Israel Asks for a King

When Samuel grew old, he appointed(A) his sons as Israel’s leaders.[a] The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,(B) and they served at Beersheba.(C) But his sons(D) did not follow his ways. They turned aside(E) after dishonest gain and accepted bribes(F) and perverted(G) justice.

So all the elders(H) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.(I) They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(J) to lead[b](K) us, such as all the other nations(L) have.”

But when they said, “Give us a king(M) to lead us,” this displeased(N) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen(O) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(P) but they have rejected me as their king.(Q) As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking(R) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know(S) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

10 Samuel told(T) all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take(U) your sons and make them serve(V) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.(W) 12 Some he will assign to be commanders(X) of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your(Y) fields and vineyards(Z) and olive groves and give them to his attendants.(AA) 15 He will take a tenth(AB) of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[c] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer(AC) you in that day.(AD)

19 But the people refused(AE) to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want(AF) a king(AG) over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations,(AH) with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated(AI) it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen(AJ) to them and give them a king.”

Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”

Samuel Anoints Saul

There was a Benjamite,(AK) a man of standing,(AL) whose name was Kish(AM) 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(AN) a young man as could be found(AO) anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller(AP) than anyone else.

Now the donkeys(AQ) 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(AR) country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha,(AS) but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys(AT) were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.

When they reached the district of Zuph,(AU) 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(AV) about us.”

But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God;(AW) he is highly respected, and everything(AX) 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(AY) 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[d] 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(AZ) of God, they would say, “Come, let us go to the seer,” because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)(BA)

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(BB) 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(BC) at the high place.(BD) 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(BE) 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(BF) him ruler(BG) over my people Israel; he will deliver(BH) them from the hand of the Philistines.(BI) I have looked on my people, for their cry(BJ) has reached me.”

17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This(BK) 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(BL) you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire(BM) 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(BN) of Israel, and is not my clan the least(BO) of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin?(BP) 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(BQ) 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(BR) 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(BS) of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed(BT) you ruler over his inheritance?[e](BU) When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb,(BV) at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys(BW) you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried(BX) 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(BY) 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,(BZ) which you will accept from them.

“After that you will go to Gibeah(CA) of God, where there is a Philistine outpost.(CB) As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets(CC) coming down from the high place(CD) with lyres, timbrels,(CE) pipes(CF) and harps(CG) being played before them, and they will be prophesying.(CH) The Spirit(CI) of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed(CJ) into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever(CK) your hand(CL) finds to do, for God is with(CM) you.

“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal.(CN) I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven(CO) 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(CP) Saul’s heart, and all these signs(CQ) were fulfilled(CR) that day. 10 When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit(CS) of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying.(CT) 11 When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this(CU) that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”(CV)

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

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

“Looking for the donkeys,(CZ)” 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(DA) 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(DB) 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(DC) you.’ 19 But you have now rejected(DD) your God, who saves(DE) you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king(DF) over us.’(DG) So now present(DH) 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.(DI) Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22 So they inquired(DJ) 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(DK) than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen?(DL) There is no one like(DM) him among all the people.”

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

25 Samuel explained(DO) to the people the rights and duties(DP) of kingship.(DQ) 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,(DR) accompanied by valiant men(DS) whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some scoundrels(DT) said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts.(DU) But Saul kept silent.

Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

11 Nahash[f](DV) the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead.(DW) And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty(DX) 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(DY) that I gouge(DZ) out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace(EA) on all Israel.”

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

When the messengers came to Gibeah(EE) of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept(EF) 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(EG) of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. He took a pair of oxen,(EH) cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel,(EI) proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone(EJ) who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one.(EK) When Saul mustered(EL) them at Bezek,(EM) 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(EN) to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”

11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions;(EO) during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites(EP) 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(EQ) 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,(ER) for this day the Lord has rescued(ES) Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal(ET) and there renew the kingship.(EU) 15 So all the people went to Gilgal(EV) and made Saul king(EW) 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(EX) to everything you said to me and have set a king(EY) over you. Now you have a king as your leader.(EZ) As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons(FA) 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.(FB) Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey(FC) have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe(FD) to make me shut my eyes? If I have done(FE) any of these things, I will make it right.”(FF)

“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(FG) against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything(FH) in my hand.(FI)

“He is witness,” they said.

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

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

“But they forgot(FQ) the Lord their God; so he sold them(FR) into the hand of Sisera,(FS) the commander of the army of Hazor,(FT) and into the hands of the Philistines(FU) and the king of Moab,(FV) who fought against them. 10 They cried(FW) out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned; we have forsaken(FX) the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths.(FY) But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ 11 Then the Lord sent Jerub-Baal,[g](FZ) Barak,[h](GA) Jephthah(GB) and Samuel,[i](GC) 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(GD) king(GE) of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule(GF) over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king. 13 Now here is the king(GG) you have chosen, the one you asked(GH) for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you fear(GI) the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel(GJ) 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(GK) his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

16 “Now then, stand still(GL) and see(GM) this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! 17 Is it not wheat harvest(GN) now? I will call(GO) on the Lord to send thunder(GP) and rain.(GQ) And you will realize what an evil(GR) thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.”

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

19 The people all said to Samuel, “Pray(GU) to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die,(GV) 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;(GW) yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless(GX) idols.(GY) They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake(GZ) of his great name(HA) the Lord will not reject(HB) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make(HC) you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray(HD) for you. And I will teach(HE) you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear(HF) the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart;(HG) consider(HH) what great(HI) things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist(HJ) in doing evil, both you and your king(HK) will perish.”(HL)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:1 Traditionally judges
  2. 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20
  3. 1 Samuel 8:16 Septuagint; Hebrew young men
  4. 1 Samuel 9:8 That is, about 1/10 ounce or about 3 grams
  5. 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:
  6. 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
  7. 1 Samuel 12:11 Also called Gideon
  8. 1 Samuel 12:11 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew Bedan
  9. 1 Samuel 12:11 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac Samson

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king.

11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.

19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.

22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

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.

10 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:

And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.

After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.

And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.

15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.

17 And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh;

18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:

19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.

20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.

22 Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff.

23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought no presents. But he held his peace.

11 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel.

14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

12 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he did to you and to your fathers.

When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

And when they forgat the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

10 And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the Lord your God was your king.

13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.

14 If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God:

15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.

16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.

17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king.

18 So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart;

21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

22 For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.

23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

24 Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

Israel Demands a King

Now it came to pass when Samuel was (A)old that he (B)made his (C)sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. But his sons (D)did not walk in his ways; they turned aside (E)after dishonest gain, (F)took bribes, and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now (G)make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

But the thing (H)displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel (I)prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for (J)they have not rejected you, but (K)they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and (L)show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”

10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king. 11 And he said, (M)“This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your (N)sons and appoint them for his own (O)chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will (P)appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And (Q)he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest [a]young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord (R)will not hear you in that day.”

19 Nevertheless the people (S)refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be (T)like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the Lord. 22 So the Lord said to Samuel, (U)“Heed their voice, and make them a king.”

And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.”

Saul Chosen to Be King

There was a man of Benjamin whose name was (V)Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of [b]power. And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. (W)From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of (X)Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

When they had come to the land of (Y)Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let (Z)us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us.”

And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city (AA)a man of God, and he is an honorable man; (AB)all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”

Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go, (AC)what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

And the servant answered Saul again and said, “Look, I have here at hand one-fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.” (Formerly in Israel, when a man (AD)went [c]to inquire of God, he spoke thus: “Come, let us go to the seer”; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called (AE)a seer.)

10 Then Saul said to his servant, [d]“Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they went up the hill to the city, (AF)they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”

12 And they answered them and said, “Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to this city, because (AG)there is a sacrifice of the people today (AH)on the high place. 13 As soon as you come into the city, you will surely find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up, for about this time you will find him.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were coming into the city, there was Samuel, coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15 (AI)Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, 16 “Tomorrow about this time (AJ)I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, (AK)and you shall anoint him [e]commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have (AL)looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

17 So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, (AM)“There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.” 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, “Please tell me, where is the seer’s house?”

19 Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 But as for (AN)your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And [f]on whom (AO)is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?”

21 And Saul answered and said, (AP)Am I not a Benjamite, of the (AQ)smallest of the tribes of Israel, and (AR)my family the least of all the families of the [g]tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?”

22 Now Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and had them sit in the place of honor among those who were invited; there were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it apart.’ ” 24 So the cook took up (AS)the thigh with its upper part and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here it is, what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat; for until this time it has been kept for you, since I said I invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they had come down from the high place into the city, [h]Samuel spoke with Saul on (AT)the top of the house. 26 They arose early; and it was about the dawning of the day that Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house, saying, “Get up, that I may send you on your way.” And Saul arose, and both of them went outside, he and Samuel.

Saul Anointed King

27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” And he went on. “But you stand here [i]awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God.”

Samuel Anoints Saul

10 Then (AU)Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, (AV)and kissed him and said: “Is it not because (AW)the Lord has anointed you commander over (AX)His [j]inheritance? When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by (AY)Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin (AZ)at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about (BA)you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?” ’ Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up (BB)to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. And they will [k]greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands. After that you shall come to the hill of God (BC)where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down (BD)from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; (BE)and they will be prophesying. Then (BF)the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and (BG)you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. And let it be, when these (BH)signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for (BI)God is with you. You shall go down before me (BJ)to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. (BK)Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.”

So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God [l]gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. 10 (BL)When they came there to the hill, there was (BM)a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? (BN)Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 Then a man from there answered and said, “But (BO)who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 And when he had finished prophesying, he went to the high place.

14 Then Saul’s (BP)uncle said to him and his servant, “Where did you go?”

So he said, “To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel.”

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

16 So Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys had been (BQ)found.” But about the matter of the kingdom, he did not tell him what Samuel had said.

Saul Proclaimed King

17 Then Samuel called the people together (BR)to the Lord (BS)at Mizpah, 18 and said to the children of Israel, (BT)“Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all kingdoms and from those who oppressed you.’ 19 (BU)But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your [m]clans.”

20 And when Samuel had (BV)caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they (BW)inquired of the Lord further, “Has the man come here yet?”

And the Lord answered, “There he is, hidden among the equipment.”

23 So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, (BX)he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him (BY)whom the Lord has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?”

So all the people shouted and said, (BZ)“Long[n] live the king!”

25 Then Samuel explained to the people (CA)the behavior of royalty, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26 And Saul also went home (CB)to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched. 27 (CC)But some (CD)rebels said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him, (CE)and brought him no presents. But he [o]held his peace.

Saul Saves Jabesh Gilead

11 Then (CF)Nahash the Ammonite came up and [p]encamped against (CG)Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, (CH)“Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”

And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring (CI)reproach on all Israel.”

Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Hold off for seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then, if there is no one to [q]save us, we will come out to you.”

So the messengers came (CJ)to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the hearing of the people. And (CK)all the people lifted up their voices and wept. Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, “What troubles the people, that they weep?” And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. (CL)Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused. So he took a yoke of oxen and (CM)cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, (CN)“Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.”

And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out [r]with one consent. When he numbered them in (CO)Bezek, the children (CP)of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said to the messengers who came, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help.’ ” Then the messengers came and reported it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us whatever seems good to you.”

11 So it was, on the next day, that (CQ)Saul put the people (CR)in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and killed Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, (CS)“Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ (CT)Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”

13 But Saul said, (CU)“Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today (CV)the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go (CW)to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king (CX)before the Lord in Gilgal. (CY)There they made sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Samuel’s Address at Saul’s Coronation

12 Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have [s]heeded (CZ)your voice in all that you said to me, and (DA)have made a king over you. And now here is the king, (DB)walking before you; (DC)and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before (DD)His anointed: (DE)Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any (DF)bribe with which to (DG)blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”

And they said, (DH)“You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”

Then he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, (DI)that you have not found anything (DJ)in my hand.”

And they answered, “He is witness.”

Then Samuel said to the people, (DK)It is the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. Now therefore, stand still, that I may (DL)reason with you before the Lord concerning all the (DM)righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers: (DN)When Jacob had gone into [t]Egypt, and your fathers (DO)cried out to the Lord, then the Lord (DP)sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. And when they (DQ)forgot the Lord their God, He sold them into the hand of (DR)Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, into the hand of the (DS)Philistines, and into the hand of the king of (DT)Moab; and they fought against them. 10 Then they cried out to the Lord, and said, (DU)‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord (DV)and served the Baals and [u]Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’ 11 And the Lord sent [v]Jerubbaal, [w]Bedan, (DW)Jephthah, and (DX)Samuel,[x] and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. 12 And when you saw that (DY)Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, (DZ)you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when (EA)the Lord your God was your king.

13 “Now therefore, (EB)here is the king (EC)whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, (ED)the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you (EE)fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. 15 However, if you do (EF)not obey the voice of the Lord, but (EG)rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

16 “Now therefore, (EH)stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes: 17 Is today not the (EI)wheat harvest? (EJ)I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and (EK)rain, that you may perceive and see that (EL)your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves.”

18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and (EM)all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

19 And all the people said to Samuel, (EN)“Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.”

20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; (EO)yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And (EP)do not turn aside; (EQ)for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. 22 For (ER)the Lord will not forsake (ES)His people, (ET)for His great name’s sake, because (EU)it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord (EV)in ceasing to pray for you; but (EW)I will teach you the (EX)good and the right way. 24 (EY)Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for (EZ)consider what (FA)great things He has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, (FB)you shall be swept away, (FC)both you and your king.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:16 LXX cattle
  2. 1 Samuel 9:1 wealth
  3. 1 Samuel 9:9 Lit. to seek God
  4. 1 Samuel 9:10 Lit. Your word is good
  5. 1 Samuel 9:16 prince or ruler
  6. 1 Samuel 9:20 for whom
  7. 1 Samuel 9:21 Lit. tribes
  8. 1 Samuel 9:25 So with MT, Tg.; LXX omits He spoke with Saul on the top of the house; LXX, Vg. afterward add And he prepared a bed for Saul on the top of the house, and he slept.
  9. 1 Samuel 9:27 now
  10. 1 Samuel 10:1 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX people Israel; and you shall rule the people of the Lord; LXX, Vg. add And you shall deliver His people from the hands of their enemies all around them. And this shall be a sign to you, that God has anointed you to be a prince.
  11. 1 Samuel 10:4 ask you about your welfare
  12. 1 Samuel 10:9 changed his heart
  13. 1 Samuel 10:19 Lit. thousands
  14. 1 Samuel 10:24 Lit. May the king live
  15. 1 Samuel 10:27 kept silent
  16. 1 Samuel 11:1 besieged
  17. 1 Samuel 11:3 deliver
  18. 1 Samuel 11:7 Lit. as one man
  19. 1 Samuel 12:1 listened to
  20. 1 Samuel 12:8 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX adds and the Egyptians afflicted them
  21. 1 Samuel 12:10 Images of Canaanite goddesses
  22. 1 Samuel 12:11 Gideon, cf. Judg. 6:25–32; Syr. Deborah; Tg. Gideon
  23. 1 Samuel 12:11 LXX, Syr. Barak; Tg. Simson
  24. 1 Samuel 12:11 Syr. Simson

Israel Demands a King

When Samuel became old, (A)he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways (B)but turned aside after gain. (C)They took bribes and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at (D)Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. (E)Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, (F)for they have not rejected you, (G)but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them (H)and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

Samuel's Warning Against Kings

10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, (I)“These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: (J)he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some (K)to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 (L)He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men[a] and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, (M)but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

The Lord Grants Israel's Request

19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 (N)that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, (O)“Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”

Saul Chosen to Be King

There was a man of Benjamin whose name was (P)Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. And he had a son whose name was Saul, (Q)a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. (R)From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.” And he passed through (S)the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of (T)Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.

When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant[b] who was with him, “Come, let us go back, (U)lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” But he said to him, “Behold, there is (V)a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; (W)all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, (X)what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel[c] of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” (Formerly in Israel, when a man (Y)went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today's “prophet” was formerly called a seer.) 10 And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they went up the hill to the city, (Z)they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people (AA)have a sacrifice today on (AB)the high place. 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 till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15 Now the day before Saul came, (AC)the Lord had (AD)revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, (AE)and you shall anoint him to be prince[d] over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. (AF)For I have seen[e] my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, (AG)“Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 (AH)As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?” 21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, (AI)from the least of the tribes of Israel? (AJ)And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’” 24 So the cook took up (AK)the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”[f]

So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25 And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul (AL)on the roof, and he lay down to sleep.[g] 26 Then at the break of dawn[h] Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”

Saul Anointed King

10 (AM)Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head (AN)and kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince[i] over (AO)his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince[j] over his heritage. When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by (AP)Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, (AQ)‘The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now (AR)your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’ Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the (AS)oak of Tabor. Three men (AT)going up (AU)to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand. After that you shall come to (AV)Gibeath-elohim,[k] (AW)where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down (AX)from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. (AY)Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, (AZ)and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when (BA)these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, (BB)for God is with you. Then go down before me (BC)to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and (BD)to sacrifice peace offerings. (BE)Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.”

When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. 10 When they came to (BF)Gibeah,[l] behold, a group of prophets met him, (BG)and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What has come over the son of Kish? (BH)Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 And a man of the place answered, (BI)“And who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, (BJ)“Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 (BK)Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” And he said, (BL)“To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.” 15 And Saul's uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16 And Saul said to his uncle, (BM)“He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything.

Saul Proclaimed King

17 Now Samuel called the people together (BN)to the Lord (BO)at Mizpah. 18 And he said to the people of Israel, (BP)“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ 19 (BQ)But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore (BR)present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.”

20 Then Samuel (BS)brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot;[m] and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 (BT)So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” 23 Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, (BU)he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him (BV)whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, (BW)“Long live the king!”

25 Then Samuel told the people (BX)the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. 26 Saul also went to his home (BY)at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some (BZ)worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

11 (CA)Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged (CB)Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, (CC)“Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, (CD)that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus (CE)bring disgrace on all Israel.” The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” When the messengers came to (CF)Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, (CG)and all the people wept aloud.

Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. (CH)And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. He took a yoke of oxen (CI)and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, (CJ)“Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out (CK)as one man. When he mustered them at (CL)Bezek, (CM)the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have (CN)salvation.’” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, (CO)“Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” 11 (CP)And the next day Saul put the people (CQ)in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

The Kingdom Is Renewed

12 Then the people said to Samuel, (CR)“Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ (CS)Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, (CT)“Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today (CU)the Lord has worked (CV)salvation in Israel.” 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” 15 So all the people went to (CW)Gilgal, and there they made Saul king (CX)before the Lord in Gilgal. There (CY)they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Samuel's Farewell Address

12 And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed (CZ)your voice in all that you have said to me (DA)and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king (DB)walks before you, (DC)and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before (DD)his anointed. (DE)Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me[n] and I will restore it to you.” They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.” And he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and (DF)his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything (DG)in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”

And Samuel said to the people, (DH)“The Lord is witness,[o] who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers. (DI)When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them,[p] (DJ)then your fathers cried out to the Lord and (DK)the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, (DL)who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. But (DM)they forgot the Lord their God. (DN)And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor,[q] (DO)and into the hand of the Philistines, (DP)and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. 10 (DQ)And they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord (DR)and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now (DS)deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.’ 11 And the Lord sent (DT)Jerubbaal (DU)and Barak[r] (DV)and Jephthah and (DW)Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety. 12 And when you saw that (DX)Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, (DY)you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ (DZ)when the Lord your God was your king. 13 And now (EA)behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, (EB)the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you will (EC)fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. 15 But (ED)if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then (EE)the hand of the Lord will be against you and (EF)your king.[s] 16 Now therefore (EG)stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 (EH)Is it not wheat harvest today? (EI)I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that (EJ)your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.” 18 So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, (EK)and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

19 And all the people said to Samuel, (EL)“Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” 20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet (EM)do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And (EN)do not turn aside after (EO)empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 (EP)For the Lord will not forsake his people, (EQ)for his great name's sake, because (ER)it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing (ES)to pray for you, (ET)and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 (EU)Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider (EV)what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, (EW)you shall be swept away, (EX)both you and your king.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:16 Septuagint cattle
  2. 1 Samuel 9:5 Hebrew young man; also verses 7, 8, 10, 27
  3. 1 Samuel 9:8 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
  4. 1 Samuel 9:16 Or leader
  5. 1 Samuel 9:16 Septuagint adds the affliction of
  6. 1 Samuel 9:24 Hebrew appointed, saying, ‘I have invited the people’
  7. 1 Samuel 9:25 Septuagint; Hebrew city, he spoke with Saul on the roof
  8. 1 Samuel 9:26 Septuagint; Hebrew And they arose early, and at the break of dawn
  9. 1 Samuel 10:1 Or leader
  10. 1 Samuel 10:1 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks over his people Israel? And you shall…. to be prince
  11. 1 Samuel 10:5 Gibeath-elohim means the hill of God
  12. 1 Samuel 10:10 Gibeah means the hill
  13. 1 Samuel 10:21 Septuagint adds finally he brought the family of the Matrites near, man by man
  14. 1 Samuel 12:3 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks Testify against me
  15. 1 Samuel 12:6 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks is witness
  16. 1 Samuel 12:8 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and the Egyptians oppressed them
  17. 1 Samuel 12:9 Septuagint the army of Jabin king of Hazor
  18. 1 Samuel 12:11 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew Bedan
  19. 1 Samuel 12:15 Septuagint; Hebrew fathers

Israel Demands a King

Now it came about, when Samuel was old, that (A)he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in (B)Beersheba. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they (C)took bribes and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at (D)Ramah; and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now (E)appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the matter was [a](F)displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And (G)Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because (H)they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have abandoned Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you as well. Now then, listen to their voice; (I)however, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of (J)the [b]practice of the king who will reign over them.”

Warning concerning a King

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to (K)the people who had asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “(L)This will be the [c]practice of the king who will reign over you: (M)he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and (N)they will run before his chariots. 12 (O)He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to [d]do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 (P)He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. 16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and [e]use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 Then (Q)you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but (R)the Lord will not answer you on that day.”

19 Yet the people (S)refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 (T)so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, (U)he [f]repeated them in the Lords hearing. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “(V)Listen to their voice and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, every man to his city.”

Saul’s Search

Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was (W)Kish the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite, a [g]valiant mighty man. He had a son whose name was Saul, a (X)young and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome man than he among the sons of Israel; (Y)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 (Z)the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of (AA)Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of (AB)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 (AC)Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let’s return, (AD)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 (AE)a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; (AF)everything that he says definitely comes true. Now let’s go there, (AG)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 (AH)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 (AI)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 (AJ)a seer.) 10 Then Saul said to his servant, “[h]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, (AK)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; [i]see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, because (AL)the people have a sacrifice on (AM)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 (AN)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, (AO)the Lord had [j]revealed this to Samuel, saying, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and (AP)you shall anoint him as ruler over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For (AQ)I have considered My people, because their outcry has come to Me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord [k]said to him, “(AR)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 (AS)And as for your donkeys that wandered off three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found. And (AT)for whom is everything that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?” 21 Saul replied, “(AU)Am I not a Benjaminite, of (AV)the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the [l]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, “[m]Serve the portion that I gave you about which I said to you, ‘Set it [n]aside.’” 24 Then the cook (AW)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, [o]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, [p]Samuel spoke with Saul (AX)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.”

Saul among the Prophets

10 Then (AY)Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on [q]Saul’s head, (AZ)kissed him, and said, “Has (BA)the Lord not anointed you as ruler over (BB)His inheritance? When you leave me today, then you will find two men close to (BC)Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘(BD)The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. Now behold, your father has stopped talking about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What am I to do about my son?”’ Then you will go on further from there, and you will come as far as the [r](BE)oak of Tabor, and there three men going up (BF)to God at Bethel will meet you: one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a jug of wine. And they will [s]greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from their hand. Afterward you will come to [t](BG)the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is; and it shall be as soon as you have come there to the city, that you will meet (BH)a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre in front of them, and (BI)they will be prophesying. Then (BJ)the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and (BK)you will prophesy with them and be changed into a different man. And it shall be when these signs come to you, (BL)do for yourself what [u]the occasion requires, because (BM)God is with you. And (BN)you shall go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will be coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and (BO)sacrifice peace offerings. (BP)You shall wait seven days until I come to you and inform you of what you should do.”

Then it happened, when he turned his back to leave Samuel, that God (BQ)changed [v]his heart; and all those signs came about on that day. 10 (BR)When they came there to [w]the hill, behold, a group of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, so that he prophesied among them. 11 And it came about, when all who previously knew him saw that he was indeed prophesying with the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? (BS)Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 And a man from there responded and said, “And who is their father?” Therefore it became a saying: “(BT)Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 Now (BU)Saul’s uncle said to him and his servant, “Where did you go?” And he said, “(BV)To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel.” 15 Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.” 16 So Saul said to his uncle, “(BW)He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had mentioned.

Saul Publicly Chosen King

17 Now Samuel called the (BX)people together to the Lord at Mizpah; 18 and he said to the sons of Israel, “(BY)This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the [x]power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ 19 But today you (BZ)have rejected your God, who saves you from all your catastrophes and your distresses; yet you have [y]said, ‘No, but put a king over us!’ Now then, (CA)present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your [z]groups of thousands.”

20 So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel forward; and the tribe of Benjamin was selected by lot. 21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin forward by its families, and the Matrite family was selected by lot. And Saul the son of Kish was selected by lot; but when they looked for him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore (CB)they inquired further of the Lord: “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord said, “Behold, he is hiding himself among the baggage.” 23 So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, (CC)he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him (CD)whom the Lord has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” So all the people shouted and said, “[aa](CE)Long live the king!”

25 Then Samuel told the people (CF)the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrote them in the book, and (CG)placed it before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house. 26 Saul also went (CH)to his house in Gibeah; and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But certain [ab](CI)useless men said, “How can this one save us?” And they despised him and (CJ)did not bring him a gift. But [ac]he kept silent about it.

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

11 Now (CK)Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged (CL)Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make (CM)a covenant with us and we will serve you.” But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will make it with you on this condition, (CN)that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, and thereby I will inflict (CO)a disgrace on all Israel.” So (CP)the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Allow us seven days to send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.” Then the messengers came (CQ)to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people (CR)raised their voices and wept.

Now behold, Saul was coming from the field (CS)behind the oxen, and Saul said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they reported to him the words of the men of Jabesh. Then (CT)the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and [ad]he became very angry. He then took a yoke of oxen and (CU)cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “(CV)Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, the same shall be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out (CW)as one person. He [ae]counted them in (CX)Bezek; and the (CY)sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah, thirty thousand. They said to the messengers who had come, “This is what you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be saved.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they rejoiced. 10 Then the men of Jabesh said, “(CZ)Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good [af]to you.” 11 The next morning Saul put the people (DA)in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch, and struck and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, “(DB)Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ [ag](DC)Bring the men, so that we may put them to death!” 13 But Saul said, “(DD)Not a single person shall be put to death this day, for today (DE)the Lord has brought about [ah]victory in Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to (DF)Gilgal and (DG)renew the kingdom there.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king (DH)before the Lord in Gilgal. There they also (DI)offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Samuel Addresses Israel

12 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, (DJ)I have listened to your voice for all that you said to me, and I (DK)have appointed a king over you. Now, (DL)here is the king walking before you, but as for me, (DM)I am old and gray, and (DN)my sons are here with you. And (DO)I have walked before you since my youth to this day. Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and (DP)His anointed. (DQ)Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I exploited? Whom have I oppressed, or (DR)from whose hand have I taken a bribe to close my eyes with it? I will return it to you.” And they said, “You have not exploited us or oppressed us, or taken anything from anyone’s hand.” So he said to them, “The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that (DS)you have found nothing (DT)in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”

Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who [ai](DU)appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. Now then, take your stand, (DV)so that I may enter into judgment with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord that He did for you and your fathers. (DW)When Jacob went into Egypt and (DX)your fathers cried out to the Lord, then (DY)the Lord sent Moses and Aaron [aj](DZ)who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place. But (EA)they forgot the Lord their God, so (EB)He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and (EC)into the hand of the Philistines, and (ED)into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10 (EE)They cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have abandoned the Lord and have served (EF)the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but (EG)now save us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’ 11 Then the Lord sent (EH)Jerubbaal, [ak](EI)Bedan, (EJ)Jephthah, and (EK)Samuel, and saved you from the hands of your enemies all around, so that you lived in security.

The King Confirmed

12 But when you saw (EL)that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon was coming against you, you said to me, ‘(EM)No, but a king shall reign over us!’ (EN)Yet the Lord your God was your king. 13 And now, (EO)behold, the king whom you have chosen, (EP)whom you have asked for, and behold, the Lord has [al]put a king over you. 14 (EQ)If you will fear the Lord and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the [am]command of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God. 15 But (ER)if you do not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the [an]command of the Lord, then (ES)the hand of the Lord will be against you, (ET)even as it was against your fathers. 16 Even now, (EU)take your stand and see this great thing which the Lord is going to do before your eyes. 17 (EV)Is it not the wheat harvest today? (EW)I will call to the Lord, that He will send [ao]thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that (EX)your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the Lord, by asking for yourselves a king.” 18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent [ap]thunder and rain that day; and (EY)all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

19 Then all the people said to Samuel, “(EZ)Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we do not die; for we have added to all our sins (FA)this evil, by asking for ourselves a king.” 20 Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet (FB)do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 Indeed, you must not turn aside, for then you would go after (FC)useless things which cannot benefit or save, because they are useless. 22 For (FD)the Lord will not abandon His people (FE)on account of His great name, because the Lord (FF)has been pleased to make you a people for Himself. 23 Furthermore, as for me, (FG)far be it from me that I would sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but (FH)I will instruct you in the good and right way. 24 (FI)Only [aq]fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider (FJ)what great things He has done for you. 25 (FK)But if you still do evil, (FL)both you and your king (FM)will be swept away.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:6 Or evil
  2. 1 Samuel 8:9 Lit custom
  3. 1 Samuel 8:11 Lit custom
  4. 1 Samuel 8:12 Lit plow his plowing
  5. 1 Samuel 8:16 Lit make
  6. 1 Samuel 8:21 Lit spoke
  7. 1 Samuel 9:1 Or man of wealth and influence
  8. 1 Samuel 9:10 Lit Your word is good
  9. 1 Samuel 9:12 Or behold
  10. 1 Samuel 9:15 Lit opened Samuel’s ear
  11. 1 Samuel 9:17 Lit answered
  12. 1 Samuel 9:21 As in some ancient versions; MT tribes
  13. 1 Samuel 9:23 Lit Give
  14. 1 Samuel 9:23 Lit with you
  15. 1 Samuel 9:24 Lit saying
  16. 1 Samuel 9:25 LXX they spread a bed for Saul on the roof
  17. 1 Samuel 10:1 Lit his
  18. 1 Samuel 10:3 Or terebinth
  19. 1 Samuel 10:4 Lit inquire of your welfare
  20. 1 Samuel 10:5 Or Gibeath-haelohim
  21. 1 Samuel 10:7 Lit your hand finds
  22. 1 Samuel 10:9 Lit for him another heart
  23. 1 Samuel 10:10 Or Gibeath
  24. 1 Samuel 10:18 Lit hand
  25. 1 Samuel 10:19 As in several mss and ancient versions; MT said to Him
  26. 1 Samuel 10:19 Or clans
  27. 1 Samuel 10:24 Lit May the king live
  28. 1 Samuel 10:27 Or wicked; lit sons of Belial
  29. 1 Samuel 10:27 A mutilated DSS fragment of uncertain reliability (4QSama) adds here that Nahash (11:1) gouged out the right eyes of Israelites
  30. 1 Samuel 11:6 Lit his anger burned exceedingly
  31. 1 Samuel 11:8 Lit mustered
  32. 1 Samuel 11:10 Lit in your sight
  33. 1 Samuel 11:12 Lit Give
  34. 1 Samuel 11:13 Or deliverance in
  35. 1 Samuel 12:6 Lit made
  36. 1 Samuel 12:8 Lit and they brought
  37. 1 Samuel 12:11 LXX and Syriac Barak
  38. 1 Samuel 12:13 Lit given
  39. 1 Samuel 12:14 Lit mouth
  40. 1 Samuel 12:15 Lit mouth
  41. 1 Samuel 12:17 Lit sounds
  42. 1 Samuel 12:18 Lit sounds
  43. 1 Samuel 12:24 Or revere