10 Then Samuel took a flask^(A) of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed^(B) you ruler over his inheritance?^{[a](C) 2} When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb,^(D) at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys^(E) you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried^(F) about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”’

⁵ “After that you will go to Gibeah^(A) of God, where there is a Philistine outpost.^(B) As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets^(C) coming down from the high place^(D) with lyres, timbrels,^(E) pipes^(F) and harps^(G) being played before them, and they will be prophesying.^{(H) 6} The Spirit^(I) of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed^(J) into a different person. ⁷ Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever^(K) your hand^(L) finds to do, for God is with^(M) you.

Saul Made King

⁹ As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed^(A) Saul’s heart, and all these signs^(B) were fulfilled^(C) that day.

¹⁷ Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah^{(A) 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^(B) you.’ ¹⁹ But you have now rejected^(C) your God, who saves^(D) you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king^(E) over us.’^(F) So now present^(G) 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.^(H) Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. ²² So they inquired^(I) 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^(J) than any of the others. ²⁴ Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen?^(K) There is no one like^(L) him among all the people.”

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

²⁵ Samuel explained^(N) to the people the rights and duties^(O) of kingship.^(P) 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,^(Q) accompanied by valiant men^(R) whose hearts God had touched.