|
|
Saul Chosen to Be King
9 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.
When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today 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. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.” So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.
Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed to Samuel: “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s house?” Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”
Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’” So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”
So Saul ate with Samuel that day. And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.
As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”
(ESV)
1 Samuel 9 Commentary
In 1 Samuel 9, we are introduced to a young man from the tribe of Benjamin named Saul. His father, Kish, sent him to find their lost donkeys (1 Samuel 9:1-5). After an unsuccessful search, Saul’s servant suggested seeking guidance from a respected man of God, Samuel (1 Samuel 9:6-10). Upon arriving in the city, they learned Samuel was there for a sacrifice (1 Samuel 9:11-14).
The day before, God had told Samuel to expect a man from Benjamin to be Israel’s ruler (1 Samuel 9:15-17). When Saul met Samuel, the prophet invited him to a meal, assured him the donkeys were found, and hinted at his future importance. This was surprising to Saul (1 Samuel 9:18-21). At the banquet, Saul was given a seat of honor and a special portion of food (1 Samuel 9:22-24). After a private conversation that night, Samuel sent Saul’s servant ahead to reveal God’s message to him (1 Samuel 9:25-27).
Saul: A Mixed Bag
God granted Israel’s demand for a king by giving them Saul, whose portrayal is both positive and negative. On the positive side, he was wealthy, physically impressive, and a capable leader in battle. He came from a family of prominence. His father was most likely a feudal lord – a landowner and a leader in times of war. Saul was handsome and striking in his appearance, being taller than all the rest. On the negative side, he was linked to a corrupt tribe, spiritually ignorant, and at times irrational.
Again we see the narrator of 1 Samuel making comparisons. This time it is between Saul and Samuel. Both had detailed genealogies, rose from obscurity, and led Israel in battle. However, while Samuel exemplified submission to God, Saul demonstrated opposition to God – something we will see more of in the book of 1 Samuel.
King Or Something Else?
An interesting detail to consider is the phrase “prince over my people” (ESV) in 1 Samuel 9:16. Notice, God does not say ‘king’ or ‘royal heir.’ The Hebrew word used here nagid (נָגִיד) can also mean ‘ruler’ or ‘leader.’ The KJV uses the word ‘captain.’ The Hebrew word translated ‘king’ was melek (מֶלֶךְ) but Scripture does not use that word here to describe Saul. Why?
The royal line was with Judah (Gen 49:9-10). This detail implies that Saul’s role was more of a designated leader or ruler rather than an absolute monarch. The term nagid suggests a role of leadership, but with underlying irony. The Lord repeatedly refers to Israel as “my people,” emphasizing that despite Saul’s authority, Israel remains God’s possession. All of this reflects how Saul’s leadership would ultimately hinder Israel.
This choice of wording foreshadows what is to come with Saul’s later rejection when he fails to follow God’s commands. This contrasts with David, who is later described as “a man after God’s own heart,” and whose kingship is established with a lasting covenant.
All of this was due to the people’s impatience with wanting a king like the other nations and deciding that they no longer would view God as their rightful King. This does not mean, however, that God was not involved in the decision. In fact, He would be the one to choose Saul so the people could experience what happens when they take matters into their own hands.
As Robert D. Bergen notes, in 1 Samuel 9:17, the Hebrew verb ʿṣr, translated as “govern,” can also mean “restrain/hold back/hinder” or even “imprison,” with its core meaning being “to restrain/constrict.” This, again, suggests that Saul’s leadership would ultimately hinder Israel’s welfare rather than strengthen it.
“In fact, 9:17 is the only location in Scripture where the word can be taken to mean “rule.” By employing the verb here, the writer was suggesting that the Lord had determined to use Saul’s career as a means of punishing the nation. Saul would literally fulfill the various meanings of this verb. Even as he governed Israel, his policies and behavior would hinder the welfare of the nation and act as a sort of barrier separating Israel from God’s best for them.
The New American Commentary
“He didn’t step off His throne just because Israel asked Him to. He would indeed give them a king, but He would send a flawed king to a flawed Israel.”
David Guzik
Application
This narrative serves as an important reminder for us today. Like Israel, we too can act out of impatience, seeking immediate solutions to our problems or desiring things that seem right in our own eyes. We often do this without fully considering whether they align with God’s will for our lives. God may give us what we think we want, but that doesn’t mean it’s always what we truly need. Saul’s reign, while initially promising, would end in disaster for both him and Israel because his leadership was not rooted in knowing God. His failure was not just in military matters, but in spiritual blindness, which ultimately affected the people of Israel.
In our own lives, we can sometimes push for things we think we need. Whether it’s a job, a relationship, or a particular outcome, we do it because it seems like the right path in the moment. God may allow us to go down that road, not as a sign of approval, but as a way of showing us that what we thought was best for us was actually a hindrance to our growth or His greater plan. The experience of Israel’s kingship can challenge us to seek God’s will more fully and trust in His timing, knowing that He sees beyond what we can see and has a better plan for us than we could ever imagine.
As believers, this passage calls us to ask ourselves a tough question. Are we pursuing what God has for us, or are we settling for something less just because it fits our immediate desires? Trusting in God’s provision and timing can help us avoid the consequences of a “king” that restrains our spiritual growth rather than helping it.
