The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Samuel 09
1 Now there was a man of Benjamin,
whose name was Kish 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 valor.
2 He had a son whose name was Saul, an
impressive young man; and there was not
among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he. From his shoulders
and upward he was taller than any of the
people.
3 The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were
lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Now take
one of the servants with you, and arise, go
look for the donkeys.”
4 He passed through the hill country of
Ephraim, and passed through the land of
Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. Then
they passed through the land of Shaalim,
and they weren’t there. Then he passed
through the land of the Benjamites, but
they didn’t find them.
5 When they had come to the land of
Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was
with him, “Come! Let’s return, lest my
father stop caring about the donkeys and
be anxious for us.”
6 The servant said to him, “Behold now,
there is a man of God in this city, and he
is a man who is held in honor. All that he
says surely happens. Now let’s go there.
Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”
7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what should we bring the
man? For the bread is spent in our sacks,
and there is not a present to bring to the
man of God. What do we have?”
8 The servant answered Saul again and
said, “Behold, I have in my hand the fourth
part of a shekel† of silver. I will give that to
the man of God, to tell us our way.”
9 (In earlier times in Israel, when a man
went to inquire of God, he said, “Come!
Let’s go to the seer;” for he who is now
called a prophet was before called a seer.)
10 Then Saul said to his servant, “Well
said. Come! Let’s go.” So they went to the
city where the man of God was.
11 As they went up the ascent to the city,
they found young maidens going out to
draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer
here?”
12 They answered them and said, “He is.
Behold, he is before you. Hurry now,for he
has come today into the city; for the people
have a sacrifice today in the high place.
13 As soon as you have come into the city,
you will immediately find him before he
goes up to the high place to eat; for the
people will not eat until he comes, because
he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those
who are invited eat. Now therefore go up;
for at this time you will find him.”
14 They went up to the city. As they came
within the city, behold, Samuel came out
toward them to go up to the high place.
15 Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel
a day before Saul came, saying,
16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send
you a man out ofthe land of Benjamin, and
you shall anoint him to be prince over my
people Israel. He will save my people out
of the hand of the Philistines; for I have
looked upon my people, because their cry
has come to me.”
17 When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said
to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke
to you! He will have authority over my
people.”
18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the
gateway, and said, “Please tell me where
the seer’s house is.”
19 Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am
the seer. Go up before me to the high place,
for you are to eat with me today. In the
morning I will let you go and will tell you
all that is in your heart.
20 As for your donkeys who were lost
three days ago, don’t set your mind on
them,for they have been found. For whom
does all Israel desire? Is it not you and all
your father’s house?”
21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite,
of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And
my family the least of all the families ofthe
tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak
to me like this?”
22 Samuel took Saul and his servant and
brought them into the guest room, and
made them sit in the best place among
those who were invited, who were about
thirty persons.
23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the
portion which I gave you, of which I said
to you, ‘Set it aside.’ ”
24 The cook took up the thigh, and that
which was on it, and set it before Saul.
Samuel said, “Behold, that which has been
reserved! Set it before yourself and eat;
because it has been kept for you for the
appointed time, for I said, ‘I have invited
the people.’ ” So Saul ate with Samuel that
day.
25 When they had come down from the
high place into the city, he talked with Saul
on the housetop.
26 They arose early; and about daybreak,
Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.”
Saul arose, and they both went outside, he
and Samuel, together.
27 As they were going down at the end
of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the
servant to go on ahead of us.” He went
ahead, then Samuel said, “But stand still
first, that I may cause you to hear God’s
message.”