Now there was a man of Benjamin
whose name
was aKish
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 1valor
.
He had a son
whose name
was Saul
, a achoice
and handsome
man, and there
was not a more
handsome
person
than
he among
the sons
of Israel
; bfrom his shoulders
and up he was taller
than
any
of the people
.
Now the donkeys of Kish
, Saul's
father
, were lost
. So Kish
said
to his son
Saul
, "Take
now
with you one
of the servants
, and arise
, go
search
for the donkeys
."
He passed through athe hill
country
of Ephraim
and passed
through the land
of bShalishah
, but they did not find
them. Then they passed
through the land
of cShaalim
, but they were not there. Then he passed
through the land
of the Benjamites
, but they did not find
them.
When they came to the land
of aZuph
, Saul
said
to his servant
who
was with him, "Come
, and let us return
, bor
else
my father
will cease
to be concerned about
the donkeys
and will become
anxious
for us."
He said to him, "Behold
now
, there is aa man
of God
in this
city
, and the man
is held
in honor
; ball
that he says
surely
comes
true. Now
let us go
there
, cperhaps
he can tell
us about our journey
on which
we have set
out."
Then Saul said
to his servant
, "But behold
, if we go
, what
shall we bring
the man
? For the bread
is gone
from our sack
and there
is ano
present
to bring
to the man
of God
. What
do we have
?"
The servant answered
Saul
again
and said
, "Behold
, I have
in my hand
a fourth
of a shekel
of silver
; I will give
it to the man
of God
and he will atell
us our way
."
(Formerly in Israel
, when a man
went
to inquire
of God
, he used to say
, "Come
, and let us go
to the seer
"; for he who is called a prophet
now
was formerly
called
aa seer
.)
Then Saul said
to his servant
, "Well
said
; come
, let us go
." So they went
to the city
where
the man
of God
was.
As they went up the slope
to the city
, athey found
young
women
going
out to draw
water
and said
to them, "Is the seer
here
?"
They answered them and said
, "He is; 1see
, he is ahead
of you. Hurry
now
, for he has come
into the city
today
, for athe people
have a sacrifice
on bthe high
place
today
.
"As soon as you enter the city
you will find
him before
he goes
up to the high
place
to eat
, for the people
will not eat
until
he comes
, because
ahe must bless
the sacrifice
; afterward
those who are invited
will eat
. Now
therefore, go
up for you will find
him at once
."
So they went up to the city
. As they came
into the city
, behold
, Samuel
was coming
out toward
them to go
up to the high
place
.
Now a day before
Saul's
coming
, athe LORD
had 1revealed
this to Samuel
saying
,
"About this time tomorrow
I will send
you a man
from the land
of Benjamin
, and ayou shall anoint
him to be prince
over
My people
Israel
; and he will deliver
My people
from the hand
of the Philistines
. For bI have regarded
My people
, because
their cry
has come
to Me."
When Samuel saw
Saul
, the LORD
1said
to him, " aBehold
, the man
of whom
I spoke
to you! This
one
shall rule
over My people
."
Then Saul approached
Samuel
in the gate
and said
, "Please
tell
me where
the seer's
house
is."
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 in the morning
I will let
you go
, and will tell
you all
that is on your mind
.
" aAs for your donkeys which were lost
three
days
ago
, do not set
your mind
on them, for they have been found
. And bfor whom
is all
that is desirable
in Israel
? Is it not for you and for all
your father's
household
?"
Saul replied
, " aAm I not a Benjamite
, of bthe smallest
of the tribes
of Israel
, and my family
the least
of all
the families
of the 1tribe
of Benjamin
? Why
then do you speak
to me in this
way
?"
Then Samuel took
Saul
and his servant
and brought
them into the hall
and gave
them a place
at the head
of those who were invited
, who
were about thirty
men
.
Samuel said
to the cook
, " 1Bring
the portion
that I gave
you, concerning which
I said
to you, `Set
it 2aside
.' "
Then the cook atook
up the leg
with what was on it and set
it before
Saul
. And Samuel said
, "Here
is what has been reserved
! Set
it before
you and eat
, because
it has been kept
for you until the appointed
time
, 1since I said
I have invited
the people
." So Saul
ate
with Samuel
that day
.
When they came down
from the high
place
into the city
, Samuel spoke
with Saul
aon the 1roof
.
And they arose early
; and at daybreak
Samuel
called
to Saul
on the roof
, saying
, "Get
up, that I may send
you away
." So Saul
arose
, and both
he and Samuel
went
out into the street
.
As they were going down
to the edge
of the city
, Samuel
said
to Saul
, "Say
to the servant
that he might go
ahead
of us and pass
on, but you remain standing
now
, that I may proclaim
the word
of God
to you."