

1 Samuel 9:7

bring the man] That is, what present shall we give him, according to the common custome, which was, To bring unto the prophet some present; not as the wages of his divination, but as an honourable or civill gratitude, to testifie thankfulnesse, 1 Kin. 14. 3. 2 Kin. 4. 42. and 8. 8. Judg. 13. 17.

the bread] That is, all our provision of victualls for our journey.

is spent] Hebr. is gone out of, &c.

in our vessells] That is, in our scrips or wallets.

have we] Hebr. is with us.

1 Samuel 9:8

I have here at hand] Hebr. there is found in my hand. That is, in my hand or in my purse.

of a shekel] That is, a piece of the value of 7d. ob. the whole shekel amounting to half an ounce of silver, or, 2s. 6d. of our money: a poor present, onely to testifie thankfulnesse.

1 Samuel 9:9

to the seer] So called, because he foresaw things to come, which God by visions revealed unto him, Numbers 12:6. and Numbers 24:4.

Well said] Hebr. Thy word is good.

1 Samuel 9:10

to the city] That is, to Ramah, where Samuel dwelt.

1 Samuel 9:11

the hill to the City] Heb. in the ascent of the city.

1 Samuel 9:12

he is before you] Not meaning that he was so going before them, as that he was in their sight at that time; but that he was in the city neer hand, so as they might soon and easily see him. See v. 13.

is a sacrifice] Or, feast. It was lawfull for holy prophets, immediately inspired, to offer sacrifices, especially peace-offerings and sacrifices of thanksgiving, upon extraordinary occasions, upon altars erected in other places besides the tabernacle, 1 Samuel 7:9. 16. 5. See Judges 21:4. especially at this time, when the ark, which was (as it were) the soul of the tabernacle, was not resident in it. But it seemeth that this here spoken of was rather a feast after the offering, then a sacrifice, at which the people met to rejoyce before the LORD, and to praise him for his blessing, Genesis 31:54. 1 Kings 19:21.

in the high place] For in those times they made choice of high and eminent places for their publike feasts, and also for religious service; which continued till the building of the temple, 1 Kings 3:2. and afterwards were condemned as unlawfull, and therefore to be taken away.

1 Samuel 9:13

to eat] That is, to feast, and not to sacrifice.

he doth blesse] That is, by prayer and thanksgiving, Deuteronomy 8:10. 1. Tim. 4. 4. and after the blessing distribute the meat, as their manner was. See Luke 27:30.

the sacrifice] That is, the meat reserved after the offering, for the priests and people to furnish their feast. See Chap. 1. 4. or the meat provided for the feast, without a sacrifice.

this time] Heb. to day.

1 Samuel 9:14

Samuel came out] Being directed by God so to do, v. 15.

1 Samuel 9:15

Now the Lord] Chap. 15. 1. Acts 13:21. Here he rendreth the reason of Samuel’s coming forth, and his providing this feast, namely, To entertain Saul, that he might anoynt him king.

told Samuel in his ear] Hebr. revealed the ear of Samuel. That is, had made him clearly to know. So Chap. 20. 12, 13. 2 Samuel 7:27. Job 33:16. Isaiah 22:14. 48. 8.

1 Samuel 9:16

I will send] To wit, by a secret instinct and motion of my providence, though himself knoweth not of it.

their cry] That is, their clamour, in calling for a king to be their captain.

1 Samuel 9:17

the Lord said] That is, by a secret inspiration. So Chap. 16. 8, 12.

reign] Hebr. restrain. That is, restrain them by his authority and government, from loose liberty and licencious wickednesse.

1 Samuel 9:18

in the gate] Others read it, in the midst of the gate; That is, in the midst of the city. See v. 14.

1 Samuel 9:19

all that is in thine heart] That is, all that troubleth thee, and all that thou desirest to know.

1 Samuel 9:20

three dayes ago] Hebr. to day three dayes.

set not thy minde upon them] That is, take no further care for them, nor let them trouble thy minde by thinking on them anxiously.

desire of Israel] That is, in their election of a king to rule over them, according to Gods own designation.

1 Samuel 9:21

the smallest of the tribes] That is, by reason that they were almost all slain in the quarrell about the Levites wife, Judg. 20.

so to me] Hebr. according to this word.

1 Samuel 9:22

them sit in the chiefest place] Honouring thus the servant for the masters sake, hereby intimating to all the guests, That God was purposed to advance him above all the people.

1 Samuel 9:23

said unto the cook] Whereby it appears, That Samuel knew of Suls coming, and purposely provided this speciall dish for him.

1 Samuel 9:24

is left] Or, reserved. To wit, of the peace-offering, &c.

since I said] That is, since I caused this feast to be prepared, I appointed that this best piece should be reserved for thee.

1 Samuel 9:25

And when they] That is, all the guests, after they had dined.

communed] That is, acquainted him with Gods will, that he should be king.

the top of the house] As being a place most solitary, and of greatest privacy, fittest for secret counsells and affairs of importance. Others understand it of Samuels own house, whither they went after they were come from the feast. Deuteronomy 27:8.

1 Samuel 9:26

Samuel called Saul] That he might privately talk with him about his calling to be king.

1 Samuel 9:27

Bid the servant] That is, that he may not over-hear us conferring of these weighty affairs, nor see me anointing thee king.

but stand thou still] To wit, that thou mayest with the more reverence hear Gods message, and his divine oracles, concerning thy calling to thy kingly office, the signes to confirm thy faith in the assurance of this divine vocation, and the duties which belong to thee.

a while] Hebr. to day.