1 Samuel 9

Saul Searches for Lost Donkeys

1There was a man from Benjamin whose name was Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a mighty man of wealth. 2He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome young man. There was no man among the children of Israel more handsome than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. 3The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Please take with you one of the young men, arise, go, and seek the donkeys.” 4He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. They passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. He passed through the land of Benjamin, but they did not find them.

Saul Decides to Seek the Seer

5They came to the land of Zuph, and Saul said to his young man who was with him, “Come, let us return, lest my father stop concerning himself with the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6He said to him, “Look, please, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is honored. All that he says surely comes to pass. Now let us go there; perhaps he will tell us our way on which we should go.” 7Saul said to his young man, “But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our bags, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What is with us?” 8The young man again answered Saul and said, “Look, a quarter of a shekel of silver is found in my hand. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.” 9Formerly in Israel, thus a man said when he went to inquire of God: “Come, let us go to the seer,” for the prophet of today was formerly called a seer. 10Saul said to his young man, “Your word is good. Come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

Young Women Direct Saul to Samuel

11As they were going up the ascent to the city, they found young women going out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12They answered them and said, “He is. Look, he is before you. Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice today at the high place. 13As you enter the city, you will 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. Afterward those invited will eat. And now go up, for about this time you will find him.” 14So they went up to the city. As they were entering the midst of the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.

The LORD Reveals Saul to Samuel

15Now the LORD had uncovered Samuel’s ear one day before Saul came, saying, 16“About this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him as ruler over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines, for I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD answered him, “Look, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall restrain my people.”

Samuel Welcomes Saul

18Saul drew near to Samuel in the middle of the gate and said, “Please tell me, where is the house of the seer?” 19Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, and you shall eat with me today. In the morning I will send you away, and all that is in your heart I will tell you. 20And concerning your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your heart on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s house?” 21Saul answered and said, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me according to this word?”

Saul Is Given the Place of Honor

22Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those invited. They were about thirty men. 23Samuel said to the cook, “Give the portion that I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it beside you.’” 24The cook lifted up the thigh and what was upon it and set it before Saul. Samuel said, “Look, what was reserved is set before you. Eat, for it has been kept for you until the appointed time, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25They came down from the high place to the city, and he spoke with Saul on the roof. 26They arose early, and it happened at the breaking of dawn that Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Rise, and I will send you away.” Saul arose, and the two of them, he and Samuel, went outside. 27As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Say to the young man that he should pass on before us”—and he passed on—“but you stand here now, so that I may make you hear the word of God.”