This passage highlights a beautiful, often missed detail: Samuel intentionally reserved the best portion for Saul. It wasn't just leftover food; it was deliberately set aside, showing forethought and honor, and indicating that Saul's arrival was anticipated and valued. This act of setting aside a special portion underscores God's careful planning and His desire to honor those He calls, even before they fully understand their destiny.
So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Before this moment, Samuel had a special portion of sacrificial meat set aside specifically for Saul, the king-to-be, even though Saul arrived late. This feast is part of a larger encounter where Samuel anoints Saul, revealing God's plan for him and initiating his leadership. The meal and conversation that follows solidifies this divine appointment and prepares Saul for his destiny.
Ever felt like you were waiting for something, but didn't know what? Saul was about to experience God's perfectly timed plan.
Samuel’s words to Saul aren't just about a meal; they’re about divine timing and preordained purpose.
A Special Portion
Samuel explains that the choice cut of meat wasn't randomly served. It was specifically 'kept' and set aside for Saul. This signifies that Saul’s presence and his role were not accidental but intentionally planned by God.
The Appointed Hour
Samuel emphasizes 'until the hour appointed.' This highlights God's sovereign control over time. He orchestrates events so that things happen at precisely the right moment, fulfilling His purposes, even in seemingly ordinary interactions like a shared meal.
Imagine being a nobody, and suddenly you're seated at the head table. This was Saul's surreal moment.
This meal is more than just sustenance; it's a symbolic transition. Saul, who was looking for lost donkeys, is suddenly thrust into a position of honor and national significance.
From Hiding to Honor
Saul had been described as a 'choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he' (1 Samuel 9:2), yet he was humble, even perhaps hiding his own significance. Now, he is being publicly honored by the prophet Samuel.
The Beginning of Kingship
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This meal with Samuel is the official, albeit informal, initiation into his destiny. God uses this intimate setting to prepare him for the immense responsibilities ahead. It’s a moment where the old identity (shepherd/seeker of donkeys) begins to fade, and the new identity (future king) is ushered in.
This event highlights the complex relationship between Samuel and Saul, showing Samuel still honoring Saul as God's chosen king, even as God was already preparing David to succeed him. The reserved portion symbolizes Saul's divinely appointed place at that moment.
c. 1050 BC
Saul Anointed as King
Samuel, acting on God's command, secretly anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking a significant shift in Israel's leadership from judges to monarchy.
c. 1050 BC
Saul's Early Military Victories
Saul achieves several military successes, notably against the Ammonites, which solidifies his position and earns him popular support among the Israelites.
c. 1050 BC
Saul's Disobedience and Rejection
Saul disobeys direct commands from God through Samuel, leading to God's decision to establish a lasting kingdom through another family.
c. 1050 BC— this verse
Samuel Invites Saul to a Feast
Samuel hosts a religious feast and specially reserves a choice portion of the sacrifice for Saul, whom he had previously anointed king, symbolizing Saul's elevated status and God's continued favor despite his recent failings.
c. 1040 BC
David Anointed as King
Samuel, again acting on God's word, travels to Bethlehem and anoints David, the youngest son of Jesse, as the future king of Israel.
This passage highlights divine orchestration in providing for Jacob, similar to how Samuel reveals that the reserved portion was divinely appointed for Saul's meal with the prophet.
Proverbs 3:9-10These verses speak of honoring the Lord with our wealth, suggesting a principle of setting aside and offering the best, which parallels the reserved portion of the sacrifice being set apart for Saul.
Luke 14:8-10Jesus' teaching on choosing the place of honor illustrates the idea of being called to a specific place or position, much like Saul was specifically brought to dine with Samuel, implying a divinely appointed status.
1 Corinthians 10:31This verse encourages doing everything for the glory of God, and the act of setting aside and offering the best portion can be seen as an act of reverence and obedience, reflecting the spiritual significance of the meal.
This passage highlights a beautiful, often missed detail: Samuel intentionally reserved the best portion for Saul. It wasn't just leftover food; it was deliberately set aside, showing forethought and honor, and indicating that Saul's arrival was anticipated and valued. This act of setting aside a special portion underscores God's careful planning and His desire to honor those He calls, even before they fully understand their destiny.
Before this moment, Samuel had a special portion of sacrificial meat set aside specifically for Saul, the king-to-be, even though Saul arrived late. This feast is part of a larger encounter where Samuel anoints Saul, revealing God's plan for him and initiating his leadership. The meal and conversation that follows solidifies this divine appointment and prepares Saul for his destiny.
Before this moment, Samuel had a special portion of sacrificial meat set aside specifically for Saul, the king-to-be, even though Saul arrived late. This feast is part of a larger encounter where Samuel anoints Saul, revealing God's plan for him and initiating his leadership. The meal and conversation that follows solidifies this divine appointment and prepares Saul for his destiny.
"So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”
So Saul ate…" — This passage highlights a beautiful, often missed detail: Samuel intentionally reserved the best portion for Saul. It wasn't just leftover food; it was deliberately set aside, showing forethought and…
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Last reviewed October 2026
