1 Samuel 9:13 Meaning: Why Wait? Samuel's Blessing Before the Feast
As soon as you have come into the city, you will immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will find him.”
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.
As soon as ye are come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goeth 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 are bidden. Now therefore get you up; for at this time ye shall find him.
At your going in to the city so ye do find him, before he doth go up in to the high place to eat; for the people do not eat till his coming, for he doth bless the sacrifice; afterwards they eat, who are called, and now, go up, for at this time ye find him.'
As soon as ye come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people eat not until he has come, because he blesses the sacrifice; afterwards they eat that are invited. And now go up; for this very day shall ye find him.
Meaning in one sentence
In 1 Samuel 9:13, the people wait for Samuel to bless the sacrifice before eating.
Context
This verse is part of a story where Saul, still a young man from the tribe of Benjamin, is searching for his father's lost donkeys. His servant suggests they consult the prophet Samuel, who is also the judge of Israel. As they approach Ramah, they meet young women who give them directions. The women explain that Samuel is in town for a sacrifice at the high place, a hilltop worship site used before the temple was built. No one will eat until Samuel arrives, because he must bless the sacrifice. This custom reveals how Israel gathered for worship in those days: around a shared meal that began with thanksgiving. The timing is not accidental. God has already told Samuel that the future king would come the next day. The simple act of waiting for the blessing sets the stage for a divine appointment.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for “bless” here is yebarekh, from the root barakh. In the Bible, this word often means to kneel or to praise, but in this context it describes a prayer of thanksgiving spoken over the sacrificial meal. Later Jewish tradition preserves a form of this blessing. Commentator John Gill notes that Samuel was likely asking God to accept the peace offering and to bless the meat to the guests. This is the same pattern Jesus followed when he gave thanks before breaking bread (Matthew 26:26).
The word for “find” is matsa, which can mean to encounter or to happen upon. The verse repeats the object “him” for emphasis: “for him, you will find him.” The maidens are confident that if Saul goes up now, he will meet Samuel. Yet behind the simple directions is God’s hidden hand. Saul came to look for donkeys; God had a kingdom in mind. The same God who orders the timing of a sacrificial meal can guide your steps today.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian readers have long seen a connection between Samuel blessing the sacrifice and Jesus blessing the bread at the Last Supper and the feeding miracles. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges compares Samuel’s blessing to Jesus giving thanks in Luke 9:16 and John 6:11. This suggests a continuous thread of thanksgiving in worship, from Israel’s peace offerings to the Eucharist. Other commentators, like Adam Clarke, note that similar customs exist among the Arabs, where a large feast is made of sacrificed animals and the whole community is invited. The verse presents a pattern of worship: the leader gives thanks, and then the people eat together. Across traditions, this moment teaches respect for spiritual order and the importance of beginning every meal with gratitude to God, the giver of all good gifts.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume Samuel’s blessing was a magical rite that made the food holy. In fact, the blessing was a prayer of thanksgiving, acknowledging God as the source of the sacrifice and the meal. Gill explains that Samuel asked a blessing upon the meat of the peace offerings, much as we ask a blessing at our own tables. The people waited not because the food would be unclean without Samuel, but out of respect for his role as God’s servant and so they could join together in gratitude before sharing the meal.
Living This Out
This verse invites you to pause before you rush into the next meal or the next task. The people of Ramah did not begin eating until the sacrifice was blessed. They waited for gratitude to come first. In your own home, saying a simple grace before dinner is one way to honor this practice. But the verse also speaks to larger matters. Saul went searching for donkeys and met a king. Your ordinary day may hold an appointment you do not expect. The directions came from young women drawing water. God often speaks through the least likely messengers. Listen to the people He places along your path. And when you gather with others, let thanks lead the way.
Main takeaway: The people waited for Samuel's blessing before eating, reminding us to begin every meal and venture with gratitude to God.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The people waited for Samuel to say thank you to God before they ate their dinner. We can say thank you to God before we eat, too. It reminds us that God gives us our food.
For ages 9, 12
In this verse, the people wouldn’t eat until their leader Samuel blessed the sacrifice. They wanted to start the meal with thanks to God. That’s a good habit for us. Also, notice how Saul was looking for his dad’s donkeys but ended up meeting the prophet who would make him king. Sometimes the ordinary things we do, like running an errand, are part of a bigger plan God has for us. So next time you’re about to eat or start something important, remember to thank God first. You never know what He might be doing behind the scenes.
Questions People Ask
Why did the people wait for Samuel to eat?
The people waited because Samuel was the one who would bless the sacrifice, the peace offering that was the center of the communal meal. He prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, asking God to bless the meat and the gathering. Only after his blessing did the invited guests begin to eat. This showed respect for Samuel's role as prophet and judge, and it kept the meal centered on God.
What does “bless the sacrifice” mean in this verse?
It means Samuel pronounced a prayer of thanksgiving over the sacrifice before the people ate. This was a common practice in Israel, similar to giving thanks before meals today. Commentator John Gill says Samuel 'asks a blessing upon it, upon the meat of the peace offerings before it was eaten.' Jesus did the same when he gave thanks before feeding the 5,000 and at the Last Supper.
Who are “those who are invited”?
They are the guests who were invited to share in the sacrificial meal. When a person offered a peace offering, he could invite family, friends, the poor, and Levites to join the feast (Deuteronomy 12:18). In this case, Samuel was the guest of honor, and about thirty people were invited (1 Samuel 9:22).
How does this verse point to Jesus?
Many Christian readers see a connection between Samuel blessing the sacrifice and Jesus giving thanks at the Last Supper and the feeding miracles. The Cambridge Bible mentions cross-references like Matthew 26:26 and John 6:11, where Jesus blesses bread. Samuel's role as mediator of blessing before the feast prefigures Christ, who gives thanks and invites us to his table.
For pastors & researchers
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