1 Samuel 9

Saul’s Search

1Now there was a manH376 of BenjaminH1144 whose nameH8034 was 1KishH7027 the sonH1121 of AbielH22, the sonH1121 of ZerorH6872, the sonH1121 of BecorathH1064, the sonH1121 of AphiahH647, the sonH1121 of a BenjamiteH376H3228, a mightyH1368 manH1368 of 2valorH2428. 2He hadH1961 a sonH1121 whose nameH8034 was SaulH7586, a 3choiceH970 and handsomeH2896 man, and thereH369 was not a moreH4480H2896 handsomeH2896 personH376 thanH4480 he amongH4480 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478; 4from his shouldersH7926 and up he was tallerH1364 thanH4480 anyH3605 of the peopleH5971.

3Now the donkeysH860 of KishH7027, Saul’sH7586 fatherH1, were lostH6. So KishH7027 saidH559 to his sonH1121 SaulH7586, “TakeH3947 nowH4994 with you oneH259 of the servantsH5288, and ariseH6965, goH1980 searchH1245 for the donkeysH860.” 4He passedH5674 through 5the hillH2022 countryH2022 of EphraimH669 and passedH5674 through the landH776 of 6ShalishahH8031, but they did not findH4672 them. Then they passedH5674 through the landH776 of 7ShaalimH8171, but they were not there. Then he passedH5674 through the landH776 of the BenjamitesH1145, but they did not findH4672 them.

5When they cameH935 to the landH776 of 8ZuphH6689, SaulH7586 saidH559 to his servantH5288 whoH834 was with him, “ComeH1980, and let us returnH7725, 9orH6435 elseH6435 my fatherH1 will ceaseH2308 to be concerned aboutH4480 the donkeysH860 and will becomeH1672 anxiousH1672 for us.” 6He saidH559 to him, “BeholdH2009 nowH4994, there is 10a manH376 of GodH430 in thisH2088 cityH5892, and the manH376 is heldH3513 in honorH3513; 11allH3605 that he saysH1696 surelyH935 comesH935 true. NowH6258 let us goH1980 thereH8033, 12perhapsH194 he can tellH5046 us about our journeyH1870 on whichH834 we have setH1980 out.” 7Then SaulH7586 saidH559 to his servantH5288, “But beholdH2009, if we goH1980, whatH4100 shall we bringH935 the manH376? For the breadH3899 is goneH235 from our sackH3627 and thereH369 is 13noH369 presentH8670 to bringH935 to the manH376 of GodH430. WhatH4100 do we haveH854?” 8The servantH5288 answeredH6030 SaulH7586 againH3254 and saidH559, “BeholdH2009, I haveH4672 in my handH3027 a fourthH7253 of a shekelH8255 of silverH3701; I will giveH5414 it to the manH376 of GodH430 and he will 14tellH5046 us our wayH1870.” 9(FormerlyH6440 in IsraelH3478, when a manH376 wentH1980 to inquireH1875 of GodH430, he used to sayH559, “ComeH1980, and let us goH1980 to the seerH7203”; for he who is called a prophetH5030 nowH3117 was formerlyH6440 calledH7121 15a seerH7203.) 10Then SaulH7586 saidH559 to his servantH5288, “WellH2896 saidH1697; comeH1980, let us goH1980.” So they wentH1980 to the cityH5892 whereH834H8033 the manH376 of GodH430 was.

11As they wentH5927 up the slopeH4608 to the cityH5892, 16they foundH4672 youngH5291 womenH5291 goingH3318 out to drawH7579 waterH4325 and saidH559 to them, “Is the seerH7203 hereH2088?” 12They answeredH6030 them and saidH559, “He is; 17seeH2009, he is aheadH6440 of you. HurryH4116 nowH6258, for he has comeH935 into the cityH5892 todayH3117, for 18the peopleH5971 have a sacrificeH2077 on 19the highH1116 placeH1116 todayH3117. 13As soon as you enterH935 the cityH5892 you will findH4672 him beforeH2962 he goesH5927 up to the highH1116 placeH1116 to eatH398, for the peopleH5971 will not eatH398 untilH5704 he comesH935, becauseH3588 20he must blessH1288 the sacrificeH2077; afterwardH310H3651 those who are invitedH7121 will eatH398. NowH6258 therefore, goH5927 up for you will findH4672 him at onceH3117.” 14So they wentH5927 up to the cityH5892. As they cameH935 into the cityH5892, beholdH2009, SamuelH8050 was comingH3318 out towardH7122 them to goH5927 up to the highH1116 placeH1116.

God’s Choice for King

15Now a dayH3117 beforeH6440 Saul’sH7586 comingH935, 21the LordH3068 had 22revealedH1540H241 this to SamuelH8050 sayingH559, 16“About this timeH6256 tomorrowH4279 I will sendH7971 you a manH376 from the landH776 of BenjaminH1144, and 23you shall anointH4886 him to be princeH5057 overH5921 My peopleH5971 IsraelH3478; and he will deliverH3467 My peopleH5971 from the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430. For 24I have regardedH7200 My peopleH5971, becauseH3588 their cryH6818 has comeH935 to Me.” 17When SamuelH8050 sawH7200 SaulH7586, the LordH3068 25saidH6030 to him, “26BeholdH2009, the manH376 of whomH834 I spokeH559 to you! ThisH2088 oneH2088 shall ruleH6113 over My peopleH5971.” 18Then SaulH7586 approachedH5066 SamuelH8050 in the gateH8179 and saidH559, “PleaseH4994 tellH5046 me whereH335 the seer’sH7203 houseH1004 is.” 19SamuelH8050 answeredH6030 SaulH7586 and saidH559, “I am the seerH7203. GoH5927 up beforeH6440 me to the highH1116 placeH1116, for you shall eatH398 with me todayH3117; and in the morningH1242 I will letH7971 you goH7971, and will tellH5046 you allH3605 that is on your mindH3824. 2027As for your donkeysH860 which were lostH6 threeH7969 daysH3117 agoH3117, do not setH7760 your mindH3820 on them, for they have been foundH4672. And 28for whomH4310 is allH3605 that is desirableH2532 in IsraelH3478? Is it not for you and for allH3605 your father’sH1 householdH1004?” 21SaulH7586 repliedH6030, “29Am I not a BenjamiteH1145, of 30the smallestH6996 of the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478, and my familyH4940 the leastH6810 of allH3605 the familiesH4940 of the 31tribeH7626 of BenjaminH1144? WhyH4100 then do you speakH1696 to me in thisH2088 wayH1697?”

22Then SamuelH8050 tookH3947 SaulH7586 and his servantH5288 and broughtH935 them into the hallH3957 and gaveH5414 them a placeH4725 at the headH7218 of those who were invitedH7121, whoH1992 were about thirtyH7970 menH376. 23SamuelH8050 saidH559 to the cookH2876, “32BringH5414 the portionH4490 that I gaveH5414 you, concerning whichH834 I saidH559 to you, ‘SetH7760 it 33asideH5973.’” 24Then the cookH2876 34tookH7311 up the legH7785 with what was on it and setH7760 it beforeH6440 SaulH7586. And Samuel saidH559, “HereH2009 is what has been reservedH7604! SetH7760 it beforeH6440 you and eatH398, becauseH3588 it has been keptH8104 for you until the appointedH4150 timeH4150, 35since I saidH559 I have invitedH7121 the peopleH5971.” So SaulH7586 ateH398 with SamuelH8050 that dayH3117.

25When they cameH3381 downH3381 from the highH1116 placeH1116 into the cityH5892, Samuel spokeH1696 with SaulH7586 36on the 37roofH1406. 26And they aroseH7925 earlyH7925; and at daybreakH7837 SamuelH8050 calledH7121 to SaulH7586 on the roofH1406, sayingH559, “GetH6965 up, that I may sendH7971 you awayH7971.” So SaulH7586 aroseH6965, and bothH8147 he and SamuelH8050 wentH3318 out into the streetH2351. 27As they were goingH3381 downH3381 to the edgeH7097 of the cityH5892, SamuelH8050 saidH559 to SaulH7586, “SayH559 to the servantH5288 that he might goH5674 aheadH6440 of us and passH5674 on, but you remain standingH5975 nowH3117, that I may proclaimH8085 the wordH1697 of GodH430 to you.”