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1 Samuel 9:3

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¶ And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

And the asses {H860} of Kish {H7027} Saul's {H7586} father {H1} were lost {H6}. And Kish {H7027} said {H559} to Saul {H7586} his son {H1121}, Take {H3947} now one {H259} of the servants {H5288} with thee, and arise {H6965}, go {H3212} seek {H1245} the asses {H860}.

Once the donkeys belonging to Kish Sha'ul's father got lost. Kish said to his son Sha'ul, "Please take one of the servants with you, go out, and look for the donkeys."

One 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.”

And the asses of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

Commentary

Context of 1 Samuel 9:3

This verse introduces Saul, the future first king of Israel, not as a valiant warrior or a political leader, but as a dutiful son engaged in a common, everyday task: searching for lost livestock. In ancient Israel, donkeys were valuable assets, essential for transport, agriculture, and trade. Their loss would represent a significant economic blow to a household. This seemingly insignificant event serves as the divine catalyst for Saul's journey, which ultimately leads to his unexpected encounter with the prophet Samuel and his anointing as king. The narrative underscores that God's plans often unfold through ordinary circumstances and faithful obedience to simple duties.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Providence: The central message here is that God orchestrates events, even mundane ones like lost donkeys, to fulfill His sovereign purposes. This seemingly random event was precisely the path God chose to bring Saul into his destiny. It highlights God's ability to work behind the scenes, using everyday occurrences to bring about extraordinary outcomes.
  • Obedience and Responsibility: Saul's immediate and unquestioning obedience to his father's command to "go seek the asses" demonstrates a commendable character trait. His faithfulness in a small, practical duty positions him for the much larger responsibility of leading a nation. This echoes principles found elsewhere in Scripture about faithfulness in little things leading to faithfulness in much.
  • Humble Beginnings: The future king of Israel begins his public life not with fanfare, but with a humble errand. This sets a precedent for how God often elevates individuals from obscurity or ordinary stations, as seen later with David, who was called from tending sheep (1 Samuel 16:11).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "asses" is ḥămōr (חֲמוֹר), a common term for donkeys. In the ancient Near East, donkeys were integral to daily life and were a significant form of wealth. The phrase "go seek" (לֵךְ בַּקֵּשׁ - lēḵ baqqēš) is a direct command, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the task given to Saul. There are no particularly complex linguistic nuances in this verse beyond understanding the cultural value of the animals.

Practical Application

1 Samuel 9:3 reminds us that God is actively involved in the seemingly ordinary details of our lives. It encourages us to be diligent and faithful in our daily duties, even when they seem trivial, because these very tasks might be the path God uses to lead us to His greater purpose. We should maintain an attitude of availability and obedience, much like Saul, willing to follow instructions even if we don't immediately see the grand design. Our faithfulness in the small things can open doors to divine appointments and opportunities we never anticipated.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 10:2 (2 votes)

    When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

  • Judges 5:10 (2 votes)

    Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.

  • Judges 10:4 (2 votes)

    And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which [are] in the land of Gilead.