1 Samuel 9

1There was a man from Benjamin named Kish son of Abiel son of Zeror son of Bechorath son of Aphiah son of a mighty Benjamite of valor.

2He had a son named Saul, a choice young man and handsome; no man among the sons of Israel surpassed him. From his shoulders upward he stood taller than any of the people.

3The donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, got lost. Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you now, rise, and go search for the donkeys."

4He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them; they passed through the land of Shaalim, but none were there; and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

5They came to the land of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us return, lest my father cease from the donkeys and worry for us."

6He said to him, “Look now, a man of God is in this city, and he is an honored man. All that he speaks comes—it surely happens. Now let us go there. Perhaps he will tell us our way, which we have walked.”

7Saul said to his servant, "Look, if we go, what do we bring the man? For the bread has given out from our bags, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have with us?"

8The servant spoke to Saul again and said, "Look, I have a quarter-shekel of silver right here in my hand. I will give it to the man of God, and he will show us our way."

9Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for what is called prophet today was formerly called seer.

10Saul said to his servant, "Good advice. Come, let us go." So they went to the city where there was a man of God.

11As they ascended the slope to the city, they found young women going out to draw water and said to them, "Is the seer here?"

12They answered them and said, "Yes, look, he is right ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come to the city today, since there is a sacrifice for the people today at the high place.

13As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he ascends to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice, and afterward those called will eat. Now go up, for today you will find him.

14They went up to the city, and as they entered its midst, there was Samuel coming out to meet them as he went up to the high place.

15Yahweh had revealed to Samuel's ear one day before Saul came, saying,

16Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him ruler over my people Israel, and he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines, for I have seen my people, because their cry has reached me.

17When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, "Behold, the man I told you about—this one will rule over my people."

18Saul approached Samuel at the gate and said, "Please tell me where this seer's house is."

19Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, because you will eat with me today. Tomorrow morning I will send you away and declare to you everything on your mind."

20As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your heart on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?

21Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjamite from the least of Israel's tribes? My family is the smallest among all the families of Benjamin's tribe. Why have you spoken to me like this?"

22Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the guest chamber, and gave them a place at the head among those invited, who numbered about thirty men.

23Samuel said to the cook, "Give the portion that I gave you, which I told you to set aside for yourself."

24The cook brought up the thigh and what was upon it, set it before Saul, and said, "See, the portion left over—set it before you and eat, for to the appointed time it was kept for you, since I said, 'I have called the people.' " Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25They came down from the high place to the city, and he spoke with Saul on the roof.

26They rose early, and as dawn broke Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, "Get up, so I can send you away." Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went outside.

27As they descended to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us"—and he went ahead—"but stand here for now, that I may declare God's word to you."