1 ARST Now there was a rich and influential man, whose name was Kish. He belonged to the tribe descended from Benjamin. Kish was son of Abiel and the grandson of Zeror. He was from the family of Bekorath and from the clan of Aphiah. BSB BSB: Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
2 ARST Kish had a son whose name was Saul. He was more handsome than any of the other Israelite men, and he was a head taller than any of the other Israelite men. BSB BSB: And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.
3 ARST One day, some of Kish’ s female donkeys wandered off. So Kish told Saul,“Take one of my servants with you, and go and search for the donkeys!” BSB BSB: One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.”
4 ARST So Saul did that. He took a servant, and they walked through the hill country where the descendants of Ephraim lived, and then they went through the regions of Shalishah and Shaalim, and then they went through all the region belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, but they could not find the donkeys. BSB BSB: So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.
5 ARST Finally, they came to the region of Zuph. Then Saul said to the servant,“Let us go back home. If we do not do that, my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.” BSB BSB: When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”
6 ARST But the servant said,“I have another idea. There is one of God’ s prophets who lives in this town. People respect him very much, because everything he predicts comes true. Let us go and talk to him. Perhaps he can tell us where we can go to find the donkeys.” BSB BSB: “Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”
7 ARST Saul replied to the servant,“If we go to talk with him, we should give a gift to him, but what can we give to him? We have no more food in our sacks. Do we have anything else to give to him?” BSB BSB: “If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
8 ARST The servant replied,“Look at this! I have a small piece of silver. I can give this to him, and then he will tell us where to go to find the donkeys.” BSB BSB: The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”
9 ARST Saul said,“Very good, let us go talk to him.” So they went to the town where the prophet lived. As they were going up the hill into the town, they met some young women who were coming out of the town to get some water from a well. One of them asked the women,“Is the seer in the town today?” They said that because previously, if people in Israel wanted a message from God, they would say,“Let us go to the seer,” and people who now are called prophets were at that time called seers, or“those who see visions from God.” BSB BSB: (Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
12 ARST The women replied,“Yes, he is in the town. In fact, he is walking on the road ahead of you. He arrived in the town today because the people are going to offer a sacrifice on the altar where the people gather to worship God. BSB BSB: “Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.
13 ARST If you go quickly, you will have time to talk to him before he goes there. The people who have been invited will not start eating until he arrives there and blesses the sacrifice.” BSB BSB: As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”
14 ARST So Saul and the servant entered the town. As they went through the gates, they saw Samuel as he was coming toward them; he was on his way to where people were going to offer sacrifices. BSB BSB: So Saul and his servant went up toward the city, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.
15 ARST On the previous day, Yahweh had told Samuel, BSB BSB: Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel,
16 ARST “At this time tomorrow, I will send a man to you from the land where the descendants of Benjamin live. Pour olive oil on his head to indicate that he will become the leader of my Israelite people. I have seen that my people are suffering because the Philistine people are oppressing them, and I have heard my people as they have called out to me for help. The man whom you anoint will rescue my people from the power of the Philistine people.” BSB BSB: “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
17 ARST When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him,“This is the man I told you about yesterday! He is the one who will rule my people!” BSB BSB: When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.”
18 ARST Saul saw Samuel at the town gate, but he did not know that it was Samuel. He went over to him and asked him,“Can you tell me, where is the house of the man who sees visions from God?” BSB BSB: Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 ARST Samuel replied,“I am that man. Go ahead of me with your servant to the place where the people make sacrifices. Both of you will eat with me today. Tomorrow morning I will tell you what you are wanting to know, and then I will send you home. BSB BSB: “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And when I send you off in the morning, I will tell you all that is in your heart.
20 ARST Also, do not worry anymore about those donkeys that wandered away three days ago. Someone has found them. But what you need to know is that it is you and your family that all the Israeli people are wanting!” BSB BSB: As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?”
21 ARST Saul replied,“I am from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest of all tribes! And my family is the least important family in our tribe! So why are you talking to me like this, about the Israelite people wanting me and my family?” BSB BSB: Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?”
22 ARST Then Samuel brought Saul and the servant into the big dining room, and told them to sit at the head of the table, indicating that he was honoring them more than he was honoring the thirty people who had been invited. BSB BSB: Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited—about thirty in all.
23 ARST Then Samuel told the cook,“Bring to me the special piece of meat that I told you to set aside.” BSB BSB: And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.”
24 ARST So the cook brought the leg and the meat that was on it; he set it in front of Saul. Samuel said to Saul,“Start eating it. I told the cook to save this for you, so that you could eat it at this time, when all these people whom I invited are here.” So Saul and Samuel ate together. BSB BSB: So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul dined with Samuel that day.
25 ARST After they finished eating, they returned to the town. Then Samuel took Saul up to the flat roof of his house, and talked with him there. BSB BSB: And after they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house.
26 ARST As the sun was rising the next morning, Samuel called up to Saul,“Get up! It is time for me to send you on the road back home.” So Saul got up, and later Samuel and Saul left the house together. BSB BSB: They got up early in the morning, and just before dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way!” So Saul got ready, and both he and Samuel went outside together.
27 ARST When they got to the edge of the town, Samuel told Saul to send his servant ahead. After the servant left, Samuel said to Saul,“Stay here for a few minutes, in order that I can give you a message I received from God.” BSB BSB: As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.