Saul’s Search

Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was (A)Kish the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite, a [a]valiant mighty man. He had a son whose name was Saul, a (B)young and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome man than he among the sons of Israel; (C)from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Now take with you one of the servants and arise, go search for the donkeys.” So he passed through (D)the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of (E)Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of (F)Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjaminites, but they did not find them.

When they came to the land of (G)Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let’s return, (H)or else my father will stop being concerned about the donkeys and will become anxious about us.” But he said to him, “Behold now, there is (I)a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; (J)everything that he says definitely comes true. Now let’s go there, (K)perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.” Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sacks and there is (L)no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” The servant answered Saul again and said, “Look, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God and he will (M)tell us our way.” (Previously in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let’s go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was previously called (N)a seer.) 10 Then Saul said to his servant, “[b]Good idea; come, let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they went up the slope to the city, (O)they found young women going out to draw water, and they said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered them and said, “He is; [c]see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, because (P)the people have a sacrifice on (Q)the high place today. 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 (R)he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now then, go up, for you will find him about this time.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.

God’s Choice for King

15 Now a day before Saul’s coming, (S)the Lord had [d]revealed this to Samuel, saying, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and (T)you shall anoint him as ruler over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For (U)I have considered My people, because their outcry has come to Me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord [e]said to him, “(V)Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” 19 And Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of 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 everything that is on your mind. 20 (W)And as for your donkeys that wandered off three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found. And (X)for whom is everything that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?” 21 Saul replied, “(Y)Am I not a Benjaminite, of (Z)the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the [f]tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “[g]Serve the portion that I gave you about which I said to you, ‘Set it [h]aside.’” 24 Then the cook (AA)took up the leg with what was on it and placed it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved! Place it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, [i]since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they came down from the high place into the city, [j]Samuel spoke with Saul (AB)on the roof. 26 And they got up early; and at daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, so that I may send you on your way.” So Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Speak to the servant and have him go on ahead of us and pass by; but you stand here now, so that I may proclaim the word of God to you.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 9:1 Or man of wealth and influence
  2. 1 Samuel 9:10 Lit Your word is good
  3. 1 Samuel 9:12 Or behold
  4. 1 Samuel 9:15 Lit opened Samuel’s ear
  5. 1 Samuel 9:17 Lit answered
  6. 1 Samuel 9:21 As in some ancient versions; MT tribes
  7. 1 Samuel 9:23 Lit Give
  8. 1 Samuel 9:23 Lit with you
  9. 1 Samuel 9:24 Lit saying
  10. 1 Samuel 9:25 LXX they spread a bed for Saul on the roof

May isang lalake nga sa Benjamin, na ang pangala'y Cis, na anak ni Abiel, na anak ni Seor, na anak ni Bechora, na anak ni Aphia, na anak ng isang Benjamita, na isang makapangyarihang lalake na may tapang.

At siya'y may isang anak na lalake, na ang pangala'y Saul, isang bata at makisig: at sa mga anak ni Israel ay walang lalong makisig na lalake kay sa kaniya: mula sa kaniyang mga balikat at hanggang sa paitaas ay lalong mataas siya kay sa sinoman sa bayan.

At ang mga asno ni Cis na ama ni Saul ay nawala. At sinabi ni Cis kay Saul na kaniyang anak, Ipagsama mo ngayon ang isa sa mga bataan, at ikaw ay tumindig, at hanapin mo ang mga asno.

At siya'y nagdaan sa lupaing maburol ng Ephraim, at nagdaan sa lupain ng Salisa, nguni't hindi nila nangasumpungan: nang magkagayo'y nagdaan sila sa lupain ng Saalim, at wala roon: at sila'y nagdaan sa lupain ng mga Benjamita, nguni't hindi nila nangasumpungan doon.

Nang sila'y dumating sa lupain ng Suph, ay sinabi ni Saul sa kaniyang bataan na kasama niya, Halina at bumalik tayo, baka walaing bahala ng aking ama ang mga asno at ang alalahanin ay tayo.

At sinabi niya sa kaniya, Narito, may isa ngang lalake ng Dios sa bayang ito, at siya'y isang lalaking may dangal; lahat ng kaniyang sinasabi ay tunay na nangyayari: ngayo'y pumaroon tayo; marahil ay masasaysay niya sa atin ang tungkol sa ating paglalakbay kung saan tayo paroroon.

Nang magkagayo'y sinabi ni Saul sa kaniyang bataan, Nguni't narito, kung tayo'y pumaroon, ano ang ating dadalhin sa lalake? sapagka't naubos na ang tinapay sa ating mga buslo, at wala na tayong madadalang kaloob sa lalake ng Dios: anong mayroon tayo?

At sumagot uli ang bataan kay Saul, at nagsabi, Narito, mayroon ako sa aking kamay na ikaapat na bahagi ng isang siklong pilak: iyan ang aking ibibigay sa lalake ng Dios, upang saysayin sa atin ang ating paglalakbay.

(Nang una sa Israel, pagka ang isang lalake ay mag-uusisa sa Dios, ay ganito ang sinasabi, Halika, at tayo'y pumaroon sa tagakita: sapagka't yaon ngang tinatawag na Propeta ngayon ay tinatawag nang una na Tagakita.)

10 Nang magkagayo'y sinabi ni Saul sa kaniyang bataan, Mabuti ang sinasabi mo; halika, tayo'y pumaroon. Sa gayo'y naparoon sila sa bayang kinaroroonan ng lalake ng Dios.

11 Samantalang inaahon nila ang ahunan sa bayan ay nakasalubong sila ng mga dalagang lumalabas upang umigib ng tubig, at sinabi nila sa kanila, Narito ba ang tagakita?

12 At sila'y sumagot sa kanila, at nagsabi, Siya'y nariyan, narito, nasa unahan mo: magmadali kayo ngayon, sapagka't siya'y naparoon ngayon sa bayan; sapagka't ang bayan ay may hain ngayon sa mataas na dako.

13 Pagkapasok ninyo sa bayan, ay agad masusumpungan ninyo siya, bago siya umahon sa mataas na dako upang kumain; sapagka't ang bayan ay hindi kakain hanggang sa siya'y dumating, sapagka't kaniyang binabasbasan ang hain; at pagkatapos ay kumakain ang mga inanyayahan. Kaya nga umahon kayo; sapagka't sa oras na ito'y inyong masusumpungan siya.

14 At sila'y umahon sa bayan; at pagpasok nila sa bayan, narito, si Samuel ay nasasalubong nila, na papaahon sa mataas na dako.

15 Inihayag nga ng Panginoon kay Samuel isang araw bago si Saul ay naparoon, na sinasabi,

16 Bukas sa ganitong oras ay susuguin ko sa iyo ang isang lalake na mula sa lupain ng Benjamin, at iyong papahiran siya ng langis upang maging pangulo sa aking bayang Israel; at kaniyang ililigtas ang aking bayan sa kamay ng mga Filisteo: sapagka't aking tiningnan ang aking bayan, dahil sa ang kanilang daing ay sumapit sa akin.

17 At nang makita ni Samuel si Saul, ay sinabi ng Panginoon sa kaniya, Narito ang lalake na aking sinalita sa iyo! ito nga ang magkakaroon ng kapangyarihan sa aking bayan.

18 Nang magkagayo'y lumapit si Saul kay Samuel sa pintuang-bayan, at sinabi, Isinasamo ko sa iyo na saysayin mo sa akin, kung saan nandoon ang bahay ng tagakita.

19 At sumagot si Samuel kay Saul, at nagsabi, Ako ang tagakita; umahon kang magpauna sa akin sa mataas na dako, sapagka't kakain kang kasalo ko ngayon: at sa kinaumagahan ay payayaunin kita, at sasaysayin ko sa iyo ang lahat na nasa loob mo.

20 At tungkol sa iyong mga asno na may tatlong araw ng nawawala ay huwag mong alalahanin; sapagka't nasumpungan na. At kanino ang buong pagnanasa sa Israel? Hindi ba sa iyo, at sa buong sangbahayan ng iyong ama?

21 At si Saul ay sumagot, at nagsabi, Hindi ba ako Benjamita, sa pinakamaliit na lipi ng Israel? at ang aking angkan ang pinakamababa sa mga angkan ng lipi ng Benjamin? bakit nga nagsasalita ka sa akin ng ganitong paraan?

22 At ipinagsama ni Samuel si Saul at ang kaniyang bataan, at ipinasok niya sila sa kabahayan, at pinaupo sila sa pinakapangulong dako sa gitna niyaong mga naanyayahan, na may tatlong pung katao.

23 At sinabi ni Samuel sa tagapagluto, Dalhin mo rito ang bahagi na ibinigay ko sa iyo, na siyang aking sinabi sa iyo, Ilagay mo ito sa iyo.

24 At itinaas nga ng tagapagluto ang hita, at yaong nakapatong, at inilagay sa harap ni Saul. At sinabi ni Samuel, Narito, siya ngang itinago! ilagay mo sa harap mo at iyong kanin; sapagka't iningatan sa takdang panahon na ukol sa iyo, sapagka't aking sinabi, Aking inanyayahan ang bayan. Sa gayo'y kumain si Saul na kasalo ni Samuel nang araw na yaon.

25 At nang sila'y makalusong sa bayan mula sa mataas na dako, siya'y nakipagpulong kay Saul sa bubungan ng bahay.

26 At sila'y bumangong maaga: at nangyari sa pagbubukang liwayway, na tinawag ni Samuel si Saul sa bubungan, na sinasabi, Bangon, upang mapagpaalam kita. At si Saul ay bumangon, at lumabas kapuwa sila, siya at si Samuel.

27 At nang sila'y lumalabas sa hangganan ng bayan, ay sinabi ni Samuel kay Saul, Sabihin mo sa bataang magpauna sa atin (at siya'y nagpauna,) nguni't tumigil ka sa oras na ito, upang maiparinig ko sa iyo ang salita ng Dios.

'1 Samuel 9 ' not found for the version: Worldwide English (New Testament).

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.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 9:8 That is, about 1/10 ounce or about 3 grams