1Sam 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
And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man and a goodly: and there was not
among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward
he was higher than any of the people.
3
And the asses of Kish, Saul`s father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take
now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the asses.
4
And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of
Shalishah, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shaalim,
and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they
found them not.
5
When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him,
Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the asses, and be anxious
for us.
6
And he said to him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man
that is held in honor; all that he says comes surely to pass: now let us go there;
peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go.
7
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man?
for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the
man of God: what have we?
8
And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth
part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9
(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, Come, and
let us go to the seer; for he who is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a
Seer.)
10
Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us 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
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is] before you: make haste now,
for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the
high place:
13
as soon as you are come into the city, you shall straightway find him, before he goes
up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he
does bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that are bidden. Now therefore
get you up; for at this time you shall find him.
14
And they went up to the city; [and] as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came
out toward them, to go up to the high place.
15
Now YHWH had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
16
To-morrow 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; and he shall save my people out
of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry
is come to me.
17
And when Samuel saw Saul, YHWH said to him, Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you!
this same shall have authority over my people.
18
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray you, where the
seer`s house is.
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 to-day: and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell
you all that is in your heart.
20
And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, set not they mind on them; for
they are found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you,
and for all your father`s house?
21
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the small of the tribes of Israel?
and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then
speak you to me after this manner?
22
And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest-chamber, and
made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, who were about thirty
persons.
23
And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to
you, Set it by you.
24
And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul.
And [Samuel] said, Behold, that which has been reserved! set it before you and eat;
because to the appointed time has it been kept for you, for I said, I have invited
the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
25
And when they were come down from the high place into the city, he communed with Saul
upon the housetop.
26
And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel
called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, that I may send you away. And Saul arose,
and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27
As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant
pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand you still first, that I may cause
you to hear the word of God.