1 Samuel 9:1-14

1Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was 1Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of 2valor. 2He had a son whose name was Saul, a 3choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; 4from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

3Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” 4He passed through 5the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of 6Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of 7Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

5When they came to the land of 8Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let us return, 9or else my father will cease to be concerned about the donkeys and will become anxious for us.” 6He said to him, “Behold now, there is 10a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; 11all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, 12perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.” 7Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is 13no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God and he will 14tell us our way.” 9(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called 15a seer.) 10Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11As they went up the slope to the city, 16they found young women going out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12They answered them and said, “He is; 17see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for 18the people have a sacrifice on 19the high place today. 13As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because 20he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up for you will find him at once.” 14So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.