9
1 Now
there was a
man of Benjamin,
whose name was
Kish the son
of Abiel, the son
of Zeror, the
son of Becorath,
the son of Aphiah,
the son of
a Benjamite, a
mighty man of
valor.
2 He
had a son
whose name was
Saul, an
impressive young
man; and there
was not among
the children of
Israel a more
handsome person than
he. From his
shoulders and
upward he was
taller than any
of the people.
3 The donkeys
of Kish, Saul’s
father, were lost.
Kish said to Saul
his son, “Now
take one of
the servants with
you, and arise,
go look for
the donkeys.”
4 He
passed through the
hill country
of Ephraim, and
passed through
the land of
Shalishah, but
they didn’t find
them. Then they
passed through
the land of
Shaalim, and
they weren’t there.
Then he passed
through the land
of the Benjamites,
but they didn’t
find them.
5 When
they had come
to the land of
Zuph, Saul said to
his servant who
was with him, “Come! Let’s return,
lest my father
stop caring about
the donkeys and be
anxious for us.”
6 The servant
said to him, “Behold
now, there is
a man of God
in this city,
and he is
a man who
is held in
honor. All that
he says
surely happens. Now
let’s go there.
Perhaps he can
tell us which
way to go.”
7 Then
Saul said to his
servant, “But
behold, if we
go, what should
we bring the
man? For the
bread is spent in
our sacks, and
there is not
a present to
bring to the
man of God. What
do we have?”
8 The
servant answered
Saul again and
said, “Behold, I
have in my
hand the fourth
part of a
shekel
of silver. I
will give that
to the man
of God, to
tell us our
way.”
9 (In earlier
times in Israel,
when a man
went to inquire
of God, he said,
“Come! Let’s go
to the seer;”
for he who
is now called
a prophet was
before called a
seer.)
10 Then
Saul said to
his servant, “Well
said. Come! Let’s
go.” So they
went to the
city where the
man of God was.
11 As
they went up
the ascent to
the city, they
found young
maidens going out
to draw water,
and said to
them, “Is the
seer here?”
12 They
answered them and
said, “He is.
Behold, he is
before you. Hurry
now, for he
has come today
into the city;
for the people
have a sacrifice
today in the
high place.
13 As
soon as you
have come into
the city, you
will immediately find
him before he
goes up to
the high place
to eat; for the
people will not eat
until he comes,
because he blesses
the sacrifice. Afterwards
those who are
invited eat. Now
therefore go up;
for at this
time you will
find him.”
14 They
went up to
the city. As
they came within
the city, behold,
Samuel came out
toward them to
go up to
the high place.
15 Now
the LORD had
revealed to Samuel
a day before
Saul came, saying,
16 “Tomorrow
about this time
I will send
you a man
out of the land
of Benjamin, and
you shall anoint
him to be
prince over my
people Israel. He
will save my
people out of
the hand of
the Philistines;
for I have
looked upon my
people, because
their cry has
come to me.”
17 When
Samuel saw Saul,
the LORD said
to him, “Behold,
the man of
whom I spoke
to you! He
will have authority
over my people.”
18 Then
Saul approached
Samuel in the
gateway, and said, “Please
tell me where
the seer’s house
is.”
19 Samuel
answered Saul and
said, “I am the
seer. Go up
before me to
the high place,
for you are
to eat with me
today. In the
morning I will
let you go
and will tell
you all that
is in your
heart.
20 As
for your donkeys
who were lost
three days ago,
don’t set your
mind on them,
for they have
been found. For
whom does all
Israel desire? Is
it not you
and all
your father’s house?”
21 Saul
answered, “Am I
not a Benjamite,
of the smallest
of the tribes
of Israel? And
my family the
least of all
the families of
the tribe of
Benjamin? Why then
do you speak
to me like
this?”
22 Samuel
took Saul and
his servant and
brought them into
the guest room,
and made them
sit in the
best place among
those who were
invited, who were
about thirty persons.
23 Samuel said
to the cook, “Bring
the portion which
I gave you,
of which I said to
you, ‘Set it
aside.’ ”
24 The
cook took up
the thigh, and
that which was
on it, and
set it before
Saul. Samuel said,
“Behold, that
which has been
reserved! Set it
before yourself
and eat; because
it has been
kept for you
for the appointed
time, for I
said, ‘I have
invited the
people.’ ” So
Saul ate with
Samuel that day.
25 When
they had come
down from the
high place into
the city, he
talked with Saul
on the housetop.
26 They
arose early; and
about daybreak,
Samuel called to
Saul on the
housetop, saying, “Get
up, that I
may send you
away.” Saul arose,
and they both
went outside, he
and Samuel,
together.
27 As
they were going
down at the
end of the
city, Samuel said
to Saul, “Tell
the servant to
go on ahead
of us.” He
went ahead, then
Samuel said, “But
stand still first,
that I may
cause you to
hear God’s message.”