Saul Chosen as King

1And there was a man of Benjamin, and his name was Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bechorath, son of Aphiah, the son of a man of Benjamin, mighty of valor. 2And he had a son, and his name was Saul, a choice youth and handsome. And not a man among the sons of Israel was more handsome than he—from his shoulder and upward he was taller than any of the people.

3And the donkeys of Kish father of Saul were lost, and Kish said to Saul his son, “Please take with you one of the servants and arise, go and look for the donkeys.”

4And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalisha, and they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim and they were not there. And he passed through the land of the Benjamite, and they did not find them.

5They came into the land of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come and let us return, lest my father cease about the donkeys, and become worried about us.”

6And he said to him, “Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is honored; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can declare to us the way on which we should go.”

7And Saul said to his servant, “And behold, if we go, what shall we bring to the man? For the bread is all gone in our vessels, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

8And the servant added to answer Saul, and he said, “Behold, I have here at hand a fourth of a shekel of silver.† I will give that to the man of God to declare to us our way.”

9(Formerly in Israel, thus spoke the man in his going to inquire of God: “Come, and let us go to the seer.” For the prophet today was formerly called the seer.)

10And Saul said to his servant, “Your word is good. Come, let us go.” And they went to the city where there was the man of God. 11They were going up on the ascent of the city, and they met young women going out to draw water and said to them, “Is there the seer in this place?”

12And they answered them and said, “He is; behold, ahead of you. Hurry now, for today he came to the city, for unto the people there is a sacrifice today on the high place. 13In your⁺ entering the city, thus you⁺ will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice. After thus, those will eat who are invited. And now go up, for at this time you⁺ will find him.”

14And they went up to the city. They were coming into the midst of the city, and there was Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15And YHWH had uncovered the ear of Samuel one day before the coming of Saul, saying, 16“At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

17And Samuel saw Saul, and YHWH said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.”

18And Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me please, where is the house of the seer?”

19And 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 I will let you go tomorrow, and all that is in your heart I will declare to you. 20And as for the donkeys that were lost to you three days ago, set not your heart to them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all the house of your father?”

21And 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 clans of the tribe of Benjamin? And why do you speak to me like this?”

22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the hall and had them sit in the place of honor of those called, and they were about thirty persons. 23And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion that I gave to you, of which I said to you: Set it by you.”

24And the cook took up the leg and what was attached to it, and he set it before the face of Saul. And he said, “Behold, what was kept back! It was set apart for you. Eat, for to this appointed season it has been kept for you, saying, ‘The people I have invited.’” And Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25And they had come down from the high place into the city, and he spoke with Saul on the roof.

26And they arose early, and it came to pass at the ascending of the dawn, that Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, that I may send you on your way.” And Saul arose, and went the two of them—he and Samuel—outside.

27As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Speak to the servant that he may pass on before our face,” and he went on. “And you stand awhile, and I will make you hear the word of God.”