The Lantern

I Samuel9

Saul Chosen as King

And there was a man of Benjamin, and his name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a mighty man of valor.

And he had a son, and his name was Saul — a choice young man, and good; and there was not a man of the sons of Israel better than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than all the people.

And the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost; and Kish said to Saul his son, “Take with you, please, one of the young men, and rise, go seek the donkeys.”

And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, and they did not find them; and they passed through the land of Shaalim — nothing; and he passed through the land of the Benjaminites, and they did not find them.

They had come into the land of Zuph when Saul said to his young man who was with him, “Come, and let us turn back — lest my father stop caring about the donkeys and worry about us.”

And he said to him: “Look, please — there is a man of God in this city, and the man is honored; all that he speaks surely comes to pass. Now let us go there. Perhaps he will tell us our way, on which we should go.”

And Saul said to his young man, “But look — if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our bags, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

And the young man answered Saul again and said, “Look — there is found in my hand a quarter shekel of silver; and I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”

(In former times in Israel, thus said a man when he went to inquire of God: “Come, and let us go to the seer” — for today’s prophet was formerly called the seer.)

And Saul said to his young man, “Your word is good. Come, let us go.” And they went to the city where the man of God was.

They were going up the ascent of the city when they found young women coming out to draw water; and they said to them, “Is the seer here?”

And they answered them and said: “He is. Look — ahead of you. Hurry now, for today he has come to the city, for the people have a sacrifice today at the high place.

As you come into the city, so you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat — for the people will not eat until he comes, for he blesses the sacrifice; afterward those invited eat. And now go up, for today — you will find him today.”

And they went up to the city. They were coming into the middle of the city — and look, Samuel coming out toward them, to go up to the high place.

Now the LORD had uncovered the ear of Samuel one day before Saul came, saying:

“About this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him as leader over my people Israel; and he shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines — for I have seen my people, for their cry has come to me.”

And Samuel saw Saul; and the LORD answered him, “Look — the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall restrain my people.”

And Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate and said, “Tell me, please — where is the house of the seer?”

And Samuel answered Saul and said: “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, and you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will send you off, and all that is in your heart I will tell you.

And as for the donkeys lost to you these three days — do not set your heart on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you, and for all your father’s house?”

And Saul answered and said, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? So why have you spoken to me a word like this?”

And Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of those invited — and they were about thirty men.

And Samuel said to the cook, “Give the portion that I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside with you.’”

And the cook lifted the thigh and what was on it, and set it before Saul. And he said, “Look — what was kept. Set it before you; eat. For it has been kept for you for this appointed time, since I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” And Saul ate with Samuel that day.

And they went down from the high place into the city; and he spoke with Saul on the roof.

And they rose early. And it was, at the coming up of the dawn, that Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Rise, and I will send you off.” And Saul rose, and the two of them went outside, he and Samuel.

They were going down at the edge of the city when Samuel said to Saul: “Say to the young man that he should pass on ahead of us” — and he passed on — “but you, stand still now, and I will let you hear the word of God.”