1 Samuel 9 · WEB
Saul Goes Looking for Donkeys; Meets Samuel
Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.
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Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a mighty man of valor.
2He had a son whose name was Saul, an impressive young man. Among the children of Israel there was not a more impressive person than he. He was a head taller than any of the people.
3The donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the donkeys."
4He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they didn't find them; then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they weren't there. He passed through the land of the Benjaminites, but they didn't find them.
5When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let's return; otherwise my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us."
6He said to him, "Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says comes to pass. Let's go there now. Perhaps he can tell us which way we should go."
7Then Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our bags, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"
8The servant answered Saul again and said, "Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way."
9(In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, "Come, let's go to the seer," for he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer.)
10Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said. Come, let's go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young women going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?"
12They answered them and said, "He is. Behold, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.
13As soon as you have entered the city, you will immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited will eat. Now therefore go up, for you will find him right away."
14They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place.
15Now Yahweh had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying,
16"Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked on my people, because their cry has come to me."
17When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, "Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This same shall have authority over my people."
18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
19Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.
20As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don't set your mind on them; for they have been found. For whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?"
21Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?"
22Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the hall, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.
23Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, 'Set it aside.'"
24The cook took up the thigh and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, "Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, when I said I had invited the people." So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25When they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof.
26They arose early; and at daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, "Get up, so I may send you away." Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel.
27As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to pass on ahead of us (and he passed on), but you stand still first, that I may cause you to hear God's word."
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Summary
A tall, impressive young Benjaminite named Saul sets out to find his father's lost donkeys and is guided by his servant to consult the prophet Samuel. Unknown to Saul, God had already told Samuel that the man coming to him was to be Israel's first king. Samuel welcomes Saul with honor, seats him at the head of the feast, and reserves the best portion for him — indicating that God has already chosen him. The chapter closes with Samuel about to reveal Saul's destiny.
Themes
- Divine providence working through ordinary events
- God's preparation of a leader before the leader knows
- Human appearance vs. God's hidden purposes
- The humility of the chosen before their calling
Key verses
- 1 Sam 9:16 — “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel.”
- 1 Sam 9:2 — “Among the children of Israel there was not a more impressive person than he. He was a head taller than any of the people.”
- 1 Sam 9:21 — “Am I not a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?”
Context & background
The hill country of Ephraim, Shalisha, and Shaalim were all in the central highlands of what is modern Israel and the West Bank. Saul was from Gibeah of Benjamin (modern Tel el-Ful, West Bank, just north of Jerusalem). Benjamin was the smallest tribe and had nearly been destroyed in a civil war recorded in Judges 19-21 — Saul's humility about his tribe reflects genuine social reality. The narrative ironically notes that the donkeys were already found before Saul even arrives at Samuel — God's providence was already at work before anyone sought it.
Cross-references
- 1 Sam 10:1 — Samuel anoints Saul the next morning, completing what this chapter sets up.
- 1 Sam 16:7 — The contrast between Saul's impressive appearance and God's later choice of David is set up here.
- Judg 6:15 — Gideon similarly protests his small clan when called by God.
- Prov 16:9 — "A man's heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps."
- Rom 8:28 — "All things work together for good" — even lost donkeys become the occasion for God's plans.