Definition: 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.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Samuel 9:13. It's a really important passage in the Bible about God’s plan for Israel and how He chooses who to bless. Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Core Idea: God is intentionally choosing one person – David – to be the leader of Israel, and He’s making sure that person gets a special blessing (a gift) before anyone else does. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “As soon as ye be come into the city…” : This means when David arrives in the city, he’s immediately noticeable. It's like a sign – God is setting him up for attention. “…ye shall straightway find him…” : He will immediately find David. There’s no waiting around; it’s happening right now. “…before he go up to the high place to eat…” : This is a bit of an old-fashioned way of saying "He'll be in the temple." David was usually allowed to have special meals and rituals in the temple, which is where God would bless things. “for the people will not eat until he come…” : The people were hungry and needed a leader who would provide for them. They weren’t going to eat until he arrived. It's like waiting for something important to happen. “…because he doth bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that be bidden.” : This is where it gets interesting. God is blessing the sacrifice (the offering) – a special meal – before the people actually get to eat it. It's like He’s preparing something great for them. “Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.” : God is telling David to get up and search for him! He wants to see if he’s truly the right person to lead Israel. In a nutshell: God is intentionally setting up a situation where he will be the one who receives a special blessing, and that blessing will be revealed when he arrives in the city. It's a deliberate act of blessing and preparation for a significant event. Why is this important? This verse is often seen as a sign that God has chosen David to be the leader of Israel. It shows how God works in mysterious ways, setting up events before they happen to ensure something good happens. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Discuss its significance in a broader context (like the story of David and Goliath)?