Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Now the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.” New Living Translation One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.” English Standard Version Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” Berean Standard Bible One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” King James Bible And 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. New King James Version Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” New American Standard Bible Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Now take with you one of the servants and arise, go search for the donkeys.” NASB 1995 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” NASB 1977 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” Legacy Standard Bible Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the young men, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” Amplified Bible Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off and were lost. Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you and arise, go look for the donkeys.” Christian Standard Bible One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys.” Holman Christian Standard Bible One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the attendants with you and go look for the donkeys.” American Standard Version And 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. Contemporary English Version Kish owned some donkeys, but they had run off. So he told Saul, "Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys." English Revised Version And 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation When some donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish were lost, Kish told Saul, "Take one of the servants with you, and go look for the donkeys." Good News Translation Some donkeys belonging to Kish had wandered off, so he said to Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys." International Standard Version The donkeys belonging to Kish, Saul's father, were lost, and Kish told his son Saul, "Take one of the young men with you, get up, and go look for the donkeys." NET Bible The donkeys of Saul's father Kish wandered off, so Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys." New Heart English Bible Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys." So Saul got up and took one of the servants of his father with him and went to look for the donkeys of his father Kish. Webster's Bible Translation And 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleOne day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” World English Bible The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Now take one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the donkeys of Kish, father of Saul, are lost, and Kish says to his son Saul, “Now take one of the young men with you, and rise, go, seek the donkeys.” Young's Literal Translation And the asses of Kish, father of Saul, are lost, and Kish saith unto Saul his son, 'Take, I pray thee, with thee, one of the young men, and rise, go, seek the asses.' Smith's Literal Translation And the she asses of Kish, Saul's father, will be lost: and Kish will say to Saul, his son, Take now with thee one of the boys, and arise, Go seek the asses. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the asses of Cis, Sauls father, were lost: and Cis said to his son Saul: Take one of the servants with thee, and arise, go, and seek the asses. And when they had passed through mount Ephraim, Catholic Public Domain Version Now the donkeys of Kish, the father of Saul, had become lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Take with you one of the servants, and rising up, go out and seek the donkeys.” And when they had passed through mount Ephraim, New American Bible Now the donkeys of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the donkeys.” New Revised Standard Version Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had strayed. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the boys with you; go and look for the donkeys.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the asses. And Saul arose and went, and took one of the servants with him, and they went to seek the asses of his father. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the donkeys of Qish, the father of Shaul, were lost, and Qish said to Shaul his son: “Take with you one of the boys and arise, go seek the donkeys.” And Shaul arose and he went on and he took with him one of the boys, and he went on to seek his father’s donkeys OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Now 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.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And the asses of Kis the father of Saul were lost; and Kis said to Saul his son, Take with thee one of the young men, and arise ye, and go seek the asses. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Saul Chosen as King…2And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people. 3One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” 4So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.… Cross References Genesis 37:14-17 Then Israel told him, “Go now and see how your brothers and the flocks are faring, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. And when Joseph arrived in Shechem, / a man found him wandering in the field and asked, “What are you looking for?” / “I am looking for my brothers,” Joseph replied. “Can you please tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?” ... Genesis 24:10-27 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim. / As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water. / “O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. ... Genesis 27:5-10 Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac told his son Esau. So when Esau went into the field to hunt game and bring it back, / Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I overheard your father saying to your brother Esau, / ‘Bring me some game and prepare me a tasty dish to eat, so that I may bless you in the presence of the LORD before I die.’ ... Genesis 37:12-13 Some time later, Joseph’s brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks near Shechem. / Israel said to him, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flocks at Shechem? Get ready; I am sending you to them.” “I am ready,” Joseph replied. Genesis 45:4-5 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. Exodus 3:1-4 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. / There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. / So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?” ... Numbers 22:21-23 So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. / Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. / When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path. Judges 6:36-40 Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said, / then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” / And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. ... Judges 14:5-9 Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him, / and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. / Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes. ... 1 Kings 19:19-21 So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. / So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” / So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah. 2 Kings 4:8-10 One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat. / Then the woman said to her husband, “Behold, now I know that the one who often comes our way is a holy man of God. / Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.” Matthew 10:6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. Matthew 18:12-14 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? / And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. / In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. Luke 15:4-7 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? / And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, / comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ ... John 10:11-16 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. / The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. ... Treasury of Scripture And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the asses. 1 Samuel 10:2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? Judges 5:10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. Judges 10:4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. Jump to Previous Arise Asses Belonging Donkeys Kish Lost Rise Saul Saul's Search Seek Servants Thee Wandering YoungJump to Next Arise Asses Belonging Donkeys Kish Lost Rise Saul Saul's Search Seek Servants Thee Wandering Young1 Samuel 9 1. Saul despairing to find his father's donkeys6. 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 One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off In ancient Israel, donkeys were valuable assets, used for transportation and carrying loads. The loss of donkeys would have been a significant concern for Kish, indicating his wealth and status. This event sets the stage for Saul's introduction, highlighting God's providence in using ordinary circumstances to fulfill His purposes. The wandering of the donkeys can be seen as a divine orchestration leading to Saul's anointing as king, illustrating how God works through everyday events. and Kish said to his son Saul “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” Persons / Places / Events 1. SaulThe son of Kish, who would later become the first king of Israel. At this point in the account, he is obedient to his father and unaware of his future role. 2. Kish Saul's father, described earlier in the chapter as a man of standing from the tribe of Benjamin. He sends Saul on a seemingly mundane task that leads to a significant turning point in Israel's history. 3. The Donkeys The lost donkeys serve as the catalyst for Saul's journey, which ultimately leads him to Samuel and his anointing as king. 4. The Servant An unnamed servant accompanies Saul, playing a supportive role in the search for the donkeys and later suggesting they seek the prophet Samuel's guidance. 5. The Event The search for the lost donkeys sets the stage for Saul's encounter with Samuel, illustrating how God uses ordinary circumstances to fulfill His divine purposes. Teaching Points Divine Providence in the OrdinaryGod often uses ordinary events and tasks to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. We should remain faithful in small duties, trusting that God is at work even when we cannot see the bigger picture. Obedience and Faithfulness Saul's obedience to his father’s request demonstrates the importance of being faithful in our responsibilities. Our willingness to serve in small ways can lead to greater opportunities in God's timing. God's Sovereign Plan The account reminds us that God is sovereign and orchestrates events according to His will. We should seek to discern His guidance in our daily lives, knowing that He can use any situation for His glory. Seeking Godly Counsel The servant's suggestion to seek Samuel's guidance underscores the value of seeking wisdom and counsel from godly individuals when faced with challenges or decisions. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 9Why do 1 Samuel 9:3–4’s details about searching for lost donkeys seem contradictory with other instances in the Old Testament where animals are quickly found or retrieved? How do the signs given to Saul in 1 Samuel 10:2-7 align or conflict with other biblical accounts of miraculous signs? In 2 Samuel 9:3, how do we reconcile David's swift willingness to help Saul's descendant with the longstanding hostilities described elsewhere in 1 and 2 Samuel? How does the mention of a 'high place' in 1 Samuel 9:12-14 align with historical evidence that such rituals were either encouraged or condemned at different periods in Israel's history?Verse 3. - The asses of Kish...were lost. So strangely is the trivial ever united with events most solemn and weighty, that Saul set out upon this journey, in which he was to find a kingdom, with no other object than to look for some lost asses - Hebrew, "she-asses." As used for riding (Judges 10:4), the ass was valuable, and as these were probably kept for breeding, they were allowed more liberty than the males, and so strayed away. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew One day the donkeysהָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת (hā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 860: A female donkey of Saul’s שָׁא֑וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites father אֲבִ֣י (’ă·ḇî) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1: Father Kish לְקִ֖ישׁ (lə·qîš) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7027: Kish -- father of Saul, also the name of several other Israelites wandered off. וַתֹּאבַ֙דְנָה֙ (wat·tō·ḇaḏ·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish So Kish קִ֜ישׁ (qîš) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7027: Kish -- father of Saul, also the name of several other Israelites said וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to his son בְּנ֗וֹ (bə·nōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1121: A son Saul, שָׁא֣וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites “Take קַח־ (qaḥ-) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 3947: To take one אַחַ֣ד (’a·ḥaḏ) Number - masculine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first of the servants מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔ים (mê·han·nə·‘ā·rîm) Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer and go לֵ֔ךְ (lêḵ) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk look for בַּקֵּ֖שׁ (baq·qêš) Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after the donkeys.” הָאֲתֹנֹֽת׃ (hā·’ă·ṯō·nōṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 860: A female donkey Links 1 Samuel 9:3 NIV1 Samuel 9:3 NLT 1 Samuel 9:3 ESV 1 Samuel 9:3 NASB 1 Samuel 9:3 KJV 1 Samuel 9:3 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 9:3 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 9:3 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 9:3 French Bible 1 Samuel 9:3 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 9:3 The donkeys of Kish Saul's father were (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |
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