The Meaning of 1 Samuel 9:4 Explained

1 Samuel 9:4

KJV: And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.

YLT: And he passeth over through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passeth over through the land of Shalisha, and they have not found; and they pass over through the land of Shaalim, and they are not; and he passeth over through the land of Benjamin, and they have not found.

Darby: And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not; and they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there; and they passed through the land of Benjamin, and they found them not.

ASV: And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he passed through  mount  Ephraim,  and passed through  the land  of Shalisha,  but they found  [them] not: then they passed through  the land  of Shalim,  and [there they were] not: and he passed through  the land  of the Benjamites,  but they found  [them] not. 

What does 1 Samuel 9:4 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 9:1-14 - Saul Is Led To Find Samuel
As a king was demanded by the people, one was selected to suit their taste-"a choice young man, and a goodly!" But the king after God's own heart was selected for other qualities, 1 Samuel 16:7. Saul's character lacked important elements. His ignorance about Samuel was surprising; even his servant knew better. This did not promise well for a successful reign, Daniel 11:32 b.
But how should Saul and Samuel be brought together? A succession of trifling and ordinary events prove to be the links in the divinely constructed chain. The lost the prolonged search, the fear of the effect of anxiety upon Kish, the timely suggestion of the servant and his possession of a few coins which would serve as an introduction, the greeting of the young girls on their way to the well-what accidents they seem! Nay, but they are providences! All things work together to execute God's purpose. Nothing is too trivial to be part of the divine plan. Let us follow the indications of God's will-they lead to the waiting seat, the reserved portion, and the ultimate throne. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 9

1  Saul despairing to find his father's donkeys
6  by the counsel of his servant
11  and direction of young maidens
15  according to God's revelation
18  comes to Samuel
19  Samuel entertains Saul at the feast
25  Samuel, after secret communication, brings Saul on his way

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 9:4 mean?

So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha but not they did find [them] and they passed through the land of Shaalim and [they were] not [there] and he passed of the Benjamite but not they did find [them]
וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר בְּהַר־ אֶפְרַ֛יִם וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ שָׁלִ֖שָׁה וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑אוּ וַיַּעַבְר֤וּ בְאֶֽרֶץ־ שַׁעֲלִים֙ וָאַ֔יִן וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר יְמִינִ֖י וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽאוּ

וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר  So  he  passed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
בְּהַר־  through  the  mountains 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
אֶפְרַ֛יִם  of  Ephraim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
בְּאֶֽרֶץ־  through  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
שָׁלִ֖שָׁה  of  Shalisha 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁלִשָׁה  
Sense: a district near Mount Ephraim through which Saul passed as he searched for the asses.
וְלֹ֣א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
מָצָ֑אוּ  they  did  find  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
וַיַּעַבְר֤וּ  and  they  passed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
בְאֶֽרֶץ־  through  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
שַׁעֲלִים֙  of  Shaalim 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שַׁעֲלִים  
Sense: a district in Israel.
וָאַ֔יִן  and  [they  were]  not  [there] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר  and  he  passed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
יְמִינִ֖י  of  the  Benjamite 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְמִינִי  
Sense: right, on the right, right hand.
וְלֹ֥א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
מָצָֽאוּ  they  did  find  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.