1 Samuel · Geneva Bible (1599)
1 Samuel 9 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 There was nowe a man of Beniamin, mightie in power named Kish, the sonne of Abiel, the sonne of Zeror, the sonne of Bechorath, the sonne of Aphiah, the sonne of a man of Iemini.
1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
2 And he had a sonne called Saul, a goodly yong man and a faire: so that among the children of Israel there was none goodlier then he: from the shoulders vpwarde he was hier then any of the people.
2 He had a son whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.
3 And the asses of Kish Sauls father were lost: therefore Kish said to Saul his sonne, Take nowe one of the seruants with thee, and arise, goe, and seeke the asses.
3 The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Now take one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys.”
4 So he passed through mount Ephraim, and went through the lande of Shalishah, but they found them not. Then they went through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: he went also through ye land of Iemini, but they found the not.
4 He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they weren’t there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them.
5 When they came to the lande of Zuph, Saul saide vnto his seruant that was with him, Come and let vs returne, lest my father leaue the care of asses, and take thought for vs.
5 When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come! Let’s return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys and be anxious for us.”
6 And he said vnto him, Behold nowe, in this citie is a man of God, and he is an honorable man: all that he saith commeth to passe: let vs nowe goe thither, if so be that he can shewe vs what way we may goe.
6 The servant said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely happens. Now let’s go there. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”
7 Then saide Saul to his seruant, Well then, let vs goe: but what shall we bring vnto the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is no present to bring to the man of God: what haue we?
7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what should we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our sacks, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
8 And the seruant answered Saul againe, and said, Beholde, I haue founde about me the fourth part of a shekell of siluer: that will I giue the man of God, to tell vs our way.
8 The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.”
9 (Beforetime in Israel when a man went to seeke an answere of God, thus he spake, Come, and let vs goe to the Seer: for he that is called nowe a Prophet, was in the olde time called a Seer)
9 (In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come! Let’s go to the seer;” for he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer.)
10 Then saide Saul to his seruant, Well saide, come, let vs goe: so they went into the citie where the man of God was.
10 Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come! Let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 And as they were going vp the hie way to the citie, they found maydes that came out to draw water, and said vnto them, Is there here a Seer?
11 As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
12 And they answered them, and said, Yea: loe, he is before you: make haste nowe, for he came this day to the citie: for there is an offering of the people this day in the hie place.
12 They answered them and said, “He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.
13 When ye shall come into the citie, ye shall finde him straightway yet he come vp to the hie place to eate: for the people will not eate vntill he come, because he will blesse the sacrifice: and then eate they that be bidden to the feast: nowe therefore goe vp: for euen now shall ye find him.
13 As soon as you have come into the city, you will immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will find him.”
14 Then they went vp into the citie, and when they were come into the middes of the citie, Samuel came out against them, to goe vp to the hie place.
14 They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place.
15 But the Lord had reueiled to Samuel secretly (a day before Saul came) saying,
15 Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
16 To morow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Beniamin: him shalt thou anoint to be gouernour ouer my people Israel, that he may saue my people out of the hands of the Philistims: for I haue looked vpon my people, and their crie is come vnto me.
16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.”
17 When Samuel therefore sawe Saul, the Lord answered him, See, this is the man whom I spake to thee of, he shall rule my people.
17 When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people.”
18 Then went Saul to Samuel in the middes of the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the Seers house is.
18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gateway, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and saide, I am the Seer: goe vp before me vnto the hie place: for ye shall eate with me to day. and to morowe I will let thee goe, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
19 Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
20 And as for thine asses that were lost three dayes ago, care not for them: for they are founde. and on whom is set all the desire of Israel? is it not vpon thee and on all thy fathers house?
20 As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them, for they have been found. For whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you and all your father’s house?”
21 But Saul answered, and said, Am not I the sonne of Iemini of the smallest tribe of Israel? and my familie is the least of all the families of the tribe of Beniamin. Wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?”
22 And Samuel tooke Saul and his seruant, and brought them into the chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden: which were about thirtie persons.
22 Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.
23 And Samuel saide vnto the cooke, Bring foorth the portion which I gaue thee, and whereof I said vnto thee, Keepe it with thee.
23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’”
24 And the cooke tooke vp the shoulder, and that which was vpon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Beholde, that which is left, set it before thee and eate: for hitherto hath it bene kept for thee, saying, Also I haue called the people. So Saul did eate with Samuel that day.
24 The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, “Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before yourself and eat; because it has been kept for you for the appointed time, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 And when they were come downe from the hie place into the citie, he communed with Saul vpon the top of the house.
25 When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.
26 And when they arose early about ye spring of the day, Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Vp, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out, both he, and Samuel.
26 They arose early; and about daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” Saul arose, and they both went outside, he and Samuel, together.
27 And when they were come downe to the ende of the citie, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the seruant goe before vs, (and he went) but stand thou still nowe, that I may shewe thee the worde of God.
27 As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” He went ahead, then Samuel said, “But stand still first, that I may cause you to hear God’s message.”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Abiel
Named as the father of Kish, Saul's father, and of Ner, Abner's father.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 9:1; 1 Samuel 14:51
Aphiah
The earliest name in the ancestry of Kish, who is called the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 9:1
Becorath
Named in the ancestry of Kish as the son of Aphiah and the father of Zeror.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 9:1
Kish
A Benjaminite man of standing, the father of Israel's first king, Saul.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 9:1-3
Saul
Israel's first king, anointed by Samuel but later rejected for his disobedience to God.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 9-10; 1 Samuel 15
Zeror
Named in the ancestry of Kish as the son of Becorath and the father of Abiel.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 9:1
Cross references (24)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Samuel 14:51; Acts 13:21; 1 Chronicles 9:36–39; 1 Chronicles 8:30–33; 1 Samuel 25:2
- 2 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Samuel 14:25–26; Genesis 6:2; Numbers 13:33; 1 Samuel 17:4
- 3 Judges 5:10; Judges 10:4; 1 Samuel 10:2
- 4 2 Kings 4:42; Joshua 24:33; Genesis 33:18; Judges 17:1; Judges 19:1
- 5 1 Samuel 10:2; 1 Samuel 1:1; Luke 12:11; Matthew 6:28; Matthew 6:25
- 6 1 Kings 13:1; 1 Timothy 6:11; Deuteronomy 33:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:13; 1 Samuel 3:19–20
- 7 2 Kings 8:8; 1 Kings 14:3; 2 Kings 4:42; 2 Kings 5:15; Judges 6:18
- 9 Isaiah 30:10; 1 Chronicles 26:28; 2 Kings 17:13; Amos 7:12; 1 Chronicles 29:29
- 10 2 Kings 5:13–14
- 11 Genesis 24:11; Exodus 2:16; Judges 5:11; Genesis 24:18–20
- 12 Genesis 31:54; 1 Samuel 16:2; 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Kings 3:2–4; 1 Corinthians 5:7–8
- 13 John 6:11; Mark 6:41; Matthew 26:26; 1 Corinthians 10:30; Luke 24:30
- 15 Acts 13:21; 1 Samuel 15:1; Amos 3:7; 2 Samuel 7:27; Job 33:16
- 16 1 Samuel 10:1; Exodus 3:7–9; Psalm 106:44; Psalm 25:18; 1 Samuel 15:1
- 17 Hosea 13:11; Acts 13:21; 1 Samuel 16:6–12; 1 Samuel 3:13; Nehemiah 13:19
- 19 1 Corinthians 14:25; John 4:29
- 20 1 Samuel 8:5; 1 Samuel 12:13; 1 Samuel 9:3; 1 Samuel 8:19; Psalm 62:10
- 21 1 Samuel 15:17; Ephesians 3:8; Luke 14:11; Psalm 68:27; Judges 20:46–48
- 22 Genesis 43:32; Luke 14:10
- 23 1 Samuel 1:5; Genesis 43:34
- 24 Ezekiel 24:4; Leviticus 7:32–33; Exodus 29:22; Exodus 29:27; Numbers 18:18
- 25 Deuteronomy 22:8; Acts 10:9; 2 Samuel 11:2; Nehemiah 8:16; Jeremiah 19:13
- 26 Genesis 19:14; Joshua 7:13; Genesis 44:4; Judges 19:28
- 27 John 15:14–15; 2 Kings 9:5–6; 1 Samuel 20:38–39; 1 Samuel 15:16
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
And then the union of all these, which is called the Triacontad, they strenuously endeavour to demonstrate by the ark of Noah, the height of which was thirty cubits; by the case of Samuel, who assigned Saul the chief place among thirty guests; by David, when for thirty days he concealed himself in the field; by those who entered along …
And as for Samuel and David, we have it plainly in the Books of the Kingdoms, how by the Holy Ghost they prophesied themselves, and were rulers of the prophets;--and Samuel was called the Seer; and David says distinctly, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and in the Psalms, And take not thy Holy Spirit from me, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)