Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Notice how Saul, even as a king-in-waiting, is focused on what they lack and what they have to give. His immediate thought isn't about the purpose of the journey, but about the humble offering and the depleted provisions, revealing a practical anxiety that contrasts with the divine plan unfolding.
Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Saul, worried about his lost donkeys, is searching for them with his servant. The servant suggests they seek wisdom from the prophet Samuel, but Saul hesitates, concerned about what they could possibly offer the revered man of God as a gift, given their meager provisions. This interaction highlights Saul's humble beginnings and his initial apprehension before his unexpected rise to kingship.
Imagine being the most important person in your family, destined for greatness, yet feeling completely inadequate. Saul's journey begins not with a crown, but with scarcity and uncertainty.
Saul's initial situation in 1 Samuel 9 is a stark contrast to the kingship he will soon hold. He's on a mission to find lost donkeys, a menial task. When he realizes they might need to seek guidance from the prophet Samuel, his first thought isn't about his royal lineage (which he doesn't even know about yet) but about their lack of resources.
What's in Your Sacks?
He asks his servant, 'What can we bring the man?' and laments, 'the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?' This reveals a man who understands the importance of giving an offering, but is currently unable to do so. It’s a picture of vulnerability and dependence, far from the image of a mighty king.
What happens when your resources run dry and you feel like you have nothing to offer? This is precisely where God often steps in to reveal His plan.
Saul's problem is relatable: he wants to approach God's prophet respectfully, but he's run out of supplies. He feels he has nothing 'to bring.' Yet, it's in this moment of having 'nothing' that God's extraordinary plan for Saul begins to unfold.
The Unexpected Gift
Samuel has already been told by God who Saul is and that he will be the next leader. God doesn't wait for Saul to fill his sacks; He orchestrates the meeting. The very thing Saul thinks he – a present – is overshadowed by what God : Himself and His divine purpose. This shows us that God's calling and provision don't depend on our readiness or our offerings, but on His sovereign grace.
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Understand the original words
minchah · Hebrew Noun
An offering or gift presented to someone in authority, a superior, or a holy person as a token of respect, to secure favor, or as an act of homage.
Saul's humble search for lost donkeys, coupled with his concern about what gift to bring the prophet, underscores the uncertainty and spiritual longing of Israel during a time of leadership transition and national instability.
c. 1030 BC
Eli's Sons Disgrace Priesthood
The corrupt sons of the judge Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, disgrace the priesthood through their greed and immorality, leading to God's judgment and the eventual death of Eli.
c. 1030 BC
Ark of the Covenant Captured
In a disastrous battle, the Israelites are defeated by the Philistines, and the Ark of the Covenant is captured, symbolizing a loss of God's presence and favor.
c. 1030 BC
Death of Eli and Loss of Ark
Upon hearing of the Ark's capture and the deaths of his sons, the aged judge Eli falls backward and dies. The Ark is eventually returned but remains a source of trouble.
c. 1025 BC
Samuel's Ministry Nears End
The prophet Samuel, who has served as judge and spiritual leader for many years, is now old, and his sons are not following in his righteous path.
c. 1025 BC
Israel Demands a King
The people of Israel, seeing the failures of Eli's sons and Samuel's aging, demand a king like the surrounding nations, despite God's displeasure with this request.
c. 1025 BC— this verse
Saul Seeks Lost Donkeys
While searching for his father's lost donkeys, Saul and his servant travel to seek the insight of the prophet Samuel, highlighting the spiritual searching of the time.
This passage also shows a humble beginning for a future king, as Samuel is sent to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from Jesse's sons, highlighting God's choice of the unexpected.
Luke 14:28This proverb from Jesus warns about undertaking a significant task without first counting the cost, much like Saul's initial uncertainty about what he could even offer the prophet.
1 Samuel 10:22This verse foreshadows Saul's future leadership, revealing God's prior knowledge of his destiny even when Saul himself was uncertain and seeking lost donkeys.
Matthew 13:44Jesus tells a parable about a treasure hidden in a field, which a man finds and then sells all he has to buy the field, illustrating the immense value and pursuit of something precious, akin to seeking the prophet's counsel.
Notice how Saul, even as a king-in-waiting, is focused on what they lack and what they have to give. His immediate thought isn't about the purpose of the journey, but about the humble offering and the depleted provisions, revealing a practical anxiety that contrasts with the divine plan unfolding.
Saul, worried about his lost donkeys, is searching for them with his servant. The servant suggests they seek wisdom from the prophet Samuel, but Saul hesitates, concerned about what they could possibly offer the revered man of God as a gift, given their meager provisions. This interaction highlights Saul's humble beginnings and his initial apprehension before his unexpected rise to kingship.
Saul, worried about his lost donkeys, is searching for them with his servant. The servant suggests they seek wisdom from the prophet Samuel, but Saul hesitates, concerned about what they could possibly offer the revered man of God as a gift, given their meager provisions. This interaction highlights Saul's humble beginnings and his initial apprehension before his unexpected rise to kingship.
"Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”" — Notice how Saul, even as a king-in-waiting, is focused on what they lack and what they have to give. His immediate thought isn't about the purpose of the journey, but about the humble offering an…
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Last reviewed October 2026