1 Samuel 9:1-19 ▼

1 And there was a man of Benjamin, and his name was Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bechorath, son of Aphiah, the son of a man of Benjamin, mighty of valor.

2 And he had a son, and his name was Saul, a choice youth and handsome. And not a man among the sons of Israel was more handsome than he—from his shoulder and upward he was taller than any of the people.

3 And the donkeys of Kish father of Saul were lost, and Kish said to Saul his son, “Please take with you one of the servants and arise, go and look for the donkeys.”

4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalisha, and they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim and they were not there. And he passed through the land of the Benjamite, and they did not find them.

5 They came into the land of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come and let us return, lest my father cease about the donkeys, and become worried about us.”

6 And he said to him, “Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is honored; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can declare to us the way on which we should go.”

7 And Saul said to his servant, “And behold, if we go, what shall we bring to the man? For the bread is all gone in our vessels, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

8 And the servant added to answer Saul, and he said, “Behold, I have here at hand a fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God to declare to us our way.”

9 (Formerly in Israel, thus spoke the man in his going to inquire of God: “Come, and let us go to the seer.” For the prophet today was formerly called the seer.)

10 And Saul said to his servant, “Your word is good. Come, let us go.” And they went to the city where there was the man of God.

11 They were going up on the ascent of the city, and they met young women going out to draw water and said to them, “Is there the seer in this place?”

12 And they answered them and said, “He is; behold, ahead of you. Hurry now, for today he came to the city, for unto the people there is a sacrifice today on the high place.

13 In your? entering the city, thus you? will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice. After thus, those will eat who are invited. And now go up, for at this time you? will find him.”

14 And they went up to the city. They were coming into the midst of the city, and there was Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15 And YHWH had uncovered the ear of Samuel one day before the coming of Saul, saying,

16 “At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

17 And Samuel saw Saul, and YHWH said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.”

18 And Saul drew near to Samuel in the midst of the gate and said, “Tell me please, where is the house of the seer?”

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 today. And I will let you go tomorrow, and all that is in your heart I will declare to you.