Bible Strands

1 Samuel 9:20

As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Samuel speaks to Saul at the high place immediately after identifying himself as the seer and promising to reveal what is in Saul’s heart. He addresses Saul and his father’s household at the moment Saul is still processing the sudden honor.

The words — The phrase וְלָאֲתֹנֹת הָאֹבְדֹת (ve./la./'a.to.Not ha./'oe.Dot) literally renders "and to the she-asses which were lost," while אַל־תָּשֶׂם ('al-/Ta.sem) commands "may not you set," directing Saul not to fix his mind on the missing animals.

The thread — This claim of national desire shifts focus from the lost donkeys to Saul’s lineage, echoing the elders’ earlier demand for a king in 1 Samuel 8:5 and anticipating the Lord’s confirmation that He has placed a king over Israel in 1 Samuel 12:13.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine attention has shifted from trivial losses to the selection of a ruler, requiring the reader to acknowledge that human ambition must yield to God’s sovereign choice of a leader.

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

וְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹתve./la./'a.to.Notand/ to the/ she-assesהָאֹבְד֣וֹתha./'oe.Dotwhich/ were lostלְךָ֗le./Khaof/ youהַיּוֹם֙hai./yOmthis/ dayשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתshe.Lo.shet[the] threeהַיָּמִ֔יםhai./ya.Mimthe/ daysאַל־'al-may notתָּ֧שֶׂםTa.semyou setאֶֽת־'et-<obj.>לִבְּךָ֛li.be./Khaheart/ yourלָהֶ֖םla./Hemto <the>/ themכִּ֣יkiforנִמְצָ֑אוּnim.Tza.'uthey have been foundוּלְמִי֙u./le./Miand/ [belongs] to/ whom?כָּל־kol-everyחֶמְדַּ֣תchem.Dat<the> desirable thing ofיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsraelהֲל֣וֹאha./Lo'¿/ notלְךָ֔le./Khato/ youוּלְכֹ֖לu./le./Kholand/ to/ allבֵּ֥יתbeit[the] house ofאָבִֽיךָ׃ ס'a.Vi./khafather/ your

King James Version

And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?

Cross-references