Saul’s search for the donkeys marks the beginning of his unexpected journey to become Israel’s first king.
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” (v.3) This verse provides a snapshot of everyday life in ancient Israel, around 1050 BC, just before the establishment of the monarchy. Saul’s father, Kish, is identified elsewhere as “a man of the tribe of Benjamin,” and it is through this seemingly mundane task of recovering lost donkeys that Saul first encounters the circumstances leading to his rise as Israel’s first king. God often works His purposes through ordinary events, and in this case, a simple search for missing livestock became a divine appointment for Saul to meet the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 9:19). The tribe of Benjamin’s lineage is an important detail because it connects this verse to the broader narrative of God raising up a king to govern His people (see commentary on Acts 13:21).
Saul’s obedience to his father here mirrors a spirit of service and devotion that will soon be tested. This journey to find the lost donkeys leads Saul across various territories in search of the missing animals, illustrating both the familial responsibility he feels to do his father’s bidding and the greater plans that God is orchestrating behind the scenes. Historically, donkey ownership signified wealth and livelihood, indicating Kish was a reputable man in the community. The mention of the servant accompanying Saul not only adds witness to these events but foreshadows the wise counsel that the servant will eventually give when they come close to meeting Samuel (1 Samuel 9:6-8).
Theologically, this verse shows how God often uses ordinary routines—like taking care of animals—to advance His plan for leadership and spiritual renewal. Although Jesus, the ultimate King, would come from the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1:1), there is a resonance between God’s sovereignty in Saul’s path to kingship and Christ’s humble beginnings, including Jesus’s own regal procession riding a donkey into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-5). The lost donkeys in 1 Samuel 9:3, and the command to “arise, go search,” serve as a reminder that seeking what is missing in our lives can be a step toward a divine calling.
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1 Samuel 9:3 meaning
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” (v.3) This verse provides a snapshot of everyday life in ancient Israel, around 1050 BC, just before the establishment of the monarchy. Saul’s father, Kish, is identified elsewhere as “a man of the tribe of Benjamin,” and it is through this seemingly mundane task of recovering lost donkeys that Saul first encounters the circumstances leading to his rise as Israel’s first king. God often works His purposes through ordinary events, and in this case, a simple search for missing livestock became a divine appointment for Saul to meet the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 9:19). The tribe of Benjamin’s lineage is an important detail because it connects this verse to the broader narrative of God raising up a king to govern His people (see commentary on Acts 13:21).
Saul’s obedience to his father here mirrors a spirit of service and devotion that will soon be tested. This journey to find the lost donkeys leads Saul across various territories in search of the missing animals, illustrating both the familial responsibility he feels to do his father’s bidding and the greater plans that God is orchestrating behind the scenes. Historically, donkey ownership signified wealth and livelihood, indicating Kish was a reputable man in the community. The mention of the servant accompanying Saul not only adds witness to these events but foreshadows the wise counsel that the servant will eventually give when they come close to meeting Samuel (1 Samuel 9:6-8).
Theologically, this verse shows how God often uses ordinary routines—like taking care of animals—to advance His plan for leadership and spiritual renewal. Although Jesus, the ultimate King, would come from the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1:1), there is a resonance between God’s sovereignty in Saul’s path to kingship and Christ’s humble beginnings, including Jesus’s own regal procession riding a donkey into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-5). The lost donkeys in 1 Samuel 9:3, and the command to “arise, go search,” serve as a reminder that seeking what is missing in our lives can be a step toward a divine calling.