Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 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.
14. and when they were come into the city ] Rather, as they were coming into the midst of the city, behold Samuel was coming out to meet them. In the E. V. this verse apparently disagrees with 1Sa 9:18. The correct translation makes all clear. Saul and his servant ascend the hill. As they enter the city they meet Samuel “in the gate” ( 1Sa 9:18).
The Sept. reads “gate” here, and “city” in 1Sa 9:18, but the change is unnecessary.
The high place was either on the top of the hill on the slope of which the city stood, or on the adjacent hill from which the city had its name Ramathaim (“the two heights”). See note on 1Sa 1:1.
‘ Against ’ here = ‘ opposite to,’ as in Gen 15:10. So Tyndale in Gen 32:1 has “Jacob saw the angels of God come against him.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 14. Come out against them] Met them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Samuel came out; out of his own house, just as they passed by.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. Samuel came out against them,for to go up to the high placeSuch were the simple manners ofthe times that this prophet, the chief man in Israel, was seen goingto preside at a high festival undistinguished either by his dress orequipage from any ordinary citizen.
1Sa9:15-27. GOD REVEALSTO SAMUEL SAUL’SCOMING, AND HISAPPOINTMENT TO THEKINGDOM.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they went up into the city,…. Saul and his servant went up the hill to the city of Ramah: and
when they were come into the city; were within it, within the walls of it;
behold, Samuel came out against them; came out of a door of his house upon them, just as they came up: or “to meet them” i; his way to the high place lay where they were coming; unless it can be thought he went out purposely to meet them, having, as in the following verse, an intimation, that about that time one from the tribe of Benjamin, who should be king, would come to him, and so made this his way, knowing that one coming from that tribe must come that way; but it seems most likely that this was his readiest way:
for to go up to the high place; or place of sitting down, or feasting, as the Targum, [See comments on 1Sa 9:12].
i “in occursum eorum”, Pagninus, Montanus; “eis obviam”, V. L. Tigurine version.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When they went into the town, Samuel met them on his way out to go to the high place of sacrifice. Before the meeting itself is described, the statement is introduced in 1Sa 9:15-17, that the day before Jehovah had foretold to Samuel that the man was coming to him whom he was to anoint as captain over his people. , to open any one’s ear, equivalent to reveal something to him (1Sa 20:12; 2Sa 7:27, etc.). , I will send thee, i.e., “I will so direct his way in my overruling providence, that he shall come to thee” (J. H. Mich. ). The words, “ that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, for their cry is come unto me,” are not at all at variance with 1Sa 7:13. In that passage there is simply the assertion, that there was no more any permanent oppression on the part of the Philistines in the days of Samuel, such as had taken place before; but an attempt to recover their supremacy over Israel is not only not precluded, but is even indirectly affirmed (see the comm. on 1Sa 7:13). The words before us simply show that the Philistines had then begun to make a fresh attempt to contend for dominion over the Israelites. “ I have looked upon my people:” this is to be explained like the similar passage in Exo 2:25, “God looked upon the children of Israel,” and Exo 3:7, “I have looked upon the misery of my people.” God’s looking was not a quiet, inactive looking on, but an energetic look, which brought help in trouble. “ Their cry is come unto me:” this is word for word the same as in Exo 3:9. As the Philistines wanted to tread in the footsteps of the Egyptians, it was necessary that Jehovah should also send His people a deliverer from these new oppressors, by giving them a king. The reason here assigned for the establishment of a monarchy is by no means at variance with the displeasure which God had expressed to Samuel at the desire of the people for a king (1Sa 8:7.); since this displeasure had reference to the state of heart from which the desire had sprung.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(14) Behold, Samuel came out against them.Saul comes before Samuel, bashfully pursuing his humble quest, in apparent unconsciousness of the power slumbering within him of aspiring and attaining to the highest place; the great seer receives him in a way quite different from all that he could have hoped or feared. At the moment of their meeting the seer has come forth from his house on the way to the solitary sacred heights of Ramah, the city of his residence, where he sacrifices on the altar to Jahveh, or is wont to partake of a sacred sacrificial repast with some of his closest friends. He at once desires to take Saul also with him, telling him beforehand how unimportant was the immediate object of his inquiries, and that the matter was already settled; but that for him and his whole house was reserved a very different and far better destiny in Israel. And though Saul, in his unassuming simplicity, would fain waive the honour which is obscurely hinted (so little does he yet know his better self), the holy man, more discerning, takes him with him to the sacrificial meal, which is already prepared; nay, assigns him the place of honour among the thirty guests before invited, while he is served with a portion of the sacrificial meat, put by, as it were, specially for him: for in like manner a portion other and higher than that of ordinary men had been long reserved for him by heaven.Ewald.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
They Meet Samuel Who Is Informed By YHWH That This Is The Man Of His Choice To Be Permanent War-leader Of Israel ( 1Sa 9:14-17 ).
1Sa 9:14
‘ And they went up to the city, and as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.’
So they continued up to the city, and on entering the gateway (1Sa 14:18) met up with Samuel, whom they did not recognise, coming towards them on the way to the high place, which was seemingly on a hill outside the city.
1Sa 9:15-16
‘ Now YHWH had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying, “ Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you will anoint him to be prince (nagid) over my people Israel, and he will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked on my people, because their cry has come to me.”
We now learn that on the previous day YHWH had revealed the fact of Saul’s coming to Samuel, informing him that a Benjaminite would arrive whom he was immediately to anoint as war-leader (nagid) over His people Israel, in view of the recent Philistine invasion. It was he now who would save the people out of the hands of the Philistines, and was being provided immediately because YHWH had heard His people’s cry. We note that here he is to be anointed as war-leader and not king. It would yet be some time before he would be established as king (1Sa 11:15). YHWH was proving by this that if only they had trusted in Him He could have provided them with a suitable war-leader when necessary, one who would prove himself against Nahash, king of Ammon (1Sa 11:1-13). But in spite of this they would still insist on a king (1Sa 12:12).
1Sa 9:17
‘ And when Samuel saw Saul, YHWH said to him, “Look, the man of whom I spoke to you! This same will have authority over my people.” ’
So when Samuel saw Saul YHWH said to him, “look, here is the man of whom I spoke to you. He will be able to have authority over My people.” (There is at this stage no mention of him as king. The hope was that once they had seen Saul in action the people would withdraw their request for a king. Just as the hope had been that they would do so when they had heard what having a king would be like in 1Sa 8:11-20. God was giving them every opportunity to change their minds before it was too late).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Sa 9:14. Behold, Samuel came out against them, &c. Samuel met them, as he was about to ascend the high place. Houb. God told Samuel in his ear, in the next verse, signifies that he privately revealed to him.
REFLECTIONS.Few would have looked for a king chosen from such an employment as that of Saul; but God’s choice is often marvellous in our eyes. We have here.
1. Saul sent to seek his father’s asses which were strayed. Agreeable to the simplicity of those times, when no man was too great to mind his own affairs, Kish sends his son with a servant in quest of the strayed asses; and his son, forward to obey his parent’s orders, and industrious in his business, immediately sets himself to make search after them.
2. Their search was long and fruitless; and Saul, apprehensive that his father would be uneasy at his absence, resolves to give over and return. Dutiful children will always thus tenderly consult their parents’ peace.
3. The servant reflecting that they were near Ramah, where Samuel dwelt, suggests whether it might not be worth their while to consult him on the occasion: he gives him a great character as a man of God, and a most respectable person; a seer, whose prophesies always came to pass, and who might be able to inform them of their lost asses. Note; (1.) When we are near a man of God, it is worth while to call upon him, and not to pass by without a word of advice. (2.) People are usually more solicitous about the things of the world than the things of God: and so preposterous in their care, that they who would run to consult a minister of God, could he direct them to the recovery of lost goods, will neither consult nor be directed by him for the recovery of their lost souls.
4. Samuel was just coming from his door when Saul appeared in sight. He had, by a secret whisper from God the preceding day, been informed of his design to send to him the person appointed to be the ruler of his people; and though in anger this king was given, yet God has designs of grace to answer: though they shall smart by their king, they shall be saved by him from their enemies. Their cry God has heard, whether the cry of distress from fear of the Philistines, or their former supplication to Samuel: and now behold the man whom God has appointed to reign over Israel as a king; or as the word signifies, to restrain them from the evil of their ways. Note; When God will punish his people, he will in wrath remember mercy.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(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. (15) Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, (16) Tomorrow 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. (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.
I hope the Reader will not overlook how the Lord is working while we are unconscious. Saul is in quest of his asses, the servant hath no anxiety but this, whereas all the great events which were to follow in Saul’s life were folded up in the result of this interview with Samuel. Of all the subjects upon earth, what can be so sweet and interesting to the review of a gracious mind, as the first dawnings of grace. Reader! if you are the happy partaker of it, I shall find no difficulty in getting you to pause in this place and remark, how that grace first manifested itself to you notwithstanding all your undeservings, how surprising, how unexpected, how unlooked for, when Jesus first looked upon you in your blood, and bade you live. Your care, like Saul and his servant’s for the asses, was about nothing else than fulfilling the lusts of the flesh and the pursuits of the world; and then it was, the eye of Jesus was marking you out for his grace as the eye was upon Saul, when the Lord had told Samuel in his hearing concerning him for a kingdom.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 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.
Ver. 14. Samuel came out against them. ] Not without divine direction. 1Sa 9:15 When God will have a thing done, there shall be a sweet subordination of causes, and all things shall cooperate.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
out against = opposite, so as to meet them.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Sa 9:14-15. Behold, Samuel came out against them Met them directly in his way to the sacrifice. For so God, in his providence, had disposed things, as it follows in the next words. The Lord had told Samuel in his ear That is, secretly, perhaps by a small, still voice. In the Hebrew it is, He revealed, or uncovered the ear of Samuel.