Matri
Ancestor of Saul's family in the tribe of Benjamin
Matri is a person mentioned in 1 Samuel who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. His family was chosen when Samuel cast lots to find Israel's first king. Saul, son of Kish, was found among Matri's clan and was anointed as Israel's first king.
Family
Key events
Matri's family chosen by lot
When Samuel gathered the tribes of Israel to choose a king, the lot fell on the tribe of Benjamin and then on Matri's clan.
21Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was chosen; and Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.
וַיַּקְרֵ֞ב אֶת־שֵׁ֤בֶט בִּנְיָמִן֙ *למשפחתו **לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו וַתִּלָּכֵ֖ד מִשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַמַּטְרִ֑י וַיִּלָּכֵד֙ שָׁא֣וּל בֶּן־קִ֔ישׁ וַיְבַקְשֻׁ֖הוּ וְלֹ֥א נִמְצָֽא׃
Saul found among Matri's descendants
Saul, son of Kish from Matri's clan, was found hiding among the baggage and presented as Israel's first king.
21Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was chosen; and Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.
וַיַּקְרֵ֞ב אֶת־שֵׁ֤בֶט בִּנְיָמִן֙ *למשפחתו **לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו וַתִּלָּכֵ֖ד מִשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַמַּטְרִ֑י וַיִּלָּכֵד֙ שָׁא֣וּל בֶּן־קִ֔ישׁ וַיְבַקְשֻׁ֖הוּ וְלֹ֥א נִמְצָֽא׃
22So they inquired further of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet?" And the LORD said, "Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage."
וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־עוֹד֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה הֲבָ֥א ע֖וֹד הֲלֹ֣ם אִ֑ישׁ ס וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה הִנֵּה־ה֥וּא נֶחְבָּ֖א אֶל־הַכֵּלִֽים׃
23They ran and brought him out, and when he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of them.
וַיָּרֻ֙צוּ֙ וַיִּקָּחֻ֣הוּ מִשָּׁ֔ם וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֖ב בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעָ֑ם וַיִּגְבַּהּ֙ מִכָּל־הָעָ֔ם מִשִּׁכְמ֖וֹ וָמָֽעְלָה׃
24Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people." And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!"
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֗ם הַרְּאִיתֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּֽחַר־בּ֣וֹ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין כָּמֹ֖הוּ בְּכָל־הָעָ֑ם וַיָּרִ֧עוּ כָל־הָעָ֛ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יְחִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ פ
Samuel casts lots for the tribes
Samuel led the process of casting lots to identify God's chosen king, which went through the tribe of Benjamin down to Matri's clan.
17Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah
וַיַּצְעֵ֤ק שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה הַמִּצְפָּֽה׃
18and said to the Israelites, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hand of Egypt and from the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.'
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אָנֹכִ֛י הֶעֱלֵ֥יתִי אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וָאַצִּ֤יל אֶתְכֶם֙ מִיַּ֣ד מִצְרַ֔יִם וּמִיַּד֙ כָּל־הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת הַלֹּחֲצִ֖ים אֶתְכֶֽם׃
19But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and distresses, and you have said to him, 'No—set a king over us.' So now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans."
וְאַתֶּ֨ם הַיּ֜וֹם מְאַסְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא מוֹשִׁ֣יעַ לָכֶם֮ מִכָּל־רָעוֹתֵיכֶ֣ם וְצָרֹֽתֵיכֶם֒ וַתֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֔וֹ כִּי־מֶ֖לֶךְ תָּשִׂ֣ים עָלֵ֑ינוּ וְעַתָּ֗ה הִֽתְיַצְּבוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֖ם וּלְאַלְפֵיכֶֽם׃
20When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel forward, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.
וַיַּקְרֵ֣ב שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת כָּל־שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּלָּכֵ֖ד שֵׁ֥בֶט בִּנְיָמִֽן׃
21Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was chosen; and Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.
וַיַּקְרֵ֞ב אֶת־שֵׁ֤בֶט בִּנְיָמִן֙ *למשפחתו **לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו וַתִּלָּכֵ֖ד מִשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַמַּטְרִ֑י וַיִּלָּכֵד֙ שָׁא֣וּל בֶּן־קִ֔ישׁ וַיְבַקְשֻׁ֖הוּ וְלֹ֥א נִמְצָֽא׃
Saul proclaimed king
After Saul was found among the descendants of Matri, the people shouted, "Long live the king!" and Samuel explained the rights of the kingdom.
24Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people." And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!"
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֗ם הַרְּאִיתֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּֽחַר־בּ֣וֹ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין כָּמֹ֖הוּ בְּכָל־הָעָ֑ם וַיָּרִ֧עוּ כָל־הָעָ֛ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יְחִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ פ
25Samuel explained to the people the regulations of the kingship. He wrote them in a book and laid it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each to his own home.
וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶל־הָעָ֗ם אֵ֚ת מִשְׁפַּ֣ט הַמְּלֻכָ֔ה וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב בַּסֵּ֔פֶר וַיַּנַּ֖ח לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיְשַׁלַּ֧ח שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃