Första SamuelsbokenKapitel 9

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There was a man from Benjamin whose name was Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite; he was a man of standing.

He had a son named Saul, young and handsome. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders above all the people.

Now the donkeys belonging to Kish, Saul's father, had strayed off, and Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys."

So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the region of Shalishah, but they did not find them. They went on through the region of Shaalim, and they were not there. They passed through the territory of Benjamin, and still did not find them.

When they came to the region of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, "Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us."

But the servant said to him, "Listen, there is a man of God in this town, and he is highly respected; everything he says comes true. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to take."

Saul said to his servant, "If we go, what can we bring the man? The bread in our bags is gone, and we have no gift to bring the man of God. What do we have?"

The servant answered Saul again, "Look, I have a quarter shekel of silver here. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way."

(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he would say, "Come, let us go to the seer," for the one now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)

Saul said to his servant, "Well said. Come, let us go." So they set out for the town where the man of God was.

As they were climbing the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked them, "Is the seer here?"

"He is," they answered. "He is just ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come to town today, since the people have a sacrifice at the high place.

As soon as you enter the town you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; only then will the guests eat. Go up now, for you will find him today.

So they went up to the town. As they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel:

"About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me."

When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, "Here is the man I spoke to you about; this one will govern my people."

Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and said, "Tell me, please, where is the seer's house?"

"I am the seer," Samuel answered. "Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me. In the morning I will send you on your way and tell you all that is on your mind.

As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not give them another thought; they have been found. And to whom does all that Israel desires belong, if not to you and to all your father's house?"

Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me like this?"

Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them at the head of the guests, who numbered about thirty.

Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion I gave you, the one I told you to set aside."

So the cook took up the thigh with what was on it and set it before Saul. Samuel said, "Here is what was kept back. Set it before you and eat, for it was reserved for you for this occasion, when I said, 'I have invited the people.'" And Saul ate with Samuel that day.

After they came down from the high place into the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof.

They rose early, and at daybreak Samuel called up to Saul on the roof, "Get ready, and I will send you on your way." Saul got up, and the two of them, he and Samuel, went outside together.

As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us"—and he went on—"but you stay here a moment, so that I may make known to you the word of God."

Uppslag

Sammanfattning2

Kapitel 9

Main Theme: God prepares Saul to become Israel's first king through an apparently chance encounter with the prophet Samuel.

Content: Saul, a tall young man from Benjamin, is sent by his father Kish to look for lost donkeys. The search leads him to Samuel's town, where God had revealed to Samuel the day before that he would meet Israel's future leader. Samuel invites Saul to the sacrificial meal, gives him the place of honor, and hints that all Israel's longing rests upon him and his house. The chapter ends with Samuel promising to declare God's word to Saul.

Key Words/Images:

Donkeys (אֲתֹנוֹת): The lost animals serve as the outward pretext for God's hidden plan to bring Saul to Samuel.
The Seer (הָרֹאֶה): An older term for prophet; Samuel is the one who sees and communicates God's will.
High Place (בָּמָה): The location of the communal meal and worship service where Samuel honors Saul before the people.
Prince/נָגִיד (nagid): God calls Saul "prince" over Israel—a leader who will deliver the people from the hand of the Philistines.

Historisk kontext

Historical and Cultural Context for 1 Samuel 9

People

Kish and Saul are introduced here for the first time. Kish is described as a "gíbbor ḥáyil" (גִּבּוֹר חָיִל), which means a "capable man" or "wealthy man"—an expression indicating social status and economic prosperity rather than military prowess in this context. Saul's genealogy is traced back through five generations, underscoring his legitimate Israelite descent from the tribe of Benjamin.

Saul (שָׁאוּל, "asked for/longed for") is presented as unusually tall—"from his shoulders and upward he was taller than all the people" (v. 2). In ancient times, physical stature was often associated with leadership qualities, and this trait of Saul later becomes both an advantage and an ironic contrast to his spiritual weaknesses.

Places

The hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalisha, the land of Sha'alim, and the land of Benjamin (v. 4) make up Saul's search route. This area covers the central highlands north of Jerusalem. The exact locations of Shalisha and Sha'alim are uncertain, but the names suggest respectively "the third part" and "the land of jackals."

The land of Zuph (v. 5) is likely named after Samuel's ancestor Zuph (1 Sam 1:1). The city mentioned (often identified as Ramah) was Samuel's hometown and served as a religious center with a "bama" (high place).

Events and Customs

The high place (bama) is mentioned several times in the chapter. Before the temple in Jerusalem was built, such local high places were legitimate sites for worship and sacrifice. Samuel's role as the one who "blesses the sacrifice" (v. 13) before the people could eat shows that sacrificial meals were religious communal meals where the priest or prophet had a central liturgical function.

The gift to the man of God (vv. 7–8) reflects the custom of bringing payment or a gift when consulting a prophet. A quarter shekel of silver was a modest sum, but it shows that prophetic guidance was regarded as a service deserving compensation.

Key Terms

Ro'eh (רֹאֶה) and navi (נָבִיא): Verse 9 gives an important editorial note that "the one now called prophet (navi), was formerly called seer (ro'eh)." This shows a linguistic development in Israel and indicates that the text was written some time after the events. "Seer" emphasizes the ability to see hidden things, while "prophet" emphasizes the role as God's spokesperson.

Nagid (נָגִיד) in verse 16 is often translated as "prince" or "leader" and is used here instead of "melekh" (king). The term suggests one appointed by God as a military leader, and may reflect a cautious approach to the monarchy where God remains the true king.

Chapter-Specific Findings

Archaeological excavations have uncovered several "bamot" (high places) from the Iron Age in Israel, including structures with benches along the walls for sacrificial meals, as described in the chapter. The discovery of such structures at sites like Tel Dan and Arad confirms the biblical description of local cult centers before the centralization of worship in Jerusalem.

Personer7

Abiel1 Kish (Saul's father)2 Samuel10 Bechorath1 Saul12 Aphiah1 Seror1

Alla personer →

Nyckelord7

Samuel — A prophet and judge in Israel who is introduced in 1 Samuel and plays a central role in the transition from the period of judges to the monarchy.
Saul — The first king of Israel, chosen by God through Samuel, but later rejected because of his disobedience to God's commands.
Prophet — A person who receives and conveys messages from God, often concerning future events or divine guidance for the people.
Kish — Saul's father, a wealthy man from the tribe of Benjamin.
Spirit — An immaterial, invisible power or being, often used to refer to God's Spirit, which gives wisdom, strength, and guidance to chosen individuals.
Sacrifice — A religious act in which gifts, usually food, animals, or other valuable items, are given to God as a way of showing gratitude, reverence, or prayer for help.
Seer — An older term for prophet, a person who could "see" into the future or receive divine insight and guidance from God.