1 Samuel 9 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Saul to Be Anointed Over Israel

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^H1121 of a Benjamite^H376^H3228, a mighty^H1368 man^H1368 of [fn]valor^H2428.

1Sa 9:2

1Sa 9:2Now he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

1Sa 9:3

Now the donkeys^H860 of Kish^H7027, Saul’s^H7586 father^H1, were lost^H6. So Kish^H7027 said^H559 to his son^H1121 Saul^H7586, “Take^H3947 now^H4994 with you one^H259 of the young^H5288 men^H5288, and arise^H6965, go^H1980 search^H1245 for the donkeys^H860.”

1Sa 9:4

1Sa 9:4Thus he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then 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.

1Sa 9:5

They came^H935 to the land^H776 of Zuph^H6689. And Saul^H7586 said^H559 to his young^H5288 man^H5288 who^H834 was with him, “Come^H1980, and let us return^H7725, lest^H6435 my father^H1 cease^H2308 to be concerned about^H4480 the donkeys^H860 and become^H1672 anxious^H1672 for us.”

1Sa 9:6

1Sa 9:6But he said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have gone.”

1Sa 9:7

1Sa 9:7Then Saul said to his young man, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

1Sa 9:8

1Sa 9:8And the young man answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a [fn]shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”

1Sa 9:9

1Sa 9:9(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called a seer.)

1Sa 9:10

1Sa 9:10Then Saul said to his young man, “Your word is good; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

1Sa 9:11

As they were^H5927 going^H5927 up^H5927 the slope^H4608 to the city^H5892, they found^H4672 young^H5291 women^H5291 going^H3318 out^H3318 to draw^H7579 water^H4325 and said^H559 to them, “Is the seer^H7203 here^H2088?”

1Sa 9:12

1Sa 9:12And they answered them and said, “He is! Behold, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.

1Sa 9:13

1Sa 9:13“As soon as you enter 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; afterward those who are invited will eat. So now, go up for you will find him at once.”

1Sa 9:14

1Sa 9:14So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out to meet them to go up to the high place.

1Sa 9:15

Now a day^H3117 before^H6440 Saul’s^H7586 coming^H935, Yahweh^H3068 had revealed^H1540 this in Samuel’s^H8050 hearing^H241, saying^H559,

1Sa 9:16

1Sa 9:16“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be ruler over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people because their cry has come to Me.”

1Sa 9:17

1Sa 9:17Now Samuel saw Saul, and Yahweh answered him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall restrict My people.”

1Sa 9:18

1Sa 9:18Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

1Sa 9:19

1Sa 9:19And Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your heart.

1Sa 9:20

1Sa 9:20“As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your heart on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?”

1Sa 9:21

1Sa 9:21And Saul answered and said, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the [fn]tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?”

1Sa 9:22

Then Samuel^H8050 took^H3947 Saul^H7586 and his young^H5288 man^H5288 and brought^H935 them into the chamber^H3957 and gave^H5414 them a place^H4725 at the head^H7218 of those who were invited^H7121, who^H1992 were about thirty^H7970 men^H376.

1Sa 9:23

1Sa 9:23And Samuel said to the cook, “[fn]Bring the portion that I gave you, concerning which I said to you, ‘Set it [fn]aside.’”

1Sa 9:24

1Sa 9:24Then the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, [fn]since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

1Sa 9:25

Then they came^H3381 down^H3381 from the high^H1116 place^H1116 into the city^H5892, and Samuel spoke^H1696 with Saul^H7586 on the [fn]roof^H1406.

1Sa 9:26

1Sa 9:26And they arose early; and at the [fn]breaking of dawn 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 out into the street.

1Sa 9:27

1Sa 9:27As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Say to the young man that he might pass before us and pass onwards, but you remain standing now, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.”