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Na tera tetahi tangata o Pinemine, ko Kihi tona ingoa, he tama na Apiere, tama a Teroro, tama a Pekorata, tama a Apiaha, he Pineamini, he tangata marohirohi.

He tama ano tana, ko tona ingoa ko Haora, he taitama, he ataahua, he pai, kahore he tangata o nga tama a Iharaira i ataahua atu i a ia; purero tonu ona pokohiwi ki runga ake i te iwi katoa.

Na kua ngaro nga kaihe a Kihi papa o Haora, a ka mea a Kihi ki a Haora, ki tana tama, Tangohia tetahi o nga tamariki hei hoa mou, whakatika, haere ki te rapu i nga kaihe.

Na ka tika ia na te whenua pukepuke o Eparaima, a haere tonu na te whenua o Hariha; heoi kihai i kitea: katahi raua ka tika na te whenua o Harimi, heoi kahore noa iho; na ka haere ia na te whenua o nga Pineamini, a kahore i kitea.

A, no to raua taenga ki te whenua o Tupu, ka mea a Haora ki tana tangata, ki tona hoa, Haere mai, taua ka hoki; kei mutu te whakaaro o toku papa ki nga kaihe, a ka manukanuka ke ki a taua.

Na ka mea tera ki a ia, He tangata na te Atua tenei kei te pa nei, he tangata e whakahonoretia ana; mana pu ana kupu katoa: na kia haere taua ki reira; tera pea e korerotia mai e ia ki a taua te haere e haere nei taua.

Ano ra ko Haora ki tana tangata, Engari, ki te haere taua he aha te mea hei mauranga atu ma taua ki taua tangata, kua hemo nei hoki te taro i roto i a taua putea, a kahore he hakari hei kawenga atu ki taua tangata a te Atua: he aha oti ta taua?

Na ka whakahoki taua tangata ki ta Haora, ka mea, Nana, ko te whakawha tenei o te hekere hiriwa kei toku ringa: me hoatu e ahau ki taua tangata a te Atua, kia whakaaturia mai e ia to taua ara ki a taua.

I mua hoki i roto i a Iharaira, ina haere te tangata ki te ui tikanga i te Atua, ko tana ki tenei, Hoake, taua ka haere ki te matakite: he matakite hoki ta mua ingoa mo te poropiti.

10 Na ka mea a Haora ki tana tangata, Ka pai tau kupu; hoatu, taua ka haere. Na haere ana raua ki te pa kei reira nei taua tangata a te Atua.

11 I a raua e piki ana i te pikitanga ki te pa, ka tutaki raua ki etahi kotiro e puta mai ana ki te utu wai. Na ka mea raua ki a ratou, Tenei ranei te matakite?

12 Na ka whakahoki ratou ki a raua, ka mea, Tenei ano; nana, kei mua atu i a koe na: hohoro atu inaianei tonu, no tenei ra hoki ia i tae mai ai ki te pa; he patunga tapu hoki ta te iwi nei aianei i te wahi tiketike.

13 Tomo kau korua ki te pa, ka tupono korua ki a ia i te mea kahore ano i piki noa ki te wahi tiketike ki te kai: e kore hoki te iwi e kai kia tae atu ra ano ia; ko ia hoki hei whakapai i te patunga tapu, muri iho ka kai te hunga i karangatia. Heoi, piki atu; ko te wa hoki tenei e kitea ai ia e korua.

14 Na piki ana raua ki te pa; a ka uru atu raua ki roto ki te pa, ko Hamuera kua puta; tutaki tonu ki a raua; e piki ana ki te wahi tiketike.

15 Na kua whakapuakina e Ihowa ki a Hamuera i te ra i mua atu i te taenga mai o Haora, kua mea,

16 Kia penei apopo ka unga atu e ahau ki a koe tetahi tangata no te whenua o Pineamine, na me whakawahi ia e koe hei rangatira mo taku iwi, mo Iharaira, a mana e whakaora taku iwi i te ringa o nga Pirihitini: kua titiro atu hoki ahau ki taku iwi, n o te mea kua tae ake ta ratou karanga ki ahau.

17 A, no te kitenga o Hamuera i a Haora, ka mea a Ihowa ki a ia, Ko te tangata tenei i korerotia ra e ahau ki a koe. Mana e whakahaere tikanga mo taku iwi.

18 Katahi ka whakatata a Haora ki a Hamuera, ki te kuwaha, ka mea, Tena koe, whakaaturia mai ki ahau, kei hea te whare o te matakite.

19 Na ka whakahoki a Hamuera ki a Haora, ka mea, Ko ahau te matakite: piki atu i mua i ahau ki te wahi tiketike, ka kai tahi hoki korua i ahau aianei; a ka tukua atu koe e ahau i te ata, ka whakaaturia hoki ki a koe nga mea katoa i tou ngakau.

20 A ko au kaihe, ka toru nei nga ra e ngaro ana, kaua tou ngakau e whai ki era; kua kitea hoki. Kei a wai koia te hiahia katoa o Iharaira? he teka ianei kei a koe, kei te whare katoa ano hoki o tou papa?

21 Na ka whakahokia e Haora, ka mea, He teka ianei he Pineamini ahau, no te iti rawa o nga iwi o Iharaira, ko toku hapu hoki te iti rawa o nga hapu katoa o te iwi o Pineamine? he aha ra ena kupu i puaki mai ai i a koe?

22 Na ka mau a Hamuera ki a Haora raua ko tana tangata, a kawea ana ki te whare, a hoatu ana e ia he nohoanga ki a raua i runga ake o te hunga i karangatia; e toru tekau ano hoki ratou.

23 Na ka mea a Hamuera ki te tuari, Homai te wahi i hoatu e ahau ki a koe, tera i kiia atu ra e ahau ki a koe, Kia takoto tena ki a koe.

24 Na hapainga ana e te tuari te huha me ona aha noa, a whakatakotoria ana ki te aroaro o Haora. Na ka mea a Hamuera, Nana, ko te wahi i tohungia na, waiho i tou aroaro hei kai mau: he mea rongoa tonu hoki mau a tae noa ki tenei wa, no taku kianga, He hunga tenei kua karangatia e ahau. Na kai tahi ana a Haora raua ko Hamuera i taua ra.

25 A, i to ratou hekenga iho i te wahi tiketike ki te pa, ka korero ia ki a Haora i runga i te tuanui.

26 Na ka maranga wawe ratou: a i te mea ka puta ake te ra, ka karangatia a Haora e Hamuera ki runga ki te tuanui, i mea ia, Whakatika, kia unga atu koe e ahau. Na ka whakatika a Haora, a puta atu ana raua tokorua, a ia, a Hamuera, ki waho.

27 I a raua e heke ana i te pito o te pa, ka mea a Hamuera ki a Haora, Mea atu ki te tangata ra kia haere atu ki mua i a taua; katahi tera ka haere; ko koe ia, tu marie koe, kia whakapuakina atu e ahau ki a koe te kupu a te Atua.

10  Katahi ka mau a Hamuera ki te pounamu hinu, ringihia ana e ia ki runga ki tona matenga; na ka kihi ia i a ia, ka mea, Ehara ianei i te mea na Ihowa koe i whakawahi hei rangatira mo tona wahi tupu?

Ka mawehe atu koe i ahau aianei, ka tupono koe ki etahi tangata tokorua i te taha o te tanumanga o Rahera, i te rohe o Pineamine, i Tereta; a tera raua e mea ki a koe, Kua kitea nga kaihe i haere na koe ki te rapu: na, ko tou papa, mahue ake nga whakaaro ki nga kaihe, kei te manukanuka hoki tera ki a korua, e mea ana, Me pehea ahau ki taku tama?

Katahi ka haere tonu atu koe i reira, a ka tae ki te oki o Taporo, ka tupono ki a koe etahi tangata tokotoru e haere ana ki runga, ki te Atua, ki Peteere, e toru nga kuao koati e kawea ana e tetahi, e toru nga rohi taro e kawea ana e tetahi, a ko tetahi e mau ana i te pounamu waina.

Na ka oha ratou ki a koe, ka homai ano hoki etahi taro e rua ki a koe, a me tango e koe i o ratou ringa.

Muri iho i tera ka tae ki te puke o te Atua, kei reira nei nga hoia pupuri a nga Pirihitini: a, i tou taenga ki reira, ki te pa, na ka tutaki koe ki te ropu poropiti e haere iho ana i te wahi tiketike, me te hatere, me te timipera, me te putorino, me te hapa hoki ki mua i a ratou; me te poropiti ano hoki ratou;

Na ka puta kaha mai te wairua o Ihowa ki runga ki a koe, a ka poropiti tahi koutou, a koe me ratou, a ka puta tou ahua hei tangata ke.

Me i reira, ki te puta ena tohu ki a koe, meatia e koe te mea e tupono atu ai tou ringa no te mea kei a koe te Atua.

Na, me haere koe i mua i ahau ki Kirikara; na, tena ahau te haere atu na ki raro, ki a koe, ki te whakaeke i nga tahunga tinana, ki te patu i nga patunga mo te pai: kia whitu nga ra e tatari ai koe kia tae atu ahau ki a koe, katahi ka whakaaturia e ahau ki a koe tau e mea ai.

Koia ano, kei te tahuritanga o tona tuara, he mawehe atu i a Hamuera, ka homai e te Atua he ngakau ke mona! a puta katoa ana aua tohu i taua rangi ano.

10 A, no to raua taenga ki reira, ki te puke, na ko tetahi ropu poropiti kua tutaki ki a ia: ko te tino putanga mai o te wairua o te Atua ki runga ki a ia, na poropiti ana ia i roto i a ratou.

11 A, no te kitenga o te hunga katoa i mohio ki a ia i mua ake, na kei roto ia i nga poropiti e poropiti ana; katahi ka mea te iwi tetahi ki tetahi, He aha tenei kua puta nei ki te tama a Kihi? Kei roto ano koia a Haora i nga poropiti?

12 Na ka whakahoki tetahi o taua wahi, ka mea, Ha, ko wai to ratou papa? Koia te whakatauki nei, Kei roto ano koia a Haora i nga poropiti?

13 A, i te mutunga o tana poropiti, ka haere ia ki te wahi tiketike.

14 Na ka mea te matua keke o Haora ki a raua ko tana tangata, I haere korua ki hea? A ka ki atu ia, Ki te rapu i nga kaihe; a, i to maua mohiotanga kahore ano ratou i kitea, haere ana maua ki a Hamuera.

15 Ano ra ko te matua keke o Haora, Tena ra, whakaaturia mai ki ahau, i pehea a Hamuera ki a korua.

16 Na ka mea a Haora ki tona matua keke, I ata whakaaturia mai e ia ki a maua kua kitea nga kaihe. Otiia ko te mea o te kingitanga, ko ta Hamuera i korero ra, kihai tera i whakaaturia ki a ia.

17 Katahi ka karangarangatia te iwi e Hamuera ki a Ihowa ki Mihipa;

18 Na ka mea ia ki nga tama a Iharaira, Ko te kupu tenei a Ihowa, a te Atua o Iharaira, Naku a Iharaira i kawe mai i Ihipa, naku hoki koutou i whakaora i roto i te ringa o nga Ihipiana, i te ringa ano o nga rangatiratanga katoa, i whakatupu kino i a koutou.

19 Na kua whakakahore nei koutou i tenei ra ki to koutou Atua, e whakaora nei i a koutou i roto i o koutou he katoa, i o koutou mate; a kua mea koutou ki a ia, Engari, me whakarite e koe he kingi mo matou: Na reira, me tu koutou inaianei ki te aroa ro o Ihowa, o koutou iwi, o koutou mano.

20 Katahi a Hamuera ka mea i nga iwi katoa o Iharaira kia whakatata mai; na ka tangohia ko te iwi o Pineamine.

21 Na ka mea ia i te iwi o Pineamine kia whakatata mai, tenei hapu, tenei hapu, a ka tangohia ko te hapu o Matari; na ka tangohia ko te hapu o Matari; na ka tangohia ko Haora, ko te tama a Kihi; no ta ratou rapunga ia i a ia, kahore i kitea.

22 Na reira ka ui ano ratou ki a Ihowa, Tena ano ranei he tangata kia tae mai ki konei? A ka whakautua e Ihowa, Na, kei roto ia i nga mea na e piri ana.

23 Na ko to ratou rerenga, ka tikina atu ia i reira; a, no tona tunga i waenganui i te iwi, teitei ake ia i te iwi katoa, i ona pokohiwi ahu ake.

24 Na ka mea a Hamuera ki te iwi katoa, Kia kite koutou i ta Ihowa i whiriwhiri ai; kahore hoki he rite mona o te iwi katoa. Na ka hamama te iwi katoa, ka mea, Kia ora te kingi.

25 Katahi ka korerotia e Hamuera ki te iwi te tikanga o te kingitanga, a tuhituhia ana e ia ki te pukapuka, whakatakotoria ana ki te aroaro o Ihowa. Na ka tonoa e Hamuera te iwi katoa kia haere ki tona whare, ki tona whare.

26 Me Haora ano i haere ia ki tona whare ki Kipea; i haere tahi ano i a ia tetahi ropu tangata i whakapakia nei o ratou ngakau e Ihowa.

27 Tera ano ia etahi tama a Periara, i mea, Me pewhea e ora ai tatou i tenei tangata? Na whakahaweatia ana ia e ratou, kihai ano i kawea he hakari e ratou ki a ia. Otiia whakarongo puku tonu ia.

11  Na ka haere mai a Nahaha Amoni ki te whakapae i Iapehe Kireara. A ka mea nga tangata katoa o Iapehe ki a Nahaha, Whakaritea mai he kawenata ki a matou, a ka mahi matou ki a koe.

Na ka mea a Nahaha Amoni ki a ratou, Ko te mea tenei e whakarite kawenata ai ahau ki a koutou, kia pokaia o koutou kanohi matau katoa; a ka waiho e ahau hei tawai mo Iharaira katoa.

Ano ra ko nga kaumatua o Iapehe ki a ia, Tukua mai koa ki a matou kia whitu nga ra, kia tono tangata ai matou puta noa i nga rohe o Iharaira; a, ki te kahore he kaiwhakaora mo matou, na ka puta atu matou ki a koe.

Katahi ka haere nga karere ki Kipea o Haora, a korerotia ana enei kupu ki nga taringa o te iwi: na nui atu te reo o te iwi katoa ki te tangi.

Na e haere mai ana tera a Haora i te mara, i muri i nga kau; na ka mea a Haora, Na te aha te iwi i tangi ai? Na ka korerotia ki a ia nga korero a nga tangata o Iapehe.

I te rongonga o Haora i enei korero, na ko te tino putanga o te wairua o te Atua ki runga ki a ia, a mura whakarere tona riri ki taua rongo.

Na ka mau ia ki etahi kau e rua, tapatapahia ana e ia; tukua ana ki nga rohe katoa o Iharaira, he mea kawe na nga karere, a ka mea, Ki te kahore tetahi e puta mai ki te aru i a Haora, ki te aru hoki i a Hamuera, ka peneitia ana kau. Na ka tau te wehi o Ihowa ki runga ki te iwi, a ka puta ratou ano he tangata kotahi.

Na ka taua ratou e ia ki Pehek; e toru rau mano nga tama a Iharaira, e toru tekau hoki mano nga tangata o Hura.

Na ka mea ratou ki nga karere i haere mai ra, Kia penei ta koutou ki atu ki nga tangata o Iapehe Kireara, Apopo, kia mahana te ra, ka puta he whakaoranga mo koutou. Na haere ana aua karere, a korerotia ana ki nga tangata o Iapehe; a koa ana ratou.

10 Na reira ka mea nga tangata o Iapehe, Apopo ka puta atu matou ki a koutou, a ma koutou e mea ki a matou nga mea e pai ana ki to koutou whakaaro.

11 Heoi i te aonga ake ka wehea e Haora te iwi kia toru nga ngohi. Na haere ana ratou ki waenganui o te puni i te whakaaraara o te ata, patua iho nga Amoni a mahana noa te ra; a, ko nga toenga, i marara noa atu, a kihai hoki i waiho kia tokorua o r atou e haere tahi ana.

12 Na ka mea te iwi ki a Hamuera, Ko wai tenei i mea nei, Hei kingi koia a Haora mo tatou? Homai aua tangata kia whakamatea e matou.

13 Ano ra ko Haora, E kore tetahi e whakamatea aianei; ko te ra hoki tenei i puta ai ta Ihowa whakaora mo Iharaira.

14 Katahi ka mea a Hamuera ki te iwi, Haere mai, tatou ka haere ki Kirikara, ki reira whakahou ai i te kingitanga.

15 Na haere ana te iwi katoa ki Kirikara, a whakakingitia ana a Haora ki reira ki te aroaro o Ihowa ki Kirikara. Na patua ana e ratou ki reira he patunga mo te pai ki te aroaro o Ihowa; a nui atu te koa o Haora, ratou ko nga tangata katoa o Iharair a i reira.

12  Na ka mea a Hamuera ki a Iharaira katoa, Nana, kua rongo nei ahau ki to koutou reo, ki nga mea katoa i kiia mai ki ahau, kua whakakingi hoki i tetahi kingi mo koutou.

Ina, te kingi na, e haereere na i to koutou aroaro: ko ahau hoki, kua koroheketia ahau, kua hina; a ko aku tama kei a koutou ena: no toku tamarikitanga hoki toku haereere i to koutou aroaro a tae noa mai ki tenei ra.

Tenei ahau: whakaaturia mai toku he i te aroaro o Ihowa, i te aroaro ano hoki o tana tangata i whakawahi ai: i tango ranei ahau i te kau a tetahi? i tango ranei ahau i te kaihe a tetahi? i riro mai ranei i ahau nga taonga o tetahi? i tukinotia ra nei e ahau tetahi? i tango ranei ahau i te utu whakapati a tetahi hei mea kia huna oku kanohi? a ka whakahokia e ahau ki a koutou.

Ano ra ko ratou, Kihai tetahi mea a matou i riro he i a koe, kihai hoki koe i tukino i a matou, kihai ano hoki i tangohia e koe tetahi mea a te tangata.

Na ka mea ia ki a ratou, Ko Ihowa hei kaiwhakaatu mo ta koutou; hei kaiwhakaatu ano hoki inaianei tana tangata i whakawahi ai, kihai i mau i a koutou tetahi mea a toku ringa. A ka mea ratou, Hei kaiwhakaatu ano ia.

Na ka mea a Hamuera ki te iwi, Na Ihowa i whakatu a Mohi raua ko Arona, nana hoki o koutou matua i kawe mai i te whenua o Ihipa.

Na, tu tonu koutou, a ka whakahaerea e ahau ki a koutou ki te aroaro o Ihowa nga mahi tika katoa a Ihowa i mahia e ia ki a koutou, ki o koutou matua hoki.

I te haerenga atu o Hakopa ki Ihipa, a ka tangi o koutou matua ki a Ihowa, na ka tonoa e Ihowa a Mohi raua ko Arona hei whakaputa mai i o koutou matua i Ihipa, hei whakanoho hoki i a ratou ki tenei wahi.

A ka wareware ratou ki a Ihowa, ki to ratou Atua, na hokona ana ratou e ia ki te ringa o Hihera, rangatira o te ope a Hatoro, ki te ringa hoki o nga Pirihitini, ki te ringa hoki o te kingi o Moapa, a whawhai ana ratou ki a ratou.

10 A ka tangi atu ratou ki a Ihowa, ka mea, Kua hara matou, i a matou i whakarere nei i a Ihowa, i mahi ki nga Paara, ki a Ahataroto; otiia whakaorangia matou i te ringa o o matou hoariri, a ka mahi matou ki a koe.

11 Na ka unga mai e Ihowa a Ierupaara, a Perana, a Iepeta, a Hamuera, a whakaorangia ana koutou i roto i nga ringa o o koutou hoariri i tetahi taha, i tetahi taha, a noho wehikore noa iho ana koutou.

12 A, no to koutou kitenga e haere mai ana a Nahaha kingi o nga tama a Amona ki a koutou, ka mea koutou ki ahau, Kahore, engari me whai kingi ano matou; i te mea ko Ihowa, ko to koutou Atua to koutou kingi.

13 Ina ra te kingi i whiriwhiria nei e koutou, i tonoa nei e koutou! Nana, kua hoatu e Ihowa he kingi mo koutou.

14 Ki te wehi koutou i a Ihowa, ki te mahi ki a ia, ki te whakarongo ki tona reo, ki te kore hoki e tutu ki te kupu a Ihowa, katahi koutou ko te kingi e kingi ana i a koutou ka whai tonu i a Ihowa, i to koutou Atua.

15 Engari ki te kore koutou e rongo ki te reo o Ihowa, a ka tutu ano ki te kupu a Ihowa, katahi ka anga mai ki a koutou te ringa o Ihowa, ka rite ki tana ki o koutou matua.

16 Tena, tu tonu koutou, kia kite koutou i tenei mea nui ka meatia nei e Ihowa ki to koutou aroaro.

17 Ehara ianei tenei i te kotinga witi inaianei? Ka karanga ahau ki a Ihowa, a ka homai he whatitiri, he ua, kia mohio ai koutou, kia kite ai, he nui to koutou he i meatia nei e koutou i te aroaro o Ihowa i a koutou i tono kingi nei mo koutou.

18 Na ka karanga a Hamuera ki a Ihowa, a homai ana e Ihowa he whatitiri, he ua, i taua rangi ano. Na nui noa atu te wehi o te iwi katoa ki a Ihowa, ki a Hamuera.

19 Na ka mea te iwi katoa ki a Hamuera, Inoi atu mo au pononga ki a Ihowa, ki tou Atua, kei mate matou; kua tapiritia hoki o matou hara katoa ki tenei kino, ki ta matou tono i te kingi mo matou.

20 Ano ra ko Hamuera ki te iwi, Kaua e wehi: kua oti tenei kino katoa te mea e koutou, kaua ia e peka atu i te whai a Ihowa; engari me whakapau o koutou ngakau ki te mahi ki a Ihowa.

21 Kaua ano hoki e peka atu: ko reira hoki koutou whai ai i nga mea tekateka noa, e kore e mana, e kore ano hoki e whakaora; he mea tekateka noa hoki.

22 E kore hoki a Ihowa e whakarere i tana iwi, ka mahara ia ki tona ingoa nui; kua pai nei hoki a Ihowa ki te mea i a koutou hei iwi mana.

23 Ko ahau hoki! E! kia hara ahau ki a Ihowa! kia mutu taku inoi mo koutou! Tena ko tenei, me whakaako koutou e ahau ki te ara pai, ki te ara tika.

24 Engari kia wehi i a Ihowa; whakapaua hoki o koutou ngakau ki te mahi ki a ia i runga i te pono; whakaaroa hoki nga mea nunui i mea ai ia ki a koutou.

25 Na, ki te mahi tonu koutou i te he, ka ngaro ngatahi koutou ko to koutou kingi.

Samuel Anoints Saul

There was a Benjamite,(A) a man of standing,(B) whose name was Kish(C) son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome(D) a young man as could be found(E) anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller(F) than anyone else.

Now the donkeys(G) belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.” So he passed through the hill(H) country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha,(I) but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys(J) were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.

When they reached the district of Zuph,(K) Saul said to the servant who was with him, “Come, let’s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying(L) about us.”

But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God;(M) he is highly respected, and everything(N) he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.”

Saul said to his servant, “If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift(O) to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have a quarter of a shekel[a] of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.” (Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire(P) of God, they would say, “Come, let us go to the seer,” because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)(Q)

10 “Good,” Saul said to his servant. “Come, let’s go.” So they set out for the town where the man of God was.

11 As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw(R) water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?”

12 “He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice(S) at the high place.(T) 13 As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless(U) the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.”

14 They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint(V) him ruler(W) over my people Israel; he will deliver(X) them from the hand of the Philistines.(Y) I have looked on my people, for their cry(Z) has reached me.”

17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This(AA) is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”

18 Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”

19 “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 As for the donkeys(AB) you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire(AC) of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?”

21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe(AD) of Israel, and is not my clan the least(AE) of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin?(AF) Why do you say such a thing to me?”

22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited—about thirty in number. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.”

24 So the cook took up the thigh(AG) with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion from the time I said, ‘I have invited guests.’” And Saul dined with Samuel that day.

25 After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof(AH) of his house. 26 They rose about daybreak, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way.” When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”—and the servant did so—“but you stay here for a while, so that I may give you a message from God.”

10 Then Samuel took a flask(AI) of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed(AJ) you ruler over his inheritance?[b](AK) When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb,(AL) at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys(AM) you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried(AN) about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”’

“Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel(AO) will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread,(AP) which you will accept from them.

“After that you will go to Gibeah(AQ) of God, where there is a Philistine outpost.(AR) As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets(AS) coming down from the high place(AT) with lyres, timbrels,(AU) pipes(AV) and harps(AW) being played before them, and they will be prophesying.(AX) The Spirit(AY) of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed(AZ) into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever(BA) your hand(BB) finds to do, for God is with(BC) you.

“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal.(BD) I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven(BE) days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”

Saul Made King

As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed(BF) Saul’s heart, and all these signs(BG) were fulfilled(BH) that day. 10 When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit(BI) of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying.(BJ) 11 When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this(BK) that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”(BL)

12 A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”(BM) 13 After Saul stopped prophesying,(BN) he went to the high place.

14 Now Saul’s uncle(BO) asked him and his servant, “Where have you been?”

“Looking for the donkeys,(BP)” he said. “But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.”

15 Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.”

16 Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys(BQ) had been found.” But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.

17 Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah(BR) 18 and said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed(BS) you.’ 19 But you have now rejected(BT) your God, who saves(BU) you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king(BV) over us.’(BW) So now present(BX) yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”

20 When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken.(BY) Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22 So they inquired(BZ) further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?”

And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.”

23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller(CA) than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen?(CB) There is no one like(CC) him among all the people.”

Then the people shouted, “Long live(CD) the king!”

25 Samuel explained(CE) to the people the rights and duties(CF) of kingship.(CG) He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes.

26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah,(CH) accompanied by valiant men(CI) whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some scoundrels(CJ) said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts.(CK) But Saul kept silent.

Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

11 Nahash[c](CL) the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead.(CM) And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty(CN) with us, and we will be subject to you.”

But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition(CO) that I gouge(CP) out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace(CQ) on all Israel.”

The elders(CR) of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue(CS) us, we will surrender(CT) to you.”

When the messengers came to Gibeah(CU) of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept(CV) aloud. Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.

When Saul heard their words, the Spirit(CW) of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. He took a pair of oxen,(CX) cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel,(CY) proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone(CZ) who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one.(DA) When Saul mustered(DB) them at Bezek,(DC) the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.

They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. 10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender(DD) to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”

11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions;(DE) during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites(DF) and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

Saul Confirmed as King

12 The people then said to Samuel, “Who(DG) was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.”

13 But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today,(DH) for this day the Lord has rescued(DI) Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal(DJ) and there renew the kingship.(DK) 15 So all the people went to Gilgal(DL) and made Saul king(DM) in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.

Samuel’s Farewell Speech

12 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened(DN) to everything you said to me and have set a king(DO) over you. Now you have a king as your leader.(DP) As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons(DQ) are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed.(DR) Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey(DS) have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe(DT) to make me shut my eyes? If I have done(DU) any of these things, I will make it right.”(DV)

“You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”

Samuel said to them, “The Lord is witness(DW) against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything(DX) in my hand.(DY)

“He is witness,” they said.

Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought(DZ) your ancestors up out of Egypt. Now then, stand(EA) here, because I am going to confront(EB) you with evidence before the Lord as to all the righteous acts(EC) performed by the Lord for you and your ancestors.

“After Jacob(ED) entered Egypt, they cried(EE) to the Lord for help, and the Lord sent(EF) Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

“But they forgot(EG) the Lord their God; so he sold them(EH) into the hand of Sisera,(EI) the commander of the army of Hazor,(EJ) and into the hands of the Philistines(EK) and the king of Moab,(EL) who fought against them. 10 They cried(EM) out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned; we have forsaken(EN) the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths.(EO) But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ 11 Then the Lord sent Jerub-Baal,[d](EP) Barak,[e](EQ) Jephthah(ER) and Samuel,[f](ES) and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around you, so that you lived in safety.

12 “But when you saw that Nahash(ET) king(EU) of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule(EV) over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king. 13 Now here is the king(EW) you have chosen, the one you asked(EX) for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you fear(EY) the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel(EZ) against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! 15 But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against(FA) his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

16 “Now then, stand still(FB) and see(FC) this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! 17 Is it not wheat harvest(FD) now? I will call(FE) on the Lord to send thunder(FF) and rain.(FG) And you will realize what an evil(FH) thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.”

18 Then Samuel called on the Lord,(FI) and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe(FJ) of the Lord and of Samuel.

19 The people all said to Samuel, “Pray(FK) to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die,(FL) for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”

20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil;(FM) yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless(FN) idols.(FO) They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake(FP) of his great name(FQ) the Lord will not reject(FR) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make(FS) you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray(FT) for you. And I will teach(FU) you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear(FV) the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart;(FW) consider(FX) what great(FY) things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist(FZ) in doing evil, both you and your king(GA) will perish.”(GB)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 9:8 That is, about 1/10 ounce or about 3 grams
  2. 1 Samuel 10:1 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate over his people Israel? You will reign over the Lord’s people and save them from the power of their enemies round about. And this will be a sign to you that the Lord has anointed you ruler over his inheritance:
  3. 1 Samuel 11:1 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls gifts. Now Nahash king of the Ammonites oppressed the Gadites and Reubenites severely. He gouged out all their right eyes and struck terror and dread in Israel. Not a man remained among the Israelites beyond the Jordan whose right eye was not gouged out by Nahash king of the Ammonites, except that seven thousand men fled from the Ammonites and entered Jabesh Gilead. About a month later, Nahash
  4. 1 Samuel 12:11 Also called Gideon
  5. 1 Samuel 12:11 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew Bedan
  6. 1 Samuel 12:11 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac Samson