1 Samuel 9:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

[And] when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that [was] with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave [caring] for the asses, and take thought for us.

Complete Jewish Bible:

On reaching the territory of Tzuf, Sha'ul said to his servant with him, "Come, let's go back; otherwise my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us."

Berean Standard Bible:

When 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.”

American Standard Version:

When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the asses, and be anxious for us.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And when they were come^{H935} to the land^{H776} of Zuph^{H6689}, Saul^{H7586} said^{H559} to his servant^{H5288} that was with him, Come^{H3212}, and let us return^{H7725}; lest my father^{H1} leave^{H2308} caring for the asses^{H860}, and take thought^{H1672} for us.

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Commentary for 1 Samuel 9:5

1 Samuel 9:5 is a verse that captures a moment in the early life of Saul, who would later become the first king of Israel. The historical context of this verse is set during the period of the judges, a time when the Israelites were led by charismatic leaders rather than a monarchy. The people of Israel, feeling the need for a centralized authority to unite them against their enemies, began to desire a king.

In this verse, Saul and his servant are on a journey to search for lost donkeys, a task that reflects the agrarian and pastoral lifestyle common in ancient Israel. They have arrived in the land of Zuph, which is part of the tribal territory of Benjamin, Saul's own tribe. As they proceed with their search, Saul expresses concern about the welfare of his father, Kish, who has sent them on this errand. Saul's suggestion to return home reveals his filial piety and responsibility, traits that would have been highly valued in Israelite society.

The themes present in this verse include the importance of family loyalty, the duty of children to honor their parents, and the everyday concerns of life in ancient Israel. Saul's words also hint at a sense of accountability and the potential consequences of their actions on the family. This moment is significant because it shows Saul's character before he is anointed king, highlighting his humble beginnings and the personal qualities that may have made him a suitable candidate for leadership in the eyes of the prophet Samuel and the people of Israel. The verse sets the stage for the subsequent narrative where Saul's path intersects with Samuel's, leading to his unexpected rise to kingship.

*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: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
2. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6689
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צוּף
   Transliteration: Tsûwph
   Pronunciation: tsoof
   Description: or צוֹפַי; or צִיף; from צוּף; honey-comb; Tsuph or Tsophai or Tsiph, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine; Zophai, Zuph.
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5288
   There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נַעַר
   Transliteration: naʻar
   Pronunciation: nah'-ar
   Description: from נָעַר; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age); babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).
   
7. Strong's Number: H3212
   There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַךְ
   Transliteration: yâlak
   Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
   Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1
   There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָב
   Transliteration: ʼâb
   Pronunciation: awb
   Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
   
10. Strong's Number: H2308
    There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָדַל
    Transliteration: châdal
    Pronunciation: khaw-dal'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to be flabby, i.e. (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle; cease, end, fall, forbear, forsake, leave (off), let alone, rest, be unoccupied, want.
    
11. Strong's Number: H860
    There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָתוֹן
    Transliteration: ʼâthôwn
    Pronunciation: aw-thone'
    Description: probably from the same as אֵיתָן (in the sense of patience); a female donkey (from its docility); (she) ass.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1672
    There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּאַג
    Transliteration: dâʼag
    Pronunciation: daw-ag'
    Description: a primitive root; be anxious; be afraid (careful, sorry), sorrow, take thought.