1 Samuel 9:11

Analysis & Commentary

And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

The encounter with young women drawing water follows a biblical pattern of significant meetings at wells, though here the element is subtle rather than romantic (cf. Genesis 24; 29; Exodus 2). Their 'going up' (olim) to the city built on a hill reflects both geography and spiritual symbolism, as ascent often accompanies approach to sacred space or divine encounter. The maidens' presence at the water source indicates late afternoon, the customary time for this daily task. Saul's question 'Is the seer here?' uses the older term discussed in verse 9, suggesting either his rural dialect or the term's continued common usage despite the narrator's later note. These young women, like the servant earlier, become unwitting instruments of providence, positioned at precisely the right moment to direct Israel's future king toward his anointing.

Historical Context

Drawing water was primarily women's work, performed in late afternoon when temperatures cooled. Wells and springs were social gathering points where news spread and strangers could make inquiries. The hill-city topography was common in ancient Israel, with settlements built on elevated ground for defensive purposes and water sources typically located at lower elevations.

Questions for Reflection

• How do ordinary people in our daily encounters sometimes serve as divine messengers without knowing it?
• What does the biblical pattern of significant encounters at water sources suggest about God's use of common routines?