God orchestrates a humble meeting between a searching young man and a faithful prophet, inaugurating a new chapter in Israel’s history.
So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place (v.14). In this verse, the two travelers described are Saul and his servant, who have been on a quest to find donkeys that belong to Saul’s father (1 Samuel 9:3). Their journey has led them to this particular city, likely in the region where Samuel, the last judge and a key prophet of Israel in the 11th century BC, would minister. The term high place refers to an elevated site often used for worship before the temple existed in Jerusalem. Samuel’s appearance here is no coincidence but part of the LORD’s divine orchestration to bring Saul and Samuel together.
When the text says they “went up to the city,” it suggests that this location was on higher ground. Geography often factored into Israel’s worship, as people customarily traveled upwards, both physically and spiritually, to worship the LORD. Samuel was coming out toward them, showing God’s providential timing: they arrived exactly when Samuel was making his way to lead a gathering or conduct a sacrifice at the high place. Historically, Samuel had been established by God as a prophet who would anoint Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 10:1). This moment sets the stage for Saul’s future calling.
Samuel, who lived approximately from the late 11th century BC into the early 10th century BC, was deeply respected as both a spiritual leader and a judge who guided Israel through a time of transition from the period of the judges to that of a monarchy (1 Samuel 8:7). Here, the verse underscores that God was guiding earthly circumstances for His purposes. It depicts the quiet beginnings of Saul’s introduction to Samuel, which would lead to Saul’s anointing as king.
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1 Samuel 9:14 meaning
So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place (v.14). In this verse, the two travelers described are Saul and his servant, who have been on a quest to find donkeys that belong to Saul’s father (1 Samuel 9:3). Their journey has led them to this particular city, likely in the region where Samuel, the last judge and a key prophet of Israel in the 11th century BC, would minister. The term high place refers to an elevated site often used for worship before the temple existed in Jerusalem. Samuel’s appearance here is no coincidence but part of the LORD’s divine orchestration to bring Saul and Samuel together.
When the text says they “went up to the city,” it suggests that this location was on higher ground. Geography often factored into Israel’s worship, as people customarily traveled upwards, both physically and spiritually, to worship the LORD. Samuel was coming out toward them, showing God’s providential timing: they arrived exactly when Samuel was making his way to lead a gathering or conduct a sacrifice at the high place. Historically, Samuel had been established by God as a prophet who would anoint Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 10:1). This moment sets the stage for Saul’s future calling.
Samuel, who lived approximately from the late 11th century BC into the early 10th century BC, was deeply respected as both a spiritual leader and a judge who guided Israel through a time of transition from the period of the judges to that of a monarchy (1 Samuel 8:7). Here, the verse underscores that God was guiding earthly circumstances for His purposes. It depicts the quiet beginnings of Saul’s introduction to Samuel, which would lead to Saul’s anointing as king.