# 1 Samuel 09 📖: Saul Meets Samuel [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-1 Samuel Overview]] | [[1 Samuel 08]] | [[1 Samuel 10]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### Samuel Meets with Saul [[#Verse 01.]] There was a Benjaminite man named Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. Kish was a prominent person.  [[#Verse 02.]] He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he was; he stood head and shoulders above all the people. [[#Verse 03.]] The donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, so Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys.”  [[#Verse 04.]] So Saul crossed through the hill country of Ephraim, passing through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. So they crossed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he crossed through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them. [[#Verse 05.]] When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come on, let’s head back before my father quits worrying about the donkeys and becomes anxious about us!” [[#Verse 06.]] But the servant said to him, “Look, there is a man of God in this town. He is highly respected. Everything that he says really happens. Now let’s go there. Perhaps he will tell us where we should go from here.” [[#Verse 07.]] So Saul said to his servant, “All right, we can go. But what can we bring the man, since the food in our bags is used up? We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”  [[#Verse 08.]] The servant went on to answer Saul, “Look, I happen to have in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us where we should go.”  [[#Verse 09.]] (Now it used to be in Israel that whenever someone went to inquire of God he would say, “Come on, let’s go to the seer.” For today’s prophet used to be called a seer.)  [[#Verse 10.]] So Saul said to his servant, “That’s a good idea! Come on. Let’s go.” So they went to the town where the man of God was. [[#Verse 11.]] As they were going up the ascent to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water. They said to them, “Is this where the seer is?”  [[#Verse 12.]] They replied, “Yes, straight ahead! But hurry now, for he came to the town today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place.  [[#Verse 13.]] When you enter the town, you can find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he arrives, for he must bless the sacrifice. Once that happens, those who have been invited will eat. Now go on up, for this is the time when you can find him.” [[#Verse 14.]] So they went up to the town. As they were heading for the middle of the town, Samuel was coming in their direction to go up to the high place.  [[#Verse 15.]] Now the day before Saul arrived, the Lord had told Samuel:  [[#Verse 16.]] “At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin. You must consecrate him as a leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked with favor on my people. Their cry has reached me.” [[#Verse 17.]] When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “Here is the man that I told you about. He will rule over my people.”  [[#Verse 18.]] As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” [[#Verse 19.]] Samuel replied to Saul, “I am the seer! Go up in front of me to the high place! Today you will eat with me and in the morning I will send you away. I will tell you everything that you are thinking. [[#Verse 20.]] Don’t be concerned about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you, and all your father’s family?” [[#Verse 21.]] Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the clans in the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?” [[#Verse 22.]] Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present.  [[#Verse 23.]] Samuel said to the cook, “Give me the portion of meat that I gave to you—the one I asked you to keep with you.” [[#Verse 24.]] So the cook picked up the leg and brought it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “What was kept is now set before you! Eat, for it has been kept for you for this meeting time, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day. [[#Verse 25.]] When they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.  [[#Verse 26.]] They got up at dawn and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, so I can send you on your way.” So Saul got up and the two of them—he and Samuel—went outside. [[#Verse 27.]] While they were going down to the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” So he did. Samuel then said, “You remain here awhile, so I can inform you of God’s message.” ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ###### Verse 24. ###### Verse 25. ###### Verse 26. ###### Verse 27. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin (9:1), the smallest tribe, which had nearly been wiped out in Judges 20-21. 2. Saul stood a head taller than anyone else (9:2), looking exactly like the kind of king the people wanted. 3. Saul's servant offered a quarter shekel of silver as a gift for the man of God (9:8). 4. The note that a prophet used to be called a "seer" (9:9) shows that the book was written or edited after this term had gone out of use. 5. Samuel blessed the sacrifice at the high place before the people ate (9:13). 6. The Lord told Samuel about Saul's arrival the day before (9:15-16). 7. God calls Saul a "leader" (Hebrew *nagid*) rather than a "king" (9:16), emphasizing that he would serve under God. 8. Samuel gave Saul the place of honor and the thigh portion that had been saved for him (9:22-24). 9. Rooftops in ancient Israel were flat and often used as places to talk or sleep (9:25-26). 10. The apostle Paul, whose Hebrew name was Saul, was also from the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the Ruler God chose to save His people. God heard Israel's cry and sent a leader to deliver them (9:16), and Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Saul went looking for lost donkeys and found a kingdom (9:3, 20). How has God used ordinary moments to lead you somewhere unexpected? 2. God told Samuel about Saul the day before he arrived (9:15-16). What does this teach about God working behind the scenes? 3. Saul saw himself as from the smallest tribe and least important family (9:21). Was this humility, insecurity, or both? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 2: Saul is described as handsome and a head taller than everyone else. - 📖 verse 16: The Lord tells Samuel He has heard His people's cry and is sending them a leader. - 📖 verse 21: Saul says he is from the smallest tribe and the least of its families. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Exodus 03#Verse 07.|Exodus 3:7-10]] - God hears His people's cry and sends a deliverer. - 🔗 [[Judges 21#Verse 01.|Judges 21:1-3]] - The tribe of Benjamin nearly lost. - 🔗 [[Acts 13#Verse 21.|Acts 13:21]] - Israel asked for a king, and God gave them Saul. - 🔗 [[Proverbs 16#Verse 09.|Proverbs 16:9]] - People plan their way, but the Lord directs their steps. - 🔗 [[Matthew 01#Verse 21.|Matthew 1:21]] - Jesus will save His people from their sins. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[1 Samuel 09 - SOAP|Why Would People Seek You Out?]] ## 📂 Internal Notes