1 Samuel 9

Saul Searches for His Father’s Donkeys

1 There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin whose name was Kish. He was a son of Abiel, grandson of Zeror, and great-grandson of Becorath, whose father was Aphiah, a descendant of Benjamin. Kish was a powerful man.

2 He had a son named Saul, a handsome, young man. No man in Israel was more handsome than Saul. He stood a head taller than everyone else.
3 When some donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, Kish told Saul, “Take one of the servants with you, and go look for the donkeys.”4 They went through the mountains of Ephraim and the region of Shalisha without finding the donkeys. Then Saul and his servant went through the region of Shaalim, but the donkeys weren’t there. The men went through the territory of Benjamin but still didn’t find them.

5 When they came to the territory of Zuph, Saul told his servant who was with him, “Let’s go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and worry about us instead.”

Saul Seeks Samuel’s Advice

6 The servant responded, “There’s a man of God in this city, a highly respected man. Everything he says is sure to happen. Let’s go there. Maybe he’ll tell us which way we should go.”7 “If we go,” Saul asked his servant, “what could we bring the man since the food in our sacks is gone? There’s no present we can bring the man of God. What do we have?”8 The servant again answered Saul, “Look, here! I have one-tenth of an ounce of silver. I’ll give it to the man of God. Then he’ll tell us where to find the donkeys.”9 (Formerly in Israel, when a person went to ask God a question, he would say, “Come, let’s go to the seer,” because a person we now call a prophet used to be called a seer.)10 Saul told his servant, “That’s a good idea! Come on, let’s go.” They went to the city where the man of God was.11 As they were going up the hill to the city, they met girls coming out to get water. They asked the girls, “Is the seer here?”12 The girls answered, “He’s there ahead of you. Hurry! He just went into the city today since the people are offering a sacrifice on the worship site.

13 As you go into the city, you can find him before he goes to the worship site to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, since he blesses the sacrifice. Then those who are invited may eat. Go. You should be able to find him now.”
14 So Saul and his servant went to the city. As they entered it, Samuel was coming toward them on his way to the worship site.15 Now, the Lord had revealed the following message to Samuel one day before Saul came:16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the territory of Benjamin. Anoint him to be ruler of my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines because I’ve seen my people’s suffering and their cry has come to me.”

17 When Samuel noticed Saul, the Lord told him, “There’s the man I told you about. This man will govern my people.”
18 Saul approached Samuel inside the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”19 Samuel replied, “I’m the seer. Go ahead of me to the worship site. You will eat with me today. In the morning I’ll let you go after I tell you all that’s on your mind.

20 Don’t trouble yourself about the donkeys that were lost three days ago because they’ve been found. Who will have all that is desirable in Israel? Won’t it be you and your father’s family?”
21 Saul replied, “I am a man from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe of Israel. My family is the most insignificant of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. So why are you saying such things to me?”22 Samuel brought Saul and his servant to the banquet hall and had them sit at the head of the guests—about 30 people.23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring me the portion of the sacrificial meat that I gave you and told you to put aside.”

24 So the cook picked up the leg and thight and laid it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “This was kept in order to be laid in front of you. Eat it. When I invited people to the feast, I set it aside for you.”t Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 Then they left the worship site for the city. They spread blankets on the roof for Saul, and he slept there.t26 At dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up! It’s time for me to send you away.” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside.

27 As they were going toward the city limits, Samuel told Saul, “Have the servant go ahead of you.” (He went ahead.) “But you stay here, and I will tell you God’s word.”

1 Samuel 9

Samuel Meets with Saul

1 There was a Benjaminite man named Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. He was a prominent person.

2 He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he was; he stood head and shoulders above all the people.
3 The donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off,t so Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and got look for the donkeys.”s

4 So Sault crossed through the hill country of Ephraim, passing through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. So they crossed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he crossed through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.
5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come on, let’s head back before my father quits worrying about the donkeys and becomes anxious about us!”6 But the servant said to him, “Look, there is a man of God in this town. He is highly respected. Everything that he says really happens.t Now let’s go there. Perhaps he will tell us where we should go from here.”t7 So Saul said to his servant, “All right,t we can go. But what can we bring the man, since the food in our bags is used up? We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”8 The servant went on to answer Saul, “Look, I happen to have in my hand a quarter shekels of silver. I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us where we should go.”t9 (Now it used to be in Israel that whenever someone went to inquire of God he would say, “Come on, let’s go to the seer.” For today’s prophet used to be called a seer.)

10 So Saul said to his servant, “That’s a good idea!t Come on. Let’s go.” So they went to the town where the man of God was.
11 As they were going up the ascent to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water. They said to them, “Is this where the seer is?”12 They replied, “Yes, straight ahead! But hurry now, for he came to the town today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place.

13 When you enter the town, you can find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he arrives, for he must bless the sacrifice. Once that happens, those who have been invited will eat. Now go on up, fors this is the time when you can find him!”
14 So they went up to the town. As they were heading for the middle of the town, Samuel was coming in their directiont to go up to the high place.15 Now the day before Saul arrived, the Lord had toldt Samuel:

16 “At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin. You must consecratet him as a leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked with favor on my people. Their cry has reached me!”
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said,t “Here is the man that I told you about! He will rule over my people.”

18 As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
19 Samuel replied to Saul, “I am the seer! Go up in front of me to the high place! Today you will eat with me and in the morning I will send you away. I will tell you everything that you are thinking.t

20 Don’t be concernedt about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you, and all your father’s family?”t

21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the tribes of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?”
22 Then Samuel broughtt Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present.

23 Samuel said to the cook, “Give me the portion of meat that I gave to you – the one I asked you to keep with you.”

24 So the cook picked up the leg and brought it and set it in front of Saul. Samuelt said, “What was kept is now set before you! Eat, for it has been kept for you for this meeting time, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 When they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.26 They got up at dawn and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, so I can send you on your way.” So Saul got up and the two of them – he and Samuel – went outside.

27 While they were going down to the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” So he did.s Samuel then said,t “You remain here awhile, so I can inform you of God’s message.”