This verse, 1 Samuel 9:26, describes the morning after Samuel and Saul had a private meal and conversation. Let's break it down:
"They arose early; and about daybreak..." This establishes the timing. It's early morning, just as the sun is starting to rise. It implies the previous conversation went late into the night, and they're getting an early start to the day.
"...Samuel called to Saul on the housetop..." In ancient Israel, flat rooftops were common and used for various purposes, including sleeping, prayer, and private conversations. The housetop offered a degree of privacy. Samuel calling to Saul on the housetop suggests they might have slept there (or that Saul was there) and that Samuel wanted to ensure they were ready to leave. The directness and simplicity of calling to him implies a sense of urgency or purpose.
"...saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.”..." Samuel is telling Saul to get ready to depart. The phrase "send you away" suggests a mission or errand for Saul. It's not just a casual departure; Samuel is sending him with a specific purpose in mind. This alludes to the imminent anointing of Saul as king.
"Saul arose, and they both went outside, he and Samuel, together." Saul immediately obeys Samuel. The fact that they both go "outside" suggests they are leaving the house where they had been staying. Walking "together" implies continued private conversation and guidance from Samuel as they proceed towards the next stage of Saul's journey.
Overall Meaning:
The verse serves as a transition. It marks the end of the private meeting between Samuel and Saul and the beginning of the next phase of Samuel's plan for Saul, which will involve Saul's anointing as the future king of Israel. The early morning start, the private conversation on the rooftop, and the deliberate sending away all contribute to a sense of importance and purpose. It signals that something significant is about to happen.
This verse, 1 Samuel 9:26, describes the morning after Samuel and Saul had a private meal and conversation. Let's break it down:
"They arose early; and about daybreak..." This establishes the timing. It's early morning, just as the sun is starting to rise. It implies the previous conversation went late into the night, and they're getting an early start to the day.
"...Samuel called to Saul on the housetop..." In ancient Israel, flat rooftops were common and used for various purposes, including sleeping, prayer, and private conversations. The housetop offered a degree of privacy. Samuel calling to Saul on the housetop suggests they might have slept there (or that Saul was there) and that Samuel wanted to ensure they were ready to leave. The directness and simplicity of calling to him implies a sense of urgency or purpose.
"...saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.”..." Samuel is telling Saul to get ready to depart. The phrase "send you away" suggests a mission or errand for Saul. It's not just a casual departure; Samuel is sending him with a specific purpose in mind. This alludes to the imminent anointing of Saul as king.
"Saul arose, and they both went outside, he and Samuel, together." Saul immediately obeys Samuel. The fact that they both go "outside" suggests they are leaving the house where they had been staying. Walking "together" implies continued private conversation and guidance from Samuel as they proceed towards the next stage of Saul's journey.
Overall Meaning:
The verse serves as a transition. It marks the end of the private meeting between Samuel and Saul and the beginning of the next phase of Samuel's plan for Saul, which will involve Saul's anointing as the future king of Israel. The early morning start, the private conversation on the rooftop, and the deliberate sending away all contribute to a sense of importance and purpose. It signals that something significant is about to happen.