Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 9:24

24 And the cook took up the shoulder , and that which was upon it , and set it before Saul: and Samuel said, Behold, that which is left , set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee, since I said , I have invited the people : so Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

To wit, the left Shoulder, for the right Shoulder was the Priests, Levit. 7. 32, 33. This he gives him, either, First, As the best and noblest part of the remainders of the Sacrifice: the best parts being usually given by the Master of the Feast to such Guests as were most Honourable, or best Beloved, as Gen. 43. 34. Or, Secondly, As a secret Symbol or Sign of that burden which was to be laid upon Saul, and of that strength which was necessary for the bearing of it; the Shoulder being both the Seat of burdens, and the subject of strength.

Something which the Cook by Samuel's order was to put upon it when it was drest, either for Ornament, or in the nature of a Sauce.

To wit, left of the Sacrifice; but so all, or most, of the rest of their Provisions were left: Or rather, reserved, or laid by, by my order, for thy eating; when the rest of the Meat was sent up, and disposed of as the Cook pleased.

Till thou shouldst come hither and sit down here: whereby thou maist know that thy coming hither was not unknown to me, and was designed by God for an higher purpose.

To wit, to the Cook, who was before mentioned, as the Person to whose care this was committed.

i. e. I have Invited or Designed some Persons, for whom I reserve this part. For since the word People is not here taken properly, but for some particular Persons of the People, which were not in all above thirty, v. 22. why may not the same word be understood of two or three Persons whom Samuel specially Invited, to wit, Samuel and his Servant? So some Learned Men understand this word People, of three Men, 2 King. 18. 36. And they further Note, That in the Arabick, and Aethiopick, and Persian Languages, (all which are near a-kin, both to themselves, and to the Hebrew, and do oft-times communicate their signification each to other:) the word that signifies People, is oft used for some few particular Persons. Or, if the word People be meant of the Chief of the People, mentioned above, v. 22. then Samuel was the Principal Author of this Sacrifice and Feast, and it was not a Sacrifice of the People, as it is rendred v. 12. but a Sacrifice and Feast made by Samuel for the People, as it should be rendred there: and the sence is, When I first spake or sent word to the Cook, that I had Invited the People, first to joyn with me in my Sacrifice, and then to partake with me of the Feast, I then bad him reserve this part for thy use.

Marginal references: Or, reserved.