1There was a man from Benjamin, from the sons of Benjamin, and his name was Kish son of Abiel son of Zeror son of Becorath son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a mighty man of valor.2He had a son whose name was Saul, a youth and pleasant; and there was no man among the sons of Israel more pleasant than he; from his shoulder and upward he was higher than all the people.3Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, had gone missing, so Kish said to his son Saul, Take one of the young men with you; arise, go, and search for the donkeys.4He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them; then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and nothing; then he passed through the land of the Benjaminite, but they did not find them.5When they came into the land of Zuph, Saul said to the young man who was with him, Come, let us return, lest my father stop worrying about the donkeys and become anxious about us.6The young man said to him, "Behold, please, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is honored; all that he speaks surely comes; now let us go there; perhaps he will tell us our way on which we have gone."7Saul said to his young man, But if we go, what shall we bring to the man? The bread from our supplies is gone, and there is no present to take to the man of God; what do we have?8The young man answered Saul again, Behold, I have a quarter shekel of silver in my hand; I will give it to the man of God so that he may tell us our way.9Formerly in Israel, thus said the man when he went to seek God: Come, let us go to the seer; for the prophet today was formerly called the seer.10Saul said to his young man, Your suggestion is good; come, let us go; so they went to the city where the man of God was.11As they were going up the ascent into the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked them, Is the seer here?12They answered them and said, There; behold, he is before you; hasten now, for today he has come to the city, for there is a sacrifice today for the people at the high place.13As you come into 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, for he will bless the sacrifice; after so the called ones will eat; and now go up, for today you will find him.14So they went up into the city; and as they entered the middle of the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.15The LORD had revealed to Samuel one day before Saul came, saying,16About this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be leader over my people Israel, and he shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen my people, for their cry has come to me.17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, Here is the man of whom I spoke to you; he it is who shall rule over my people.18Saul approached Samuel in the midst of the gate and said, Please tell me where the house of the seer is.19Samuel answered Saul, I am the seer; go up before me to the high place and eat with me today; then I will let you go in the morning and will tell you all that is in your heart.20As for the donkeys that were lost to you three days ago, do not set your heart on them, for they have been found; and for whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not for you and for all the house of your father?21Saul answered and said, Am I not a son of a Benjaminite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the little one from all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me like this word?22Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty men.23Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion that I gave you, about which I said, 'Set it aside for yourself.'"24So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set it before Saul; and Samuel said, See, what was kept is set before you; eat, for it was kept for you at the appointed time when I said, I have invited the people; and Saul ate with Samuel that day.25After they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.26They rose early; and at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, Get up, that I may send you on your way; so Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.27As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell the young man to pass on ahead of us; and he passed on; but you remain standing here now, and I will make known to you the word of God.
Chapter 10
1Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, Has not the LORD anointed you to be ruler over his inheritance?2When you depart from me today you will meet two men by the tomb of Rachel in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; they will say to you, "The donkeys you went to seek have been found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, 'What shall I do about my son?'"3After that you shall pass on from there and come to the oak of Tabor; three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three kids, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.4They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand.5After that you shall come to the hill of God where there is a garrison of the Philistines; and as you come there to the city you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place, and before them harp and tambourine and flute and lyre, and they will be prophesying.6Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.7Now when these signs come to you, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.8You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings; wait seven days until I come to you and make known to you what you shall do.