1 Samuel 9 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter continues the section of the book about Saul. It describes how Yahweh led Saul to come to the city where Samuel lived so that Samuel could tell him that Yahweh had chosen him to be the king of Israel.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

The locations of Shalishah and Shaalim

Saul came to Samuel’s city because he had looking for some donkeys that belonged to his father and had wandered away. In [9:4](../09/04.md), the author describes Saul passing through “the land of Shalishah” and “the land of Shaalim” as he searches for these donkeys. The locations of these places are no longer certain. We recommend that you simply use these names in your translation, spelling them the way they sound in your language, without suggesting any further identifying information about these places.