09:009:001 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.
09:009:002 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.
09:009:003 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.
09:009:004 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.
09:009:005 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.
09:009:006 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.
09:009:007 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?
09:009:008 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.
09:009:009 (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.)
09:009:010 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So
they went unto the city where the man of God was.
09:009:011 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?
09:009:012 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:
09:009:013 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.
09:009:014 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.
09:009:015 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul
came, saying,
09:009:016 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.
09:009:017 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.
09:009:018 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me,
I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
09:009:019 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.
09:009:020 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?
09:009:021 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?
09:009:022 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.
09:009:023 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave
thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
09:009:024 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.
09:009:025 And when they were come down from the high place into the
city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
09:009:026 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.
09:009:027 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.