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