SAUL’S ENCOUNTER WITH SAMUEL As the people were persistent on their demand, God set for them ‘Saul,’ the son of Kish the Benjamite; a handsome young man,“There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulder upward he was taller than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9: 2) God said to His prophet Samuel: “You shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me” (1 Samuel 9: 16). 1- Saul and his father’s lost donkeys 1 – 5. 2- His servant counsels him to encounter the seer 7 – 14. 3- Samuel reveals his message to Saul 15 – 27. 1- SAUL AND HIS FATHER’S LOST DONKEYS As the people demanded the prophet Samuel to set a king for them, ‘Saul,’ whose name means (a request or desire), was chosen a king. God gave them a king according to the desire of their heart - a tall handsome young man, though his heart was not upright.. as St. Augustine says: [The people were given Saul a king, not according to the will of God, but according to their own will1]. The Holy Book revealed and did not disregard the good sides of Saul; but it seems that wealth and dignity were too much for him, having revealed his twisted inner heart, and his care for world dignity and outer appearances that led to his rejection by God, and the deprivation of his descent of inheriting his throne. This chapter began by giving the genealogy of Saul, whom God introduced to the people as a king according to the desire of their heart. The Book demonstrated that he was of the tribe of Benjamin, a descendant of the 600 who survived the war, and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon (Judges 20: 47). It was a very few numbered tribe because of the wars by the other tribes against it (Judges 20), yet a mighty one of considerable dignity. As for Saul himself, as mentioned, he was a handsome young man, “There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward, he was taller than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9: 2). The Holy Book narrates the events that ended by his anointment as a king - events that may seem haphazard or through mere chance, and of no real value. Yet, the divine inspiration reveals to us how God, the Almighty, can use all events, however valueless they may seem, to realize a divine plan for our sake; nothing is ever haphazard! Here we find Saul set forth to look for the lost donkeys of his father ‘Kish’; and though he did not find them,, he got anointed as a king; We find his servant advise him to meet the ‘seer’ (Samuel), having in his possession one fourth of a shekel of silver; And we find Saul and his servant meet some young women going out to draw water; then with the seer himself...; God actually was behind all of these incidents, though they seemed haphazard, to realize His plan. I wish we believe that every thing that happens in our life - however valueless it may seem – happens according to the ordinance of God, who cares for sparrows, and before whom “the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10: 30). St. Basil says: [The donkeys got lost, to find a king for Israel2]. 1 On Ps. 18 (1). 2 Ep. 159: 1. 2 Saul was called to become a king, when the donkeys - that symbolically refer to ignorance - were lost. Therefore, in order for us to reign together with the Lord Christ, we have to uproot ignorance from our souls, and to enjoy the light of knowledge. Let the donkeys get lost from our inner house, to be replaced by the light of knowledge in our depths, to reign together with our Christ, the true light in order to say with king David: “By Your light, O Lord, we behold the light”. St. Clement of Alexandria says that the Gnostic; namely, the one with spiritual knowledge: [would never be troubled by anything... would never fear death, having the good conscience and the readiness to behold the heavenly hosts1]. Although losing the donkeys was something of little significance, Saul did his best to look for them, passing through the mountains of Ephraim, the land of Shalisha, the land of Shaalim, the land of the Benjamites, and finally the land of Zuph...; and after three days of after a useless search, Saul said to the servant: “Come, let us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys, and become worried about us” (1 Samuel 9: 5). These are good sides of Saul: his serious search for the donkeys, his care for the feelings of his father, then his seeking the advice of others (the servant)...; these are attributes that makes man worthy of getting a leading role, lest for the pride of his heart, that later spoiled everything. ‘Shalisha’ means (triple)2; a province in the mountain of Ephraim, south-west of Shechem; and the land of ‘Shaalim’ means the land of (foxes) 3; also a province in Ephraim. According to the Jewish tradition, Saul’s servant was ‘Doeg the Edomite,’ who became later on, one of Saul’s closest aids, who executed the priests of Nob, together with their women, children, oxen, donkeys and sheep (1 Samuel 22: 7 - 23). 2- THE SERVANT ADVISES HIMTO ENCOUNTER THE SEER Saul had the intention to return, lest his father would cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about them; but the servant advised him to consult the man of God, to “show them the way that they should go” (1 Samuel 9: 6). The Jews used to call the prophet “a man of God” (Joshua 14: 6; 1 kings 12: 22; Chronicles 11: 22); as he worked on introducing the people to God, through prayers, the divine commandment, guidance, and prophecy, He is also called “a spiritual man” (Hosea 9: 7), working under the leadership of the Spirit of God; and “a seer,’ having the grace of knowing things of the future, as though through an open spiritual insight. Some critics claim that this Book includes two different sources of thought - as we saw in the introduction -saying that it is obvious from the conversation between Saul and his servant, that the former is not aware of the name of the seer and his place; though he dwells not so far from him; as though Samuel is some obscure seer, not known even to those living near him. Yet in the same book, we see the prophet Samuel as a great prophet, and a prominent judge who controls and guides the whole people...How could this be possible? This may be explained by the fact that Saul lived in his village, not caring much for political nor spiritual affairs going on in his time; and unaware of the prominent figures, like many of those who live in the villages; especially with no or little means of media facilities. 1 Strom. 7: 13. 2 Strong's Exh. Concordance, artic. 8031. 3 Ibid, 8171. 3 I recall in the year 1953, after the onset of the Egyptian revolution, a school teacher who worked in higher Egypt wrote to his family in Cairo saying: Here, there are people who believe that the country is still under the reign of King Foad! not aware of his death, the succession of King Farouk on the throne, and his dethronement by the July 1952 revolution! Another instance was mentioned by the author of the interpretation of the first Book of Samuel (Center of Christian Publications), about the Head of the Church of Scotland, who was once invited to give a speech in a public gathering. He had been a prominent figure at his time; his name, news, and photos, were often published in newspapers. When he was introduced by the chairman of the convention, to the chairman of the city council, who was at the same time a member of that church, he inquired “Who is the man? “. We always find in every age, those who do not care to know, even the name of a prominent religious figure. We notice that Saul’s servant had more information about the seer, his position of honor, and his dwelling place than his master; saying: “He is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass” (1 Samuel 9: 6). Moreover, we should not overlook the fact that Samuel, like Eli the high priest, were both different from previous or even contemporary judges, in that they were committed to spiritual and every day guidance, but not to any military role; something that deprived them of being famous among young people, who are always more interested in the news of wars, conquests, and heroic incidents. Saul asked his servant:“If we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels are all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” (1 Samuel 9: 7). Although Saul was ignorant of the identity and the dwelling of the seer, he had been raised since childhood, on not going to the house of God, nor encountering the man of God, empty-handed. The custom had been for everyone to offer from his food, harvest, as well as his money. That had been also the custom of the early church; It is said about the father of St. Tekla Hemanot, the Ethiopian, who was a priest, that he never entered the church empty-handed... Every soul that encounters God in love, carries in its depth the nature of giving; rejoices and gets fulfilled with every giving to others. The servant had one fourth of a shekel of silver - a very insignificant sum of money – but they were not embarrassed to present it; as the nature and way of giving are more important than their material value. ‘Ramah’ or ‘Marathi’ - the city of Samuel - was located on two hills (1 Samuel 1: 1); That is why it is said, “As they went up the hill to the city, they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, ‘Is the seer her?. And they answered them and said, ‘Hurry now, for today he came to this city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place” (1 Samuel 9: 11, 12). If Ramah, that is set on two hills, represents the church of Christ, set on the two Testaments: the Old and the New, so it is fitting for every heart to forsake what is at the foot of the hill, and to ascend by the Spirit of God, through the word of God - the two Testaments - to live in Ramah, as a seer who enjoys an insight, open to the secrets of God and His heavenly glories. As to those women, going out to draw water, they represent men of the two Testaments: the New and the Old, who, through prophecies and evangelic preaching, are pointing to Christ, who walks before us, cares for us, opens before us the way of 4 truth, and passes over with us to Golgotha, to enjoy the secrets of His saving sacrifice. The women said to them: “As soon as you come into the city, you will surely find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterwards those who are invited will eat”(1 Samuel 9: 13). Enjoying going up to the church of Christ, we shall behold our Christ who offers His body, a sacrifice of love, fulfilling His people. We shall behold Him bless the sacrifice by His pure hands, offer His guests to eat, to get fulfilled, and to abide in Him. As the two men went up to the city, there was Samuel coming out toward them, on his way up to the high place (1 Samuel 9; 15). Likewise, as we enjoy the membership of the church, we are carried by Him up to Golgotha (the high place), in order to enjoy the secret of the sacrifice, the grantor of reconciliation, and the fulfiller of the soul. 3- SAMUEL REVEALS TO SAUL HIS MISSION The Lord had revealed to the prophet Samuel, the day before Saul came, all what concerned the anointment of the latter, as a king or a commander over the people of Israel, (1 Samuel 9: 15). It is to be noticed that the word ‘commander,’ came in Hebrew as (nagid), meaning a (chief) or (prince); though the talk about him here, is as a (king); and the anointment itself, implied granting him royalty1. The prophet Samuel offered Saul hospitality, and revealed everything to him; saying: “But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?” (1 Samuel 9: 20). Humbly, Saul responded saying: “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speaklike this to me?”(1 Samuel 9: 21) Here, it is fitting for us to halt a moment, to realize the gifts of God to man, who goes up to Ramah, namely to the church, and who meets with Samuel, the symbol of Christ. a- The prophet told Saul that he should stop worrying about the lost donkeys; a matter of no importance, compared to the gifts he was to be given; But he proclaimed to him that the donkeys were found, and that he is to gain all the desire of Israel. Had not Christ asked us not to care for anything but the Kingdom of God, then every thing else will be given him in abundance? God with His love grants us in this life a hundredfold (Matthew 19: 29), in addition to our enjoyment of the Kingdom of God. Let us then forsake our worries about the lost donkeys to get from God instead, chariots and horses; and what is of greater importance - His heavenly Kingdom. Let us forsake the lowly earthly donkeys, to receive the heavenly chariot of God. b- Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, the high room dedicated for the banquets of sacrifices, and had them sit in the place of honor among those who were invited; there were about 30 persons. And Samuel instructed the cook to set the thigh with its upper part before Saul (1 Samuel 9: 22 - 24). Anyway, whoever forsakes worries about the earthly matters, will go up as though to the heavenly banquet, will enjoy the heavenly food, and will receive fulfillment and double honor. 1 Nelson: A New Catholic Comm. P. 311. 5 c- At dawn, on the top of the house, Saul enjoyed a secret talk with the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 9: 25, 26). Likewise, as we enjoy the heavenly food, we enter into a secret relationship with our Christ, meet with Him early at dawn on the top, ascending to heaven, to behold His divine secrets, and to listen to His private talk about setting us as spiritual kings (Revelation 1: 6; 5: 10).
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