1 Samuel 09
Saul seeks the lost donkeys and goes to Samuel
1 And there was a man from Benjamin, whose name was Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bevorat, son of Aphia, son of a man of Benjamin: man encouraged by strength.
2 He had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man, and so beautiful that among the children of Israel there was no other man more beautiful than he; from the shoulders up he stood out from the crowd.
3 And the donkeys of Kish the father of Saul were lost; so he said to his son Saul, "Now take one of the boys with you, and get up and go and get the donkeys."
4 So he passed through the mountain of Ephraim, and from there he passed into the land of Salisa, but they did not find them: afterwards they passed into the land of Saalim, but neither were they there; he also passed on to the land of Benjamin, but neither did they find them.
5 When they came to Sufe Saul's land, he said to his young man, with whom he was going, Come, and let us return; so that my father may not stop worrying about the donkeys and grieve because of us.
6 But he said to him, "Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and an honorable man is: whatever he says, it unfails so. Let's go there now; perhaps it will show us the way we must go.
7 Then Saul said to his boy, "Behold, however, if we go there, what will we then take to that man?" Because the bread in our Pouches has run out, and we have no gift to take to the man of God: what do we have?
8 And the young man answered Saul again, and said, Behold, a quarter of a silver shekel is still in my hand, which I will give to the man of God, that he may show us the way.
9 (Formerly in Israel, when anyone went to consult God, he said: Come, and let's go to the seer: because today's prophet used to be called seer)
10 Then Saul said to the young man, You say well; therefore, come on. And they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 And as they went up the hill, they found some girls who went out to draw water; and they said to them, Is the seer here?
12 And they answered them, and said, Yes, behold, here he is before you: therefore hurry, because today he came to the city; because the people today have sacrifice on high.
13 As you enter the city, you will soon find it, before it goes up to the top to eat; because the people will not eat until he comes; because he is the one who blesses the sacrifice, and then the guests eat: go up now, that you will find him today.
14 So they went up to the city: and when they came into the city, behold, Samuel went out to meet them, to go up on high.
15 For the Lord had revealed it to Samuel, the day before Saul came, saying,
16 At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, whom you will anoint as captain over my people Israel, and he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines: because I have looked on my people, because the outcry has come to me.
17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, Here is the man of whom I have already told you. This will rule over my people.
18 And Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the door and said, "Show me, I beg you, where is the seer's house here."
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me on high, and eat with me today; and in the morning I will send you away, and I will declare everything in your heart.
20 And as for the donkeys that were lost to you three days ago, do not occupy your heart with them, because they are already found. And for whom is all Israel's desire? is it not for you, and for all your father's house?
21 Then Saul answered and said, Am I not the son of Benjamin, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family, the smallest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in similar words?
22 But Samuel took Saul and his boy, and took them into the chamber; and he gave them a place above all the guests, who were about thirty men.
23 Then Samuel said to the cook, Give me the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, Put it aside with you.
24 So the cook lifted up his shoulder, with what was in it, and set it before Saul: and Samuel said, Behold, this is the leftover; put it before you, and eat; because it was kept for you for this occasion, saying, I have invited the people. So Saul ate that day with Samuel.
25 Then they went down from above to the city; and spoke to Saul about the roof.
26 And they got up at dawn; And it came to pass, when Samuel was about to rise, that he called Saul to the roof, saying, Arise, and I will send you away. Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out.
27 And when they came down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell the boy to pass before us: (and he passed) but you wait now, and I will make you hear the word of God.