I Samuel 9

1. And there was a man of Benjamin, and his 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 named Saul, young and handsome. And there was not a man among the children of Israel more handsome than he, being taller than any of the people from his shoulder and upward.

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

4. And he passed through Mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, and found nothing there. And he passed through the land of Benjamin, but they did not find them.

5. And they came to the land of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come and let us return lest my father quit caring for the donkeys, and be anxious about us.”

6. And he said to him, “Behold now, in this city is a man of God, and an honorable man. All that he says surely comes to pass. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can declare our way to us, how to go.”

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

8. And the young man answered Saul again, and said, “Behold, I have found the fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.”

9. (In the old days in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said this: “Come, let us go to the seer,” for the prophet of today was formerly called a seer.)

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

11. As they went up the hill to the city, they found young women going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”

12. And they answered them and said, “He is. Behold, he is straight ahead of you. Hurry now, for he came today to the city, for there is a feast of the people today in the high place.

13. As you come to the city, you shall immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes because he blesses the feast. Afterwards those who have been invited, eat. And now go up, for about this time you shall find him.”

14. And they went up into the city. When they had come into the middle of the city, behold, Samuel came out to meet them to go up to the high place.

15. And the LORD had told Samuel in his ear one day before Saul came, saying,

16. “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin. And you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel, so that he may save My people out of the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked upon My people because their cry has come to Me.”

17. And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD 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 gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

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 tomorrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.

20. And as to the donkeys which were lost to you three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?”

21. And Saul answered and said, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak so to me?”

22. And Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the room, and gave them a place at the head of the invited ones, about thirty persons.

23. And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring that part which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it beside you.’ ”

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 reserved! Set it before you and eat, for until this set time it has been kept for you, since I said, ‘I have invited the people.’ ” And Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25. And they came down from the high place into the city, and he spoke with Saul upon the top of the house.

26. And they arose early. And it came to pass about the break of dawn that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, “Up, so that I may send you away.” And Saul arose, and both of them went out, he and Samuel outside.

27. They were going down to the end of the city, and Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us.” And he passed on. “And you stand still awhile, so that I may cause you to hear the word of God.”