Now there was a man{H376} of Benjamin{H1144}, whose name{H8034} was Kish{H7027}, the son{H1121} of Abiel{H22}, the son{H1121} of Zeror{H6872}, the son{H1121} of Bechorath{H1064}, the son{H1121} of Aphiah{H647}, a Benjamite{H1145}, a mighty{H1368} man{H376} of power{H2428}.

And he had a son{H1121}, whose name{H8034} was Saul{H7586}, a choice young man{H970}, and a goodly{H2896}: and there was not among the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} a goodlier{H2896} person{H376} than he: from his shoulders{H7926} and upward{H4605} he was higher{H1364} than any of the people{H5971}.

And the asses{H860} of Kish{H7027} Saul's{H7586} father{H1} were lost{H6}{(H8799)}. And Kish{H7027} said{H559}{(H8799)} to Saul{H7586} his son{H1121}, Take{H3947}{(H8798)} now one{H259} of the servants{H5288} with thee, and arise{H6965}{(H8798)}, go{H3212}{(H8798)} seek{H1245}{(H8761)} the asses{H860}.

And he passed through{H5674}{(H8799)} mount{H2022} Ephraim{H669}, and passed through{H5674}{(H8799)} the land{H776} of Shalisha{H8031}, but they found{H4672}{(H8804)} them not: then they passed through{H5674}{(H8799)} the land{H776} of Shalim{H8171}, and there they were not: and he passed through{H5674}{(H8799)} the land{H776} of the Benjamites{H1145}, but they found{H4672}{(H8804)} them not.

And when they were come{H935}{(H8804)} to the land{H776} of Zuph{H6689}, Saul{H7586} said{H559}{(H8804)} to his servant{H5288} that was with him, Come{H3212}{(H8798)}, and let us return{H7725}{(H8799)}; lest my father{H1} leave{H2308}{(H8799)} caring for the asses{H860}, and take thought{H1672}{(H8804)} for us.

And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Behold now, there is in this city{H5892} a man{H376} of God{H430}, and he is an honourable{H3513}{(H8737)} man{H376}; all that he saith{H1696}{(H8762)} cometh{H935}{(H8799)} surely to pass{H935}{(H8800)}: now let us go{H3212}{(H8799)} thither; peradventure he can shew{H5046}{(H8686)} us our way{H1870} that we should go{H1980}{(H8804)}.

Then said{H559}{(H8799)} Saul{H7586} to his servant{H5288}, But, behold, if we go{H3212}{(H8799)}, what shall we bring{H935}{(H8686)} the man{H376}? for the bread{H3899} is spent{H235}{(H8804)} in our vessels{H3627}, and there is not a present{H8670} to bring{H935}{(H8687)} to the man{H376} of God{H430}: what have we?

And the servant{H5288} answered{H6030}{(H8800)} Saul{H7586} again{H3254}{(H8686)}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Behold, I have{H4672}{(H8738)} here at hand{H3027} the fourth part{H7253} of a shekel{H8255} of silver{H3701}: that will I give{H5414}{(H8804)} to the man{H376} of God{H430}, to tell{H5046}{(H8689)} us our way{H1870}.

(Beforetime{H6440} in Israel{H3478}, when a man{H376} went{H3212}{(H8800)} to enquire{H1875}{(H8800)} of God{H430}, thus he spake{H559}{(H8804)}, Come{H3212}{(H8798)}, and let us go{H3212}{(H8799)} to the seer{H7200}{(H8802)}: for he that is now{H3117} called a Prophet{H5030} was beforetime{H6440} called{H7121}{(H8735)} a Seer{H7200}{(H8802)}.)

Then said{H1697} Saul{H7586} to his servant{H5288}, Well{H2896} said{H559}{(H8799)}; come{H3212}{(H8798)}, let us go{H3212}{(H8799)}. So they went{H3212}{(H8799)} unto the city{H5892} where the man{H376} of God{H430} was.

And as they went up{H5927}{(H8802)} the hill{H4608} to the city{H5892}, they found{H4672}{(H8804)} young maidens{H5291} going out{H3318}{(H8802)} to draw{H7579}{(H8800)} water{H4325}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Is{H3426} the seer{H7200}{(H8802)} here?

And they answered{H6030}{(H8799)} them, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, He is{H3426}; behold, he is before{H6440} you: make haste{H4116}{(H8761)} now, for he came{H935}{(H8804)} to day{H3117} to the city{H5892}; for there is a sacrifice{H2077} of the people{H5971} to day{H3117} in the high place{H1116}:

As soon as ye be come{H935}{(H8800)} into the city{H5892}, ye shall straightway{H3651} find{H4672}{(H8799)} him, before he go up{H5927}{(H8799)} to the high place{H1116} to eat{H398}{(H8800)}: for the people{H5971} will not eat{H398}{(H8799)} until he come{H935}{(H8800)}, because he doth bless{H1288}{(H8762)} the sacrifice{H2077}; and afterwards{H310}{H3651} they eat{H398}{(H8799)} that be bidden{H7121}{(H8803)}. Now therefore get you up{H5927}{(H8798)}; for about this time{H3117} ye shall find{H4672}{(H8799)} him.

And they went up{H5927}{(H8799)} into{H8432} the city{H5892}: and when they were come{H935}{(H8802)} into the city{H5892}, behold, Samuel{H8050} came out{H3318}{(H8802)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} them, for to go up{H5927}{(H8800)} to the high place{H1116}.

Now the LORD{H3068} had told{H1540}{(H8804)} Samuel{H8050} in his ear{H241} a{H259} day{H3117} before{H6440} Saul{H7586} came{H935}{(H8800)}, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

To morrow{H4279} about this time{H6256} I will send{H7971}{(H8799)} thee a man{H376} out of the land{H776} of Benjamin{H1144}, and thou shalt anoint{H4886}{(H8804)} him to be captain{H5057} over my people{H5971} Israel{H3478}, that he may save{H3467}{(H8689)} my people{H5971} out of the hand{H3027} of the Philistines{H6430}: for I have looked{H7200}{(H8804)} upon my people{H5971}, because their cry{H6818} is come{H935}{(H8804)} unto me.

And when Samuel{H8050} saw{H7200}{(H8804)} Saul{H7586}, the LORD{H3068} said{H6030}{(H8804)} unto him, Behold the man{H376} whom I spake{H559}{(H8804)} to thee of! this same shall reign{H6113}{(H8799)} over my people{H5971}.

Then Saul{H7586} drew near{H5066}{(H8799)} to Samuel{H8050} in{H8432} the gate{H8179}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Tell{H5046}{(H8685)} me, I pray thee, where{H335} the seer's{H7200}{(H8802)} house{H1004} is.

And Samuel{H8050} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} Saul{H7586}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, I am the seer{H7200}{(H8802)}: go up{H5927}{(H8798)} before{H6440} me unto the high place{H1116}; for ye shall eat{H398}{(H8804)} with me to day{H3117}, and to morrow{H1242} I will let thee go{H7971}{(H8765)}, and will tell{H5046}{(H8686)} thee all that is in thine heart{H3824}.

And as for thine asses{H860} that were lost{H6}{(H8802)} three{H7969} days{H3117} ago{H3117}, set{H7760}{(H8799)} not thy mind{H3820} on them; for they are found{H4672}{(H8738)}. And on whom is all the desire{H2532} of Israel{H3478}? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's{H1} house{H1004}?

And Saul{H7586} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Am not I a Benjamite{H1145}, of the smallest{H6996} of the tribes{H7626} of Israel{H3478}? and my family{H4940} the least{H6810} of all the families{H4940} of the tribe{H7626} of Benjamin{H1144}? wherefore then speakest{H1696}{(H8765)} thou so{H1697} to me?

And Samuel{H8050} took{H3947}{(H8799)} Saul{H7586} and his servant{H5288}, and brought{H935}{(H8686)} them into the parlour{H3957}, and made them sit{H5414}{(H8799)} in the chiefest{H7218} place{H4725} among them that were bidden{H7121}{(H8803)}, which were about thirty{H7970} persons{H376}.

And Samuel{H8050} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the cook{H2876}, Bring{H5414}{(H8798)} the portion{H4490} which I gave{H5414}{(H8804)} thee, of which I said{H559}{(H8804)} unto thee, Set{H7760}{(H8798)} it by thee.

And the cook{H2876} took up{H7311}{(H8686)} the shoulder{H7785}, and that which was upon it, and set{H7760}{(H8799)} it before{H6440} Saul{H7586}. And Samuel said{H559}{(H8799)}, Behold that which is left{H7604}{(H8737)}! set{H7760}{(H8798)} it before{H6440} thee, and eat{H398}{(H8798)}: for unto this time{H4150} hath it been kept{H8104}{(H8803)} for thee since I said{H559}{(H8800)}, I have invited{H7121}{(H8804)} the people{H5971}. So Saul{H7586} did eat{H398}{(H8799)} with Samuel{H8050} that day{H3117}.

And when they were come down{H3381}{(H8799)} from the high place{H1116} into the city{H5892}, Samuel communed{H1696}{(H8762)} with Saul{H7586} upon the top of the house{H1406}.

And they arose early{H7925}{(H8686)}: and it came to pass about the spring{H5927}{(H8800)} of the day{H7837}, that Samuel{H8050} called{H7121}{(H8799)} Saul{H7586} to the top of the house{H1406}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Up{H6965}{(H8798)}, that I may send thee away{H7971}{(H8762)}. And Saul{H7586} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and they went out{H3318}{(H8799)} both{H8147} of them, he and Samuel{H8050}, abroad{H2351}.

And as they were going down{H3381}{(H8802)} to the end{H7097} of the city{H5892}, Samuel{H8050} said{H559}{(H8804)} to Saul{H7586}, Bid{H559}{(H8798)} the servant{H5288} pass on{H5674}{(H8799)} before{H6440} us,(and he passed on{H5674}{(H8798)},) but stand{H5975}{(H8798)} thou still a while{H3117}, that I may shew{H8085}{(H8686)} thee the word{H1697} of God{H430}.