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1 Samuel 10:17-27
New English Translation

17 Then Samuel called the people together before the Lord at Mizpah. 18 He said to the Israelites, “This is what the Lord God of Israel has said, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt and I delivered you from the power[a] of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. 19 But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your trouble and distress. You have said, “No![b] Appoint a king over us.” Now take your positions before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.’”

20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. 21 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found. 22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Has the man arrived here yet?” The Lord said, “He has hidden himself among the equipment.”[c]

23 So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all. 24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one whom the Lord has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people.” All the people shouted out, “Long live the king!”

25 Then Samuel talked to the people about how the kingship would work.[d] He wrote it all down on a scroll and set it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away to their homes. 26 Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. With him went some brave men whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some wicked men[e] said, “How can this man save us?” They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 10:18 tn Heb “hand” (also later in this verse).
  2. 1 Samuel 10:19 tc The translation follows many medieval Hebrew mss, the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate in reading לֹא (loʾ, “not”) rather than the MT לוֹ (lo; “to him”). Some witnesses combine the variants, resulting in a conflated text. For example, a few medieval Hebrew mss have לֹא לוֹ (lo loʾ; “to him, ‘No.’”). A few others have לֹא לִי (li loʾ; “to me, ‘No.’”).
  3. 1 Samuel 10:22 tn Or “baggage” (so many English versions); KJV “stuff”; TEV “supplies.”
  4. 1 Samuel 10:25 tn Heb “the regulation of the kingship.” This probably refers to the regulations pertaining to kingship given to Moses (see Deut 17:14-20).
  5. 1 Samuel 10:27 tn Heb “sons of worthlessness” (see 2:12).
  6. 1 Samuel 10:27 tc In place of the MT (“and it was like one being silent”) the LXX has “after about a month,” taking the expression with the first part of the following chapter rather than with 10:27. Some Hebrew support for this reading appears in the corrected hand of a Qumran ms of Samuel, which has here “about a month.” However, it seems best to stay with the MT here even though it is difficult.
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1 Samuel 10:17-27
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. 22 So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?”

The Lord said, “He is here, hiding among the baggage.”

23 They ran and brought him from there. When he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the others by a head.[d] 24 Then Samuel told all the people, “Do you see the man whom the Lord has chosen? For there is no one like him among all the people.”

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

25 Samuel explained to the people the regulations[e] concerning kingship. He wrote them in a scroll and placed it in the Lord’s presence. Then Samuel sent all the people to their own houses. 26 Saul also went to his house in Gibeah, and the soldiers[f] whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But some troublemakers[g] said, “How can this man deliver us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift. But Saul[h] remained silent.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 10:18 Lit. hand
  2. 1 Samuel 10:18 Lit. hand
  3. 1 Samuel 10:19 So with numerous mss and versions; MT reads told him, ‘Instead,
  4. 1 Samuel 10:23 Lit. than all the people from his shoulder up
  5. 1 Samuel 10:25 Or practices
  6. 1 Samuel 10:26 Or valiant men
  7. 1 Samuel 10:27 Lit. sons of Belial; i.e. worthless men
  8. 1 Samuel 10:27 Lit. he
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