שמואל א, פרק ט׳, פסוק ט׳

The story pauses its forward momentum to offer a brief historical aside, preparing the reader for the moment when Saul and his servant will ask for directions to the local holy man. The primary approach among commentators is that this explanation is not spoken by the characters in the story, but is a narrator's note clarifying how terminology shifted over the generations. Comparing the past to the present raises a question about who actually wrote these words. One perspective is that the mention of the past does not refer to a long-gone era. Instead, it highlights an ancient term that was still used during Samuel's lifetime, a period when prophecy became more widespread and both titles were used side by side [רד״ק]. Others argue that this historical note proves Samuel himself could not have written the book. Rather, a later prophet like Jeremiah authored it, or perhaps Ezra the Scribe inserted this detail much later to explain ancient customs to his own generation [אברבנאל].

In those early days, a person seeking God—meaning they wanted to consult Him about their personal affairs [אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]—would look for a "seer." This title reflected the man's ability to attain prophecy and see the future through prophetic vision [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. In contrast, the title "prophet" stems from a root word related to speech. It emphasizes the role of delivering a message and speaking it aloud to an audience [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Beyond the change in language, there was a deep shift in the actual role of these spiritual figures. The ancient seer used divine inspiration to look into private, everyday matters, such as lost animals, family issues, or illness. Because he helped people with their personal struggles, individuals eagerly sought him out and would bring him a gift to compensate for the time he spent focusing on their needs. The prophet of later generations, however, was sent by God primarily for the sake of the general public. His job was to deliver God's word, preach morality, and rebuke the nation for its sins. Because of this heavy, critical role, the public often avoided the prophet, a stark contrast to the days when everyone flocked to the seer for personal guidance [מלבי״ם].