1 Shamu'al 9

Now there was a man of Binyamiyn, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Binyamiynite, a mighty man of power.

And he had a son, whose name was Shaul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Yashar'al a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

And the donkeys of Kish Shaul's father were lost. And Kish said to Shaul his son, "Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the donkeys."

And he passed through mount Aphrayiym, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Binyamiynites, but they found them not.

And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Shaul said to his servant that was with him, "Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the donkeys, and take thought for us."

And he said unto him, "Behold now, there is in this city a man of Alahiym, and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go."

Then said Shaul to his servant, "But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of Alahiym: what have we?"

And the servant answered Shaul again, and said, "Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of Alahiym, to tell us our way."

(Beforetime in Yashar'al, when a man went to inquire of Alahiym, thus he spake, "Come, and let us go to the seer:" for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

Then said Shaul to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go." So they went unto the city where the man of Alahiym was.

And as they went up the hill to the city, 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 today to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people today in the high place:"

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

And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Shamuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.

Now 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had told Shamuel in his ear a day before Shaul came, saying,

"Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Binyamiyn, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Yashar'al, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me."

And when Shamuel saw Shaul, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said unto him, "Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people."

Then Shaul drew near to Shamuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is."

And Shamuel answered Shaul, and said, "I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart."

"And as for thine donkeys that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Yashar'al? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?"

And Shaul answered and said, "Am not I a Binyamiynite, of the smallest of the tribes of Yashar'al? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Binyamiyn? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?"

And Shamuel took Shaul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.

And Shamuel said unto the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee."

And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Shaul. And Shamuel said, "Behold that which is left! 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 Shaul did eat with Shamuel that day.

And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Shamuel communed with Shaul upon the top of the house.

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

And as they were going down to the end of the city, Shamuel said to Shaul, "Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of Alahiym."