UNROLL
Morning in the hills of Benjamin: terraced slopes folding into blue distance, and far off on a bare hillside two small donkeys wandering with trailing halter ropes.

The Book of

1 Samuel 9

A farmer’s son goes looking for lost donkeys. God has already told Samuel he is coming.

27 verses≈ 7 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–7SamuelA boy who listened
  2. 8–15SaulA king like the nationsChapter 9
  3. 16–20David risesThe LORD looks at the heart
  4. 21–27David huntedThe anointed one waits
  5. 28–31Saul fallsEndor and Gilboa

Saul Chosen as King

At the edge of his father’s barley field at Gibeah, Saul, a head taller than the three farmhands around him, stands with a plow handle in one hand looking out over the hills; Kish, older, by the field wall.

Family line

From Benjamin

  1. AphiahBecorathZerorAbielKish

    Of Benjamin

    Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.

  2. a head taller

    And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

EphraimShalishahShaalimBenjaminZuphGibeah (site uncertain)Ramah

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Looking for the donkeys

Saul and his servant set out from Gibeah and searched through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the region of Shaalim and the land of Benjamin, until they came to the land of Zuph. There a seer lived in a town the chapter does not name, probably Ramah, Samuel’s home. Next morning Saul went home by Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah, the Oak of Tabor and Gibeah of God. The sites of Shalishah, Shaalim and Zuph are uncertain.

Saul

When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”

Saul’s servant

“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”

Saul

“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

The servant answered him again.

Saul’s servant

“Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”

(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)

Question

Quick question

Saul was ready to give up and go home. His servant had an idea, and something to bring.

What did Saul’s servant have to give the man of God?

Late morning on a path climbing to a hill town: three young women with clay water jars on their shoulders come down toward a stone-rimmed spring, and tall Saul and his dusty servant stop to ask the way.

“Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was. And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?”

“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place. As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”

So Saul and his servant went up toward the city, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel, “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines.

For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

1 Samuel 9:16

When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.”

Reflect

The day before

Saul thought his day was about lost donkeys. But “on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel” that he was coming. Think of an ordinary errand or worry in your week. Where might God already be at work in it, ahead of you? Write it down, and ask Him to open your eyes to it.

Saul

Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”

Samuel

“I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And when I send you off in the morning, I will tell you all that is in your heart. As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?”

Saul

Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?”

Lamplit evening in a plain stone hall beside the hilltop high place: about thirty guests at low tables, and at the head tall Saul in his dusty tunic, startled, as a cook sets a roasted leg of meat before him; old Samuel beside him.

Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited—about thirty in all. And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.”

So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul dined with Samuel that day.

0:33

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Just before dawn on the flat roof of a stone house: old Samuel calling to tall Saul as he rises from a bedroll, gray light over the hills and the town still asleep below.

And after they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house.

They got up early in the morning, and just before dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way!” So Saul got ready, and both he and Samuel went outside together.

As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on.

you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God

1 Samuel 9:27

Pray

He hears their cry

The LORD said of His people, “I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.” Thank Him that He hears, and that He guides even through lost things and ordinary errands. Ask for humility like Saul’s first words, and for ears to hear the word of God. Lord, You go ahead of me. Let me stay long enough to listen. Amen.

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1 Samuel 9

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A verse to carry with you

For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.

1 Samuel 9:16

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