se’-er, ser:
The word in English Versions of the Bible represents two Hebrew words, ro’eh (1 Samuel 9:9,11,18,19;2 Samuel 15:27; 1 Chronicles 9:22, etc.), And chozeh (2 Samuel 24:11; 2 Kings 17:13; 1 Chronicles 21:9; 25:5;29:29, etc.).
The former designation is from the ordinary verb “to see”; the latter is connected with the verb used of prophetic vision. It appears from 1 Samuel 9:9 that “seer” (ro’-eh) was the older name for those who, after the rise of the more regular orders, were called “prophets.”
It is not just, however, to speak of the “seers” or “prophets” of Samuel’s time as on the level of mere fortune-tellers. What insight or vision they possessed is traced to God’s Spirit. Samuel was the ro’-eh by pr-eeminence, and the name is little used after his time.
Individuals who bear the title “seer” (chozeh) are mentioned in connection with the kings and as historiographers (2 Samuel 24:11; 1 Chronicles 21:9; 25:5; 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; 19:2, etc.), and distinction is sometimes made between “prophets” and “seers” (2 Kings 17:13; 1 Chronicles 29:29, etc.).
Seer as an alternative title for a prophet
1Sa 9:9 Literally, a “seer” is “one who sees”, especially one who claims to see into the future or to have insight into the will of God. See also 2Sa 24:11 pp 1Ch 21:9
Seers used by people to enquire of God
David had seers to enquire of God for him 1Ch 25:1-5 See also 2Sa 24:11 pp 1Ch 21:9; 2Sa 15:27; 2Ch 29:25; 2Ch 35:15
Seers were used by God to bring his word to the people
Seers were used by God to bring his word to the king
The words of a seer were sometimes unwelcome
2Ch 16:7-10; Isa 30:10; Am 7:12-13
Samuel was called a seer
1Sa 9:11-14,18-19; 1Ch 9:22; 1Ch 26:28; 1Ch 29:29
Asaph, the psalmist, called a seer
Seers wrote Israel’s history
2Ch 33:18-19 See also 1Ch 29:29; 2Ch 9:29; 2Ch 12:15
God judges Israel by blinding the seers
9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called
11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,
22 All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.
9 And the LORD spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying,
5 All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.
29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,
29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
25 And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
15 And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.
12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: