Introducing Saul

I Samuel 9:1-25

“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.  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.” (I Samuel 9:1-2) 

Israel was demanding a king, rejecting God as the leader.  Among the Benjamites, there was a powerful and influential leader named Kish.   Benjamin was centrally located, and was a very small area, so he was widely known throughout Israel.   Kish’s son Saul was almost a foot taller than anybody in the country, and had been voted as the best looking man alive.  He attracted attention everywhere he went.

“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.  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. 

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.” (I Samuel 9:3-5) 

Kish’s herd of donkeys strayed from his pastures, and disappeared.  Kish sent Saul and one of his servants to find them.  They searched everywhere within a radius of about ten miles, starting in Ephraim, moving west to Dan and throughout the land of Benjamin before moving south into Judah’s land.  Not finding the herd after days of searching, Saul worried that his father might be worried about why they had been gone so long, and told the servant they needed to go home.

“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 show us our way that we should go.” (I Samuel 9:6) 

The servant knew Samuel’s reputation and suggested they visit him to see if he had any useful information since they were so close.

“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? 

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.  (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.)” (I Samuel 9:7-9) 

Recognizing that Samuel’s time was valuable, Saul was concerned they had nothing to pay for his time as their food was depleted and they hadn’t brought anything to pay for information.  The servant said he had a couple dollars worth of change if he’d consider it.   Notice the use of the word seer or see-er, referring to one who sees beyond normal things.  Samuel had been known as a prophet before he became a judge.

“Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.  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? 

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: 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.

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.” (I Samuel 9:10-14) 

Besides his home office in Ramah, Samuel also maintained satellite offices in Bethel, Mizpeh and Gilgal.  Saul and the servant asked some of the girls whether Samuel was in town.  They were informed that he was in town for a special sacrifice, and that if they hurried they would catch him before he got involved in it.  They arrived just a s Samuel was leaving to conduct the ceremony.

“Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 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.  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.” (I Samuel 9:15-17)

God had already warned Samuel that a man was coming and told him that he was to be anointed as king over Israel, to help protect them from the Philistines.  Now God told Samuel that Saul was the person he had told him about.

“Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is. 

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.  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?” (I Samuel 9:18-20) 

Saul didn’t know Samuel and asked him where this house was.  Samuel introduced himself and asked him to attend the ceremony with him, volunteering that the donkeys they were looking for had already been found, so they didn’t need to worry about them anymore.  He concluded by telling Saul that the entire nation of Israel was wanting him.

“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?” (I Samuel 9:21)

At the time Saul had no special sense of entitlement or destiny.  He knew his father was respected, but he thought it was just the same way everyone else was.   He saw himself as pretty ordinary, in a relatively unimportant family, so Samuel’s comment about All Israel wanting him seemed unlikely.

“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.  And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 

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.  And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.” (I Samuel 9:22-25)

Samuel brought Saul into a meeting with about thirty of the leaders of Israel, giving him the most prestigious seat in the house, and giving him a special serving of the most desirable food to emphasize his importance to the leaders.  It was a startling introduction that would prepare them for accepting him as king.  That night, Saul and Samuel spend hours privately discussing what was needed on top of the house.