1 Samuel 9

1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2And he had a son, whose name Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward higher than any of the people. 3And the asses 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 seek the asses. 4And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found not. 5when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave for the asses, and take thought for us. 6And he said unto him, Behold now, in this city a man of Elohim, and an honourable man; all that he says cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go. 7Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and not a present to bring to the man of Elohim: what have we? 8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: will I give to the man of Elohim, to tell us our way. 9(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of Elohim, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for now a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) 10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of Elohim . 11as 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? 12And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: 13As 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 does bless the sacrifice; afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him. 14And they went up into the city: when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place. 15Now the Yahuah had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16To morrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him 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. 17And when Samuel saw Saul, the Yahuah said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to you of! this same shall reign over my people. 18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray you, where the seer's house . 19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that in your heart. 20And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, set not your mind on them; for they are found. And on whom all the desire of Israel? not on you, and on all your father's house? 21And Saul answered and said, 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? therefore then speakest you so to me? 22And 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 about thirty persons. 23And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said unto you, Set it by you. 24And the cook took up the shoulder, and which upon it, and set before Saul. And said, Behold that which is left! set before you, eat: for unto this time has it been kept for you since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. 25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 26And 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 you away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 27as 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 you still a while, that I may shew you the word of Elohim.