1Sa 9:1-5 | Clarke | STEP | Saul's lineage and description; he is sent by his father to seek some lost asses, . Not finding them, he purposes to go and consult Samuel concerning the proper method of proceeding, . The Lord informs Samuel that he should anoint Saul king, , . Samuel invites Saul to dine with him, and informs him that the asses are found; and gives him an intimation that he is to be king, . Saul dines with Samuel, and afterwards he is taken to the house-top, where both commune together, . Verse 1 A mighty man of power - Literally, a strong man; this appears to be the only power he possessed; and the physical strength of the father may account for the extraordinary size of the son. See .

1 Samuel 9:1-5

Introduction

Saul's lineage and description; he is sent by his father to seek some lost asses, 1Sam 9:1-5. Not finding them, he purposes to go and consult Samuel concerning the proper method of proceeding, 1Sam 9:6-14. The Lord informs Samuel that he should anoint Saul king, 1Sam 9:15, 1Sam 9:16. Samuel invites Saul to dine with him, and informs him that the asses are found; and gives him an intimation that he is to be king, 1Sam 9:17-21. Saul dines with Samuel, and afterwards he is taken to the house-top, where both commune together, 1Sam 9:22-27.

Verse 1

A mighty man of power - Literally, a strong man; this appears to be the only power he possessed; and the physical strength of the father may account for the extraordinary size of the son. See 1Sam 9:2. Verse 2

From his shoulders and upwards - It was probably from this very circumstance that he was chosen for king; for, where kings were elective, in all ancient times great respect was paid to personal appearance. Verse 3

The asses of Kish - were lost - What a wonderful train of occurrences were connected in order to bring Saul to the throne of Israel! Every thing seems to go on according to the common course of events, and yet all conspired to favor the election of a man to the kingdom who certainly did not come there by the approbation of God.

Asses grow to great perfection in the East; and at this time, as there were no horses in Judea, they were very useful; and on them kings and princes rode. Verse 5

Were come to the land of Zuph - Calmet supposes that Saul and his servant went from Gibeah to Shalisha, in the tribe of Dan; from thence to Shalim, near to Jerusalem; and thence, traversing the tribe of Benjamin, they purposed to return to Gibeah; but passing through the land of Zuph, in which Ramatha, the country of Samuel, was situated, they determined to call on this prophet to gain some directions from him; the whole of this circuit he supposes to have amounted to no more than about twenty-five leagues, or three days' journey. We do not know where the places were situated which are here mentioned: the Targum translates thus: "And he passed through the mount of the house of Ephraim, and went into the southern land, but did not meet with them. And he passed through the land of Mathbera, but they were not there; and he passed through the land of the tribe of Benjamin, but did not find them; then they came into the land where the prophet of the Lord dwelt. And Saul said to his servant," etc.