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1 Samuel 9:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 9:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the asses, and be anxious for us.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the asses, and be anxious for us.
1 Samuel 9:5 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3And the asses of Kish, Saul`s father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the asses, and be anxious for us.
6And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go.
7Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
← 1 Samuel 9:41 Samuel 9:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when they were come to the land of Zuph, etc.] In which was Ramathaimzophim, the native place of Samuel, (<090101>1 Samuel 1:1) and so the Targum here, “the land in which was the prophet” Saul said to the servant that was with him, come, and let us return; home, despairing of finding the asses after so long a search in divers places: lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us; fearing some evil should have befallen his son and his servant, in comparison of whom, and especially his son, the asses would be of no account, and so give himself no concern for them, but be in great care and uneasiness for his son and servant; wherefore Saul thought it most advisable to…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:5 Zuph, which was probably located in Ephraim, was Samuel’s home region (1:1). God’s providence led Saul there.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Zuph: Sa1 1:1 take thought: Sa1 10:2; Mat 6:25, Mat 6:28, Mat 6:34; Luk 12:11, Luk 12:22 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 9:6”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 9 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification