扫罗寻驴

有一个便雅悯人名叫基士,很有威望,是亚斐亚的玄孙、比歌拉的曾孙、洗罗的孙子、亚别的儿子。 他的儿子扫罗年轻英俊,在以色列人中无人能比,高出其他人一个头。 一天,基士丢失了几头驴,他就对儿子扫罗说:“你带一个仆人去找驴吧。” 他们找遍了以法莲的山区、沙利沙地区、沙琳地区和便雅悯地区,都找不着。

最后,他们来到苏弗,扫罗对仆人说:“我们还是回家去吧,恐怕我父亲不再为驴担心,反而为我们担心。” 但仆人答道:“且慢,这城里有一位上帝的仆人,很受人敬重,他所说的都会应验。我们去找他吧,也许他会告诉我们该到哪里去找驴。” 扫罗答道:“如果去,我们有什么可以送给他呢?我们袋里的食物也吃完了,我们还有什么可以送给上帝的仆人呢?” 仆人说:“我这里还有三克银子,我们可以送给上帝的仆人,请他告诉我们去哪里找驴。” 从前在以色列,如果人们要求问上帝,他们会说:“让我们去找先见吧。”当时“先知”被称为“先见”。 10 扫罗说:“好,我们去吧。”于是,他们前往上帝仆人住的城。 11 他们走上山坡,正要进城的时候,遇见一些少女出来打水,就问:“先见在这里吗?” 12 她们答道:“他在这里,就在你们前面。你们快去吧,他今天刚到城里来,因为今天人们在丘坛献祭。 13 你们一进城,就会在他上丘坛吃祭物之前遇见他。因为他不来,人们不能吃,他要先为祭物祝谢后,人们才可以吃。你们现在上去吧,一定会遇见他。” 14 他们就赶往城内,刚走进城,就看见撒母耳迎面而来,要上丘坛去。

15 在扫罗来的前一天,耶和华已经启示撒母耳说: 16 “明天这个时候,我会从便雅悯境内差遣一个人到你这里,你要膏立他做我以色列子民的首领,他会从非利士人手中把我的子民拯救出来,因为我已听到我子民的呼求,我要施恩给他们。”

17 撒母耳看见扫罗的时候,耶和华就对他说:“这就是我对你说的那个人,他将统治我的子民。” 18 扫罗来到在城门口的撒母耳面前,问道:“请你告诉我先见住在哪里?” 19 撒母耳答道:“我就是先见。你先上丘坛去,今天你要和我一起吃饭。明天早上我会送你上路,并把你想知道的事告诉你。 20 不要再挂念三天前丢失的驴了,已经找到了。以色列人所仰慕的人是谁呢?不是你和你父亲全家吗?” 21 扫罗答道:“我来自以色列最小的便雅悯支派,我的家族在便雅悯支派中最小,你何出此言?”

22 撒母耳带着扫罗和他的仆人来到一个大厅,让他们在请来的三十位客人中坐上座。 23 撒母耳对厨师说:“把我交给你的那份祭肉拿来。” 24 厨师就拿来那块腿肉,摆在扫罗面前。撒母耳说:“这是为你留的,请吃吧。这是我在请客人时特意为你留的。”于是,扫罗和撒母耳一起吃饭。 25 他们从丘坛下来,回到城里后,撒母耳把扫罗带到屋顶上谈话。 26 次日黎明时分,撒母耳呼唤屋顶上的扫罗:“起来吧,我该送你上路了。”于是扫罗起床后,与撒母耳一起往外走。 27 他们来到城边的时候,撒母耳让扫罗吩咐仆人先走。仆人离去后,他对扫罗说:“你在这里留一会儿,我要把上帝的话告诉你。”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire 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.

Saul Searches for His Father’s Donkeys

There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin whose name was Kish. He was a son of Abiel, grandson of Zeror, and great-grandson of Becorath, whose father was Aphiah, a descendant of Benjamin. Kish was a powerful man. He had a son named Saul, a handsome, young man. No man in Israel was more handsome than Saul. He stood a head taller than everyone else.

When some donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, Kish told Saul, “Take one of the servants with you, and go look for the donkeys.”

They went through the mountains of Ephraim and the region of Shalisha without finding the donkeys. Then Saul and his servant went through the region of Shaalim, but the donkeys weren’t there. The men went through the territory of Benjamin but ⌞still⌟ didn’t find them. When they came to the territory of Zuph, Saul told his servant who was with him, “Let’s go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and worry about us ⌞instead⌟.”

Saul Seeks Samuel’s Advice

The servant responded, “There’s a man of God in this city, a highly respected man. Everything he says is sure to happen. Let’s go there. Maybe he’ll tell us which way we should go.”

“If we go,” Saul asked his servant, “what could we bring the man since the food in our sacks is gone? There’s no present we can bring the man of God. What do we have?”

The servant again answered Saul, “Look, here! I have one-tenth of an ounce of silver. I’ll give it to the man of God. Then he’ll tell us where to find the donkeys.”

(Formerly in Israel, when a person went to ask God ⌞a question⌟, he would say, “Come, let’s go to the seer,” because a person we now call a prophet used to be called a seer.)

10 Saul told his servant, “That’s a good idea! Come on, let’s go.” They went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they were going up the hill to the city, they met girls coming out to get water. They asked the girls, “Is the seer here?”

12 The girls answered, “He’s there ahead of you. Hurry! He ⌞just⌟ went into the city today since the people are offering a sacrifice on the worship site. 13 As you go into the city, you can find him before he goes to the worship site to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, since he blesses the sacrifice. Then those who are invited may eat. Go. You should be able to find him now.”

14 So Saul and his servant went to the city. As they entered it, Samuel was coming toward them on his way to the worship site. 15 Now, the Lord had revealed the following message to Samuel one day before Saul came: 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the territory of Benjamin. Anoint him to be ruler of my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines because I’ve seen my people’s ⌞suffering⌟ and their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel noticed Saul, the Lord told him, “There’s the man I told you about. This man will govern my people.”

18 Saul approached Samuel inside the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

19 Samuel replied, “I’m the seer. Go ahead of me to the worship site. You will eat with me today. In the morning I’ll let you go after I tell you all that’s on your mind. 20 Don’t trouble yourself about the donkeys that were lost three days ago because they’ve been found. Who will have all that is desirable in Israel? Won’t it be you and your father’s family?”

21 Saul replied, “I am a man from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe of Israel. My family is the most insignificant of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. So why are you saying such things to me?”

22 Samuel brought Saul and his servant to the banquet hall and had them sit at the head of the guests—about 30 people. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring me the portion of the sacrificial meat that I gave you and told you to put aside.” 24 So the cook picked up the leg and thigh and laid it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “This was kept in order to be laid in front of you. Eat it. When I invited people to the feast, I set it aside for you.” Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 Then they left the worship site for the city. They spread blankets on the roof for Saul, and he slept there.[a]

26 At dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up! ⌞It’s time for⌟ me to send you away.” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside. 27 As they were going toward the city limits, Samuel told Saul, “Have the servant go ahead of you.” (He went ahead.) “But you stay here, and I will tell you God’s word.”

Footnotes

  1. 9:25 Greek; Masoretic Text reads “… for the city, and he spoke with Saul on the roof, and they got up early.”