What Does 1 Samuel 10:2 Mean?
When you leave me today, you will find two men by Rachel's grave, in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will say to you, "The donkeys you went to seek have been found." Behold, your father has let go of the matter of the donkeys, and frets over you, saying, "What shall I do for my son?"
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?THE KEY
At Rachel (רָחֵל, rāḥēl, “ewe”)’s tomb, the sign turns a search for lost animals into a father’s concern for his son.
THE MEANING
This verse meets you at the point where the errand is no longer the whole story: what was missing is found, and the father’s care is fixed on his son. Recovery and worry occupy the same moment; finding the lost thing does not make the person disappear from view.
THE ROOT
נִמְצְאוּ
nimtse’u
GROWS FROM
מצא
Find, encounter, come upon.
“found” in this verse is nimtse’u. The Hebrew holds finding as the point where a search meets what is there. The same root appears in the phrase for finding favor, extending the word from locating what is lost to encountering another’s favor.
ALSO GROWS
matsa’: Find, come upon.
מָצָא
The root verb names the recovery announced to Saul.
nimtsa’: Be found, be present.
נִמְצָא
This form shows the found thing as something brought into view.
matsa’ chen: Find favor.
מָצָא חֵן
The same verb also describes encountering favor, not only locating an object.
לְבַקֵּשׁ
levakkesh
GROWS FROM
בקש
Seek, ask, request.
“seek” in this verse is levakkesh. The search for the asses uses a root that also carries asking or requesting. Seeking is desire directed toward what is missing; it remains distinct from the following root for finding.
ALSO GROWS
biqqesh: Seek, search for.
בִּקֵּשׁ
It names the search Saul undertakes.
baqqashah: Request, petition.
בַּקָּשָׁה
This branch shows the root’s reach from looking for something to asking for something.
וְדָאַג
weda’ag
GROWS FROM
דאג
Worry, be anxious.
“frets over” in this verse is weda’ag. The verb is directed toward “you”: the father’s anxiety is care focused on his son. His attention leaves the found animals and settles on the person he misses.
ALSO GROWS
da’ag: Worry, be anxious.
דָּאַג
This is the verb describing the father’s concern.
de’agah: Anxiety, worry.
דְּאָגָה
The related noun makes visible the state carried by the father’s words.
THE PATTERN
The recovery of what is lost can shift attention from the possession to the person whose absence matters.
As for your asses that had lost their way three days ago, do not set your heart on them, for they are found. And upon whom is all the treasure of Israel? Is it not upon you, and upon all your father's house?For this son of mine was dead, and is living again; he had lost his way, and is found." And they began to be glad.THE THREAD
As for your asses that had lost their way three days ago, do not set your heart on them, for they are found. And upon whom is all the treasure of Israel? Is it not upon you, and upon all your father's house?Both verses use מָצָא (matsa, “find”) for what has been found. In 1 Samuel 9:20, that recovery becomes the hinge that turns attention from the asses toward Saul.
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