1-5 Saul despairing to find his father's asses 6-10 by the counsel of his servant 11-14 and direction of young maidens 15-17 according to God's revelation 18 comes to Samuel 19-24 Samuel entertains Saul at the feast 25-27 Samuel, after secret communication, brings Saul on his way

Kish 1Sa 14:51 1Ch 8:30-33 9:36-39 Ac 13:21

Cis
a Benjamite. or, the son of a man of Jeminin
power. or, substance 1Sa 25:2 2Sa 19:32 Job 1:3

2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

choice 1Sa 16:7 Ge 6:2 2Sa 14:25,26 Jer 9:23

from his shoulders 1Sa 10:23 17:4 Nu 13:33

3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

1Sa 10:2 Jud 5:10 10:4

4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.

mount Jud 17:1 19:1

Shalisha 2Ki 4:42

Shalim Ge 33:18 Joh 3:23

5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.

Zuph 1Sa 1:1

take thought 1Sa 10:2 Mt 6:25,28,34 Lu 12:11,22

6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go.

city 1Sa 2:27 De 33:1 1Ki 13:1 2Ki 6:6 1Ti 6:11

an honourable 1Th 2:10 5:13

all that he saith 1Sa 3:19,20 Isa 44:26 Zec 1:5,6 Mt 24:35

7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

what shall Jud 6:18 13:15-17 1Ki 14:3 2Ki 4:42 5:5 8:8

spent in [heb] gone out of, etc.
there is not We are not to suppose from this that the prophets took money to predict future events: Saul only refers to an invariable custom, that no man approached a superior without some present or another, however small in value. Dr. Pococle tells us of a present of fifty radishes! Other authors mention a flower, an orange, or similar trifles; and Mr., Bruce says, that one who wished to solicit a favour from him, presented him with a about a score of dates! `I mention this trifling circumstance,' say Mr. B. `to shew how essential to human and civil intercourse presents are considered to be in the East; whether it be dates, or whether it be diamonds, they are so much a part of their manners, that without them, an inferior will never be at peace in his own mind, or thing that he has hold of his superior for protection. But superiors give no presents to their inferiors.' Presents then are tokens of honour; not intended as offers of payment or enrichment.

have we [heb] is with us.

8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

I have here at hand. [heb] there is found in my hand.

9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

enquire Ge 25:22 Jud 1:1

a Seer 2Sa 24:11 2Ki 17:13 1Ch 26:28 29:29 2Ch 16:7,10 Isa 29:10 30:10 Am 7:12

10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

Well said. [heb] Thy word is good. 2Ki 5:13,14

11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

the hill to the city [heb] in the ascent of the city
found Ge 24:11,18-20 Ex 2:16 Jud 5:11

12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:

sacrifice. or, feast 1Sa 16:2 Ge 31:54 De 12:6,7 1Co 5:7,8

the high place 1Ki 3:2-4 1Ch 16:39

13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

he doth bless Mt 26:26 Mr 6:41 Lu 24:30 Joh 6:11,23 1Co 10:30 1Ti 4:4

this time [heb] to-day

14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.

15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

the Lord 1Sa 9:17 15:1 Ps 25:14 Am 3:7 Mr 11:2-4 14:13-16 Ac 13:21 27:23

told Samuel in his ear. [heb] revealed the ear of Samuel 1Sa 20:2 2Sa 7:27 Job 33:16

16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

thou shalt 1Sa 10:1 15:1 16:3 1Ki 19:15,16 2Ki 9:3-6

looked upon Ex 2:23-25 3:7-9 Ps 25:18 106:44

17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

Behold 1Sa 16:6-12 Ho 13:11

reign over [heb] restrain in 1Sa 3:13 2Sa 23:6,7 Ne 13:19,25 Ac 13:21 Ro 13:3,4

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.

19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.

the seer The word roaih literally signifies one who sees; particularly preternatural sights. a seer and a prophet were the same in most cases; only with this difference, the seer was always a prophet, but the prophet was not always a seer. A seer seems to imply one who frequently met with and saw some symbolical representation of God. All prophets, true or false, profess to see God (see Nu 24:4,16 Jer. 14:4) and diviners, in their enthusiastic flights, boasted that they had those things exhibited to their sight which should come to pass.

and will tell Joh 4:29 1Co 14:25

20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

three days ago. [heb] to-day three days 1Sa 9:3

set not 1Sa 4:20 1Ch 29:3 Ps 62:10 Col 3:2

on whom 1Sa 8:5,19 12:13,15

21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

a Benjamite Jud 20:46-48 Ps 68:27

my family 1Sa 10:27 15:17 18:18,23 Jud 6:14,15 Ho 13:1 Lu 14:11 Eph 3:8

so to me [heb] according to his word.

22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.

in the chiefest Ge 43:32 Lu 14:10

23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

Bring 1Sa 1:5 Ge 43:34

24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

the shoulder Probably the shoulder was set before Saul, not because it was the best part, but because it was an emblem of the government to which he was now called (See is 9:6) le 7:32,33 eze 24:4

left. or, reserved

25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

And when 1Sa 9:13

the top De 22:8 2Sa 11:2 Ne 8:16 Jer 19:13 Mt 10:27 Ac 10:9

26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

Samuel Saul had no doubt slept there all night, as is usual in the East; and now, being the break of day, `Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house:' there was no calling him to the top of the house a second time; he was sleeping there, and Samuel called him up.

Up Ge 19:14 44:4 Jos 7:13 Jud 19:28

27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God.

Bid the servant 1Sa 20:38,39 Joh 15:14,15

a while [heb] to-day
that I may 1Sa 15:16 2Ki 9:5,6