There was a man of Binyomin whose name was Kish, son of Avieil, son of Tzeror, son of Bechoras, son of Aphiach, son of a Binyominite, a mighty man of valor.

He had a son whose name was Shaul. He was young and handsome; not a man of Bnei Yisroel was more handsome than he. From his shoulders up, he was taller than any of the people.

The donkeys of Kish, Shaul's father, became lost, and Kish said to Shaul his son, "Please take one of the youths with you, rise, go and search for the donkeys."

He passed through Mount Ephrayim and he passed through the land of Sholishoh, but they did not find them. They passed through the land of Sha'alim, but they were not there; and he passed through the land of Binyomin but they did not find them.

They came to the land of Tzuph and Shaul said to his youth who was with him, "Come let us return, lest my father stop worrying about the donkeys and worry about us."

He [the youth] said to him, "Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is honorable; everything he says surely occurs. Let us go there now; perhaps he will tell us our road upon which we should travel."

Shaul replied to his youth, "Behold, if we go, what shall we bring to the man? The bread from our vessels is used up and we have no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have with us?"

The youth continued to answer Shaul, and said, "Behold! I have a quarter shekel of silver with me. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way."

In former times in Yisroel, this is what someone said when he went to inquire of God, "Let us go to the seer," for "the prophet" of today was formerly called "the seer."

Shaul said to his youth, "You have spoken well, come, let us go." And they went to the city where the man of God was.

As they were climbing the ascent to the city they encountered some girls going out to draw water, and they said to them, "Is this where the seer is?"

They answered them and said, "He is there ahead of you. Hurry now, for he came to the city today, because a feast-offering are the people bringing today at the high place.

As you enter the city you will find him before he ascends the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the offering; afterwards the invited guests will eat. Now go up, for you will find him as [surely as it is] day."

They ascended to the city. As they were entering the city, behold, Shmuel was coming out towards them, to go up the high place.

Adonoy had revealed to Shmuel's ear, one day before Shaul's coming, saying.

"At this time tomorrow I will send a man to you from the territory of Binyomin; you shall anoint him to be ruler over My people Yisroel, and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen [the plight] of My people, since its cry has reached Me."

Shmuel saw Shaul, and Adonoy said to him, "There is the man of whom I said to you, 'this one will rule over My people.'"

Shaul approached Shmuel inside the gate and said, "Please tell me, please, which is the house of the seer?"

Shmuel answered Shaul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place and you shall eat with me today. In the morning I will send you away, and whatever is in your heart I will tell you.

As for your donkeys which were lost to you now for three days; do not concern yourself over them, for they were found. But for whom does all of Yisroel desire? Is it not for you and all your father's family?"

Shaul answered and said, "But I am only a Binyominite, and from the smallest of the tribes of Yisroel, and my family is the youngest of all the families of the tribe of Binyomin. Why, then, have you said this to me?"

Shmuel took Shaul and his youth and brought them to the chamber. He gave them a place at the head of the invited guests, who were about thirty men.

Shmuel said to the cook, "Serve the portion that I gave you, about which I told you, 'Keep it with you.'"

The cook raised the thigh with what was attached to it, and placed it before Shaul. He [Shmuel] then said, "Here is what remains, put before you and eat, for it was kept for you until the appointed time because I told [the cook], 'I have invited the people.'" And Shaul ate with Shmuel on that day.

They came down from the high place to the city, and he spoke with Shaul on the roof.

They rose early, and as morning dawned, Shmuel called Shaul to the roof, saying, "Rise and I will send you off." Shaul rose, and the two of them, he and Shmuel, went outside.

As they were going down near the outskirts of the city, Shmuel said to Shaul, "Tell the youth to pass ahead of us," and he went ahead. "But you stand here now and I will let you hear the word of God."