1 Samuel 9:13

As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Samuel’s servant speaks to Saul and his attendant as they approach Gibeah. He gives urgent directions to locate the prophet before he ascends the high place for a communal meal.

The words — The phrase בְּטֶרֶם (be./te.Rem) literally means “before” or “while it is not yet,” marking the precise timing of the encounter. תִּמְצְאוּ (tim.tze.'U/n) translates as “you will find,” emphasizing the certainty of the meeting.

The thread — This sequence of finding a prophet before a ritual meal parallels New Testament accounts where Jesus blesses food before distribution (John 6:11; Matthew 26:26; Mark 6:41). The pattern highlights prophetic mediation in communal dining.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that communal meals in this context depend on prophetic blessing rather than autonomous action. It demands immediate obedience to divine timing and respect for ritual order.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כְּבֹאֲכֶ֣םke./vo.'a./Khemwhen/ come/ you הָעִ֣ירha./'Irthe/ city כֵּ֣ןkenthus תִּמְצְא֣וּןtim.tze.'U/nyou will find/ !אֹת֡וֹ'o.T/o<obj.>/ him בְּטֶרֶם֩be./te.Rem<in>/ before יַעֲלֶ֨הya.'a.Lehhe will go up הַבָּמָ֜תָהha./ba.Ma.ta/hthe/ high place/ towards לֶאֱכֹ֗לle./'e.Kholto/ eat כִּ֠יkifor לֹֽא־lo'-not יֹאכַ֤לyo.Khalit will eat הָעָם֙ha./'Amthe/ people עַד־'ad-until בֹּא֔וֹbo.'/Ocomes/ he כִּֽי־ki-for הוּא֙hu'he יְבָרֵ֣ךְye.va.Rekhhe will bless הַזֶּ֔בַחha./Ze.vachthe/ sacrifice אַחֲרֵי־'a.cha.rei-after כֵ֖ןkhenthus יֹאכְל֣וּyo.khe.Luthey will eat הַקְּרֻאִ֑יםha./ke.ru.'Imthose/ [who] were invited וְעַתָּ֣הve./'a.Tahand/ now עֲל֔וּ'a.Lugo up כִּֽי־ki-for אֹת֥וֹ'o.T/o<obj.>/ him כְהַיּ֖וֹםkhe./hai./Yomas/ the/ day תִּמְצְא֥וּןtim.tze.'U/nyou will find/ !אֹתֽוֹ׃'o.T/o<obj.>/ him

King James Version

As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

Cross-references

John 6:11 Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.
Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.
Luke 24:30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.
John 6:23 However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
1 Timothy 4:4 For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,