1-Samuel 9-1 [1-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. <<A MIGHTY MAN OF POWER>>: In Hebrew "Gibor Chayal". Yehudah Kiel says that this description applied to members of a special class amongst the people apparently of known heroes who had earned the right to bear the title and receive special consideration. Cf. "ALL THE MIGHTY MEN OF VALOUR" [2-Kings 24:14]. The word translated as "Mighty Man" from the Hebrw is Gibor. This is also found as the root of a personal name that we traced to Celtic Britain. Note this extract from our book, "Lost Israelite Identity. The Hebrew Ancestry of Celtic Races": GEBER= Gabar of Menasseh. In Celtic Britain To the northeast of Eboracum (York) and the Parissi were the GABRANTOVICES. Further north in the Caledonian region of the Gadeni (Otadeni) was the settlement of Gabrosentas. These names bear the HEBREW ROOT "GEVER" or "GEBER" (GBR) from which are derived Hebrew words meaning male (gever); hero (gibor); important, usually rich, public benefactor (gavir); and as a verb the root GBR denotes "to overcome". The Anglo-Saxons called an independent peasant a "gavir": (in Hebrew-Yiddish, "gavir" came to denote "rich benefactor"). The English word GOVERN said to be derived from the Latin Gubernare (to steer, direct, guide, govern) ultimately comes from the same root. The English usage is actually closer to the Hebrew original than it is to the supposed Latin source. Similar cases, in which the English have adopted a word of ultimate Hebrew (or Semitic) origin and used it in a manner closer to its original employment than the intermediary did, occur quite frequently. Pliny (N.H.6.7) reports the Gabri from Asiatic Sarmatia. Ptolemy recalled the GABRETA in Baiern (Bavaria) whom Zeuss identified as a Celtic people and recalls the city of Gabromagus and Vergobretus (in territory of the Aedui of Gaul, Caesar, G.W.1;16). There was also a Celtic group called Guberni (Pliny N.H.4;17) between the Ubii and Batavi in Holland. In ancient Ireland there was a tribe called Gabraige ( and a place named Gabran (mod. Gowran in County Kilkenny) and a king of the Picts in northern Scotland had the same name. The Lagin people gave their name to Leinster in east Ireland. They were also known as GABAIR. After being conquered by the Milesian Goidels, the Lagin Gabair joined forces with them and participated in raids on, and settlement in, Scotland. They have been equated with the Gailian or Galioin which names may well derive from the Golan in the Land of Israel since GEBER or GABAR appears to have once been an important family name in that general area. Amongst the southern Angles in Germany prior to the invasion of Britain were the GIRVII who gave their name to a region (Girviorum) in England near Peterborough*. In the Bible the root GBR is found in GABRIEL (Daniel 8;16) who was an angel. Gabriel in the Midrash (Numbers Rabah 2;10) was considered the guiding angel of the forces led by Ephraim who were the Tribes marching to the west of the Tabernacle: Ephraim, Menasseh, and Benjamin. The personal name "GEBER" is also derived from the "GBR" word-root. The name "Geber" occurs twice and then in connection with the twelve princes King Solomon set to govern the twelve tribes of Israel: "And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel....The son of Geber, in Ramoth Gilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Menasseh , which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars..... "Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land." (1-Kings 4:7,13,19). The use above of the form "son of Geber" without any preceding appellation is unusual and perhaps indicates the beginning of a clan of which GEBER was to be considered the founder and namesake. In continuation Scripture again mentions "Geber", It is well to note the connections of these personages, Geber son of Uri, and (his son?) "the son of Geber", with the territories of Gilead and Yair (Jair). Gilead gave his name to the Galatae (Galadi) in Gaul and to the Caledonians in Scotland within whose area the township of Gabrosentas was located and place names recalling Iar (i.e. Yair) an eponymous ancestor are also found in Scotland as well as in Ireland. On Ptolemy's Map of "Arabia" are listed numerous place and historical ethnic names proving that Israelite tribes once ruled over all the area of northern Syria reaching at least to the Euphrates. Examples are the areas called RAHABENI (i.e. Reuben), MASANI (Menasseh), CAUCHABENI (i.e. Sons of Chauchi, i.e. of Haggi son of Gad), BATHANAEI (Bashan in Aramaic), CHALYBONITIS (Chalybes of Judah), and the cities of Belginaea and Belagaea (Belgae from Bela-g-h), and GABARA from Geber in the region of Bashan (Bathanaei) close to Masani (Menasseh ). The "House of Gabbar" were the ruling dynasty of "Yadi". Yadi was a Judaean enclave in northwest Syria ("Hamath which belonged to Judah" 2-Kings 14:28) known as "Yadi" (i.e. "Judah" in Assyrian) and also garrisoned by the "Dananu" from the Tribe of Dan and associated with the neighbouring Tribe of Gad since its other name "Smal" is synonymous with Zephion a clan of Gad and the Assyrians report the "Zephuni" as being in that area. The people of Yadi were taken into exile to an area of Armenia whereto exiles from the Ten Tribes were also taken. There was at least one additional town named GABARA recalled in an Assyrian inscription in what later became the Assyrian province of Magidu (i.e. Megido) in the northern Galilee in the Land of Israel. <<A MIGHTY MAN OF POWER>>: In Hebrew "Gibor Chayal". The second part of this expression is "Chayil" which may also be transcribed as "hail" for example as pronounced in Yemenite and Eastern Hebrew. This word "hail" in Hebrew means "strength" and it also can mean "soldier". The English word "hale" was also once written as "hail" and connotes "strength" as in the expression "Hale and hearty". In addition in Old English this very same word "hale" or "hail" coukld mean "soldier". We thus find the same word pronounced almost the very same way having the very same two meanings in both Hebrew and Old English. [1-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 was physically tall and apparently also strong and handsome. He may also have been dark. Remember what we wrote in our Commentary on Psalms: Psalms 7 Original Hebrew text (The first verse of each Hebrew Psalm for some reason was deleted in the KJ Translation): Shigaon Le-David: FROM DAVID IN ANSWER TO A MISCONCEPTION (S.R. Hirsch) THAT HE SANG TO THE ALMIGHTY CONCERNING THE WORD OF KUSH THE SON OF YAMINI (Benjamin). KUSH THE SON OF YAMINI: Traditionally is referring to Saul who came from the tribe of Benjamin. Why he is called "KUSH" I do not know. [Cush or "Cushi" meant someone from Africa or India and could also have been used as a nickname for someone of dark appearance] Maybe he was of a dark complexion? He was known for his beauty and aristocratic demeanor as well as his exceptional size. Perhaps King Saul was tall, dark, and handsome? Other explanations exist but this one is also possible. Just as blonds and red-heads existed amongst the Ancient Israelites so did darker individuals. [1-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. Saul went to seek the asses and became king. This became a famous literary expression describing someone who set out to do a minor chore and stumbles into greatness. [1-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. <<LAND OF THE BENJAMITES>>: Hebrew "Eretz (Land) "Yamini". Yamini is translated as Benjamin since Benjamin means "Son of the Right Hand". Literally "Yamini" can mean "right-handers" which is interesting since Benjamin was actually a tribe known for the proficiency of its left-handed warriors [Judges 3:15] and sling-throwers [Judges 20:16]. Yehudah Kiel ("Daat Mikra") does a geographical analysis of the line of search and reaches the conclusion that the LAND OF THE BENJAMITES spoken of here was not in the territory of Benjamin but rather in that of Ephraim. He suggests that it was named after of group of Benjaminites that had settled in the territory of Ephraim just as we find elsewhere enclaves of one tribe in the Land of another. [1-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. Saul included his servant with himself. The sages saw this as an additional sign of the good qu laities of Saul who traditionally was a very great man of high quality, natural modesty, humility, combined with an innate nobility of character. He was to become the first real king of Israel though Joshua and some of the other Judges had enjoyed a similar status. [1-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. [1-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? They had taken provisions with them and made a search over a wide area until their provisions had given out and the relative importance of what they were searching for had diminished. There are some who say that Samuel did not accept presents but they were not to know that but wrongly assumed he did take gifts like other holy men. At all events the idea is that by giving something to a "man of God" you enable him to enter into your sphere: Through your gift you yourself open to him. This facilitates he being able to answer your personal questions. [1-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. Yehudah Kiel says this was about 2.5 gram of silver which is not very much by our standards but maybe at that time it was worth more. [1-Samuel 9:9] (BEFORETIME IN ISRAEL, WHEN A MAN WENT TO ENQUIRE 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.) [1-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. [1-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? [1-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: [1-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. The Sages said that the young women were smitten by the masculine extremely handsome visage of Saul so they all answered together speaking at length and in detail each one vieing with the other to perhaps gain an appreciative glance from the very tall, broad-shouldered aristocratic and handsome stranger. Women like tall men. Statistically, all other things being equal, tall men have a much higher chance of occupying a managerial position in their chosen profession than their shorter counterparts. [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. [1-Samuel 9:15] NOW THE LORD HAD TOLD SAMUEL IN HIS EAR A DAY BEFORE SAUL CAME, SAYING, [1-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. At first when the people requested a king God was angry. Here the Almighty says He is sending a savior because He has pitied His people. The two aspects can be correct. It happens that we may have done something wrong or gained something through wrong means or for wrong intentions. It is not the end of the road. We probably had a genuine legitimate need only went about satisfying it in the wrong way. It is not the end of the road God may still hear us and help us. [1-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. [1-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. [1-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. [1-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? [1-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? This was not long after the war of all the other Tribes against Benjamin (Judges chapter 20) in which Benjamin had almost been exterminated. In addition, The Matri clan of Benjamin to which Saul belonged was a new clan that had only recently emerged as an entity in its own right. It is interesting that here Saul does not say he is intrinsically unworthy of the class only that he has no significant Tribal backing of his own compared with that which could be found elsewhere. [1-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. [1-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. [1-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. There is something very basic about eating together. Samuel eat with Saul just before he was about to impart unto him a message and task from the Almighty. Eating together allows for a communality of feeling. [1-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. In those days most houses had flat roofs and there was a wall around the edges of the roof and people used the space for various chores and for communing with each other. The Israelites had a unique housing design of their own by which archaeologists can identify them and which the Israelite-Hyksos had had in Egypt. [1-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. [1-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. BACK TO SAMUEL INDEX HOME |