1 Samuel 9
1 Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
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, a Benjaminite, a mighty man of valor.
2 And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.
He had a son, whose name was Saul, a handsome young man; and there was no one among the children of Israel more handsome than he was. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.
3 One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.”
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys." So Saul got up and took one of the servants of his father with him and went to look for the donkeys of his father Kish.
4 So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.
He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they weren't there. Then he passed through the land of the Jaminites, but they did not find them.
5 When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”
When they had come to Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, and let us return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys, and be anxious for us."
6 “Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”
He said to him, "See now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely comes to pass. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us concerning our journey on which we have set out."
7 “If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
Then Saul said to his servant, "But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone in our vessels, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"
8 The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”
The servant answered Saul again, and said, "Look, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. You shall give that to the man of God, to tell us about our journey."
9 (Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
(In earlier times in Israel, whenever someone went to inquire of God, he would say, "Come, and let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)
10 “Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was.
Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said. Come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?”
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 “Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.
And they answered them, and said, "He is. Look, he is ahead of you. Just now he has come to the city since the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.
13 As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”
As soon as you have come into the city, you shall immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice, and afterwards those who are invited may eat. Now therefore go up for you shall find him right now."
14 So Saul and his servant went up toward the city, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.
They went up to the city. As they came within the city, look, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.
15 Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel,
Now YHWH had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
16 “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him leader over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
"Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the suffering of my people, because their cry has come to me."
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.”
When Samuel saw Saul, YHWH said to him, "Look, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall have authority over my people."
18 Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the city, and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?"
19 “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And when I send you off in the morning, I will tell you all that is in your heart.
And Samuel answered Saul, and said, "I am he. Go up before me to the high place, for you will 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 the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?”
As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them; for they have been found. And for whom does all Israel desire? Is it not for you, and for the house of your father?"
21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?”
Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?"
22 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited—about thirty in all.
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 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.”
And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I told you to set aside."
24 So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul dined with Samuel that day.
The cook picked up the leg, and that which was attached to it, and set it before Saul. And he said, "Look, here is what has been kept for you. Set it before you and eat, because it was kept especially for you until the right time; because I said, 'I have invited the people.'" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 And after they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house.
When they had come down from the high place into the city, they prepared a bed for Saul on the roof,
26 They got up early in the morning, and just before dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way!” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went outside together.
and he slept. And it happened about daybreak that Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, "Get up, that I may send you away." So Saul got up, and he and Samuel went outside.
27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on.
As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us. But you remain here awhile, so that I may make known to you the word of God."
