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 mighty
man
of power
.
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 goodlier
person
than he: from his shoulders
and upward
he was higher
than any of the people
.
And the asses of Kish
Saul's
father
were lost
. And Kish
said
to Saul
his son
, Take
now one
of the servants
with thee, and arise
, go
seek
the asses
.
And he passed through mount
Ephraim
, 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.
And when they were come to the land
of Zuph
, Saul
said
to his servant
that was with him, Come
, and let us return
; lest my father
leave
caring for the asses
, and take thought
for us.
And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city
a man
of God
, and he is an honourable
man
; all that he saith
cometh
surely to pass
: now let us go
thither; peradventure he can shew
us our way
that we should go
.
Then said Saul
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?
And the servant answered
Saul
again
, 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
.
(Beforetime in Israel
, when a man
went
to enquire
of God
, thus he spake
, Come
, and let us go
to the seer
: for he that is now
called a Prophet
was beforetime
called
a Seer
.)
Then said Saul
to his servant
, Well
said
; come
, let us go
. So they went
unto the city
where the man
of God
was .
And as they went up the hill
to the city
, they found
young maidens
going out
to draw
water
, and said
unto them, Is
the seer
here?
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
:
As soon as ye be come into the city
, ye shall straightway
find
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 afterwards
they eat
that be bidden
. Now therefore get you up
; for about this time
ye shall find
him.
And they went up into
the city
: and when they were come
into the city
, behold, Samuel
came out
against
them, for to go up
to the high place
.
Now the LORD had told
Samuel
in his ear
a
day
before
Saul
came
, saying
,
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 people
Israel
, 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.
And when Samuel saw
Saul
, the LORD
said
unto him, Behold the man
whom I spake
to thee of! this same shall reign
over my people
.
Then Saul drew near
to Samuel
in
the gate
, and said
, Tell
me, I pray thee, where
the seer's
house
is .
And Samuel answered
Saul
, and said
, I am the seer
: go up
before
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
.
And as for thine asses that were lost
three
days
ago
, 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's
house
?
And Saul answered
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?
And Samuel took
Saul
and his servant
, and brought
them into the parlour
, and made them sit
in the chiefest
place
among them that were bidden
, which were about thirty
persons
.
And Samuel said
unto the cook
, Bring
the portion
which I gave
thee, of which I said
unto thee, Set
it by thee.
And the cook took up
the shoulder
, and that which was upon it, and set
it before
Saul
. 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
.
And when they were come down from the high place
into the city
, Samuel communed
with Saul
upon the top of the house
.
And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring
of the day
, that Samuel
called
Saul
to the top of the house
, saying
, Up
, that I may send thee away
. And Saul
arose
, and they went out
both
of them, he and Samuel
, abroad
.
And as they were going down to the end
of the city
, Samuel
said
to Saul
, Bid
the servant
pass on
before
us, (and he passed on
,) but stand
thou still a while
, that I may shew
thee the word
of God
.