1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish,
the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a
Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2 And
he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a
goodly: and there was not
among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and
upward he was higher
than any of the people.
3 And
the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take
now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 And
he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but
they found them not:
then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not:
and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5 And when they were come to the land of
Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return;
lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for
us.
6 And
he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an
honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither;
peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
7 Then
said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man?
for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of
God: what have we?
8 And
the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the
fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell
us our way.
9 (Beforetime
in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us
go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a
Seer.)
10 Then
said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the
city where the man of God was.
11 And as they went up the hill to the city,
they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the
seer here?
12 And
they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he
came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in
the high place:
13 As
soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go
up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because
he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden.
Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
14 And
they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city,
behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
15 Now
the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 To
morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and
thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he
may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon
my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17 And
when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to
thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Then
Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the
seer's house is.
19 And
Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the
high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go,
and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
20 And
as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for
they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not
on thee, and on all thy father's house?
21 And
Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of
the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe
of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
22 And
Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made
them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about
thirty persons.
23 And
Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said
unto thee, Set it by thee.
24 And
the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon
it, and set it before
Saul. And Samuel said,
Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat:
for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the
people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
25 And
when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed
with Saul upon the top of the house.
26 And
they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel
called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And
Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27 And as they were going down to the end of
the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he
passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
