1 Samuel 10
10
Samuel Anoints Saul
1Samuel took a jar of the special oil and poured the oil on Saul’s head. Samuel kissed Saul and said, “The Lord has anointed you to be the leader over the people who belong to him. You will control the people. You will save them from the enemies that are all around them. He has anointed you to be ruler over his people. Here is a sign that will prove this is true:#10:1 You will control … true This is from the ancient Greek version. 2After you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. The two men will say to you, ‘Someone found the donkeys you were looking for. Your father stopped worrying about his donkeys. Now he is worrying about you. He is saying: What will I do about my son?’”
3Samuel said, “Then you will go until you come to the large oak tree at Tabor. Three men will meet you there. They will be on their way to worship God at Bethel. One man will be carrying three young goats. The second man will be carrying three loaves of bread. And the third man will have a leather bag full of wine. 4These three men will say hello to you. They will offer you two bread offerings reserved for priests,#10:4 two bread offerings … priests This is from the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran. The standard Hebrew text has “two of bread.” and you will accept that bread. 5Then you will go to Gibeath Elohim. There is a Philistine fort in that place. When you come to this town, a group of prophets will come out. These prophets will come down from the place for worship.#10:5 place for worship Or “high places,” places for worshiping God or false gods. These places were often on the hills and mountains. They will be prophesying.#10:5 prophesying This usually means “speaking for God.” But here, this also means that the Spirit of God took control of people, causing them to sing and dance. Also in verses 11, 13. They will be playing harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres. 6Then the Lord’s Spirit will come on you with great power. You will be changed. You will be like a different man. You will begin to prophesy with these prophets. 7After that happens, you can do whatever you choose to do, because God will be with you.
8“Go to Gilgal before me. Then I will come there to you. And I will offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. But you must wait seven days. Then I will come and tell you what to do.”
Saul Becomes Like the Prophets
9Just as Saul turned to leave Samuel, God turned Saul’s life around. All these things happened that day. 10When Saul and his servant came to Gibeath Elohim, Saul met a group of prophets. God’s Spirit came on Saul with great power, and Saul prophesied with the prophets. 11Some of the people who had known Saul before saw him prophesying with the prophets. So they asked each other, “What has happened to Kish’s son? Is Saul also one of the prophets?”
12A man living in Gibeath Elohim said, “Yes, and it seems that he is their leader.”#10:12 Yes … leader Literally, “And who is their father?” Often the man who taught and led other prophets was called “father.” That is why this became a famous saying: “Is Saul also one of the prophets?”
Saul Arrives Home
13After Saul finished prophesying, he went to the place of worship.
14Saul’s uncle asked Saul and his servant, “Where have you been?”
Saul said, “We were looking for the donkeys. When we couldn’t find them, we went to see Samuel.”
15Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me, what did Samuel say to you?”
16Saul answered, “Samuel told us the donkeys were already found.” He did not tell his uncle everything. Saul did not tell him what Samuel said about the kingdom.
Samuel Announces Saul as King
17Samuel told all the Israelites to meet together with the Lord at Mizpah. 18Samuel told the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘I led Israel out of Egypt. I saved you from Egypt’s control and from the other kingdoms that tried to hurt you.’ 19But today you have rejected your God. Your God saves you from all your troubles and problems. But you said, ‘No, we want a king to rule us.’ Now come, stand before the Lord in your family groups and tribes.”
20Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near. Then Samuel began to choose the new king. First, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21Samuel told each family in the tribe of Benjamin to pass by. Matri’s family was chosen. Then Samuel told each man in Matri’s family to walk by. Saul son of Kish was chosen.
But when the people looked for Saul, they could not find him. 22Then they asked the Lord, “Has Saul come here yet?”
The Lord said, “Saul is hiding behind the supplies.”
23The people ran and took Saul out from behind the supplies. Saul stood up among the people. He was a head taller than anyone else.
24Samuel said to all the people, “See the man the Lord has chosen. There is no one like Saul among the people.”
Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
25Samuel explained the rules of the kingdom to the people. He wrote the rules in a book and put the book before the Lord. Then Samuel told the people to go home.
26Saul also went to his home in Gibeah. God touched the hearts of brave men who then began to follow Saul. 27But some troublemakers said, “How can this man save us?” They said bad things about Saul and refused to bring gifts to him. But Saul said nothing.
Nahash, King of the Ammonites
King Nahash of the Ammonites had been hurting the tribes of Gad and Reuben. Nahash poked out the right eye of each of the men and did not allow anyone to help them. He poked out the right eye of every Israelite man living in the area east of the Jordan River. But 7000 Israelite men ran away from the Ammonites and came to Jabesh Gilead.#10:27 Nahash … came to Jabesh Gilead This is found in some ancient versions and in a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
1 Kings 10
10
1And Samuel took a little vial of oil; and poured it upon his head; and kissed him; and said: Behold, the Lord hath anointed thee to be prince over his inheritance: and thou shalt deliver his people out of the hands of their enemies, that are round about them. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that God hath anointed thee to be prince.
2When thou shalt depart from me this day, thou shalt find two men by the sepulchre of Rachel in the borders of Benjamin to the south. And they shall say to thee: The asses are found which thou wentest to seek; and thy father thinking no more of the asses is concerned for you, and saith: What shall I do for my son?
3And when thou shalt depart from thence, and go farther on, and shalt come to the oak of Thabor, there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine.
4And they will salute thee, and will give thee two loaves. And thou shalt take them at their hand.
5After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is. And when thou shalt be come there into the city, thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place, with a psaltery and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp before them; and they shall be prophesying.
6And the spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee. And thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be changed into another man.
7When therefore these signs shall happen to thee, do whatsoever thy hand shall find, for the Lord is with thee.
8And thou shalt go down before me to Galgal (for I will come down to thee), that thou mayest offer an oblation, and sacrifice, victims of peace. Seven days shalt thou wait, till I come to thee: and I will shew thee what thou art to do.
9So when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave unto him another heart: and all these things came to pass that day.
10And they came to the foresaid hill, and, behold, a company of prophets met him. And the spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he prophesied in the midst of them.
11And all that had known him yesterday and the day before, seeing that he was with the prophets, and prophesied, said to each other: What is this that hath happened to the son of Cis? Is Saul also among the prophets?
12And one answered another, saying: And who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets?
13And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
14And Saul's uncle said to him, and to his servant: Whither went you? They answered: To seek the asses; and not finding them we went to Samuel.
15And his uncle said to him: Tell me what Samuel said to thee.
16And Saul said to his uncle: He told us that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom of which Samuel had spoken to him, he told him not.
17And Samuel called together the people to the Lord in Maspha.
18And he said to the children of Israel: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all the kings who afflicted you.
19But you this day have rejected your God, who only hath saved you out of all your evils and your tribulations; and you have said: Nay: but set a king over us. Now therefore stand before the Lord by your tribes, and by your families.
20And Samuel brought to him all the tribes of Israel, and the lot fell on the tribe of Benjamin.
21And he brought the tribe of Benjamin and the kindreds thereof, and the lot fell Upon the kindred of Metri: and it came to Saul the son of Cis. They sought him therefore and he was not found.
22And after this they consulted the Lord whether he would come thither. And the Lord answered: Behold, he is hidden at home.
23And they ran and fetched him thence. And he stood in the midst of the people; and he was higher than any of the people from the shoulders and upward.
24And Samuel said to all the people: Surely you see him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people. And all the people cried and said: God save the king.
25And Samuel told the people the law of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord: and Samuel sent away all the people, every one to his own house.
26Saul also departed to his own house in Gabaa: and there went with him a part of the army, whose hearts God had touched.
27But the children of Belial said: Shall this fellow be able to save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he dissembled as though he heard not.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.