1 Then 1Samueltook the flask of oil, poured it on his head, 2kissed him and said, "Has not 3the LORDanointed you a rulerover4His inheritance?
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"When you go from me today, then you will findtwomenclose to 5Rachel'stomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, '6The donkeyswhich you went to look for have been found. Now behold, your father has ceased to be concerned about the donkeys and is anxious for you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?"'
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"Then you will go on further from there, and you will come as far as the 7oak of Tabor, and therethreemengoing up 8to God at Bethel will meet you, onecarryingthreeyounggoats, anothercarryingthreeloaves of bread, and anothercarrying a jug of wine;
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and they will greet* you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from their hand.
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"Afterward* you will come to 9the hill of Godwhere* the Philistinegarrison is; and it shall be as soon as you have comethere to the city, that you will meet10a group of prophetscomingdown from the highplace with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyrebefore them, and 11they will be prophesying.
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"Then 12the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and 13you shall prophesy with them and be changed into anotherman.
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"It shall be whenthesesignscome to you, 14do for yourself what the occasionrequires, for 15God is with you.
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"And 16you shall godownbefore me to Gilgal; and behold, I will comedown to you to offerburntofferings and 17sacrificepeaceofferings. 18You shall waitsevendaysuntil I come to you and show you what you should do."
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Then it happened when he turned his back to leave**Samuel, God19changed his heart; and allthosesignscame about on that day.
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20When they came to the hillthere, behold, a group of prophetsmet him; and the Spirit of Godcame upon him mightily, so that he prophesiedamong them.
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It came about, when all who knew him previously#st8032saw that he prophesiednow with the prophets, that the peoplesaid to oneanother, "What has happened to the son of Kish? 21Is Saulalso among the prophets?"
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A manthere*said, "Now, who is their father?" Therefore* it became a proverb: "22Is Saulalso among the prophets?"
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When he had finishedprophesying, he came to the highplace.
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Now 23Saul'sunclesaid to him and his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "24To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they could not be found, we went to Samuel."
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Saul'sunclesaid, "Pleasetell me whatSamuelsaid to you."
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So Saulsaid to his uncle, "25He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdomwhichSamuel had mentioned.
Saul Publicly Chosen King
17 Thereafter Samuelcalled the 26peopletogether to the LORD at Mizpah;
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and he said to the sons of Israel, "27Thussays the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I broughtIsrael up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.'
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"But you 28have todayrejected your God, whodelivers you from all your calamities and your distresses; yet you have said, 'No, but set a kingover us!' Now therefore, 29present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans."
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Thus Samuelbroughtall the tribes of Israelnear, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.
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Then he brought the tribe of Benjaminnear by its families, and the Matritefamily was taken. And Saul the son of Kish was taken; but when they looked for him, he could not be found.
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Therefore 30they inquiredfurther of the LORD, "Has the mancomehereyet?" So the LORDsaid, "Behold, he is hidinghimself by the baggage."
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So they ran and took him from there, and when he stoodamong the people, 31he was tallerthanany of the people from his shouldersupward.
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Samuelsaid to all the people, "Do you see him 32whom the LORD has chosen? Surelythere is noonelike him among all the people." So all the peopleshouted and said, "33Long live the king!"
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Then Samueltold the people34the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrote them in the book and 35placed it before the LORD. And Samuelsentall the peopleaway, eachone to his house.
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Saulalsowent36to his house at Gibeah; and the valiant men whoseheartsGod had touchedwent with him.
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But certain 37worthlessmensaid, "How can thisonedeliver us?" And they despised him and 38did not bring him any present. But he keptsilent.