1 Samuel 9:1-21

1 Samuel 9:1-21

[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 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,  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  but they found  [5] And when they were come  to the land  of Zuph,  Saul  said  to his servant  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  thither; peradventure he can shew  us our way  that we should go.  [7] Then said  Saul  to his servant,  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:  [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  to enquire  of God,  thus he spake,  for he that is now  called a Prophet  was beforetime  called  [10] Then said  Saul  to his servant,  Well  said;  unto the city  where the man  of God  [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  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  [14] And they went up  into  the city:  and when they were come  into the city,  behold, Samuel  came out  them, for to go up  to the high place.  [15] Now the LORD  had told  Samuel  in his ear  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  [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  house  is. [19] And Samuel  answered  Saul,  and said,  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  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?