1 Samuel 9:1
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִי
H1961
וַיְהִי
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 19
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אִ֣ישׁ
Now there was a man
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
Now there was a man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
2 of 19
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
יָמִ֗ין
of Benjamin
H1144
יָמִ֗ין
of Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
4 of 19
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
וּ֠שְׁמוֹ
whose name
H8034
וּ֠שְׁמוֹ
whose name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
5 of 19
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
בֶּן
the son
H1121
בֶּן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
7 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בֶּן
the son
H1121
בֶּן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
9 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
צְר֧וֹר
of Zeror
H6872
צְר֧וֹר
of Zeror
Strong's:
H6872
Word #:
10 of 19
a parcel (as packed up); also a kernel or particle (as if a package)
בֶּן
the son
H1121
בֶּן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
11 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בֶּן
the son
H1121
בֶּן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
13 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בֶּן
the son
H1121
בֶּן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
15 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אִ֣ישׁ
Now there was a man
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
Now there was a man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
16 of 19
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Cross References
1 Samuel 14:51And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.Acts 13:21And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.1 Samuel 25:2And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
Historical Context
Benjamin's territory served as a buffer zone between the northern and southern tribes, making it politically advantageous for Israel's first king to come from this neutral tribe. Archaeological evidence from the period (c. 1050 BCE) shows Benjamite settlements were modest compared to larger tribal centers, confirming the tribe's smaller stature while maintaining strategic importance along major trade routes.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's sovereign choice of leaders often confound human expectations about status and lineage?
- What does the careful recording of Saul's genealogy teach us about God's providence working through family histories?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
The narrative shifts dramatically from Samuel's prophetic ministry to introduce Saul's lineage with careful genealogical precision. The Hebrew phrase gibbor chayil ('mighty man of power') describes Kish as a man of substance, wealth, and social standing, establishing that Israel's first king would emerge from respectable stock. The tribe of Benjamin, though smallest among the tribes (Judges 21:3), held strategic significance, situated between the powerful tribes of Ephraim and Judah. This five-generation genealogy grounds Saul's identity in Israel's covenant community while subtly highlighting that God's choice would not follow human expectations. The detailed lineage serves as literary foreshadowing: just as this genealogy traces back through generations, God's sovereign plan has been unfolding through history toward this pivotal moment when Israel would receive their king.