1Sa 9:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | Saul comes from the tribe of Benjamin. From this tribe also comes the New Testament Saul or Paul ( ). They bear the same name but are further in many things the opposite of each other. The first Saul is the choice of the people, the second Saul is God’s choice. The name Benjamin means ‘son of my right hand’. The exercise of judgment is associated with that name ( ). Benjamin is by birth from the same mother connected to Joseph, the suffering son. However, Saul does not know about Joseph. Like a hard Benjamite he only knows judgment. Saul’s ancestry is given in five generations. “Saul” means ‘asked’ or ‘coveted ‘. He represents the desire of the people for a king and is the ideal of it. “Kish” means ‘entangling’, this is what the nature of a human being does. “Abiel” means ‘my father is God’, this is a confession, which in the case of Saul is only a lip confession. His origin is impressive. His father is a mighty man of valor. Saul himself also makes great impression: young, handsome, strong. God’s Spirit notes that no one among the Israelites is more handsome than he. God knows exactly what corresponds to the taste of the people. If there had been other candidates and an election had been held, the whole people would have elected him. In his work, we also see non-external characteristics come forward at the beginning of his performance, which appear sympathetic to the human eye. Thus he speaks modestly and there is affection for his father. His father also cares about him, as appears from . It shows that the family relationship is good. We also see that he treats his servant with respect. If we compare Saul with Samuel and we do so with the eyes of the people, we can conclude that Saul is the right choice. The appearance of Samuel will have stood out meagerly against the great stature of Saul. Nor are the relationships in Samuel’s family the same as they seem to be at Saul’s home. Samuel is old, at least in the eyes of the people, and Saul is young. For those who only look at the appearance, there is no need to think long about whom they will choose. In the whole appearance of Saul there is everything that meets the taste of man. Let us not be too harsh on the people. If we are honest, it is often difficult for us not to look at people. Even Samuel falls a little later in that error and must be corrected by the LORD ( ).

‏ 1 Samuel 9:1-2

Saul, His Origin and His Stature

Saul comes from the tribe of Benjamin. From this tribe also comes the New Testament Saul or Paul (Phil 3:5). They bear the same name but are further in many things the opposite of each other. The first Saul is the choice of the people, the second Saul is God’s choice. The name Benjamin means ‘son of my right hand’. The exercise of judgment is associated with that name (Gen 49:27). Benjamin is by birth from the same mother connected to Joseph, the suffering son. However, Saul does not know about Joseph. Like a hard Benjamite he only knows judgment.

Saul’s ancestry is given in five generations. “Saul” means ‘asked’ or ‘coveted ‘. He represents the desire of the people for a king and is the ideal of it. “Kish” means ‘entangling’, this is what the nature of a human being does. “Abiel” means ‘my father is God’, this is a confession, which in the case of Saul is only a lip confession.

His origin is impressive. His father is a mighty man of valor. Saul himself also makes great impression: young, handsome, strong. God’s Spirit notes that no one among the Israelites is more handsome than he. God knows exactly what corresponds to the taste of the people. If there had been other candidates and an election had been held, the whole people would have elected him.

In his work, we also see non-external characteristics come forward at the beginning of his performance, which appear sympathetic to the human eye. Thus he speaks modestly and there is affection for his father. His father also cares about him, as appears from 1Sam 9:5. It shows that the family relationship is good. We also see that he treats his servant with respect.

If we compare Saul with Samuel and we do so with the eyes of the people, we can conclude that Saul is the right choice. The appearance of Samuel will have stood out meagerly against the great stature of Saul. Nor are the relationships in Samuel’s family the same as they seem to be at Saul’s home. Samuel is old, at least in the eyes of the people, and Saul is young. For those who only look at the appearance, there is no need to think long about whom they will choose. In the whole appearance of Saul there is everything that meets the taste of man.

Let us not be too harsh on the people. If we are honest, it is often difficult for us not to look at people. Even Samuel falls a little later in that error and must be corrected by the LORD (1Sam 16:6-7).