1 Samuel 9 in the early church
[LXX: 1 Kingdoms; Vulgate: 1 Kings]
35 passages quote, allude to, or echo 1 Samuel 9, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 9 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 24
1 Samuel 9:1
Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:1–2 | Demonstration of the Gospel 8.1.28 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| 1 Sam 9:1 | Sermon 279.5 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| 1 Sam 9:1–2 | Part 2, chapter 24 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
1 Samuel 9:2
And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:2 | Against Marcion 2.24 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| 1 Sam 9:2 | Demonstration 14.29 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| 1 Sam 9:2 | Commentary on Romans 9:11–13 · Ambrosiaster | quotation, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| 1 Sam 9:2 | Ancoratus 18.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, high confidence | 374 |
| 1 Sam 9:2 | Sermon 169.5 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
1 Samuel 9:3
One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:3–20 | On the Witch of Endor 10 · Eustathius of Antioch | allusion, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
| 1 Sam 9:3 | Letter 161 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 357–378 |
| 1 Sam 9:3 | Oration 33.8 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| 1 Sam 9:3 | Oration 43.14 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
1 Samuel 9:9
(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:9 | On Christ and Antichrist 2 · Hippolytus of Rome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 200–215 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Homilies on Ezekiel 2.3 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s) |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Catechetical Lecture 16.28 · Cyril of Jerusalem | allusion, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Long recension, Maria 2 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | later 4th century (probable) |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | On the Holy Spirit 0 · Didymus the Blind | allusion, high confidence | Greek ca. 360-390; Latin 387-391 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Oration 18.21 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Oration 43.24 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Letter 53.4 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Letter 96.12 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 48.3.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, medium confidence | 374-377 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Exposition of Psalm 118 11.8.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Letter 147.50 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 40.39.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Homily 7 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Homily 13 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390–394 |
| 1 Sam 9:9 | Apology against Jerome 2.24 · Rufinus of Aquileia | allusion, high confidence | ca. 401 |
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?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:20 | Against Celsus 1.36 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248 |
| 1 Sam 9:20 | Against Celsus 1.37 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 248 |
| 1 Sam 9:20 | Prophetic Extracts 4.0 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | before 325 (probably ca. 310–320) |
1 Samuel 9:21
Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:21 | Homilies on Matthew 58.4 · John Chrysostom | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 390 |
1 Samuel 9:22
Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited—about thirty in all.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:22 | Against Heresies 1.18.4 · Irenaeus of Lyons | allusion, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| 1 Sam 9:22 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 34.17.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
1 Samuel 9:24
So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul dined with Samuel that day.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:24 | Miscellanies 3.6.52 · Clement of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |