CHAPTER 9
Now there was
a Benjamite,
a powerful man,
whose name
was Kish
son
of Abiel,
the son
of Zeror,
the son
of Becorath,
the son
of Aphiah
of Benjamin.
And
he had
a son
named
Saul,
choice
and handsome,
without equal
among
the Israelites—
a head
taller
than any
of the people.
One day the donkeys
of Saul’s
father
Kish
wandered off.
So Kish
said
to
his son
Saul,
“Take
one
of the servants
and go
look for
the donkeys.”
So Saul passed
through the hill country
of Ephraim
and then through the land
of Shalishah,
but did not
find the donkeys.
He and the servant went
through the region
of Shaalim,
but they were not there.
Then they went
through the land
of Benjamin,
and still they did not
find them.
When they
reached
the land
of Zuph,
Saul
said
to his servant,
“Come,
let us go back,
or
my father
will stop worrying
about
the donkeys
and start worrying
about us.”
“Look,”
said the servant,
“in this
city
there is a man
of God
who
is highly respected;
everything
he says
surely
comes to pass.
Let us go
there
now.
Maybe
he will tell
us which
way
to go.”
“If
we do go,”
Saul
replied,
“what
can we give
the man?
For
the bread
in our packs
is gone,
and there is no
gift
to take
to the man
of God.
What
do we have?”
Again
the servant
answered,
“Look,
I have here
in my hand
a quarter
shekel
of silver.
I will give
it to the man
of God,
and he will tell
us
our way.”
(Formerly
in Israel,
a man
on his way
to inquire
of God
would say,
“Come,
let us go
to
the seer,”
for
the prophet
of today
was formerly
called
the seer.)
“Good,”
said
Saul
to his servant.
“Come,
let us go.”
So they set out
for
the city
where
the man
of God was.
And as they
were climbing
the hill
to the city,
they
met
some young women
coming out
to draw
water
and asked,
“Is
the seer here?”
“Yes,
he is
ahead of you,”
they answered.
“Hurry
now,
for
today
he has come
to the city
because
the people have
a sacrifice
on the high place.
As soon as you enter
the city
you can find
him
before
he goes up
to the high place
to eat.
The people
will not
eat
until
he comes,
because
he
must bless
the sacrifice;
after
that,
the guests
will eat.
Go up
at once;
you will find
him."
So Saul and his servant went up
toward the city,
and as they
were entering
it,
there was
Samuel
coming
toward them
on his way up
to the high place.
“At this time
tomorrow
I will send
you a man
from the land
of Benjamin,
and you are to anoint him
leader
over
My people
Israel;
he will deliver
them
from the hand
of the Philistines.
For
I have looked upon
My people,
because
their cry
has come
to Me."
When Samuel
saw
Saul,
the LORD
told him,
“Here
is the man
of whom
I spoke;
he
shall rule
over My people.”
Saul
approached
Samuel
in the gateway
and asked,
“Would you please
tell
me
where
the seer's
house is?”
“I
am the seer,”
Samuel
replied.
“Go up
before me
to the high place,
for you shall eat
with me
today.
And when I send you off
in the morning,
I will tell
you
all
that is
in your heart.
As for the donkeys
you lost
three
days
ago,
do not
worry
about them,
for
they have been found.
And upon whom is
all
the desire
of Israel,
if not
upon you
and on all
your father's
house?”
Saul
replied,
“Am I
not
a Benjamite
from the smallest
tribe
of Israel,
and is not my clan
the least
of all
the clans
of Benjamin?
So why
would you say
such a thing
to me?”
Then Samuel
took
Saul
and
his servant,
brought them
into the hall,
and seated
them
in the place
of honor
among those who were invited—
about thirty
in all.
So the cook
picked up
the leg
and what was attached to it
and set it
before
Saul.
Then Samuel said,
“Here is
what was kept back.
It was set apart
for you.
Eat,
for
it has been kept
for you
for this occasion,
from the time I said,
‘I have invited
the people.'"
So Saul
dined
with
Samuel
that
day.
And after they had come down
from the high place
into the city,
Samuel spoke
with
Saul
on
the roof of his house.
They got up early in the morning,
and just before
dawn
Samuel
called
to
Saul
on the roof,
“Get ready,
and I will send you on your way!”
So Saul
arose,
and both
he
and Samuel
went
outside together.
As they
were going down
to the edge
of the city,
Samuel
said
to
Saul,
“Tell
the servant
to go on
ahead of us,
but you
stay
for a while,
and I will reveal to you
the word
of God.”
So the servant went on.