Ver. 1. Now there was a man of Benjamin.] Here beginneth the second part of this book: and here properly begin the Books of the Kings, saith A. Lapide. A mighty man of power.] Heros fortis, and so the fitter to be father to a king. Mighties beget mighties. “ Fortes creantur fortibus et bonis. ’’— Horat.
Ver. 2. And he had a son, whose name was Saul.] Which signifieth desired or sought after: Nomen, Omen. A choice young man, and a goodly.] Heb., Good. That is of a good nature and disposition, saith Lyra. So perhaps he was at first: as was also Nero for the first five years of his reign, so that Seneca sets him forth for a singular example of clemency. Saul proved to be the reigning hypocrite, by whom “the people were ensnared.” (Job 34:30) It is threatened as a heavy curse, “If you still trespass against me, I will set princes over you that shall hate you.” (Leviticus 26:17) There was none…a goodlier person than he.] This won him much respect with the vulgar, that he was Os humerosque Deo similis, proper and comely, looking like a prince, as the tragedian noteth of Priamus: for want of which, Agesilaus, that gallant man, was much slighted by the Persians. The French had a Philip the Fair: and Artaxerxes Longimanus was omnium hominum pulcherrimus, saith Emilius Probus, the comliest man alive. αξιον ειδος τυραννιδος — Eurip.
Ver. 3. And the asses of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost.] This was the rise of Saul’s royalty: Nam ex agasone factus est rex, et David ex opilione. And here we have a famous instance of God’s most wise providence, bringing about great matters by small and weak means. Saul quaerens asinos reperit regnum.
Ver. 4. Through the land of Shalim.] Near Jordan, where afterwards John baptized. (John 3:23) Called also the land of Shual, (1 Samuel 13:17) as Junius holdeth; haply because haunted by foxes.
Ver. 5. And when they were come to the land of Zuph.] Samuel’s country. (1 Samuel 1:1) Saul’s city, Gibeah, is not once mentioned in the foregoing description of him: haply because infamous for the rape there committed upon the Levite’s concubine. Lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.] Saul was a better son than afterwards he proved a father; serviceable and solicitous of his father’s comfort: but to his good son Jonathan, currish and cruel.
Ver. 6. A man of God.] A prophet: this title is also given to ministers of the gospel. (2 Timothy 3:16,17) And he is an honourable man.] Any relation to God ennobleth, and must be highly esteemed. King Zedekiah is blamed for not humbling himself before Jeremiah the prophet, (2 Chronicles 36:12) who was “precious in God’s sight,” and therefore “honourable.” (Isaiah 43:4) Peradventure he can show us our way.] Tell us whether we shall, and where we may find our lost asses. So low did the high God stoop sometimes to his people’s meanness: to keep them from seeking to sorcerers and idol priests. (1 Kings 14:2 2 Kings 1:3)
Ver. 7. What shall we bring the man?] q.d., Incivile esset sine honorario eum accedere antea ignotum: It would be no good manners to go empty handed. See 1 Kings 14:3 2Ki 4:42, and learn to show all thankful respects to God’s faithful ministers. But the word and the world is now altered. Once it was, What shall we bring the man? what have we? Now it is, What shall we take, or keep back from the man? and to rob a minister, is held neither sin nor pity.
Ver. 8. Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel.] That was but a little, to the value of about our fivepence. But they knew that thankfulness was not to be measured of good men by the weight, but by the will of the retributor. That Persian monarch took in good part a handful of water presented to him by a poor peasant his subject, who had no better. Queen Elizabeth cheerfully received nosegays, [A bunch of flowers or herbs, esp. sweet-smelling flowers; a bouquet, a posy.] flowers, rosemary, from mean persons. Two mites from that poor widow went farther than two millions from some others.
Ver. 9. Beforetime in Israel.] Of old, Antiquitus. Such was the piety of the people in the purer times, as Genesis 25:22. Come, and let us go to the seer.] The man whose eyes are open to see God and his visions as clearly, and as certainly, as if he had seen them with his eyes. (1 Peter 1:12)
Ver. 10. Well said.] Heb., Thy word is good. He scorned not to take advice from a servant: no more did Job, (Job 31:23) nor Naaman. (2 Kings 5:14) “ Saepe etiam est holitor valde opportuna locutus. ”
Ver. 11. Is the seer here?] Seers then the prophets were called, not only beforetime, but now also: though that name began to be antiquated. “ Multa renascentur quae iam cecidere, cadentque Quae nunc sunt in honore vocabula, si volet usus, Quem penes arbitrium est, et vis et norma loquendi.” - Horat., De Arte Poet. not only beforetime, but now also: though that name began to be not only beforetime, but now also: though that name began to be
Ver. 12. And they answered them, and said, He is.] Courtesy to strangers is very commendable. But that these maidens, taken with the beauty of Saul, stayed him a while to look upon him, using more words than needed, is an odd conceit of R. Solomon, cited by Lyra. For there is a sacrifice.] Or, A feast: first a sacrifice, and then a feast made of part of the peace zofferings, as was usual; and, haply, at this time appointed on purpose by Samuel, for Saul’s better entertainment.
Ver. 13. For the people will not eat until he come.] To bless and distribute the meat. A commendable custom, to crave God’s blessing on the creatures before we eat them; and to give thanks after meat; and not to sit down as an ox, and rise as an ass, not as vultures and kites, to seize upon our meat as a prey. The very heathens consecrated t heir cates before they tasted them, as appeareth by Homer and Virgil. And some think that the Greeks called a dinner αριστον, απο των αρων, from the prayers they premised.
Ver. 14. Samuel came out against them.] Not without divine direction. (1 Samuel 9:15) When God will have a thing done, there shall be a sweet subordination of causes, and all things shall cooperate.
Ver. 15. The Lord had told Samuel in his ear.] By the instinct of his Spirit: Samuel was his favourite, and had communication of his secrets. Every saint hath likewise “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) “revealed unto him by his Spirit,” (1 Corinthians 2:10) even such things as “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Ver. 16. I will send thee a than out of the land of Benjamin.] Arcana gubernatione mea ipso aliud agente. Little did Saul think of the kingdom when he came to Ramah. And as little do we think of heaven, when God by effectual calling “delivereth us from the power of darkness, and translateth us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13) And thou shalt anoint him to be captain.] Unges eum Antecessorem. Public persons are leaders to others, being as the he-goats before the flock, and therefore must have double care, since they have many eyes upon them. Out of the hand of the Philistines.] Who were now, as it may seem, confederate with the Ammonites against Israel. (1 Samuel 12:12) For I have looked upon my people.] Notwithstanding their late miscarriage in rejecting mine immediate government. “Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spoke against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 31:20) .Because their cry is come unto me.] As Exodus 3:9. And the good people cried, Domine indignus sum, sed indigus; I am unworthy of mercy, but I much need it. Piscat.
Ver. 17. This same shall reign over my people.] Heb., Restrain my people, viz, from loose and lewd practices. Princes must do so, or they are guilty of a passive injustice at least. They are called “heirs of restraint.” (Judges 18:7, marg.)
Ver. 18. In the gate.] Heb., In the midst of the gate; Sept., In the midst of the city; Chaldee, Within the gate. Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.] It seemeth, then, that Samuel bore no great import in his outside. Saul knew him not, though judge of Israel, by his clothes, or by his attendants.
Ver. 19. And will tell thee all that is in thine heart.] And much more: for that he had dreamed of the kingdom, is but a dream of some Jewish doctors.
Ver. 20. And on whom is all the desire of Israel?] Sed cuius est omne desiderabile Israelis? so Martyr rendereth it. And whose shall be the best, or fairest, things of Israel? so the Vulgate after the Septuagint. [See Trapp on “Hag 2:7”] They desire a king, and God hath pitched upon thee. Jerome in lib. Heb. Qu.
Ver. 21. Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest, &c.] Yet out of the rubbish of Benjamin doth God raise the throne. That is not ever the best and fittest that God chooseth; but that which God chooseth is ever the fittest. Wherefore then speakest thou so to me?] This he speaketh not in hypocrisy, whereof yet afterwards he was grossly guilty, but in simplicity and truth: likens Frederick, the elector of Saxony, refused the empire when it was offered him: and would take no money of those that accepted it. Gideon also might have been king, and would not. (Judges 8:22,23)
Ver. 22. And made them sit in the chiefest place.] He envied not Saul’s new dignity, though it were to the diminution of his own: sed excipit eum et tractat humanissime atque honorificentissime; but giveth him the place. Piscat.
Ver. 23. Bring the portion which I gave thee.] A choice mess, that Saul might see by his cheer what his welcome was: and that the rest at table might take notice that Saul was no ordinary guest.
Ver. 24. And the cook took up the shoulder.] Which was counted ill those days a principal piece: whence the priest, for his part of the peace offering, had the right shoulder allotted him. (Leviticus 7:32,33) And that which was upon it.] The sauce likely, or garnish. Behold that which is left!] Or rather, Reserved, as in the margin.
Ver. 25. Samuel communed with Saul.] Gave him good counsel, better than any is to be found in Lipsius’s “Beehive,” Macchiavel’s “Spider’s Web,” or Castalio’s “Curialis,” the book that Charles V so much delighted in.
Ver. 26. To the top of the house.] Which was made flat in manner of a terrace: as now also they are in Italy, and some great men’s houses amongst us.
Ver. 27. Stand thou still a while.] And so show thy reverence to the divine oracle that I shall deliver. [See Trapp on “Jud 3:20”]