¶ Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish¹, 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 choice³ young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders⁴ and upward he was higher than any of the people.

¶⁵And 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 mount⁶ Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha⁷, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim⁸, 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 Zuph⁹, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought¹⁰ for us.

And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city¹¹ a man of God, and he is an honourable¹² man; all that he saith¹³ 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 shall¹⁴ we bring the man? for the bread is spent in¹⁵ our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we¹⁶?

And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand¹⁷ 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 enquire¹⁸ 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 Seer¹⁹.)

¶ Then said Saul to his servant, Well said²⁰; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

¶ And as they went up the hill to the city²¹, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

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 sacrifice²² of the people to day in the high place²³:

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 bless²⁴ the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time²⁵ ye shall find him.

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.

Now the LORD²⁶ had told Samuel in his ear²⁷ a day before Saul came, saying,

To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt²⁸ 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 upon²⁹ my people, because their cry is come unto me.

And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold³⁰ the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over³¹ my people.

¶ Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.

And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer³²: 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 tell³³ thee all that is in thine heart.

¶ And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago³⁴, set not³⁵ thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom³⁶ is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite³⁷, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family³⁸ the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me³⁹?

And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest⁴⁰ place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.

And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring⁴¹ the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

And the cook took up the shoulder⁴², and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left⁴³! 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.

And when⁴⁴ they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top⁴⁵ of the house.

And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel⁴⁶ called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up⁴⁷, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant⁴⁸ pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while⁴⁹, that I may shew thee the word of God.