1 Samuel 10:17-21

International Standard Version

Saul is Proclaimed King

¹⁷ Samuel summoned the people to the Lord at Mizpah. ¹⁸ He told the Israelis, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power^[a] of Egypt and from the power^[b] of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ ¹⁹ But today you have rejected your God who delivers you from all your troubles and difficulties. You have said, ‘No!^[c] Instead, appoint a king over us.’ Now present yourselves in the Lord’s presence by your tribes and families.”

²⁰ Samuel brought forward all the tribes of Israel, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. ²¹ Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin according to its families, and the family of Matri was chosen. Finally, Kish’s son Saul was chosen, but when they looked for him, they couldn’t find him.