1 GLT And there was a man from Benjamin and his name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a man of a Yaminite, a mighty one of strength. 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 GLT And for him was a son and his name was Saul, a young man and good. And there was no man from the sons of Israel better than him. From his shoulder and upward he was taller than all the people. 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 GLT Now the female donkeys of Kish, the father of Saul, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son,“Take now one from the servants with you, and rise, go seek the female 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 GLT And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but there was nothing. And he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. 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 GLT They themselves entered in the land of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant who was with him,“Come, let us return, lest my father cease about the female donkeys and worry 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 GLT And he said to him,“Behold, please, a man of God is in this city, and the man is honored; all that he speaks certainly comes. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us our way on which we have gone.” 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 GLT And Saul said to his servant,“Now behold, we will go, but what will we bring to the man? For the bread is gone from our vessels and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What is with us?” 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 GLT And the servant added to answer Saul, and he said,“Behold, one- fourth of a shekel of silver has been found in my hand. And I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us our way.” 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 GLT (Before in Israel, a man said thus when he went to seek God,“Come and let us go to the seer.” For the prophet today was called the seer before.) 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.)
10 GLT And Saul said to his servant,“Your word is good. Come, let us go.” And they went to the city there where the man of God was. BSB BSB: “Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was.
11 GLT They were going up on the ascent to the city, and they themselves found young women going out to draw water. And they said to them,“Is the seer in this place?” BSB BSB: And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?”
12 GLT And they answered them, and said,“There is, behold, before your face. Hurry now, for today he has come to the city, because the sacrifice of the day is for the people at the high place. 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 GLT As soon as you enter the city then you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he himself will bless the sacrifice; afterwards the ones who are called will eat. So now go up, for, as for him, you will find him as soon as today.” 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 GLT And they went up to the city. They were entering in the midst of the city, and behold, Samuel was going out to meet them to go up to the high place. 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 GLT Now Yahweh had uncovered the ear of Samuel one day before the coming of Saul, saying: BSB BSB: Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel,
16 GLT “About this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be ruler over my people Israel. And he will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, for its cry has come to me.” 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 GLT And Samuel saw Saul, and Yahweh answered him,“Behold, the man whom I said to you! This one will restrain 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 GLT And Saul approached Samuel in the midst of the gate. And he said,“Please tell me, where is the house of the seer?” BSB BSB: Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 GLT And Samuel answered Saul and said,“I am the seer. Go up before my face to the high place, and you will eat with me today. And I will send you away in the morning, and I will tell you all that is in your heart. 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 GLT As for your female donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your heart to them, for they have been found. Now for whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not for you and for all the house of your father?” 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 GLT And Saul answered and said,“Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my clan the least from all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Yet why have you spoken to me like this word?” 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 GLT And Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them to the room. And he gave to them a place at the head of the ones who had been called.(Now they were about 30 men.) 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 GLT And Samuel said to the cook,“Give the portion which I gave to you, of which I said to you,‘Set it with you.’” BSB BSB: And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.”
24 GLT And the cook lifted the thigh and what was on it and set it before the face of Saul. And he said,“Behold, what has been left over is set before your face. Eat, because it has been kept for you for the appointed time, saying,‘I have called the people.’” And Saul ate with Samuel on that day. 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 GLT And they came down from the high place to the city. And he spoke with Saul on the roof. 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 GLT And they rose early. And it happened as soon as the dawn went up that Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying,“Get up and I will send you away.” And Saul got up, and the two of them went out, he and Samuel, to the outside. 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 GLT They were going down to the end of the city, and Samuel said to Saul,“Speak to the servant so he may pass on before our face,” and he passed on.“But you stand now, and I will cause you to hear the word of 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.