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 Becorath,{H1064} the son{H1121} of Aphiah,{H647} the son of a Benjamite,{H1145} a mighty{H1368} man{H376} of valor.{H2428}

And he had a son,{H1121} whose name{H8034} was Saul,{H7586} a 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} And Kish{H7027} said{H559} to Saul{H7586} his son,{H1121} Take{H3947} now one{H259} of the servants{H5288} with thee, and arise,{H6965} go{H3212} seek{H1245} the asses.{H860}

And he passed through{H5674} the hill-country{H2022} of Ephraim,{H669} and passed through{H5674} the land{H776} of Shalishah,{H8031} but they found{H4672} them not: then they passed through{H5674} the land{H776} of Shaalim,{H8171} and there they were not: and he passed through{H5674} the land{H776} of the Benjamites,{H1145} but they found{H4672} them not.

When they were come{H935} to the land{H776} of Zuph,{H6689} Saul{H7586} said{H559} to his servant{H5288} that was with him, Come,{H3212} and let us return,{H7725} lest my father{H1} leave{H2308} off caring for the asses,{H860} and be anxious{H1672} for us.

And he said{H559} unto him, Behold now, there is in this city{H5892} a man{H376} of God,{H430} and he is a man{H376} that is held in honor;{H3513} all that he saith{H1696} cometh{H935} surely to pass:{H935} now let us go{H3212} thither; peradventure he can tell{H5046} us concerning our journey{H1870} whereon we go.{H1980}

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

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

(Beforetime{H6440} in Israel,{H3478} when a man{H376} went{H3212} to inquire{H1875} of God,{H430} thus he said,{H559} Come,{H3212} and let us go{H3212} to the seer;{H7200} for he that is now{H3117} called a Prophet{H5030} was beforetime{H6440} called{H7121} a Seer.){H7200}

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

As they went up{H5927} the ascent{H5927} to the city,{H5892} they found{H4672} young maidens{H5291} going out{H3318} to draw{H7579} water,{H4325} and said{H559} unto them, Is{H3426} the seer{H7200} here?

And they answered{H6030} them, and said,{H559} He is;{H3426} behold, [he is] before{H6440} thee: make haste{H4116} now, for he is come{H935} to-day{H3117} into the city;{H5892} for the people{H5971} have a sacrifice{H2077} to-day{H3117} in the high place:{H1116}

as soon as ye are come{H935} into the city,{H5892} ye shall straightway{H3651} find{H4672} him, before he goeth up{H5927} to the high place{H1116} to eat;{H398} for the people{H5971} will not eat{H398} until he come,{H935} because he doth bless{H1288} the sacrifice;{H2077} [and] afterwards{H310} they eat{H398} that are bidden.{H7121} Now therefore get you up;{H5927} for at this time{H3117} ye shall find{H4672} him.

And they went up{H5927} to{H7125} the city;{H5892} [and] as they came{H935} within the city,{H5892} behold, Samuel{H8050} came out{H3318} toward{H7125} them, to go up{H5927} to the high place.{H1116}

Now Jehovah{H3068} had revealed{H1540} unto{H241} Samuel{H8050} a{H259} day{H3117} before{H6440} Saul{H7586} came,{H935} saying,{H559}

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

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

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

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

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

And Saul{H7586} answered{H6030} and said,{H559} 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} thou to me after{H1697} this manner?

And Samuel{H8050} took{H3947} Saul{H7586} and his servant,{H5288} and brought{H935} them into the guest-chamber,{H3957} and made them sit{H5414} in the chiefest{H7218} place{H4725} among them that were bidden,{H7121} who were about thirty{H7970} persons.{H376}

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

And the cook{H2876} took up{H7311} the thigh,{H7785} and that which was upon it, and set{H7760} it before{H6440} Saul.{H7586} And [Samuel] said,{H559} Behold, that which hath been reserved!{H7604} set{H7760} it before{H6440} thee and eat;{H398} because unto the appointed time{H4150} hath it been kept{H8104} for thee, for I said,{H559} I have invited{H7121} the people.{H5971} So Saul{H7586} did eat{H398} with Samuel{H8050} that day.{H3117}

And when they were come down{H3381} from the high place{H1116} into the city,{H5892} he communed{H1696} with Saul{H7586} upon the housetop.{H1406}

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

As they were going down{H3381} at the end{H7097} of the city,{H5892} Samuel{H8050} said{H559} to Saul,{H7586} Bid{H559} the servant{H5288} pass on{H5674} before{H6440} us (and he passed on),{H5674} but stand{H5975} thou still first,{H3117} that I may cause thee to hear{H8085} the word{H1697} of God.{H430}