1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. 2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome young man: and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people. 3And the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the donkeys. 4And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. 5When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys, and be anxious for us. 6And he said to him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says surely comes to pass: now let us go there; perhaps he can tell us concerning our journey on which we go. 7Then Saul said to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is used up in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what do we have? 8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that I will give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, Come, and let us go to the seer; for he who is now called a Prophet was formerly called a Seer.) 10Then Saul said to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was. 11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young women going out to draw water, and said to them, Is the seer here? 12And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is ahead of you: hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place. 13As soon as you have come into the city, you shall immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice; and afterward those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you shall find him. 14And they went up to the city; and as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place. 15Now Yehovah had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying, 16Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me. 17And when Samuel saw Saul, Yehovah said to him, Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! this one shall have authority over my people. 18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Please tell me where the seer’s house is. 19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer; go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today: and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind 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? 21And Saul answered and said, Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? why then do you speak to me in this way? 22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the chief place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons. 23And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, Set it by you. 24And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold, that which has been reserved! set it before you and eat; because to the appointed time it has been kept for you, for I said, I have invited the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25And when they had come down from the high place into the city, he spoke with Saul on the housetop. 26And they arose early: and it happened about the dawn of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, that I may send you away. And Saul arose, and they both went out, he and Samuel, outside. 27As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell the servant to pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand still first, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.