1 Samuel 9:1-14
Saul Searches for the Donkeys
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1Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
2And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.
3One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.”
4So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.
5When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”
6“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”
7“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
8The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”
9(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
10“Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was.
11And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?”
12“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.
13As soon as you enter the city, 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; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”
14So Saul and his servant went up toward the city, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Saul is introduced as the son of Kish, a powerful Benjamite. He is strikingly handsome and stands a head taller than the other Israelites. But the task before this impressive young man is a search for his father's missing donkeys.
Saul and a servant travel through several regions without finding them. In the land of Zuph, Saul suggests going home before Kish begins worrying more about them than about the animals. The servant proposes visiting a respected man of God whose words prove true. He may be able to tell them which way to go.
Saul asks what gift they can bring, since their bread is gone. The servant has a quarter shekel of silver, and they agree to go. The narrator explains the older title “seer” for a prophet, helping us follow the questions they ask in the city.
Young women going out to draw water tell them to hurry: the seer is about to bless a sacrifice before the guests eat. As the travelers enter, Samuel approaches on his way to the high place.
The search has brought Saul to the prophet through a servant's advice and strangers' directions. His height and appearance are memorable, but he still needs help with the ordinary responsibility his father gave him.
Questions
1 Why did Saul and his servant leave home?
AnswerKish sent them to look for his missing donkeys. After searching several regions without success, they considered returning so he would not worry about them.
2 Why did Saul suggest returning?
AnswerThey had not found the donkeys, and Saul worried that his father would stop worrying about the animals and start worrying about them.
3 What did the servant suggest they do?
AnswerHe suggested that they go to the man of God in the city and ask him which way to go.
4 Whom did Saul and his servant meet as they entered the city?
AnswerThey met Samuel coming toward them on his way to the high place. The people were waiting for him to bless the sacrifice before they ate.
What This Means for Us
Saul's first appearance is not a public achievement. He is trying to solve a family problem, worried about becoming a burden, and willing to listen to his servant's suggestion. God can be at work in a person's life before that person understands the larger role he is being drawn toward.
Do the next faithful task without assuming it is unimportant because it looks ordinary. At the same time, do not turn providence into a reason to ignore wisdom or other people's help. Notice who contributes a useful word in your household, and treat small responsibilities as places where character is formed.
Prayer
God of quiet providence, meet us in ordinary errands and unfinished tasks. Make us attentive to wise help, considerate of the people who worry about us, and faithful in the work already in our hands. Guide us even when we cannot yet see what You are arranging. Amen.
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