| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul's head, kissed him, and said, "The LORD has anointed you Commander-in-Chief over his inheritance, has he not? | 1Then Samuel took a small container of olive oil and poured it on Saul's head. Samuel kissed him and said, "The LORD has chosen you to lead his people Israel! You will rule over the LORD's people and you will deliver them from the power of the enemies who surround them. This will be your sign that the LORD has chosen you as leader over his inheritance. |
| 2When you leave me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah. They'll tell you, 'The donkeys you went to look for have been found. Now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and he's anxious about you. He's asking, 'What will I do about my son?' | 2When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel's tomb at Zelzah on Benjamin's border. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you have gone looking for have been found. Your father is no longer concerned about the donkeys but has become anxious about you two! He is asking, "What should I do about my son?"' |
| 3Then you'll go on further from there and come to the oak at Tabor. There three men going up to the LORD at Bethel will meet you. One will be herding three young goats, one will be carrying three loaves of bread, and one will be carrying a bottle of wine. | 3"As you continue on from there, you will come to the tall tree of Tabor. At that point three men who are going up to God at Bethel will meet you. One of them will be carrying three young goats, one of them will be carrying three round loaves of bread, and one of them will be carrying a container of wine. |
| 4They'll greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you're to accept from them. | 4They will ask you how you're doing and will give you two loaves of bread. You will accept them. |
| 5"After that you will come to Gibeath-elohim where the Philistine garrison is. As you arrive there at the town, you'll meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre being played in front of them, and they'll be prophesying. | 5Afterward you will go to Gibeah of God, where there are Philistine officials. When you enter the town, you will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place. They will have harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. |
| 6The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you'll prophesy with them and be changed into a different person. | 6Then the spirit of the LORD will rush upon you and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. |
| 7When these signs occur, do whatever you want to do, because the LORD is with you. | 7"When these signs have taken place, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God will be with you. |
| 8You are to go down ahead of me to Gilgal, and then I'll come down to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. You are to wait seven days until I come to you to let you know what you are to do." | 8You will go down to Gilgal before me. I am going to join you there to offer burnt offerings and to make peace offerings. You should wait for seven days, until I arrive and tell you what to do." |
| 9Now it happened as Saul turned his back to leave Samuel, that God gave him another heart, and all these signs occurred on that day. | 9As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed his inmost person. All these signs happened on that very day. |
| 10When they arrived there at Gibeah, a band of prophets was right there to meet them. The Spirit of God came upon Saul, and he prophesied along with them. | 10When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a company of prophets was coming out to meet him. Then the spirit of God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied among them. |
| 11When all those who had known Saul previously saw that he was there among the prophets prophesying, the people told one another, "What has happened to Kish's son? Is Saul also among the prophets?" | 11When everyone who had known him previously saw him prophesying with the prophets, the people all asked one another, "What on earth has happened to the son of Kish? Does even Saul belong with the prophets?" |
| 12A man from there answered: "Now who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" | 12A man who was from there replied, "And who is their father?" Therefore this became a proverb: "Is even Saul among the prophets?" |
| 13When he had finished prophesying, he went to the high place. | 13When Saul had finished prophesying, he went to the high place. |
| 14Saul's uncle told him and to his young man, "Where did you go?" He said, "To look for the donkeys, and when we saw that they couldn't be found, we went to Samuel." | 14Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, "Where did you go?" Saul replied, "To look for the donkeys. But when we realized they were lost, we went to Samuel." |
| 15Then Saul's uncle said, "Please tell me what Samuel told you." | 15Saul's uncle said, "Tell me what Samuel said to you." |
| 16Saul told his uncle, "He actually told us that the donkeys had been found," but he did not tell him about the matter of kingship about which Samuel had spoken. | 16Saul said to his uncle, "He assured us that the donkeys had been found." But Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship. |
| 17Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah. | 17Then Samuel called the people together before the LORD at Mizpah. |
| 18He told the Israelis, "This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of Egypt and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.' | 18He said to the Israelites, "This is what the LORD God of Israel says, 'I brought Israel up from Egypt and I delivered you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. |
| 19But today you have rejected your God who delivers you from all your troubles and difficulties. You have said, 'No! Instead, appoint a king over us.' Now present yourselves in the LORD's presence by your tribes and families." | 19But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your trouble and distress. You have said, "No! Appoint a king over us." Now take your positions before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.'" |
| 20Samuel brought forward all the tribes of Israel, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. | 20Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. |
| 21Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin according to its families, and the family of Matri was chosen. Finally, Kish's son Saul was chosen, but when they looked for him, they couldn't find him. | 21Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found. |
| 22So they inquired further of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet?" The LORD said, "He is here, hiding among the baggage." | 22So they inquired again of the LORD, "Has the man arrived here yet?" The LORD said, "He has hidden himself among the equipment." |
| 23They ran and brought him from there. When he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the others by a head. | 23So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all. |
| 24Then Samuel told all the people, "Do you see the man whom the LORD has chosen? For there is no one like him among all the people." Then all the people shouted, "Long live the king!" | 24Then Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the one whom the LORD has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people!" All the people shouted out, "Long live the king!" |
| 25Samuel explained to the people the regulations concerning kingship. He wrote them in a scroll and placed it in the LORD's presence. Then Samuel sent all the people to their own houses. | 25Then Samuel talked to the people about how the kingship would work. He wrote it all down on a scroll and set it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away to their homes. |
| 26Saul also went to his house in Gibeah, and the soldiers whose hearts God had touched went with him. | 26Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. With him went some brave men whose hearts God had touched. |
| 27But some troublemakers said, "How can this man deliver us?" They despised him and did not bring him a gift. But Saul remained silent. [28] Meanwhile, Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been severely oppressing the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben, gouging out their right eyes and not allowing Israel to have a deliverer. No one was left among the Israelis across the Jordan whose right eye Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had not gouged out. However, 7,000 men had escaped from the Ammonites and entered Jabesh-gilead. | 27But some wicked men said, "How can this man save us?" They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it. |
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