1 NOW there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders 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.
4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, 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 Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith 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 shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand 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 inquire 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 Seer.)
10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; 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 city, 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 sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
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 bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time 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 Lord had told Samuel in his ear 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 shalt 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 upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over 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 seer: 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 tell thee all that is in thine heart.
20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom 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 Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! 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 when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, 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 servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

1Now there was a man of Beniamin, whose name was Kish, the sonne of Abiel, the sonne of Zeror, the sonne of Bechorath, the sonne of Aphiah, a Beniamite, a mighty man of power.

2And he had a sonne, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person then hee: from his shoulders and vpward, hee was higher then any of the people.

3And the asses of Kish, Sauls father, were lost; and Kish said to Saul his sonne, Take nowe one of the seruants with thee, and arise, goe seeke the asses.

4And he passed thorow mount Ephraim, and passed thorow the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed thorow the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and hee passed thorow the land of the Beniamites, but they found them not.

5And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his seruant that was with him, Come, and let vs returne, lest my father leaue caring for the asses, and take thought for vs.

6And hee said vnto him, Behold now, there is in this citie a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith, commeth surely to passe: Now let vs goe thither; peraduenture he can shew vs our way that we should goe.

7Then said Saul to his seruaunt, But behold, if we goe, what shall wee bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: What haue wee?

8And the seruant answered Saul againe, and said, Behold, I haue here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of siluer; that wil I giue to the man of God, to tell vs our way.

9(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake; Come, and let vs go to the Seer: for he that is now called a Prophet, was beforetime called a Seer.)

10Then said Saul to his seruant, Wel said, come, let vs go: so they went vnto the city where the man of God was.

11 And as they went vp the hill to the city, they found yong maydens going out to draw water, and said vnto them, Is the Seer here?

12And they answered them, and said, He is: behold, he is before you, make haste now: for he came to day to the citie; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the hie place.

13Assoone as ye be come into the citie, ye shall straightway finde him, before he goe vp to the high place to eate: for the people will not eate vntill hee come, because he doth blesse the sacrifice, and afterwards they eat that be bidden: Now therefore get you vp, for about this time ye shall finde him.

14And they went vp into the citie: and when they were come into the citie, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to goe vp to the hie place.

15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his eare a day before Saul came, saying,

16To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Beniamin, and thou shalt anoynt him to be Captaine ouer my people Israel, that he may saue my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I haue looked vpon my people, because their cry is come vnto me.

17And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said vnto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of: this same shall reigne ouer my people.

18Then Saul drew neere to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the Seers house is.

19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the Seer: Goe vp before me vnto the high place, for ye shall eate with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee goe, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.

20And as for thine asses that were lost three dayes agoe, set not thy minde on them, for they are found: And on whom is all the desire of Israel? is it not on thee, & on all thy fathers house?

21And Saul answered, and said, Am not I a Beniamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Beniamin? Wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

22And Samuel tooke Saul, and his seruant, and brought them into the parlour, & made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirtie persons.

23And Samuel said vnto the cooke, Bring the portion which I gaue thee, of which I said vnto thee, Set it by thee.

24And the cooke took vp the shoulder, and that which was vpon it, and set it before Saul, and Samuel said, Behold, that which is left, set it before thee, and eate: for vnto this time hath it bene kept for thee, since I said I haue inuited the people: So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

25 And when they were come downe from the high place into the citie, Samuel communed with Saul vpon the top of the house.

26And they arose early: and it came to passe about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away: And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, hee and Samuel, abroad.

27And as they were going downe to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the seruant passe on before vs, (and he passed on) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

I == 1st Sam 14:15 ; 1st Chr 8:33 ; 9:39

 

II == 1st Sam 10:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV == 2nd Kings 4:42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Deut 33:1 ; 1st Sam 3:19 ; 1st Kings 13:1

 

 

 

VII == Judg 6:18 ; 13:17 ; 1st Kings 14:3 ; 2nd Kings 4:42 ; 8:8

 

 

 

 

IX == Gen 25:22 ; 2nd Sam 24:11 ; 2nd Kings 17:13; 1st Chr26:28 ; 29:29 ; 2nd Chr 16:7 , 10 ; Isa 30:10 ; Amos 7:12

 

XI == Gen 24:11

 

 

XII == Gen 31:54 ; 1st Sam 16:2 ; 1st Kings 3:2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XV == 1st Sam 15:1 ; 20:2 ; Acts 13:21

XVI == Ex 2:25 ; 3:7 , 9 ; 1st Sam 10:1

 

 

 

XVII == 1st Sam 16:12 ; Hos 13:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

XX == 1st Sam 8:5 , 19 ; 9:3 ; 12:13

 

 

XXI == Judg 6:15 ; 20:46-48 ; 1st Sam 15:17 ; Ps 68:27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIV == Lev 7:32-33 ; Ezek 24:4

 

 

 

XXV == Deut 22:8 ; 2nd Sam 11:2 ; Acts 10:9

 

1 There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite.

2 He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other Israelite handsomer than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.

3 Now the asses of Saul's father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses."

4 Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals.

5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, "Come, let us turn back, lest my father forget about the asses and become anxious about us."

6 The servant replied, "Listen! There is a man of God in this city, a man held in high esteem; all that he says is sure to come true. Let us go there now! Perhaps he can tell us how to accomplish our errand."

7 But Saul said to his servant, "If we go, what can we offer the man? There is no bread in our bags, and we have no present to give the man of God. What have we?"

8 Again the servant answered Saul, "I have a quarter of a silver shekel. If I give that to the man of God, he will tell us our way."

9 (In former times in Israel, anyone who went to consult God used to say, "Come, let us go to the seer." For he who is now called prophet was formerly called seer.)

10 Saul then said to his servant, "Well said! Come on, let us go!" And they went to the city where the man of God lived.

11 As they were going up the ascent to the city, they met some girls coming out to draw water and inquired of them, "Is the seer in town?"

12 The girls answered, "Yes, there - straight ahead. Hurry now; just today he came to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.

13 When you enter the city, you may reach him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he arrives; only after he blesses the sacrifice will the invited guests eat. Go up immediately, for you should find him right now."

14 So they went up to the city. As they entered it, Samuel was coming toward them on his way to the high place.

15 The day before Saul's arrival, the LORD had given Samuel the revelation:

16 "At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin whom you are to anoint as commander of my people Israel. He shall save my people from the clutches of the Philistines, for I have witnessed their misery and accepted their cry for help."

17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him, "This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people."

18 Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, "Please tell me where the seer lives."

19 Samuel answered Saul: "I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. In the morning, before dismissing you, I will tell you whatever you wish.

20 As for the asses you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. Whom does Israel desire ardently if not you and your father's family?"

21 Saul replied: "Am I not a Benjaminite, of one of the smallest tribes of Israel, and is not my clan the least among the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why say such things to me?"

22 Samuel then took Saul and his servant and brought them to the room, where he placed them at the head of the guests, of whom there were about thirty.

23 He said to the cook, "Bring the portion I gave you and told you to put aside."

24 So the cook took up the leg and what went with it, and placed it before Saul. Samuel said: "This is a reserved portion that has been set before you. Eat, for it was kept for you until your arrival; I explained that I was inviting some guests." Thus Saul dined with Samuel that day.

25 When they came down from the high place into the city, a mattress was spread for Saul on the roof,

26 and he slept there. At daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get up, and I will start you on your journey." Saul rose, and he and Samuel went outside the city together.

27 As they were approaching the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but stay here yourself for the moment, that I may give you a message from God."

v 1,2. Saul, the potential king, was son of a wealthy man of high esteem. Saul was a tall, handsome, desirable young man, standing head and shoulders taller than other men, which would make him well accepted by the people.

 

V  3-10. A series of seeming coincidences, which were really the providence of the Lord, led him to Samuel. After searching a large area for 3 days for his father’s lost donkeys, he suggested to his accompanying servant that they return home because his father would be worried. The servant suggested they stop at the immediate city  and ask the man of God where to find the donkeys. When the servant was told Saul had nothing along to pay for the service, he offered to pay it with a fourth shekel of silver he had, and Saul agreed. A man of God, prophet, was called a seer at that time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 11-14. Providentially, young ladies going to draw water told them not only where to find Samuel, but to hasten and catch him before he went to ask the blessing and eat at the high place (Not to be confused with the idolatrous high places.) where a sacrifice was being held. The young ladies of course had no knowledge that the feast was in Saul’s honor, v 23,24. Upon entering the city, they met Samuel on his way to the high place, that is, the place of worship. Evening feast, stayed night, left morning.

 

v 15-18. Only the day before, the Lord had told Samuel that He was sending him a man out of Benjamin who he should anoint as king. Samuel did not make the choice on the basis of Saul’s stature, but the Lord specifically told him as Saul approached. They met at the city gate and Saul asked where to find the seer.

 

v 19,20. He was surprised, not only to learn that Samuel was the seer, but for the invitation to go ahead to the meal, and that the next day Samuel would answer any of his questions. Samuel proceeded to tell him that the asses which had been lost three days had been found, and that all that was desirable in Israel was for Saul and his father’s house. This was a veiled announcement that Saul would be king.

v 21,22. Saul may not have known Israel had been promised they could have a king, and thought Samuel was jesting, because of Saul’s commanding stature. He humbly protested that he was from the nearly obliterated tribe of Benjamin, but may have been overly modest to say his father’s house was most insignificant. Samuel did not reply, but had Saul and the servant seated in the most prominent place among the 30 guests. (Two high honors worthy of a king, place and portion, v 22 and 24.)

v 23,24. This sacrifice and feast was not  routine, but had been specially planned by Samuel the day before, after the Lord told him He would be bringing the king to be, to him. Samuel had specifically brought a shoulder for the cook to prepare for Saul, and now instructed that it be  brought to him. The cook brought that portion which had been reserved throughout the day for Saul, lifting it high to indicate it was the priest’s honored portion. By Samuel giving Saul his own portion, it showed he was relinquishing  his leadership. Saul ate with Samuel, but was probably still wondering.

v 25-27. The conversation on the roof that evening probably hinged around confirming Saul becoming king and the responsibilities of it. They communed again on the roof in the morning, or some think Saul slept on the flat top roof of the house, then was called by Samuel in the morning. After leaving the city, the servant was sent on ahead so Samuel could privately say and do the things in chapter 10.