And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.
God raises the poor from dust to set them among princes, not by chance or human planning but by His own counsel. Saul steps into the throne from nothing, yet we find him first in the humblest errand, seeking his father's lost asses. His ready obedience to his father in this small thing is commendable, and it shows us that those entrusted with much should know the state of their possessions, and children should serve their parents' interests faithfully.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Samuel 9:3-10
And they passed through Mount Ephraim,.... The mountainous part of that tribe, which lay contiguous to the tribe of Benjamin, where it might be supposed the asses had strayed to: and passed through the land of Shalisha; a tract in the tribe of Benjamin, so called from some illustrious person, prince, and duke of it; in it very probably was the place called Baalshalisha; Kg2...
he passed through mount Ephraim--This being situated on the north of Benjamin, indicates the direction of Saul's journey. The district explored means the whole of the mountainous region, with its valleys and defiles, which belonged to Ephraim. Turning apparently southwards--probably through the verdant hills between Shiloh and the vales of Jordan (Shalisha and Shalim)--he approached again the borders of Benjamin, scoured the land of Zuph...