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.