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1 Samuel 9
New International Version
1 Samuel 9
New International Version
Samuel Anoints Saul
9 There was a Benjamite,(A) a man of standing,(B) whose name was Kish(C) son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. 2 Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome(D) a young man as could be found(E) anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller(F) than anyone else.
3 Now the donkeys(G) belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.” 4 So he passed through the hill(H) country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha,(I) but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys(J) were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.
5 When they reached the district of Zuph,(K) Saul said to the servant who was with him, “Come, let’s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying(L) about us.”
6 But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God;(M) he is highly respected, and everything(N) he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.”
7 Saul said to his servant, “If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift(O) to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
8 The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have a quarter of a shekel[a] of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire(P) of God, they would say, “Come, let us go to the seer,” because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)(Q)
10 “Good,” Saul said to his servant. “Come, let’s go.” So they set out for the town where the man of God was.
11 As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw(R) water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?”
12 “He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice(S) at the high place.(T) 13 As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless(U) the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.”
14 They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.
15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint(V) him ruler(W) over my people Israel; he will deliver(X) them from the hand of the Philistines.(Y) I have looked on my people, for their cry(Z) has reached me.”
17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This(AA) is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”
18 Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 As for the donkeys(AB) you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire(AC) of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?”
21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe(AD) of Israel, and is not my clan the least(AE) of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin?(AF) Why do you say such a thing to me?”
22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited—about thirty in number. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.”
24 So the cook took up the thigh(AG) with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion from the time I said, ‘I have invited guests.’” And Saul dined with Samuel that day.
25 After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof(AH) of his house. 26 They rose about daybreak, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way.” When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”—and the servant did so—“but you stay here for a while, so that I may give you a message from God.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 9:8 That is, about 1/10 ounce or about 3 grams
1 Samuel 9
Schlachter 2000
1 Samuel 9
Schlachter 2000
Sauls Berufung zum König, sein Ungehorsam und seine Verwerfung
Saul trifft Samuel in Rama
9 Es war aber ein Mann von Benjamin, sein Name war Kis, ein Sohn Abiels, des Sohnes Zerors, des Sohnes Bechorats, des Sohnes Aphiachs, des Sohnes eines Benjaminiters, ein angesehener Mann.
2 Der hatte einen Sohn namens Saul[a], stattlich und schön, sodass keiner schöner war unter den Söhnen Israels; um Haupteslänge überragte er alles Volk.
3 Und die Eselinnen von Kis, dem Vater Sauls, gingen verloren. Und Kis sprach zu seinem Sohn Saul: Nimm doch einen der Burschen mit dir und mache dich auf, geh hin und suche die Eselinnen!
4 Und er durchzog das Bergland Ephraim und durchquerte das Gebiet von Salisa; aber sie fanden sie nicht. Sie gingen auch durch das Gebiet von Saalim, da waren sie auch nicht. Darauf durchzog er das Gebiet von Benjamin, aber sie fanden sie auch nicht.
5 Als sie gerade in das Gebiet von Zuph kamen, da sprach Saul zu seinem Burschen, der bei ihm war: Komm, lass uns wieder umkehren, damit nicht mein Vater die Eselinnen sein lässt und sich um uns Sorgen macht!
6 Er aber sprach zu ihm: Siehe doch, es ist ein Mann Gottes in dieser Stadt, und der ist ein ehrwürdiger Mann; alles, was er sagt, trifft sicher ein. So lass uns nun dorthin gehen; vielleicht gibt er uns Auskunft über unseren Weg, den wir gehen sollen!
7 Saul aber sprach zu seinem Burschen: Siehe, wenn wir hingehen, was bringen wir dem Mann? Denn das Brot in unseren Taschen ist aufgebraucht; auch haben wir sonst kein Geschenk, das wir dem Mann Gottes bringen könnten; was haben wir?
8 Der Bursche antwortete Saul wiederum und sprach: Siehe, ich habe einen Viertel Silberschekel bei mir, den will ich dem Mann Gottes geben, damit er uns Auskunft über unseren Weg gibt!
9 (Früher sagte man in Israel, wenn man ging, um Gott zu befragen: Kommt, lasst uns zum Seher gehen! Denn derjenige, den man heutzutage Prophet nennt, der hieß früher Seher.)
10 Da sprach Saul zu seinem Burschen: Dein Vorschlag ist gut; komm, wir wollen gehen! Und sie gingen zu der Stadt, in welcher der Mann Gottes war.
11 Als sie gerade die Anhöhe zur Stadt hinaufgingen, da trafen sie Mädchen, die herauskamen, um Wasser zu schöpfen; zu diesen sprachen sie: Ist der Seher hier?
12 Sie antworteten ihnen und sprachen: Ja, siehe, er ist vor dir; beeile dich jetzt, denn er ist heute in die Stadt gekommen, weil das Volk heute auf der Höhe ein Schlachtopfer bringt.
13 Wenn ihr in die Stadt kommt, so werdet ihr ihn gerade treffen, ehe er zur Höhe hinaufgeht zum Essen; denn das Volk isst nicht, bis er kommt; denn er muss das Opfer segnen, danach essen die Geladenen. So geht nun hinauf; denn eben jetzt werdet ihr ihn treffen!
14 Da gingen sie zur Stadt hinauf. Als sie gerade in die Stadt eintraten, siehe, da kam Samuel heraus, ihnen entgegen, um zur Höhe hinaufzugehen.
15 Aber der Herr hatte einen Tag zuvor, ehe Saul kam, Samuels Ohr geöffnet und zu ihm gesagt:
16 Morgen um diese Zeit will ich einen Mann aus dem Land Benjamin zu dir senden, den sollst du zum Fürsten über mein Volk Israel salben, damit er mein Volk aus der Hand der Philister errette; denn ich habe mein Volk angesehen, weil sein Rufen vor mich gekommen ist!
17 Sobald nun Samuel den Saul sah, ließ ihn der Herr wissen: Siehe, das ist der Mann, von dem ich dir gesagt habe, dass er über mein Volk herrschen soll!
18 Und Saul trat zu Samuel im Stadttor und sprach: Sage mir doch, wo ist hier das Haus des Sehers?
19 Und Samuel antwortete dem Saul und sprach: Ich bin der Seher! Geh vor mir her zur Höhe hinauf; denn ihr sollt heute mit mir essen, und morgen will ich dich ziehen lassen; und alles, was in deinem Herzen ist, will ich dir sagen!
20 Um die Eselinnen aber, die dir vor drei Tagen verlorengegangen sind, sorge dich nicht[b]; denn sie sind gefunden! Und wem gehört alles Begehrenswerte in Israel[c]? Nicht dir und dem ganzen Haus deines Vaters?
21 Da antwortete Saul und sprach: Bin ich nicht ein Benjaminiter, von einem der kleinsten Stämme Israels, und ist mein Geschlecht nicht das geringste unter allen Geschlechtern der Stämme Benjamins? Warum sagst du mir denn solche Worte?
22 Samuel aber nahm Saul samt seinem Burschen und führte sie in die Halle[d] und setzte sie obenan unter die Geladenen; deren Zahl war etwa 30 Mann.
23 Und Samuel sprach zu dem Koch: Gib das Stück her, das ich dir gegeben habe, und von dem ich befahl, du solltest es beiseitelegen!
24 Da trug der Koch die Keule auf und was daran war, und setzte sie Saul vor. Und Samuel sprach: Siehe, das ist aufgehoben worden; lege es dir vor und iss; denn es ist auf die bestimmte Zeit für dich aufbewahrt worden, als ich sagte: Ich habe das Volk eingeladen! So aß Saul mit Samuel an jenem Tag.
25 Und sie gingen von der Höhe in die Stadt hinab, und er redete mit Saul auf dem Dach.
26 Und sie standen früh auf. Und es geschah, als die Morgenröte aufging, rief Samuel den Saul auf dem Dach und sprach: Mache dich auf, so will ich dich begleiten! Da machte sich Saul auf, und die beiden gingen miteinander hinaus, er und Samuel.
27 Und als sie gerade am Ende der Stadt hinabstiegen, sprach Samuel zu Saul: »Sage dem Burschen, dass er uns vorausgehen soll!« Und er ging voraus. »Du aber stehe jetzt still, damit ich dich das Wort Gottes hören lasse!«
Footnotes
- (9,2) hebr. Schaul = »Der Erbetene«. Saul war zum Zeitpunkt seiner Berufung mindestens Mitte 30 und hatte schon Kinder.
- (9,20) w. richte nicht dein Herz auf sie.
- (9,20) od. auf wen richtet sich alles Begehren Israels?
- (9,22) Ein Raum bei dem Höhenheiligtum, in dem die Opfermahlzeiten eingenommen wurden.
1 Samuel 9
New King James Version
1 Samuel 9
New King James Version
Saul Chosen to Be King
9 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was (A)Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of [a]power. 2 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. (B)From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
3 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.” 4 So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of (C)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.
5 When they had come to the land of (D)Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let (E)us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us.”
6 And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city (F)a man of God, and he is an honorable man; (G)all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”
7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go, (H)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?”
8 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.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man (I)went [b]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 (J)a seer.)
10 Then Saul said to his servant, [c]“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, (K)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 (L)there is a sacrifice of the people today (M)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 (N)Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, 16 “Tomorrow about this time (O)I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, (P)and you shall anoint him [d]commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have (Q)looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
17 So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, (R)“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 (S)your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And [e]on whom (T)is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?”
21 And Saul answered and said, (U)“Am I not a Benjamite, of the (V)smallest of the tribes of Israel, and (W)my family the least of all the families of the [f]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 (X)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, [g]Samuel spoke with Saul on (Y)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 [h]awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 9:1 wealth
- 1 Samuel 9:9 Lit. to seek God
- 1 Samuel 9:10 Lit. Your word is good
- 1 Samuel 9:16 prince or ruler
- 1 Samuel 9:20 for whom
- 1 Samuel 9:21 Lit. tribes
- 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.
- 1 Samuel 9:27 now
1 Samuel 9
English Standard Version
1 Samuel 9
English Standard Version
Saul Chosen to Be King
9 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was (A)Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, (B)a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. (C)From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.
3 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.” 4 And he passed through (D)the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of (E)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.
5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant[a] who was with him, “Come, let us go back, (F)lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold, there is (G)a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; (H)all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, (I)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?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel[b] of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man (J)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, (K)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 (L)have a sacrifice today on (M)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, (N)the Lord had (O)revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, (P)and you shall anoint him to be prince[c] over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. (Q)For I have seen[d] my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, (R)“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 (S)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, (T)from the least of the tribes of Israel? (U)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 (V)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.”[e]
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 (W)on the roof, and he lay down to sleep.[f] 26 Then at the break of dawn[g] 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.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 9:5 Hebrew young man; also verses 7, 8, 10, 27
- 1 Samuel 9:8 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
- 1 Samuel 9:16 Or leader
- 1 Samuel 9:16 Septuagint adds the affliction of
- 1 Samuel 9:24 Hebrew appointed, saying, ‘I have invited the people’
- 1 Samuel 9:25 Septuagint; Hebrew city, he spoke with Saul on the roof
- 1 Samuel 9:26 Septuagint; Hebrew And they arose early, and at the break of dawn
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Schlachter 2000 (SCH2000)
Copyright © 2000 by Geneva Bible Society
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.