1Now there was a manof Benjaminwhose namewas Kishthe sonof Abiel,the sonof Zeror,the sonof Becorath,the sonof Aphiah,the sonof a Benjamite,a mightymanof valor.2He hada sonwhose namewas Saul,a choiceand handsome[man], and therewas not a morehandsomepersonthanhe amongthe sonsof Israel;from his shouldersand up he was tallerthananyof the people.
3Now the donkeysof Kish,Saul'sfather,were lost.So Kishsaidto his sonSaul,"Takenowwith you oneof the servants,and arise,gosearchfor the donkeys."4He passedthrough the hillcountryof Ephraimand passedthrough the landof Shalishah,but they did not find[them]. Then they passedthrough the landof Shaalim,but [they were] not [there]. Then he passedthrough the landof the Benjamites,but they did not find[them].
5When they cameto the landof Zuph,Saulsaidto his servantwhowas with him, "Come,and let us return,orelsemy fatherwill cease[to be concerned] aboutthe donkeysand will becomeanxiousfor us."6He saidto him, "Beholdnow,there is a manof Godin thiscity,and the manis heldin honor;allthat he sayssurelycomestrue. Nowlet us gothere,perhapshe can tellus about our journeyon whichwe have setout."7Then Saulsaidto his servant,"But behold,if we go,whatshall we bringthe man?For the breadis gonefrom our sackand thereis nopresentto bringto the manof God.Whatdo we have?"8The servantansweredSaulagainand said,"Behold,I havein my handa fourthof a shekelof silver;I will give[it] to the manof Godand he will tellus our way."9(Formerlyin Israel,when a manwentto inquireof God,he used to say,"Come,and let us goto the seer";for [he who is called] a prophetnowwas formerlycalleda seer.)10Then Saulsaidto his servant,"Wellsaid;come,let us go."So they wentto the citywherethe manof Godwas.
11As they wentup the slopeto the city,they foundyoungwomengoingout to drawwaterand saidto them, "Is the seerhere?"12They answeredthem and said,"He is; see,[he is] aheadof you. Hurrynow,for he has comeinto the citytoday,for the peoplehave a sacrificeon the highplacetoday.13"As soon as you enterthe cityyou will findhim beforehe goesup to the highplaceto eat,for the peoplewill not eatuntilhe comes,becausehe must blessthe sacrifice;afterwardthose who are invitedwill eat.Nowtherefore, goup for you will findhim at once."14So they wentup to the city.As they cameinto the city,behold,Samuelwas comingout towardthem to goup to the highplace.
15Now a daybeforeSaul'scoming,the LORDhad revealed[this] to Samuelsaying,16"About this timetomorrowI will sendyou a manfrom the landof Benjamin,and you shall anointhim to be princeoverMy peopleIsrael;and he will deliverMy peoplefrom the handof the Philistines.For I have regardedMy people,becausetheir cryhas cometo Me."17When SamuelsawSaul,the LORDsaidto him, "Behold,the manof whomI spoketo you! Thisoneshall ruleover My people."18Then SaulapproachedSamuelin the gateand said,"Pleasetellme wherethe seer'shouseis."19SamuelansweredSauland said,"I am the seer.Goup beforeme to the highplace,for you shall eatwith me today;and in the morningI will letyou go,and will tellyou allthat is on your mind.20"As for your donkeyswhich were lostthreedaysago,do not setyour mindon them, for they have been found.And for whomis allthat is desirablein Israel?Is it not for you and for allyour father'shousehold?"21Saulreplied,"Am I not a Benjamite,of the smallestof the tribesof Israel,and my familythe leastof allthe familiesof the tribeof Benjamin?Whythen do you speakto me in thisway?"
22Then SamueltookSauland his servantand broughtthem into the halland gavethem a placeat the headof those who were invited,whowere about thirtymen.23Samuelsaidto the cook,"Bringthe portionthat I gaveyou, concerning whichI saidto you, 'Setit aside.'"24Then the cooktookup the legwith what was on it and set[it] beforeSaul.And [Samuel] said,"Hereis what has been reserved!Set[it] beforeyou [and] eat,becauseit has been keptfor you until the appointedtime,since I saidI have invitedthe people."So Saulatewith Samuelthat day.
25When they camedownfrom the highplaceinto the city,[Samuel] spokewith Saulon the roof.26And they aroseearly;and at daybreakSamuelcalledto Saulon the roof,saying,"Getup, that I may sendyou away."So Saularose,and bothhe and Samuelwentout into the street.27As they were goingdownto the edgeof the city,Samuelsaidto Saul,"Sayto the servantthat he might goaheadof us and passon, but you remain standingnow,that I may proclaimthe wordof Godto you."
