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.

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