FIRST SAMUEL

 

1 Samuel Chapter 9

1 ¶ Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a man of wealth and power.

2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and handsome: and there was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel: he was a head taller than any of the people.

3 ¶ And the donkeys of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take one of the servants with you, and go, look for the donkeys.

4 And they passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and went through the land of Shalisha, but did not find them: then they went through the land of Shalim, and they were not there: and they went through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

5 And when they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father stop worrying about the donkeys, and become concerned about us.

6 Then the servant said to him, Look, there is a man of God in this city, and he is an honorable man; everything that he says always comes true: now let us go there; perhaps he can tell us where we should look.

7 Then Saul said to his servant, But if we go, what can we give the man? the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to take to the man of God: what do we have?

8 And the servant replied, Look, I have here a quarter of a shekel of silver: I will give that to the man of God, to tell us where to look.

9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, Come, let us go to the seer: for he who is now called a Prophet was previously called a Seer.)

10 Then Saul said to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 ¶ And as they went up the hill to the city, they met young maidens going out to draw water, and asked them, Is the seer here?

12 And they answered, He is; behold, he is just beyond you: hurry now, for he came to the city today; because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place:

13 As soon as you enter the city, you will find him right away, before he goes up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he comes, because he first blesses the sacrifice; and then all who are invited eat. So go on up; for you can find him now.

14 And they went up into the city: and after they entered the city, behold, Samuel came toward them, on his way up to the high place.

15 Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had spoken so Samuel could hear, 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 ruler over my people Israel, that he may deliver my people from the Philistines: for I have seen the affliction of my people, because their cry has come to me.

17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, Behold the man whom I told you of! this man shall reign over my people.

18 ¶ Then Saul came near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray you, where is the seer’s house.

19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me to the high place; for you shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.

20 And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not worry about them; for they have been found. And who does all Israel desire, but you and all your father’s house?

21 And Saul answered and said, Am I not a Benjamite, from 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 so to me?

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the hall, and made them sit in the chief place among those who were invited, which were about thirty persons.

23 And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, and told you to set aside.

24 And the cook lifted high the shoulder, and what was on it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, See what was reserved for you! Eat: because it has been kept for you until now, that you might eat it with the guests. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 And when they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel conversed with Saul on the top of the house.

26 And they arose early: and about dawn, Samuel called Saul who was on the top of the house, saying, Get up, so that I may send you on your way. And Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

27 And as they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell the servant go on before us, but when he goes on, you remain here for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.