(KJV) 1 Samuel 9¹

⥃Saul Chosen as King

[1] Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish², the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite³, a mighty man of power⁴. [2] And he had a son, whose name [was] Saul, a choice⁵ young man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders⁶ 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.⁷ [4] And he passed through mount⁸ Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha⁹, but they found [them] not: then they passed through the land of Shalim¹⁰, 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 Zuph¹¹, Saul said to his servant that [was] with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave [caring] for the asses, and take thought¹² for us. [6] And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this city¹³ a man of God, and [he is] an honourable¹⁴ man; all that he saith¹⁵ 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 shall¹⁶ we bring the man? for the bread is spent in¹⁷ our vessels, and [there is] not¹⁸ a present to bring to the man of God: what have we¹⁹? [8] And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand²⁰ 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 enquire²¹ 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 Seer²².) [10] Then said Saul to his servant, Well said²³; 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 city²⁴, 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 sacrifice²⁵ of the people to day in the high place²⁶: [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 bless²⁷ the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time²⁸ 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 Lord²⁹ had told Samuel in his ear³⁰ 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 shalt³¹ 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 upon³² my people, because their cry is come unto me. [17] And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold³³ the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over³⁴ 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 seer³⁵: 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 tell³⁶ thee all that [is] in thine heart. [20] And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago³⁷, set not³⁸ thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom³⁹ [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 Benjamite⁴⁰, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family⁴¹ the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me⁴²? [22] And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest⁴³ place among them that were bidden, which [were] about thirty persons. [23] And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring⁴⁴ the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. [24] And the cook took up the shoulder⁴⁵, and [that] which [was] upon it, and set [it] before Saul. And [Samuel] said, Behold that which is left⁴⁶! 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 when⁴⁷ they were come down from the high place into the city, [Samuel] communed with Saul upon the top⁴⁸ of the house. [26] And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel⁴⁹ called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up⁵⁰, 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 servant⁵¹ pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while⁵², that I may⁵³ shew thee the word of God.