Samuel Anoints Saul

1  וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And took) שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל (Samuel) אֶת־ (-) פַּ֥ךְ (a flask) הַשֶּׁ֛מֶן (of the oil), וַיִּצֹ֥ק (and poured it) עַל־ (on) רֹאשׁ֖וֹ (his head), וַיִּשָּׁקֵ֑הוּ (and he kissed him), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), הֲל֗וֹא (Is it not) כִּֽי־ (because) מְשָׁחֲךָ֧ (has anointed you) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) עַל־ (over) נַחֲלָת֖וֹ (His inheritance) לְנָגִֽיד׃ (as ruler)? 2  בְּלֶכְתְּךָ֤ (When you have departed) הַיּוֹם֙ (today) מֵעִמָּדִ֔י (from me), וּמָצָאתָ֩ (and you will find) שְׁנֵ֨י (two) אֲנָשִׁ֜ים (men) עִם־ (by) קְבֻרַ֥ת (tomb) רָחֵ֛ל (of Rachel) בִּגְב֥וּל (in the territory) בִּנְיָמִ֖ן (of Benjamin) בְּצֶלְצַ֑ח (in Zelzah). וְאָמְר֣וּ (And they will say) אֵלֶ֗יךָ (to you), נִמְצְא֤וּ (Have been found). הָאֲתֹנוֹת֙ (The donkeys) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הָלַ֣כְתָּ (you went) לְבַקֵּ֔שׁ (to look for). וְהִנֵּ֨ה (And behold), נָטַ֤שׁ (has ceased) אָבִ֙יךָ֙ (your father) אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the matter) הָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת (the donkeys), וְדָאַ֤ג (and is worrying) לָכֶם֙ (about you⁺), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), מָ֥ה (What) אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה (shall I do) לִבְנִֽי׃ (about my son)?

3  וְחָלַפְתָּ֨ (And you shall go on) מִשָּׁ֜ם (from there) וָהָ֗לְאָה (and beyond), וּבָ֙אתָ֙ (and come) עַד־ (to) אֵל֣וֹן (the Oak) תָּב֔וֹר (of Tabor), וּמְצָא֤וּךָ (and will meet you) שָּׁם֙ (there) שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה (three) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (men) עֹלִ֥ים (going up) אֶל־ (to) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) בֵּֽית־ (at Beth-) אֵ֑ל (el), אֶחָ֞ד (one) נֹשֵׂ֣א׀ (carrying) שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה (three) גְדָיִ֗ים (young goats), וְאֶחָד֙ (and one) נֹשֵׂ֗א (carrying) שְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙ (three) כִּכְּר֣וֹת (loaves) לֶ֔חֶם (of bread), וְאֶחָ֥ד (and one) נֹשֵׂ֖א (carrying) נֵֽבֶל־ (a skin) יָֽיִן׃ (of wine); 4  וְשָׁאֲל֥וּ (and they will greet) לְךָ֖ (you) לְשָׁל֑וֹם (-) וְנָתְנ֤וּ (and give) לְךָ֙ (to you) שְׁתֵּי־ (two) לֶ֔חֶם (loaves of bread), וְלָקַחְתָּ֖ (and you shall receive) מִיָּדָֽם׃ (from their hands).

5  אַ֣חַר (After) כֵּ֗ן (that) תָּבוֹא֙ (you shall come) גִּבְעַ֣ת (to Gibeath-) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (Elohim), אֲשֶׁר־ (where is) שָׁ֖ם (there) נְצִבֵ֣י (the garrison) פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (of the Philistines). וִיהִי֩ (And it will come to pass), כְבֹאֲךָ֨ (when you have come) שָׁ֜ם (there) הָעִ֗יר (to the city), וּפָגַעְתָּ֞ (that you will meet) חֶ֤בֶל (a group) נְבִיאִים֙ (of prophets) יֹרְדִ֣ים (coming down) מֵֽהַבָּמָ֔ה (from the high place), וְלִפְנֵיהֶ֞ם (and before their face) נֵ֤בֶל (will be a harp), וְתֹף֙ (and a tambourine), וְחָלִ֣יל (and a flute), וְכִנּ֔וֹר (and a lyre), וְהֵ֖מָּה (and they) מִֽתְנַבְּאִֽים׃ (will be prophesying).

6  וְצָלְחָ֤ה (And will come) עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ (upon you) ר֣וּחַ (the Spirit) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְהִתְנַבִּ֖יתָ (and you will prophesy) עִמָּ֑ם (with them) וְנֶהְפַּכְתָּ֖ (and be turned) לְאִ֥ישׁ (into man) אַחֵֽר׃ (another).

7  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it will come to pass), כִּ֥י (when) תְבֹאֶינָה (come) הָאֹת֥וֹת (the signs) הָאֵ֖לֶּה (these) לָ֑ךְ (to you), עֲשֵׂ֤ה (that you shall do) לְךָ֙ (for yourself) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (as) תִּמְצָ֣א (finds) יָדֶ֔ךָ (your hand), כִּ֥י (for) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (God is) עִמָּֽךְ׃ (with you). 8  וְיָרַדְתָּ֣ (And you shall go down) לְפָנַי֮ (before me) הַגִּלְגָּל֒ (to Gilgal), וְהִנֵּ֤ה (and surely) אָֽנֹכִי֙ (I) יֹרֵ֣ד (will come down) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you) לְהַעֲל֣וֹת (to offer) עֹל֔וֹת (burnt offerings) לִזְבֹּ֖חַ (and to sacrifice) זִבְחֵ֣י (sacrifices) שְׁלָמִ֑ים (of peace offerings). שִׁבְעַ֨ת (Seven) יָמִ֤ים (days) תּוֹחֵל֙ (you shall wait) עַד־ (until) בּוֹאִ֣י (I come) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you) וְהוֹדַעְתִּ֣י (and show) לְךָ֔ (you) אֵ֖ת (-) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (what) תַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (you should do).

Samuel’s Signs Fulfilled

9  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it came to pass), כְּהַפְנֹת֤וֹ (at his turning) שִׁכְמוֹ֙ (his back) לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ (to go) מֵעִ֣ם (from) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel), וַיַּהֲפָךְ־ (that gave) ל֥וֹ (to him) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) לֵ֣ב (a heart) אַחֵ֑ר (another), וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ (and came) כָּל־ (all) הָאֹת֥וֹת (the signs) הָאֵ֖לֶּה (these) בַּיּ֥וֹם (on the day) הַהֽוּא׃ס (that). 10  וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ (And they came) שָׁם֙ (there) הַגִּבְעָ֔תָה (to Gibeah), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and there was) חֶֽבֶל־ (a group) נְבִאִ֖ים (of prophets) לִקְרָאת֑וֹ (to meet him), וַתִּצְלַ֤ח (and came) עָלָיו֙ (upon him) ר֣וּחַ (the Spirit) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֖א (and he prophesied) בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ (in their midst).

11  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כָּל־ (all) יֽוֹדְעוֹ֙ (who knew him) מֵאִתְּמ֣וֹל (before) שִׁלְשׁ֔וֹם (now) וַיִּרְא֕וּ (and saw), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), עִם־ (among) נְבִאִ֖ים (the prophets) נִבָּ֑א (he prophesied), וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (that said) הָעָ֜ם (the people) אִ֣ישׁ (one) אֶל־ (to) רֵעֵ֗הוּ (another), מַה־ (What is) זֶּה֙ (this) הָיָ֣ה (that has come) לְבֶן־ (to the son) קִ֔ישׁ (of Kish)? הֲגַ֥ם (Is also) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) בַּנְּבִיאִֽים׃ (among the prophets)?

12  וַיַּ֨עַן (And answered) אִ֥ישׁ (a man) מִשָּׁ֛ם (from there) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), וּמִ֣י (And who) אֲבִיהֶ֑ם (is their father)? עַל־ (Upon) כֵּן֙ (thus) הָיְתָ֣ה (it became) לְמָשָׁ֔ל (a proverb): הֲגַ֥ם (Is also) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) בַּנְּבִאִֽים׃ (among the prophets)?

13  וַיְכַל֙ (And he had finished) מֵֽהִתְנַבּ֔וֹת (prophesying), וַיָּבֹ֖א (and he went) הַבָּמָֽה׃ (to the high place).

14  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) דּ֨וֹד (the uncle) שָׁא֥וּל (of Saul) אֵלָ֛יו (to him) וְאֶֽל־ (and) נַעֲר֖וֹ (his servant), אָ֣ן (Where) הֲלַכְתֶּ֑ם (did you⁺ go)

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said), לְבַקֵּשׁ֙ (To look for) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣אֲתֹנ֔וֹת (the donkeys). וַנִּרְאֶ֣ה (And we saw) כִי־ (that) אַ֔יִן (they were not), וַנָּב֖וֹא (and we went) אֶל־ (to) שְׁמוּאֵֽל׃ (Samuel).

15  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And said) דּ֣וֹד (the uncle) שָׁא֑וּל (of Saul), הַגִּֽידָה־ (Declare) נָּ֣א (please) לִ֔י (to me), מָֽה־ (what) אָמַ֥ר (said) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) שְׁמוּאֵֽל׃ (Samuel).

16  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) אֶל־ (to) דּוֹד֔וֹ (his uncle), הַגֵּ֤ד (Declaring) הִגִּיד֙ (He declared) לָ֔נוּ (to us) כִּ֥י (that) נִמְצְא֖וּ (had been found) הָאֲתֹנ֑וֹת (the donkeys). וְאֶת־ (And about) דְּבַ֤ר (the matter) הַמְּלוּכָה֙ (of the kingdom), לֹֽא־ (not) הִגִּ֣יד (he did declare) ל֔וֹ (to him) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (what) אָמַ֥ר (had said) שְׁמוּאֵֽל׃פ (Samuel).

Saul Proclaimed King

17  וַיַּצְעֵ֤ק (And called together) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֔ם (the people) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) הַמִּצְפָּֽה׃ (at Mizpah), 18  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (and he said) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פ (of Israel), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), אָנֹכִ֛י (I) הֶעֱלֵ֥יתִי (brought up) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (out of Egypt) וָאַצִּ֤יל (and delivered) אֶתְכֶם֙ (you⁺) מִיַּ֣ד (from the hand) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt) וּמִיַּד֙ (and from the hand) כָּל־ (of all) הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת (the kingdoms) הַלֹּחֲצִ֖ים (who were oppressing) אֶתְכֶֽם׃ (you⁺).

19  וְאַתֶּ֨ם (And you⁺) הַיּ֜וֹם (today) מְאַסְתֶּ֣ם (have rejected) אֶת־ (-) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֗ם (your⁺ God), אֲשֶׁר־ (who) ה֣וּא (Himself) מוֹשִׁ֣יעַ (saved) לָכֶם֮ (you⁺) מִכָּל־ (from all) רָעוֹתֵיכֶ֣ם (your⁺ adversities) וְצָרֹֽתֵיכֶם֒ (and your⁺ distresses), וַתֹּ֣אמְרוּ (and you⁺ have said) ל֔וֹ (to Him), כִּי־ (No, but) מֶ֖לֶךְ (a king) תָּשִׂ֣ים (set) עָלֵ֑ינוּ (over us). וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) הִֽתְיַצְּבוּ֙ (present yourselves) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֖ם (by your⁺ tribes) וּלְאַלְפֵיכֶֽם׃ (and by your⁺ thousands).

20  וַיַּקְרֵ֣ב (And to come near) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel) אֵ֖ת (had caused) כָּל־ (all) שִׁבְטֵ֣י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), וַיִּלָּכֵ֖ד (and was chosen) שֵׁ֥בֶט (the tribe) בִּנְיָמִֽן׃ (of Benjamin). 21  וַיַּקְרֵ֞ב (And he had caused to come near) אֶת־ (-) שֵׁ֤בֶט (the tribe) בִּנְיָמִן֙ (of Benjamin) לְמִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ (by their clans), וַתִּלָּכֵ֖ד (and was chosen) מִשְׁפַּ֣חַת (the family) הַמַּטְרִ֑י (of Matri). וַיִּלָּכֵד֙ (And was chosen) שָׁא֣וּל (Saul) בֶּן־ (son) קִ֔ישׁ (of Kish), וַיְבַקְשֻׁ֖הוּ (and they sought him), וְלֹ֥א (and not) נִמְצָֽא׃ (he could be found). 22  וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־ (And they inquired) עוֹד֙ (further) בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), הֲבָ֥א (Has come) ע֖וֹד (yet) הֲלֹ֣ם (here) אִ֑ישׁס (the man).

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And answered) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), הִנֵּה־ (Behold), ה֥וּא (he) נֶחְבָּ֖א (has hidden himself) אֶל־ (among) הַכֵּלִֽים׃ (the vessels).

23  וַיָּרֻ֙צוּ֙ (And they ran) וַיִּקָּחֻ֣הוּ (and brought him) מִשָּׁ֔ם (from there), וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֖ב (and he stood) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הָעָ֑ם (of the people), וַיִּגְבַּהּ֙ (and he was taller) מִכָּל־ (than any) הָעָ֔ם (of the people) מִשִּׁכְמ֖וֹ (from his shoulder) וָמָֽעְלָה׃ (and upward). 24  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֗ם (the people), הַרְּאִיתֶם֙ (Do you⁺ see) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) בָּֽחַר־ (has chosen) בּ֣וֹ (him) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), כִּ֛י (that) אֵ֥ין (no one is) כָּמֹ֖הוּ (like him) בְּכָל־ (among all) הָעָ֑ם (the people)?

וַיָּרִ֧עוּ (And shouted) כָל־ (all) הָעָ֛ם (the people) וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (and said), יְחִ֥י (May live) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃פ (the king).

25  וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר (And explained) שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֗ם (the people) אֵ֚ת (-) מִשְׁפַּ֣ט (the right) הַמְּלֻכָ֔ה (of the kingdom), וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב (and he wrote it) בַּסֵּ֔פֶר (in a book), וַיַּנַּ֖ח (and laid it up) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH). וַיְשַׁלַּ֧ח (And sent away) שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל (Samuel) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people), אִ֥ישׁ (every man) לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ (to his house).

26  וְגַ֨ם־ (And also) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) הָלַ֥ךְ (went) לְבֵית֖וֹ (home) גִּבְעָ֑תָה (to Gibeah), וַיֵּלְכ֣וּ (and went) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him) הַחַ֕יִל (the mighty) אֲשֶׁר־ (of whom) נָגַ֥ע (had touched) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) בְּלִבָּֽם׃ (the hearts).

27  וּבְנֵ֧י (And sons) בְלִיַּ֣עַל (of worthlessness) אָמְר֗וּ (said), מַה־ (How) יֹּשִׁעֵ֙נוּ֙ (can save us) זֶ֔ה (this one). וַיִּבְזֻ֕הוּ (And they despised him) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) הֵבִ֥יאוּ (did they bring) ל֖וֹ (him) מִנְחָ֑ה (a gift). וַיְהִ֖י (And he was) כְּמַחֲרִֽישׁ׃פ (like one being silent).