The Meaning of 1 Samuel 9:26 Explained

1 Samuel 9:26

KJV: And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

YLT: And they rise early, and it cometh to pass, at the ascending of the dawn, that Samuel calleth unto Saul, on the roof, saying, 'Rise, and I send thee away;' and Saul riseth, and they go out, both of them -- he and Samuel, without.

Darby: And they arose early; and when it was about the dawning of the day, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, Arise, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, into the street.

ASV: And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they arose early:  and it came to pass about the spring  of the day,  that Samuel  called  Saul  to the top of the house,  saying,  Up,  that I may send thee away.  And Saul  arose,  and they went out  both  of them, he and Samuel,  abroad. 

What does 1 Samuel 9:26 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Anointing with oil was a symbolic act in Israel that pictured consecration to service. The only things anointed with oil before this anointing were the priests and the tabernacle. The oil symbolized God"s Spirit, and anointing with oil represented endowment with that Spirit for enablement (cf. 1 John 2:27). In the ancient Near East, a representative of a nation"s god customarily anointed the king, whom the people viewed from then on as the representative of that god on earth. [1] Thus Saul would have understood that Samuel was setting him apart as God"s vice-regent and endowing him with God"s power to serve effectively. Beginning with Saul, kings were similar to priests in Israel as far as representing God and experiencing divine enablement. Samuel"s kiss was a sign of affection and respect since now Saul was God"s special representative on the earth. Samuel reminded Saul that the Israelites were the Lord"s inheritance, another comment that Saul unfortunately did not take to heart (cf. 1 Samuel 9:13).
Samuel then gave Saul three signs that would verify to the king elect that Samuel had anointed him in harmony with God"s will. The first of these would have strengthened Saul"s confidence in God"s ability to control the people under his authority ( 1 Samuel 9:2). [2] The second would have helped Saul realize that the people would accept him and make sacrifices for him ( 1 Samuel 9:3-4). The third would have assured him that he did indeed possess supernatural enablement from God ( 1 Samuel 9:5-6). The "hill of God" (lit. Gibeath-haelohim, 1 Samuel 9:5) was probably Gibeon. [3]
Since God chose and equipped Saul to rule His people, it seems most likely that he was a genuine believer in Yahweh, though Saul gave evidence of not having a strong commitment to Him. Samuel gave Saul his first orders as God"s vice-regent ( 1 Samuel 9:8). Unfortunately he disobeyed them ( 1 Samuel 13:8-14). Perhaps the tabernacle now stood at Gilgal since Samuel planned to offer burnt and peace offerings there. However, Samuel may have sacrificed at places other than the tabernacle ( 1 Samuel 7:17; cf. 1 Samuel 14:35). Again we can see that the tabernacle was not one of the writer"s main concerns.

Context Summary

1 Samuel 9:15-27 - The Prophet Meets The Coming King
There are some favored souls to whom God reveals His secrets, Psalms 25:14; John 15:15. Covet, above all things, that habitual nearness to God in which God may speak as a man to His friend. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him; but He reveals them by His Spirit. Even when Samuel encountered Saul in the street, Samuel's guidance by God continued, 1 Samuel 9:17. His fellowship with the Eternal was like a deep-flowing current; his meeting with Saul a leaf dropped on its surface.
The prophet did not meet the young man as a rival. The life which is lived in God's presence is so filled with His light and His love that it is not disturbed by the fickle fancies of the crowd. Samuel was quite ready to be abased and to see another exalted, if God willed it, Philippians 4:12. It is good, when we are in partnership with God, to allow Him, at the critical moment, to send the man or woman whom He has selected. "Tomorrow"¦ I will send thee a man." Such may come on quite another errand, but God will give us divine guidance and discernment, so that we may be ready to receive and welcome Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 9

1  Saul despairing to find his father's donkeys
6  by the counsel of his servant
11  and direction of young maidens
15  according to God's revelation
18  comes to Samuel
19  Samuel entertains Saul at the feast
25  Samuel, after secret communication, brings Saul on his way

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 9:26 mean?

And they arose early and it was about the dawning of the day that called Samuel to Saul - on the top of the house saying Get up that I may send you on your way And arose Saul and went the two of them he and Samuel outside
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֗מוּ וַיְהִ֞י כַּעֲל֤וֹת הַשַּׁ֙חַר֙ וַיִּקְרָ֨א שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל אֶל־ שָׁאוּל֙ [הגג] (הַגָּ֣גָה) לֵאמֹ֔ר ק֖וּמָה וַאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ וַיָּ֣קָם שָׁא֗וּל וַיֵּצְא֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם ה֥וּא וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל הַחֽוּצָה

וַיַּשְׁכִּ֗מוּ  And  they  arose  early 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁכַם  
Sense: to rise or start early.
וַיְהִ֞י  and  it  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כַּעֲל֤וֹת  about  the  dawning 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הַשַּׁ֙חַר֙  of  the  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁחַר  
Sense: dawn.
וַיִּקְרָ֨א  that  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל  Samuel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁמוּאֵל  
Sense: son of Elkanah by his wife Hannah and judge or prophet of Israel during the days of Saul and David.
שָׁאוּל֙  Saul 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
[הגג]  - 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
(הַגָּ֣גָה)  on  the  top  of  the  house 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: גָּג  
Sense: roof, top, housetop.
לֵאמֹ֔ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ק֖וּמָה  Get  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
וַאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ  that  I  may  send  you  on  your  way 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
וַיָּ֣קָם  And  arose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
שָׁא֗וּל  Saul 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
וַיֵּצְא֧וּ  and  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם  the  two  of  them 
Parse: Number, mdc, third person masculine plural
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל  and  Samuel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁמוּאֵל  
Sense: son of Elkanah by his wife Hannah and judge or prophet of Israel during the days of Saul and David.
הַחֽוּצָה  outside 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.

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