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1 Samuel 9
1599 Geneva Bible
1 Samuel 9
1599 Geneva Bible
9 3 Saul seeking his father’s asses, by the counsel of his servant goeth to Samuel. 9 The Prophets called Seers. 15 The Lord revealeth to Samuel Saul’s coming, commanding him to anoint him king. 22 Samuel bringeth Saul to the feast.
1 There was now a man of Benjamin, [a]mighty in power, named (A)Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a man of Benjamin.
2 And he had a son called Saul, a [b]goodly young man and a fair: so that among the children of Israel there was none goodlier than he: from the shoulders upward, he was higher than any of the people.
3 And the asses of Kish, Saul’s father were lost: therefore Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go and [c]seek the asses.
4 So he passed through mount Ephraim, and went through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not. Then they went through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: he went also through the land of Benjamin, but they found them not.
5 When they came to the land of [d]Zuph, Saul said unto his servant that was with him, Come and let us return, lest my father leave the care of asses, and take thought for us.
6 And he said unto him, Behold now, in this city is a man of God, and he is an honorable man: all that he saith cometh to pass: let us now go thither, if so be that he can show us what way we may go.
7 Then said Saul to his servant, Well then, let us go: but what shall we bring unto the man? For the [e]bread is spent in our vessels, and there is no present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have found about me the fourth part of a [f]shekel of silver: that will I give the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 (Beforetime in Israel when a man went to seek an answer of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the [g]Seer: for he that is called now a Prophet, was in the old time called a Seer)
10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said, come, let us go: so they went into the city where the man of God was.
11 ¶ And as they were going up the highway to the city, they found maids that came out to draw water, and said unto them, Is there here a Seer?
12 And they answered them, and said, Yea, lo, he is before you: make haste now, for he came this day to the city: for there is an [h]offering of the people this day in the high place.
13 When ye shall come into the city, ye shall find him straightway ere he come up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he come, because he will [i]bless the sacrifice; and then eat they that be bidden to the feast: now therefore go up, for even now shall ye find him.
14 Then they went up into the city, and when they were come into the midst of the city, Samuel came out against them, to go up to the high place.
15 ¶ (B)But the Lord had revealed to Samuel [j]secretly (a day before Saul came) saying,
16 Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, him shalt thou anoint to be governor over my people Israel, that he may [k]save my people out of the hands of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, and their cry is come unto me.
17 When Samuel therefore saw Saul, the Lord answered him, See, this is the man whom I spake to thee of, he shall rule my people.
18 Then went Saul to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the Seer’s house is.
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 today, and tomorrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine [l]heart.
20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, care not for them: for they are found: and [m]on whom is set all the desire of Israel? is it not upon thee, and on all thy father’s house?
21 ¶ But Saul answered, and said, Am not I the son of Benjamin of the smallest tribe of Israel? and my family is the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the [n]chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden: which were about thirty persons.
23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring forth the portion which I gave thee, and whereof I said unto thee, Keep it with thee.
24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was [o]upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold, that which is left, set it before thee, and eat: for hitherto hath it been kept for thee, saying, Also I [p]have called the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, he communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26 And when they arose early about the spring of the day, Samuel called Saul to the [q]top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out, both he, and Samuel.
27 And when they were come down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant go before us, (and he went) but stand thou still now, that I may show thee [r]the word of God.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 9:1 That is, both valiant and rich.
- 1 Samuel 9:2 So that it might seem that God approved their request in appointing out such a person.
- 1 Samuel 9:3 All these circumstances were means to serve unto God’s providence, whereby Saul (though not approved of God) was made king.
- 1 Samuel 9:5 Where was Ramathaim Zophim, the city of Samuel.
- 1 Samuel 9:7 Or, vittles.
- 1 Samuel 9:8 Which is about five pence, read Gen. 23:15.
- 1 Samuel 9:9 So called because he foresaw things to come.
- 1 Samuel 9:12 That is, a feast after the offering, which should be kept in an high place of the city appointed for that use.
- 1 Samuel 9:13 That is, give thanks and distribute the meat according to their custom.
- 1 Samuel 9:15 Hebrew, in his ear.
- 1 Samuel 9:16 Notwithstanding their wickedness, yet God was ever mindful of his inheritance.
- 1 Samuel 9:19 Meaning, all that thou desirest to know.
- 1 Samuel 9:20 Whom doth Israel desire to be their King, but thee?
- 1 Samuel 9:22 Where the feast was.
- 1 Samuel 9:24 That is, the shoulder with the breast, which the Priest had for his family in all peace offerings, Lev. 10:14.
- 1 Samuel 9:24 That both by the assembling of the people, and by the meat prepared for thee, thou mightest understand that I knew of thy coming.
- 1 Samuel 9:26 To speak with him secretly: for the houses were flat above.
- 1 Samuel 9:27 God’s commandment as concerning thee.
1 Samuel 9
New International Version
1 Samuel 9
New International Version
Samuel Anoints Saul
9 There was a Benjamite,(A) a man of standing,(B) whose name was Kish(C) son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. 2 Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome(D) a young man as could be found(E) anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller(F) than anyone else.
3 Now the donkeys(G) belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.” 4 So he passed through the hill(H) country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha,(I) but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys(J) were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.
5 When they reached the district of Zuph,(K) Saul said to the servant who was with him, “Come, let’s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying(L) about us.”
6 But the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God;(M) he is highly respected, and everything(N) he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.”
7 Saul said to his servant, “If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift(O) to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
8 The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have a quarter of a shekel[a] of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire(P) of God, they would say, “Come, let us go to the seer,” because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.)(Q)
10 “Good,” Saul said to his servant. “Come, let’s go.” So they set out for the town where the man of God was.
11 As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw(R) water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?”
12 “He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice(S) at the high place.(T) 13 As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless(U) the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.”
14 They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.
15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint(V) him ruler(W) over my people Israel; he will deliver(X) them from the hand of the Philistines.(Y) I have looked on my people, for their cry(Z) has reached me.”
17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This(AA) is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”
18 Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 As for the donkeys(AB) you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire(AC) of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?”
21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe(AD) of Israel, and is not my clan the least(AE) of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin?(AF) Why do you say such a thing to me?”
22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited—about thirty in number. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.”
24 So the cook took up the thigh(AG) with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion from the time I said, ‘I have invited guests.’” And Saul dined with Samuel that day.
25 After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof(AH) of his house. 26 They rose about daybreak, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way.” When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”—and the servant did so—“but you stay here for a while, so that I may give you a message from God.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 9:8 That is, about 1/10 ounce or about 3 grams
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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