Saul Chosen as King
1Now there was a manof Benjamin,whose name[was] Kish,the sonof Abiel,the sonof Zeror,the sonof Bechorath,the sonof Aphiah,a Benjamite,a mightymanof power.2And he had a son,whose name[was] Saul,a choice young man,and a goodly:and [there was] not among the childrenof Israela goodlierpersonthan he: from his shouldersand upward[he was] higherthan any of the people.
3And the assesof KishSaul'sfatherwere lost.And Kishsaidto Saulhis son,Takenow oneof the servantswith thee, and arise,goseekthe asses.4And he passed throughmountEphraim,and passed throughthe landof Shalisha,but they found[them] not: then they passed throughthe landof Shalim,and [there they were] not: and he passed throughthe landof the Benjamites,but they found[them] not.
5[And] when they were cometo the landof Zuph,Saulsaidto his servantthat [was] with him, Come,and let us return;lest my fatherleave[caring] for the asses,and take thoughtfor us.6And he saidunto him, Behold now, [there is] in this citya manof God,and [he is] an honourableman;all that he saithcomethsurely to pass:now let us gothither; peradventure he can shewus our waythat we should go.7Then saidSaulto his servant,But, behold, [if] we go,what shall we bringthe man?for the breadis spentin our vessels,and [there is] not a presentto bringto the manof God:what have we?8And the servantansweredSaulagain,and said,Behold, I havehere at handthe fourth partof a shekelof silver:[that] will I giveto the manof God,to tellus our way.9(Beforetimein Israel,when a manwentto enquireof God,thus he spake,Come,and let us goto the seer:for [he that is] now[called] a Prophetwas beforetimecalleda Seer.)10Then saidSaulto his servant,Wellsaid;come,let us go.So they wentunto the citywhere the manof God[was].
11[And] as they went upthe hillto the city,they foundyoung maidensgoing outto drawwater,and saidunto them, Isthe seerhere?12And they answeredthem, and said,He is;behold, [he is] beforeyou: make hastenow, for he cameto dayto the city;for [there is] a sacrificeof the peopleto dayin the high place:13As soon as ye be comeinto the city,ye shall straightwayfindhim, before he go upto the high placeto eat:for the peoplewill not eatuntil he come,because he doth blessthe sacrifice;[and] afterwardsthey eatthat be bidden.Now therefore get you up;for about this timeye shall findhim.14And they went upintothe city:[and] when they were comeinto the city,behold, Samuelcame outagainstthem, for to go upto the high place.
15Now the LORDhad toldSamuelin his earadaybeforeSaulcame,saying,16To morrowabout this timeI will sendthee a manout of the landof Benjamin,and thou shalt anointhim [to be] captainover my peopleIsrael,that he may savemy peopleout of the handof the Philistines:for I have lookedupon my people,because their cryis comeunto me.17And when SamuelsawSaul,the LORDsaidunto him, Behold the manwhom I spaketo thee of! this same shall reignover my people.18Then Sauldrew nearto Samuelinthe gate,and said,Tellme, I pray thee, wherethe seer'shouse[is].19And SamuelansweredSaul,and said,I [am] the seer:go upbeforeme unto the high place;for ye shall eatwith me to day,and to morrowI will let thee go,and will tellthee all that [is] in thine heart.20And as for thine assesthat were lostthreedaysago,setnot thy mindon them; for they are found.And on whom [is] all the desireof Israel?[Is it] not on thee, and on all thy father'shouse?21And Saulansweredand said,[Am] not I a Benjamite,of the smallestof the tribesof Israel?and my familythe leastof all the familiesof the tribeof Benjamin?wherefore then speakestthou soto me?
22And SamueltookSauland his servant,and broughtthem into the parlour,and made them sitin the chiefestplaceamong them that were bidden,which [were] about thirtypersons.23And Samuelsaidunto the cook,Bringthe portionwhich I gavethee, of which I saidunto thee, Setit by thee.24And the cooktook upthe shoulder,and [that] which [was] upon it, and set[it] beforeSaul.And [Samuel] said,Behold that which is left!set[it] beforethee, [and] eat:for unto this timehath it been keptfor thee since I said,I have invitedthe people.So Sauldid eatwith Samuelthat day.
25And when they were come downfrom the high placeinto the city,[Samuel] communedwith Saulupon the top of the house.26And they arose early:and it came to pass about the springof the day,that SamuelcalledSaulto the top of the house,saying,Up,that I may send thee away.And Saularose,and they went outbothof them, he and Samuel,abroad.27[And] as they were going downto the endof the city,Samuelsaidto Saul,Bidthe servantpass onbeforeus, (and he passed on,) but standthou still a while,that I may shewthee the wordof God.
