Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Samuel 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Samuel 9
"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." — 1 Samuel 9:1 (ASV)
The genealogy of Saul is given here as far as Aphiah (called “Abiah” in 1 Chronicles 7:8), who was from the house of Becher, the son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21). According to 1 Chronicles 9:35–39, Kish was the son of Ner, who was the son of Jehiel (also called Abiel here and in 1 Samuel 14:51). Jehiel was the first settler (or “father,” as stated in 1 Chronicles 9:35) at Gibeon, or Gibeah of Saul, and he married Maachah, a daughter or granddaughter of Caleb. If this is the case, it is obvious that the names of several generations are omitted between Kish and Abiel, including the one from which the family of Matri took its name (1 Samuel 10:21).
"And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not." — 1 Samuel 9:4 (ASV)
The land of Shalisha was somewhere near Gilgal, that is, Jiljulieh. It is thought to derive its name from “three” (Shalosh) wadys which unite in the wady of Karawa. The location of Shalim is not known; its etymology more likely connects it with the land of Shual (1 Samuel 13:17), apparently around Taiyibeh, which was about nine miles from Gibeah.
Zuph—See 1 Samuel 9:5 and the note on 1 Samuel 1:1.
"And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way." — 1 Samuel 9:8 (ASV)
The fourth part of a shekel had a value of about sixpence. The shekel was probably divided into four quarters by a cross, much like early English silver coins, and could be subdivided when required into half and quarter shekels.
"(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, Come, and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)" — 1 Samuel 9:9 (ASV)
This is clearly a gloss inserted into the older narrative by a later editor of the sacred text to explain the use of the term in 1 Samuel 9:11 and 1 Samuel 9:18–19. It is one of many instances that prove how the very letter of the contemporary narratives was preserved by those who later compiled the histories. We cannot say exactly when the term “seer” became obsolete. See the marginal references.
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