1
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mightyman of power.
2
And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlierperson than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
4
And he passed throughmountEphraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5
And when they were come to the land of Zuph,Saulsaid to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my fatherleave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6
And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourableman; all that he saithcometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
7
Then saidSaul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8
And the servantansweredSaulagain, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9
(Beforetime in Israel, when a manwent to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetimecalled a Seer.)
12
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
13
As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightwayfind him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwardstheyeat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
16
To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my peopleIsrael, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
19
And SamuelansweredSaul, and said, I am the seer: go upbefore me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
20
And as for thine asses that were lostthreedaysago,set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father'shouse?
21
And Saulanswered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
22
And SamueltookSaul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefestplace among them that were bidden, which were about thirtypersons.
24
And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it beforeSaul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
26
And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that SamuelcalledSaul to the top of the house,saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saularose, and they went outboth of them, he and Samuel,abroad.
27
And as they were going down to the end of the city,Samuelsaid to Saul,Bid the servant pass onbefore us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.