22 And Samuel H8050 took H3947 Saul H7586 and his servant, H5288 and brought H935 them into the parlour, H3957 and made them sit H5414 in the chiefest H7218 place H4725 among them that were bidden, H7121 which were about thirty H7970 persons. H376
23 And Samuel H8050 said H559 unto the cook, H2876 Bring H5414 the portion H4490 which I gave H5414 thee, of which I said H559 unto thee, Set H7760 it by thee.
24 And the cook H2876 took up H7311 the shoulder, H7785 and that which was upon it, and set H7760 it before H6440 Saul. H7586 And Samuel said, H559 Behold that which is left! H7604 set H7760 it before H6440 thee, and eat: H398 for unto this time H4150 hath it been kept H8104 for thee since I said, H559 I have invited H7121 the people. H5971 So Saul H7586 did eat H398 with Samuel H8050 that day. H3117
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 9
Commentary on 1 Samuel 9 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 9
Samuel had promised Israel, from God, that they should have a king; it is strange that the next news is not of candidates setting up for the government, making an interest in the people, or recommending themselves to Samuel, and, by him, to God, to be put in nomination. Why does not the prince of the tribe of Judah, whoever he is, look about him now, remembering Jacob's entail of the sceptre on that tribe? Is there never a bold aspiring man in Israel, to say, "I will be king, if God will choose me?' No, none appears, whether it is owing to a culpable mean-spiritedness or a laudable humility I know not; but surely it is what can scarcely be paralleled in the history of any kingdom; a crown, such a crown, set up, and nobody bids for it. Most governments began in the ambition of the prince to rule, but Israel's in the ambition of the people to be ruled. Had any of those elders who petitioned for a king afterwards petitioned to be king, I should have suspected that person's ambition to have been at the bottom of the motion; but now (let them have the praise of what was good in them) it was not so. God having, in the law, undertaken to choose their king (Deu. 17:15), they all sit still, till they hear from heaven, and that they do in this chapter, which begins the story of Saul, their first king, and, by strange steps of Providence, brings him to Samuel to be anointed privately, and so to be prepared for an election by lot, and a public commendation to the people, which follows in the next chapter. Here is,
1Sa 9:1-2
We are here told,
1Sa 9:3-10
Here is,
1Sa 9:11-17
Here,
1Sa 9:18-27
Providence having at length brought Samuel and Saul together, we have here an account of what passed between them in the gate, at the feast, and in private.