1 SAMUEL LESSON 9


     We will begin this lesson in I Samuel 9:1 "Now there was a man of
Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror,
the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of
power."

     Kish is the father of Saul, who became king. He was a very
wealthy Benjamite. Kish was the son of Ner and the grandson of Abiel.
The names given above are in the ancestry of Saul. The penman,
sometimes, skips a generation and calls a grandson a son. The name
"Kish" means bow.  "Abiel" means father of strength.  "Zeror" means
bundle.  "Bechorath" means offspring of the first birth. "Aphiah"
means refreshed.

     I Samuel 9:2 "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."

     "Saul" means asked. The Israelites would accept someone who was
physically attractive and larger than his fellows. We find that Saul
was a head taller than anyone else in the land. He looked like they
thought a king ought to look. Israel wanted an earthly king. He will
not only be their king, but will look like he is suited to be king.

     I Samuel 9:3 "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."

     The asses were used for riding. They were valuable to their
owners, since they were their mode of transportation. Saul was grown,
or his father would not have sent him to look for the animals. The
reason for taking a servant with him, was to help him catch them, and
bring them home. Of course, we know the LORD set this situation up for
His purposes.

     I Samuel 9:4 "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."

     This is speaking of the long mountain range of which mount
Ephraim is a part. It would be like the asses to go up the side of the
mountain. It seemed, that Saul lived at the foot of the mountain
range.

     I Samuel 9:5 "[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."

     The father was a wealthy man, and he would not be terribly
distressed that they did not find the asses. He would, however, be
disturbed, if Saul does not return. They have been gone a long time
looking, and Saul tells the servant it is time to give up hunting the
asses, and go home.

     I Samuel 9:6 "And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in
this city a man of God, and [he is] an honourable man; all that he
saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he
can shew us our way that we should go."

     The servant is, probably, speaking of Samuel in the city of
Ramah.  Samuel had a reputation among the people as being anointed of
God. He truly was an honorable man. He was upright before the LORD.
The servant believes that the LORD might tell Samuel where Saul's
father's asses are, so he will not go home empty-handed.

     I Samuel 9:7 "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?"

     Saul wanted to take an offering to the man of God, if he inquired
of him where to search for the asses. They had not planned to do this
when they left home, so they really have nothing to offer Samuel. They
had been out so long, they had even eaten their bread.

     I Samuel 9:8 "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."

     It is interesting, to me, that it was the servant who had a
fourth part of a shekel of silver. This would be a much better
offering, than the bread would have been.

     I Samuel 9:9 "(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.)"

     A seer, in this particular verse, is the same as a prophet.
Prophets were anointed of the LORD. They had spiritual visiona as well
as physical visions. That is why they were known as seers. The word
"nabi" really meant a prophet, however.

     I Samuel 9:10 "Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come,
let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God [was]."

     Saul was agreeable to the servant's plan. The city, here, is
Ramah, and the man of God is Samuel.

     I Samuel 9:11   "[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?"

     It seems that Ramah, was on a hill. This is what the statement
"went up the hill" means. It appears, the young women went to the well
for water, and Saul and his servant passed them on the way.  Saul
asked them, how they might find Samuel?

     I Samuel 9:12 "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:"

     It seemed that, everyone kept up with where Samuel was. They
immediately answer, that he is here. Saul must hurry to catch him. If
Saul and his servant will continue on straight ahead, they will find
him. The high places were accepted at this time as an appropriate
place to worship. It seems, Samuel had built an altar in this high
place to sacrifice. When the temple in Jerusalem is built, later on,
it would be wrong to sacrifice in the high places. God is the Creator
of the universe, but sometimes people look at the beauty of the
natural things God created, and want to worship them. We must worship
God, and nothing, or no one else.

     I Samuel 9:13 "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."

     If they hurry, they will be able to catch him. It appears that,
this sacrifice was to be eaten by Samuel and the people. Samuel is
still in town. The people will not start the feast without Samuel, so
it will not be a problem, if he is late.

     I Samuel 9:14 "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."

     It seemed that, Samuel was just leaving to go to the high place,
when Saul and his servant came into the city. They seem to meet at the
city gate.

     I Samuel 9:15  "Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day
before Saul came, saying," I Samuel 9:16 "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."

     It is so beautiful, to me, that even though the Israelites have
rejected the LORD as their King, He still loves them, and hears their
cry for help. The statement "told Samuel in his ear" means that this
was a private conversation God had with Samuel. It was as if God
whispered a secret to Samuel. Samuel would have been expecting whoever
the Benjamite is. He, now, realizes it is Saul. Saul has not asked to
be king. He is innocently looking for his father's lost asses. Saul
would look like a strong leader, because of his height. Samuel was to
anoint Saul as leader.

     I Samuel 9:17 "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."

     God left no question in the mind of Samuel, that this man was the
one. He told Samuel, this is the man to lead the people.

     I Samuel 9:18 "Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and
said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house [is]."

     We know, from this question, that Samuel looked no different than
anyone else, even if he did have such power and authority. Saul asks
Samuel, if he knows where the seer lives?

     I Samuel 9:19 "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."

     Saul had not expected this answer. He just wanted to know where
he could find his father's animals. Samuel shows Saul great honor, by.
asking him to eat of the sacrifice with him. Samuel, also, tells Saul
he will tell him all that is in his heart. How could Saul refuse such
an offer from such a noted man of God?

     I Samuel 9:20 "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?"

     Saul had never mentioned to Samuel about the asses. He would be
surprised, that Samuel knows of that. He would, now, be convinced that
Samuel was a man of God, because he told him of the asses, without
being asked. I like the question Samuel asked him. Will the finding of
the animals save Israel from the Philistines? The good of all Israel
will lie on the shoulders of Saul. God has called Saul to a much
greater work than chasing animals. The animals were lost, to put Saul
in this place at this time. The animals are no more a problem. They
are found.

     I Samuel 9:21 "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?"

     It appears, from this, that Saul was an humble man. The Benjamite
tribe had been reduced to just 600 men and grew from that. They are,
indeed, a very small tribe. Saul finds it hard to believe, that God
would call him to be king.  His family is not of great importance
either. This is who God calls, though. He does not want someone who is
powerful in his own right. God wants someone who will be strong in the
power of the LORD.

     I Samuel 9:22 "And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought
them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among
them that were bidden, which [were] about thirty persons."

     Samuel is showing great honor to Saul. This guest chamber was
where Samuel would eat his part of the feast. It appears, there were
thirty chosen to share the feast with him. The other people would eat
out in the open. Not only, did he invite Saul and his servant to eat
with him, but he gave them the place of the honored guest.

     I Samuel 9:23 "And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion
which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee."

     From the time that God whispered in Samuel's ear about Saul, the
special portion had been set aside for Saul.

     I Samuel 9:24 "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 was a special piece, which would have been set
before the anointed of God. The cook set this before Saul, and Samuel
told him to eat. It appears that, Samuel had chosen the thirty to
witness the new king of all Israel.

     I Samuel 9:25  "And when they were come down from the high place
into the city, [Samuel] communed with Saul upon the top of the house."

     The top of the houses were flat where people went to party, or
have meetings of various kinds. This was a private place where Samuel
could talk to Saul. Perhaps, Samuel was relating to Saul the need for
him as a leader of the people at this time.

     I Samuel 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."

     It appears, from this, that Saul had spent the night. This is
speaking of early in the morning. The housetop meeting was for Samuel
to speak once more with Saul. Saul must go home, so his father would
not worry that he was lost, or overtaken by evil men.

     I Samuel 9:27 "[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 shew thee the
word of God."

     The servant was told to go ahead, so Samuel could speak privately
with Saul. Samuel had never revealed to Saul that God would make him
king of Israel. The showing of the Word of God, here is speaking of
Samuel telling Saul what God's will was for his life. In the next
lesson, Samuel will anoint Saul with the oil.


                        1 Samuel 9 Questions


1.  Who is Kish?
2.  What tribe was he from?
3.  What does the name "Kish" mean?
4.  What does "Abiel" mean?
5.  What does the name "Saul" mean?
6.  Saul was a ______ taller than his fellows.
7.  What would the people think Saul looked like?
8.  What was lost, that Kish sent Saul to find?
9.  The ________ were used for riding.
10. What area is verse 4 speaking of?
11. Why did Saul mention to the servant, they must turn and go home?
12. What does the servant say to Saul?
13. Who is the servant speaking of?
14. Where does he live?
15. What does the servant believe Samuel might tell them?
16. Why did Saul think they should not inquire of Samuel?
17. What did the servant have, that would make a nice gift for the man
    of God?
18. What had the prophet been called earlier?
19. Who did Saul inquire of, where he might find Samuel?
20. Why did they tell Saul to hurry?
21. When would it become wrong to sacrifice in the high places?
22. Where did Saul find Samuel?
23. What does "told Samuel in his ear" mean?
24. _______ told Samuel that Saul was the man to lead the people.
25. What does Saul ask Samuel in verse 18?
26. How did Samuel answer him?
27. What did Samuel ask Saul to do?
28. What had happened to his father's asses?
29. The good of all Israel will lay on the shoulders of ________.
30. What excuses does Saul give to Samuel, saying he is not worthy?
31. Where did Saul eat the feast?
32. What did Samuel tell the cook to do for Saul?
33. Where does verse 25 say Samuel communed with Saul?
34. Why did Samuel tell the servant to go ahead?
35. What is Samuel showing Saul about the Word of God?