New American Standard Bible 2020

1 Samuel 9

Saul’s Search

1Now there was a manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of Benjaminמִבִּנְיָמִ֗יןmi.bin.ya.MinH1144whose nameוּ֠שְׁמוֹu.she.moH8034wasKishקִ֣ישׁkishH7027the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Abielאֲבִיאֵ֞ל'a.vi.'ElH22,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zerorצְר֧וֹרtze.RorH6872,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Becorathבְּכוֹרַ֛תbe.kho.RatH1064,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Aphiahאֲפִ֖יחַ'a.Fi.achH647,sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of a Benjaminiteאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376 H3228, avaliantחָֽיִל׃Cha.yilH2428mightyגִּבּ֖וֹרgi.BorH1368manH1368.

2He hadהָיָ֨הha.YahH1961a sonבֵ֜ןvenH1121whose nameוּשְׁמ֤וֹu.she.MoH8034was Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586, ayoungבָּח֣וּרba.ChurH970and handsomeH2896man,and thereH369wasH369not a moreמִמֶּ֑נּוּmi.Me.nuH4480 H2896handsomeH2896manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376thanH4480he amongH4480the sonsמִבְּנֵ֥יmi.be.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478;from his shouldersמִשִּׁכְמ֣וֹmi.shikh.MoH7926and up he was tallerגָּבֹ֖הַּga.Vo.ahH1364thanH4480anyמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605of the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.

3Now the donkeysהָאֲתֹנ֔וֹתha.'a.to.NotH860of Kishלְקִ֖ישׁle.KishH7027,Saul’sשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586fatherאֲבִ֣י'a.ViH1,had wanderedH6offH6.So Kishקִ֜ישׁkishH7027saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his sonבְּנ֗וֹbe.NoH1121Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586, “Nowנָ֤אna'H4994takeקַח־kach-H3947with you oneאַחַ֣ד'a.ChadH259of the servantsמֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔יםme.ha.ne.'a.RimH5288and ariseוְק֣וּםve.KumH6965,goלֵ֔ךְLekhH1980searchבַּקֵּ֖שׁba.KeshH1245for the donkeysהָאֲתֹנֹֽת׃ha.'a.to.NotH860.”

4So he passedוַיַּעֲבֹ֧רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674throughthe hillבְּהַר־be.har-H2022countryH2022of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֛יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669and passedוַיַּעֲבֹ֥רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674through the landבְּאֶֽרֶץ־be.'e.retz-H776ofShalishahשָׁלִ֖שָׁהsha.Li.shahH8031,but they did not findמָצָ֑אוּma.Tza.'uH4672them.Then they passedוַיַּעַבְר֤וּvai.ya.'av.RuH5674through the landבְאֶֽרֶץ־ve.'e.retz-H776ofShaalimשַׁעֲלִים֙sha.'a.LimH8171, but they were not there.Then he passedוַיַּעֲבֹ֥רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674through the landבְּאֶֽרֶץ־be.'e.retz-H776of the BenjaminitesH1145,but they did not findמָצָֽאוּ׃ma.Tza.'uH4672them.

5When they cameבָּ֚אוּBa.'uH935to the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776ofZuphצ֔וּףTzufH6689,Saulוְשָׁא֥וּלve.sha.'UlH7586saidאָמַ֛ר'a.MarH559to his servantלְנַעֲר֥וֹle.na.'a.RoH5288whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834was with him, “Comeלְכָ֣הle.KhahH1980,and let’s returnוְנָשׁ֑וּבָהve.na.Shu.vahH7725,orH6435elseH6435my fatherאָבִ֛י'a.ViH1will stopיֶחְדַּ֥לyech.DalH2308being concernedaboutמִן־min-H4480the donkeysהָאֲתֹנ֖וֹתha.'a.to.NotH860and will becomeH1672anxiousוְדָ֥אַגve.Da.'agH1672about us.”

6But he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Beholdהִנֵּה־hi.neh-H2009nowנָ֤אna'H4994, there isa manאִישׁ־'ish-H376of Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430in thisH2088cityבָּעִ֣ירba.'IrH5892,and the manוְהָאִ֣ישׁve.ha.'IshH376is heldH3513inH3513honorנִכְבָּ֔דnikh.BadH3513;everythingכֹּ֥לkolH3605that he saysיְדַבֵּ֖רye.da.BerH1696definitelyבּ֣וֹאBo'H935comesיָב֑וֹאya.Vo'H935true.Nowעַתָּה֙'a.TahH6258let’s goנֵ֣לֲכָהNe.la.khahH1980thereשָּׁ֔םShamH8033,perhapsאוּלַי֙'u.LaiH194he can tellיַגִּ֣ידya.GidH5046us about our journeyדַּרְכֵּ֖נוּdar.Ke.nuH1870on whichH834we have setהָלַ֥כְנוּha.Lakh.nuH1980out.”

7Then Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his servantלְנַעֲר֗וֹle.na.'a.RoH5288, “But lookוְהִנֵּ֣הve.hi.NehH2009,if we goנֵלֵךְ֮ne.leKhH1980,whatוּמַה־u.mah-H4100shall we bringנָּבִ֣יאna.Vi'H935the manלָאִישׁ֒la.'IshH376?For the breadהַלֶּ֙חֶם֙ha.Le.chemH3899isH235goneH235from our sacksמִכֵּלֵ֔ינוּmi.ke.Lei.nuH3627and thereH369isH369noH369giftוּתְשׁוּרָ֥הu.te.shu.RahH8670to bringלְהָבִ֖יאle.ha.Vi'H935to the manלְאִ֣ישׁle.'IshH376of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430.Whatמָ֖הmahH4100do we haveאִתָּֽנוּ׃'i.Ta.nuH854?”

8The servantהַנַּ֙עַר֙ha.Na.'arH5288answeredלַעֲנ֣וֹתla.'a.NotH6030Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586againוַיֹּ֤סֶףvai.Yo.sefH3254and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Lookהִנֵּה֙hi.NehH2009,I haveנִמְצָ֣אnim.Tza'H4672in my handבְיָדִ֔יve.ya.DiH3027a fourthרֶ֖בַעRe.va'H7253of a shekelשֶׁ֣קֶלShe.kelH8255of silverכָּ֑סֶףKa.sefH3701;I will giveוְנָֽתַתִּי֙ve.na.ta.TiH5414itto the manלְאִ֣ישׁle.'IshH376of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430and he willtellוְהִגִּ֥ידve.hi.GidH5046us our wayדַּרְכֵּֽנוּ׃dar.Ke.nuH1870.”

9(Previouslyלְפָנִ֣ים׀le.fa.NimH6440in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,when a manהָאִישׁ֙ha.'IshH376wentבְּלֶכְתּוֹ֙be.lekh.ToH1980to inquireלִדְר֣וֹשׁlid.Ro.oshH1875of Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430,he used to sayאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559, “Comeלְכ֥וּle.KhuH1980,and let’s goוְנֵלְכָ֖הve.ne.le.KhahH1980to the seerהָרֹאֶ֑הha.ro.'EhH7203”; for he who is calleda prophetלַנָּבִיא֙la.na.Vi'H5030nowהַיּ֔וֹםhai.YomH3117was previouslyלְפָנִ֖יםle.fa.NimH6440calledיִקָּרֵ֥אyi.ka.Re'H7121a seerהָרֹאֶֽה׃ha.ro.'EhH7203.)

10Then Saulשָׁא֧וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his servantלְנַעֲר֛וֹle.na.'a.RoH5288, “Goodט֥וֹבTovH2896ideaדְּבָרְךָ֖de.va.re.KhaH1697;comeלְכָ֣ה׀le.KhahH1980,let’s goנֵלֵ֑כָהne.Le.khahH1980.”So they wentוַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙vai.ye.le.KhuH1980to the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892whereאֲשֶׁר־ שָׁ֖ם'a.Sher- shamH834 H8033the manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376of Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430was.

11As they wentH5927upH5927the slopeבְּמַעֲלֵ֣הbe.ma.'a.LehH4608to the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892,they foundמָצְא֣וּma.tze.'UH4672youngנְעָר֔וֹתne.'a.RotH5291womenH5291goingH3318outH3318to drawלִשְׁאֹ֣בlish.'OH7579waterמָ֑יִםMa.yimH4325,and they saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to them, “Is the seerהָרֹאֶֽה׃ha.ro.'EhH7203hereבָּזֶ֖הba.ZehH2088?”

12They answeredוַתַּעֲנֶ֧ינָהva.ta.'a.Nei.nahH6030them and saidוַתֹּאמַ֥רְנָהva.to.Mar.nahH559, “He is;seeהִנֵּ֣הhi.NehH2009, he isaheadלְפָנֶ֑יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440of you. Hurryמַהֵ֣ר׀ma.HerH4116nowעַתָּ֗ה'a.TahH6258,for he has comeבָּ֣אba'H935into the cityלָעִ֔ירla.'IrH5892todayהַיּוֹם֙hai.yOmH3117,becauseH3588the peopleלָעָ֖םla.'AmH5971have a sacrificeזֶ֧בַחZe.vachH2077onthe highבַּבָּמָֽה׃ba.ba.MahH1116placeH1116todayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117.

13As soonכֵּ֣ןkenH3651as you enterכְּבֹאֲכֶ֣םke.vo.'a.KhemH935the cityהָעִ֣ירha.'IrH5892you will findתִּמְצְא֣וּןtim.tze.'UnH4672him beforeבְּטֶרֶם֩be.te.RemH2962he goesיַעֲלֶ֨הya.'a.LehH5927upH5927to the highהַבָּמָ֜תָהha.ba.Ma.tahH1116placeH1116to eatלֶאֱכֹ֗לle.'e.KholH398,for the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971will not eatיֹאכַ֤לyo.KhalH398untilעַד־'ad-H5704he comesבֹּא֔וֹbo.'OH935,becauseH3588he must blessיְבָרֵ֣ךְye.va.RekhH1288the sacrificeהַזֶּ֔בַחha.Ze.vachH2077;afterwardאַחֲרֵי־ כֵ֖ן'a.cha.rei- khenH310 H3651those who are invitedהַקְּרֻאִ֑יםha.ke.ru.'ImH7121will eatיֹאכְל֣וּyo.khe.LuH398.Nowוְעַתָּ֣הve.'a.TahH6258then, goעֲל֔וּ'a.LuH5927upH5927,for you will findתִּמְצְא֥וּןtim.tze.'UnH4672him about this timeכְהַיּ֖וֹםkhe.hai.YomH3117.”

14So they wentH5927upH5927to the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892.As they cameבָּאִים֙ba.'ImH935into the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892,beholdוְהִנֵּ֤הve.hi.NehH2009,Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050was comingH3318outH3318towardלִקְרָאתָ֔םlik.ra.TamH7122them to goH5927upH5927to the highהַבָּמָֽה׃ סha.ba.MahH1116placeH1116.

God’s Choice for King

15Now a dayי֣וֹםYomH3117beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440Saul’sשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586comingבֽוֹא־Vo'-H935,the Lordוַֽיהוָ֔הva.Yah.wehH3068hadrevealedגָּלָ֖ה אֹ֣זֶןga.Lah 'O.zenH1540 H241thisto Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

16“About this timeכָּעֵ֣ת׀ka.'EtH6256tomorrowמָחָ֡רma.CharH4279I will sendאֶשְׁלַח֩'esh.LachH7971you a manאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376from the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֗ןbin.ya.MinH1144, andyou shall anointוּמְשַׁחְתּ֤וֹu.me.shach.ToH4886him as rulerלְנָגִיד֙le.na.GidH5057overעַל־'al-H5921My peopleעַמִּ֣י'a.MiH5971Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478;and he will saveוְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַve.ho.Shi.a'H3467My peopleעַמִּ֖י'a.MiH5971from the handמִיַּ֣דmi.YadH3027of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430. ForI have consideredרָאִ֙יתִי֙ra.'I.tiH7200My peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971,becauseH3588their outcryצַעֲקָת֖וֹtza.'a.ka.ToH6818has comeבָּ֥אָהBa.'ahH935to Me.”

17When Samuelוּשְׁמוּאֵ֖לu.she.mu.'ElH8050sawרָאָ֣הra.'AhH7200Saulשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586,the Lordוַיהוָ֣הva.Yah.wehH3068saidעָנָ֔הוּ'a.Na.huH6030to him, “Beholdהִנֵּ֤הhi.NehH2009,the manהָאִישׁ֙ha.'IshH376of whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834I spokeאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559to you! ThisH2088oneזֶ֖הzehH2088shall ruleיַעְצֹ֥רya'.TzorH6113over My peopleבְּעַמִּֽי׃be.'a.MiH5971.”

18Then Saulשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlH7586approachedוַיִּגַּ֥שׁvai.yi.GashH5066Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050at the gatewayהַשָּׁ֑עַרha.Sha.'arH8179and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Pleaseנָּ֣אna'H4994tellהַגִּֽידָה־ha.gi.dah-H5046me whereאֵי־'ei-H335the seer’sהָרֹאֶֽה׃ha.ro.'EhH7203houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004is.”

19And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֜לshe.mu.'ElH8050answeredוַיַּ֨עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “I am the seerהָרֹאֶ֔הha.ro.'EhH7203.Goעֲלֵ֤ה'a.LehH5927upH5927aheadלְפָנַי֙le.fa.NaiH6440of me to the highהַבָּמָ֔הha.ba.MahH1116placeH1116,for you shall eatוַאֲכַלְתֶּ֥םva.'a.khal.TemH398with me todayהַיּ֑וֹםhai.YomH3117;and in the morningבַבֹּ֔קֶרva.Bo.kerH1242I will letH7971you goH7971,and will tellאַגִּ֥יד'a.GidH5046you everythingוְכֹ֛לve.KholH3605that is on your mindבִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖bil.va.ve.KhaH3824.

20And as for your donkeysוְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹתve.la.'a.to.NotH860that wanderedH6offH6threeשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysהַיּוֹם֙hai.yOmH3117agoהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117,do not be concernedתָּ֧שֶׂם לִבְּךָ֛Ta.sem li.be.KhaH7760 H3820about them, for they have been foundנִמְצָ֑אוּnim.Tza.'uH4672. Andfor whomוּלְמִי֙u.le.MiH4310is everythingכָּל־kol-H3605that is desirableחֶמְדַּ֣תchem.DatH2532in Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478?Is it not for you and for allוּלְכֹ֖לu.le.KholH3605your father’sאָבִֽיךָ׃ ס'a.Vi.khaH1householdבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004?”

21Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586repliedוַיַּ֨עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030, “Am I not a BenjaminiteH1145, ofthe smallestמִקַּטַנֵּי֙mi.ka.ta.NeiH6996of the tribesשִׁבְטֵ֣יshiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and my familyוּמִשְׁפַּחְתִּי֙u.mish.pach.TiH4940the leastהַצְּעִרָ֔הha.tze.'i.RahH6810of allמִכָּֽל־mi.kolH3605the familiesמִשְׁפְּח֖וֹתmish.pe.ChotH4940of thetribeשִׁבְטֵ֣יshiv.TeiH7626of Benjaminבִנְיָמִ֑ןvin.ya.MinH1144?Whyוְלָ֙מָּה֙ve.La.mahH4100then have you spokenדִּבַּ֣רְתָּdi.Bar.taH1696to me in thisהַזֶּֽה׃ סha.ZehH2088wayכַּדָּבָ֖רka.da.VarH1697?”

22Then Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050tookוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586and his servantנַעֲר֔וֹna.'a.RoH5288and broughtוַיְבִיאֵ֖םvay.vi.'EmH935them into the hallלִשְׁכָּ֑תָהlish.Ka.tahH3957,and gaveוַיִּתֵּ֨ןvai.yi.TenH5414them a placeמָקוֹם֙ma.kOmH4725at the headבְּרֹ֣אשׁbe.RoshH7218of those who were invitedהַקְּרוּאִ֔יםha.ke.ru.'ImH7121,whoוְהֵ֖מָּהve.He.mahH1992were about thirtyכִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥יםkish.lo.ShimH7970menאִֽישׁ׃'IshH376.

23And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to the cookלַטַּבָּ֔חla.ta.BachH2876, “Serveתְּנָה֙te.NahH5414the portionהַמָּנָ֔הha.ma.NahH4490that I gaveנָתַ֖תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414you about whichH834I saidאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559to you, ‘Setשִׂ֥יםsimH7760itasideעִמָּֽךְ׃'i.MakhH5973.’”

24Then the cookהַ֠טַּבָּחHa.ta.bochH2876tookH7311upH7311the legהַשּׁ֨וֹקha.ShokH7785with what was on it and placedוַיָּ֣שֶׂם׀vai.Ya.semH7760itbeforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586. And Samuelsaidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Hereהִנֵּ֤הhi.NehH2009is what has been reservedהַנִּשְׁאָר֙ha.nish.'ArH7604!Placeשִׂים־sim-H7760itbeforeלְפָנֶ֣יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440you andeatאֱכֹ֔ל'e.KholH398,becauseכִּ֧יkiH3588it has been keptשָֽׁמוּר־sha.mur-H8104for you until the appointedלַמּוֹעֵ֛דla.mo.'EdH4150timeH4150,since I saidלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559I have invitedקָרָ֑אתִיka.Ra.tiH7121the peopleהָעָ֣ם׀ha.'AmH5971.”So Saulשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlH7586ateוַיֹּ֧אכַלvai.Yo.khalH398with Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050that dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbai.YomH3117.

25When they cameH3381downוַיֵּרְד֥וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381from the highמֵהַבָּמָ֖הme.ha.ba.MahH1116placeH1116intothe cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892, Samuelspokeוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696with Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586on the roofהַגָּֽג׃ha.GagH1406.

26And they gotH7925upH7925earlyוַיַּשְׁכִּ֗מוּvai.yash.Ki.muH7925;and at daybreakכַּעֲל֤וֹת הַשַּׁ֙חַר֙ka.'a.Lot ha.Sha.charH5927 H7837Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֤לshe.mu.'ElH8050calledוַיִּקְרָ֨אvai.yik.Ra'H7121to Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586on the roofהַגָּ֣גָהha.gag.hH1406,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “GetH6965upH6965,so that I may sendוַאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּva.'a.sha.le.Che.kaH7971you on your wayH7971.”So Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586gotH6965upH6965,and bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֛םshe.nei.HemH8147he and Samuelוּשְׁמוּאֵ֖לu.she.mu.'ElH8050wentH3318outH3318into the streetהַחֽוּצָה׃ha.Chu.tzahH2351.

27As they were goingH3381downיֽוֹרְדִים֙yor.DimH3381to the edgeבִּקְצֵ֣הbik.TzehH7097of the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892,Samuelוּשְׁמוּאֵ֞לu.she.mu.'ElH8050saidאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559to Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586, “Speakאֱמֹ֥ר'e.MorH559to the servantלַנַּ֛עַרla.Na.'arH5288and have him goH5674onH5674aheadלְפָנֵ֖ינוּle.fa.Nei.nuH6440of us and passH5674byH5674;but you standעֲמֹ֣ד'a.ModH5975herenowכַּיּ֔וֹםkai.YomH3117,so that I may proclaimוְאַשְׁמִיעֲךָ֖ve.'ash.mi.'a.KhaH8085the wordדְּבַ֥רde.VarH1697of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃ פ'E.lo.HimH430to you.”

Saul’s Search

God’s Choice for King

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 9