9:1 There was a Benjamite fellow whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah of Benjamin. He was a prominent person. 9:2 He had a son whose name was Saul, an attractive young man. There was no one among the Israelites more attractive than he; he stood head and shoulders above all the people.

9:3 When the donkeys of Kish the father of Saul became lost, Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the boys with you and go¹ look for the donkeys.”² 9:4 So he crossed through the hill country of Ephraim, passing through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. So they crossed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he crossed through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.

9:5 When they came to the land of Suph, Saul said to his attendant who was with him, “Come on, let’s head back before my father quits worrying about the donkeys and becomes anxious for us.” 9:6 But he said to him, “Look, there is a man of God in this city. He is well thought of. Everything that he says really happens. Now let’s go there. Perhaps he will tell us where we should go from here.”³ 9:7 So Saul said to his attendant, “We can go, but what can we give the man, since the food in our bags is used up. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” 9:8 The attendant went on to answer Saul, “Look, I happen to have in my hand a fourth-shekel of silver. If I give it to the man of God, he will tell us where we should go.” 9:9 (Now it used to be in Israel that whenever a man went to inquire of God he would say, “Come on, let’s go to the seer.” For today’s prophet used to be called a seer.) 9:10 So Saul said to his attendant, “That’s a good idea!⁴ Come on. Let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

9:11 As they were going up the incline to the city, they encountered girls coming out to draw water. They said to them, “Is this where the seer is?” 9:12 They replied, “Yes, straight ahead. But hurry now, for he came to the city today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place. 9:13 When you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he arrives, for he should bless the sacrifice. Once that happens, those who have been invited will eat. Now go on up, for⁵ about now you will find him.”

9:14 So they went up to the city. As they were entering the midst of the city, Samuel was coming forth in their direction⁶ so as to go up to the high place. 9:15 Now one day before Saul had come, the LORD had revealed⁷ this to Samuel: 9:16 “At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin. You should anoint him as a leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked with favor on my people. Their cry has come to me.”

9:17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD responded, “Here is the man that I told you about. He will rule over my people.” 9:18 As Saul drew near to Samuel in the midst of the gate, he said, “Please tell me where the house of the seer is.”

9:19 Samuel replied to Saul, “I am the seer. “Go up in front of me to the high place. Today you will eat with me. In the morning I will send you away, and I will tell you everything that you are thinking.⁸ 9:20 Don’t be concerned about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Upon whom is the desire of all Israel fixed? Is it not you, and all the house of your father?”

9:21 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the tribes of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?”

9:22 Then Samuel took Saul and his attendant and brought them into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty men present. 9:23 Samuel said to the cook, “Give me the portion of food that I gave to you—the one I asked you to keep with you.”

9:24 So the cook picked up the leg and brought it and put it in front of Saul. He said, “What was kept is now set before you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this meeting time, as I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” And so it was that Saul ate with Samuel on that day.

9:25 When they came down from the high place to the city, he⁹ spoke with Saul on the roof. 9:26 They got up at dawn, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof saying, “Get up, so that I can send you on your way.” So Saul got up, and the two of them (he and Samuel) went outside. 9:27 While they were going down to the city limit, Samuel said to Saul, “Speak to the attendant so that he crosses on in front of us.” So he crossed on.¹⁰ “But first of all you remain here, so that I can inform you of God’s message.”