1 Samuel 9:26

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

Complete Jewish Bible:

They got up early. About daybreak, Sh'mu'el called out to Sha'ul on the roof, "Get up, so I can send you on your way." Sha'ul got up, and both of them -he and Sh'mu'el - went out.

Berean Standard Bible:

They got up early in the morning, and just before dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way!” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went outside together.

American Standard Version:

And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And they arose early{H7925}: and it came to pass about the spring{H5927} of the day{H7837}, that Samuel{H8050} called{H7121} Saul{H7586} to the top of the house{H1406}, saying{H559}, Up{H6965}, that I may send thee away{H7971}. And Saul{H7586} arose{H6965}, and they went out{H3318} both{H8147} of them, he and Samuel{H8050}, abroad{H2351}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Genesis 44:4

  • [And] when they were gone out of the city, [and] not [yet] far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

Joshua 7:13

  • Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, [There is] an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

Judges 19:28

  • And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her [up] upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.

Genesis 19:14

  • And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

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Commentary for 1 Samuel 9:26

1 Samuel 9:26 is part of the narrative that describes the rise of Saul as the first king of Israel. The verse captures a pivotal moment in the transition from the period of the judges to the monarchy. In the historical context, the Israelites, feeling vulnerable without a centralized leadership, demanded a king to lead them, which was a departure from the theocratic system they had been accustomed to, where God was considered their direct ruler through judges He raised up.

The themes present in this verse include divine guidance and the fulfillment of God's will through human agency. Samuel, who was both a prophet and the last judge of Israel, had been instructed by God to anoint Saul as king. The early rising and the timing of the event "about the spring of the day" suggest urgency and a new beginning. Samuel's act of calling Saul to the top of the house may symbolize a higher calling or a setting apart for a significant role. The phrase "that I may send thee away" indicates Samuel's role in preparing Saul for his new responsibility and the journey ahead as the future king.

In this verse, Saul is depicted as obedient and responsive to Samuel's direction, which are qualities that would have been seen as important for a king. The fact that they went out abroad, or outside, signifies the public nature of Saul's new role and the beginning of his reign, which would be visible to all of Israel. This moment is a turning point in Israel's history, marking the establishment of the monarchy and setting the stage for the complex relationship between Saul and Samuel, and later, David, who would eventually succeed Saul as king.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H7925
    There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁכַם
    Transliteration: shâkam
    Pronunciation: shaw-kam'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to incline (the shoulder to a burden); but used only as denominative from שְׁכֶם; literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning; (arise, be up, get (oneself) up, rise up) early (betimes), morning.
  2. Strong's Number: H5927
    There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָלָה
    Transliteration: ʻâlâh
    Pronunciation: aw-law'
    Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
  3. Strong's Number: H7837
    There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שַׁחַר
    Transliteration: shachar
    Pronunciation: shakh'-ar
    Description: from שָׁחַר; dawn (literal, figurative or adverbial); day(-spring), early, light, morning, whence riseth.
  4. Strong's Number: H8050
    There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁמוּאֵל
    Transliteration: Shᵉmûwʼêl
    Pronunciation: sehm-oo-ale'
    Description: from the passive participle of שָׁמַע and אֵל; heard of God; Shemuel, the name of three Israelites; Samuel, Shemuel.
  5. Strong's Number: H7121
    There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָרָא
    Transliteration: qârâʼ
    Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
    Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
  6. Strong's Number: H7586
    There are 335 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁאוּל
    Transliteration: Shâʼûwl
    Pronunciation: shaw-ool'
    Description: passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul.
  7. Strong's Number: H1406
    There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גָּג
    Transliteration: gâg
    Pronunciation: gawg
    Description: probably by reduplication from גָּאָה; a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar; roof (of the house), (house) top (of the house).
  8. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
  9. Strong's Number: H6965
    There are 596 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קוּם
    Transliteration: qûwm
    Pronunciation: koom
    Description: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising).
  10. Strong's Number: H7971
    There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁלַח
    Transliteration: shâlach
    Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
    Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).
  11. Strong's Number: H3318
    There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָצָא
    Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
    Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
    Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
  12. Strong's Number: H8147
    There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
    Transliteration: shᵉnayim
    Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
    Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
  13. Strong's Number: H2351
    There are 159 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חוּץ
    Transliteration: chûwts
    Pronunciation: khoots
    Description: or (shortened) חֻץ; (both forms feminine in the plural) from an unused root meaning to sever; properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors; abroad, field, forth, highway, more, out(-side, -ward), street, without.