1 Samuel 9

Samuel Anoints Saul

1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, # Jdg 21:1; 1Sa 14:51; 1Ch 9:36–39 the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2He had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a better looking man among the Israelites. From his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

3Now the donkeys of Kish, the father of Saul, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go find the donkeys.” 4He passed through the mountains of Ephraim, # Jos 24:33 and passed through the land of Shalisha, # 2Ki 4:42 but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

5When they came to the land of Zuph, # 1Sa 1:1 Saul said to his servant that was with him, “Come, and let us return lest my father stop caring about the donkeys # 1Sa 10:2 and worry about us.”

6He said to him, “Behold, there is in this city a man of God, # Dt 33:1; 1Ki 13:1 and he is highly respected. All that he speaks surely comes about. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”

7Then Saul said to his servant, “But listen, if we go, what will we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our satchels, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. # 1Ki 14:3; 2Ki 8:8 What do we have?”

8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, “Look, I have here in my hand a quarter of a shekel # 9:8 About 1/10 ounce, or 3 grams. of silver. I will give it to the man of God, to tell us our way.” 9(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, “Come, and let us go to the seer.” For he that is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.) # 2Sa 24:11; 2Ki 17:13

10Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11As they went up the hill to the city, they found young women going out to draw water # Ge 24:11; Ex 2:16 and said to them, “Is the seer here?”

12And they answered them and said, “He is. Behold, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for today he came to the city, because there is a sacrifice for the people in the high place # Ge 31:54; 1Sa 10:5 today. 13As soon as you come into the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice. # Jn 6:11 Afterwards those invited will eat. Now therefore, go up, for about this time of the day you will find him there.”

14So they went up into the city. And when they entered, Samuel was coming toward them to go up to the high place.

15Now the Lord had revealed in the ear of Samuel one day before Saul came, # 1Sa 15:1; Ac 13:21 saying, 16“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin. And you will anoint him to be leader over My people Israel, # 1Sa 10:1 that he may save My people out of the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come unto Me.” # Ex 3:7–9

17When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! This one will rule over My people.”

18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, “Tell me, please, where is the seer’s house?”

19Samuel answered Saul, and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you will eat with me today. And tomorrow I will let you go, and will tell you then all that is in your heart. 20As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not worry about them for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? # 1Sa 8:5; 12:13 Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?”

21Saul answered, “Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? # 1Sa 15:17 And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? # Jdg 20:46–48 Why do you speak to me this way?”

22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of those invited, which were about thirty men. 23Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’ ”

24Then the cook took up the thigh # Lev 7:32–33; Eze 24:4 and what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what was set aside. Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until this time, since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25When they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul up on the roof. # Dt 22:8; Ac 10:9 26They arose early, and it was at the rising of the dawn that Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went to the street. 27As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us.” So he passed on. “But you stand still and I will proclaim to you the word of God.”

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1 Samuel 9: MEV

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1 Samuel 9

Saul Meets Samuel

1There was a wealthy and influential man named Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin; he was the son of Abiel and grandson of Zeror, and belonged to the family of Becorath, a part of the clan of Aphiah. 2He had a son named Saul, a handsome man in the prime of life. Saul was a foot taller than anyone else in Israel and more handsome as well.

3Some donkeys belonging to Kish had wandered off, so he said to Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.” 4They went through the hill country of Ephraim and the region of Shalishah, but did not find them; so they went on through the region of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then they went through the territory of Benjamin, but still did not find them. 5When they came into the region of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Let's go back home, or my father might stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”

6The servant answered, “Wait! In this town there is a holy man who is highly respected because everything he says comes true. Let's go to him, and maybe he can tell us where we can find the donkeys.”

7“If we go to him, what can we give him?” Saul asked. “There is no food left in our packs, and we don't have a thing to give him, do we?”

8The servant answered, “I have a small silver coin. I can give him that, and then he will tell us where we can find them.”

9-11Saul replied, “A good idea! Let's go.” So they went to the town where the holy man lived. As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women who were coming out to draw water. They asked these women, “Is the seer in town?”

(At that time a prophet was called a seer, and so whenever someone wanted to ask God a question, he would say, “Let's go to the seer.”)

12-13“Yes, he is,” the young women answered. “In fact, he is just ahead of you. If you hurry, you will catch up with him. As soon as you go into town, you will find him. He arrived in town today because the people are going to offer a sacrifice on the altar on the hill. The people who are invited won't start eating until he gets there, because he has to bless the sacrifice first. If you go now, you will find him before he goes up the hill to eat.” 14So Saul and his servant went on to the town, and as they were going in, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way to the place of worship.

15Now on the previous day the Lord had told Samuel, 16“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the tribe of Benjamin; anoint him as ruler of my people Israel, and he will rescue them from the Philistines. I have seen the suffering of my people and have heard their cries for help.”

17When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I told you about. He will rule my people.” 18Then Saul went over to Samuel, who was near the gate, and asked, “Tell me, where does the seer live?”

19Samuel answered, “I am the seer. Go on ahead of me to the place of worship. Both of you are to eat with me today. Tomorrow morning I will answer all your questions and send you on your way. 20As for the donkeys that were lost three days ago, don't worry about them; they have already been found. But who is it that the people of Israel want so much?#9.20: who is it … much?; or who is to have the most desirable thing in Israel? It is you—you and your father's family.”

21Saul answered, “I belong to the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important one in the tribe. Why, then, do you talk like this to me?”

22Then Samuel led Saul and his servant into the large room and gave them a place at the head of the table where the guests, about thirty in all, were seated. 23Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, which I told you to set aside.” 24So the cook brought the choice piece of the leg and placed it before Saul. Samuel#9.24: Some ancient translations Samuel; Hebrew He (that is, the cook). said, “Look, here is the piece that was kept for you. Eat it. I saved it for you to eat at this time with the people I invited.”#9.24: Probable text I saved it … invited; Hebrew unclear.

So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25When they went down from the place of worship to the town, they fixed up a bed for Saul#9.25: One ancient translation they fixed up a bed for Saul; Hebrew he spoke with Saul. on the roof,#9.25: on the roof: At that time houses had flat roofs, and it was common for people to sleep on them. 26and he slept there.#9.26: Some ancient translations and he slept there; Hebrew and they got up early.

Samuel Anoints Saul as Ruler

At dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, and I will send you on your way.” Saul got up, and he and Samuel went out to the street together. 27When they arrived at the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” The servant left, and Samuel continued, “Stay here a minute, and I will tell you what God has said.”

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