1SA-9:1  Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish,

the

son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of

Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

1SA-9:2  And he had a son, whose name [was] Saul, a choice young

man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the children of

Israel

a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward [he was]

higher than any of the people.

1SA-9:3  And 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.

1SA-9:4  And he passed through mount Ephraim, 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 Benjamites, but they found [them] not.

1SA-9:5  [And] when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul

said to

his servant that [was] with him, Come, and let us return; lest my

father leave [caring] for the asses, and take thought for us.

1SA-9:6  And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this

city a

man of God, and [he is] an honourable 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.

1SA-9:7  Then said Saul 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 God: what

have

we?

1SA-9:8  And the servant answered Saul 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 God, to tell us our way.

1SA-9:9  (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire 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 Seer.)

1SA-9:10  Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us

go.

So they went unto the city where the man of God [was].

1SA-9:11  [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?

1SA-9:12  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 sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:

1SA-9:13  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.

1SA-9:14  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.

1SA-9:15  Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before

Saul

came, saying,

1SA-9:16  To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of

the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt 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 upon my people, because their cry

is

come unto me.

1SA-9:17  And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him,

Behold

the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my

people.

1SA-9:18  Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said,

Tell

me, I pray thee, where the seer's house [is].

1SA-9:19  And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I [am] the seer:

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 tell thee all that [is] in

thine heart.

1SA-9:20  And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago,

set

not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom [is] all

the

desire of Israel? [Is it] not on thee, and on all thy father's

house?

1SA-9:21  And Saul answered and said, [Am] not I a Benjamite, of

the

smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all

the

families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou

so

to me?

1SA-9:22  And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them

into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among

them

that were bidden, which [were] about thirty persons.

1SA-9:23  And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which

I

gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

1SA-9:24  And the cook took up the shoulder, and [that] which

[was]

upon it, and set [it] before Saul. And [Samuel] 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 Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

1SA-9:25  And when they were come down from the high place into

the

city, [Samuel] communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

1SA-9:26  And they arose early: and it came to pass about the

spring

of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house,

saying,

Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out

both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

1SA-9:27  [And] as they were going down to the end of the city,

Samuel said to Saul, 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 God.

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