1 Samuel 9:13
As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
Original Language Analysis
בֹּא֔וֹ
As soon as ye be come
H935
בֹּא֔וֹ
As soon as ye be come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 30
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
הָעִ֣יר
into the city
H5892
הָעִ֣יר
into the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
2 of 30
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
כֵ֖ן
ye shall straightway
H3651
כֵ֖ן
ye shall straightway
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
3 of 30
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
תִּמְצְא֥וּן
find
H4672
תִּמְצְא֥וּן
find
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
4 of 30
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
אֹת֡וֹ
H853
אֹת֡וֹ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּטֶרֶם֩
H2962
בְּטֶרֶם֩
Strong's:
H2962
Word #:
6 of 30
properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before
עֲל֔וּ
Now therefore get you up
H5927
עֲל֔וּ
Now therefore get you up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
7 of 30
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
כִּ֠י
H3588
כִּ֠י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
10 of 30
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
11 of 30
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הָעָם֙
for the people
H5971
הָעָם֙
for the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
13 of 30
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
14 of 30
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
בֹּא֔וֹ
As soon as ye be come
H935
בֹּא֔וֹ
As soon as ye be come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
15 of 30
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
כִּי
H3588
כִּי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
16 of 30
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הוּא֙
H1931
הוּא֙
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
17 of 30
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
יְבָרֵ֣ךְ
because he doth bless
H1288
יְבָרֵ֣ךְ
because he doth bless
Strong's:
H1288
Word #:
18 of 30
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
הַזֶּ֔בַח
the sacrifice
H2077
הַזֶּ֔בַח
the sacrifice
Strong's:
H2077
Word #:
19 of 30
properly, a slaughter, i.e., the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)
אַֽחֲרֵי
and afterwards
H310
אַֽחֲרֵי
and afterwards
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
20 of 30
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
כֵ֖ן
ye shall straightway
H3651
כֵ֖ן
ye shall straightway
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
21 of 30
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
הַקְּרֻאִ֑ים
that be bidden
H7121
הַקְּרֻאִ֑ים
that be bidden
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
23 of 30
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
וְעַתָּ֣ה
H6258
עֲל֔וּ
Now therefore get you up
H5927
עֲל֔וּ
Now therefore get you up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
25 of 30
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
26 of 30
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אֹת֥וֹ
H853
אֹת֥וֹ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
27 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כְהַיּ֖וֹם
for about this time
H3117
כְהַיּ֖וֹם
for about this time
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
28 of 30
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
Historical Context
Blessing food before eating was standard Israelite practice, with the blessing acknowledging God as provider and consecrating the meal. Samuel's priestly functions reflect the transitional period when normal Levitical structures were disrupted. The invited guests likely included civic and religious leaders of the community, making Saul's later prominence at the feast even more remarkable.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Samuel's role in blessing the sacrifice reflect the integration of prophetic and priestly functions?
- What does being among 'those who are invited' to God's table mean in your spiritual life?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
The maidens provide remarkably precise instructions, revealing both Samuel's central role in community worship and the specific window of opportunity available to Saul. The phrase 'the people will not eat until he come' establishes Samuel's priestly function: he blessed (barak) the sacrifice, consecrating the meal for sacred consumption. This detail shows Samuel functioning in a quasi-priestly capacity despite being an Ephraimite, authorized by his prophetic office and the disrupted state of the Levitical priesthood. The expression 'they that be bidden' (qeru'im, 'the called ones' or 'invited guests') introduces the concept of divine invitation that becomes significant when Samuel seats Saul in the place of honor. The repeated urgency, 'get you up,' propels the narrative forward toward its climax while reminding readers that divine appointments operate within human time constraints.