1 Samuel 9

Revised Geneva Translation

9 There was now a man of Benjamin, mighty in power, named Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a man of Benjamin.

² And he had a son called Saul, a fine young man and handsome, so that among the children of Israel there was none better than he. From the shoulders upward, he was higher than any of the people.

³ Now, the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Therefore, Kish said to Saul, his son, “Take now one of the servants with you and arise, go and seek the donkeys.

⁴ So, he passed through Mount Ephraim, and went through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they went through the land of Shaalim; and they were not there. He also went through the land of Benjamin, but they did not find them.

⁵ When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come and let us return, lest my father leaves the donkeys and becomes worried about us.”

⁶ And he said to him, “Behold, now, in this city is a man of God. And he is an honorable man. All that he says comes to pass. Let us now go there, if so be that he can show us what way we may go.”

⁷ Then Saul said to his servant, “Well then, let us go! But what shall we bring to the man? For the bread in our vessels is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

⁸ And the servant answered Saul again, and said, “Behold, I have found a fourth of a shekel of silver lying around. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.”

⁹ (In the old time in Israel, when a man went to seek an answer from God, he said, “Come and let us go to the Seer.” For he who is now called a Prophet was in the old time called a Seer.)

¹⁰ Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said! Come, let us go.” So they went into the city where the man of God was.

¹¹ And as they were going up the highway to the city, they found maids who came out to draw water, and said to them, “Is there a Seer here?”

¹² And they answered them, and said, “Yea, lo, he is before you. Hurry now, for he came this day to the city. For there is an Offering of the people this day in the high place.

¹³ “When you shall come into the city, you shall find him immediately, before he comes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he will bless the Sacrifice. And then those who are invited to the feast may eat. Now, therefore, go up. For you shall find him now.”

¹⁴ Then they went up into the city. And when they had come into the midst of the city, Samuel came out opposite them, to go up to the high place.

¹⁵ But the LORD had revealed to Samuel secretly (a day before Saul came) saying,

¹⁶ “Tomorrow, about this time, I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin. You shall anoint him to be Governor over My people, Israel, so that he may save My people out of the hands of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people and their cry has come to Me.”

¹⁷ Therefore, when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD answered him, “See, this is the man of whom I spoke to you. He shall rule My people.”

¹⁸ Then Saul went to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said, “Tell me, please, where the Seer’s house is.”

¹⁹ And Samuel answered Saul, and said, “I am the Seer. Go up before me to the high place; for you shall eat with me today and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.

²⁰ “And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And on whom is set all the desire of Israel? Is it not upon you, and on all your father’s House?”

²¹ But Saul answered, and said, “Am I not the son of Benjamin, of the smallest tribe of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why, then, do you speak so to me?”

²² And Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the chamber, and made them sit in the chief place among those who were invited (which was about thirty people).

²³ And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring forth the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, “Keep it with you.”

²⁴ And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Behold that which remains, set apart for you! Eat! For up to now it has been kept for you, since I said, “I have called the people!” So, Saul ate with Samuel that day.

²⁵ And when they had come down from the high place into the city, he spoke with Saul upon the top of the house.

²⁶ And when they arose early, about the dawn of the day, Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, “Up, so that I may send you away!” And Saul arose. And they went out, both he and Samuel.

²⁷ And when they had come down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Bid the servant go before us,” (and he went) “But you stand still now, so that I may show you the Word of God.”