1 Samuel 10:17-27

GOD’S WORD Translation

The Lord Chooses Saul

¹⁷ Samuel called the people to ⌞come into the presence of⌟ the Lord at Mizpah. ¹⁸ He said to the Israelites, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: I brought Israel out of Egypt and rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kings who were oppressing you. ¹⁹ But now you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and distresses. You said, ‘No! Place a king over us.’ Now then, stand in front of the Lord by your tribes and family groups.”

²⁰ When Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. ²¹ When he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by families, the family of Matri was chosen. Then Saul, the son of Kish, was chosen. They looked for him but couldn’t find him. ²² They asked the Lord again, “Has he arrived here yet?”

The Lord answered, “He’s hiding among the baggage.”

²³ They ran and got him from there. As he stood among the people, he was a head taller than everyone else. ²⁴ Samuel asked the people, “Do you see whom the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”

Then all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

²⁵ Samuel explained the laws concerning kingship to the people. He wrote the laws on a scroll, which he placed in front of the Lord. Then Samuel sent the people back to their homes. ²⁶ Saul also went home to Gibeah. With him went some soldiers whose hearts God had touched. ²⁷ However, some good-for-nothing people asked, “How can this man save us?” They despised him and wouldn’t bring him presents, but he didn’t respond.