There was a man of the tribe of the House of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a man from the tribe of the House of Benjamin, a mighty hero.

And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the sons of Israel who was more handsome than he. From his shoulder upward he was taller than all the people.

Now the asses of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the servants with you, and arise, go in search of the asses.”

And he passed through the hill country of the House of Ephraim and passed through the land of the South, but they did not find them. And they passed through the Land of the Birth stool, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of Benjamin, but they did not find them.

When they came to the land in which there was a prophet, Saul said to his young man, who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father leave the matter of the asses and become anxious about us.”

But he said to him, “Behold now, there is a prophet of the LORD in this city, and he is a man prophesying the truth; all that he prophesies will certainly be fulfilled. Now then, let us go there; perhaps he can tell us about our ways on which we have gone.”

Then Saul said to his young man, “Suppose we go, if he isused to accepting money, what can we bring the prophet of the LORD Moreover, our own provision ceased from our sacks, and there is nothing fit to bring to the prophet of the LORD What is there with us to do?”

And again the servant answered Saul, “Behold, I have in my hand one silver zuz, and I can give it to the prophet of the LORD, that he may tell us our way.”

Formerly in Israel, when a man went to seek instruction from before the LORD he said it like this, “Come and let us meet the seer.” For he who is called a prophet today was formerly called a seer.

And Saul said to his young man, “Your word is right; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the prophet of the LORD was.

As they went up by the ascent of the city, they met young women coming out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”

They answered them and said, “He is here, just ahead of you. Make haste, for today he has entered the city, because there is a meal with the holy slaughterings for the people today in the banqueting hall.

As soon as you enter the city, you will find him, before he goes up to the banqueting hall to eat; for the people will not eat till he comes, since he [always] says the benediction over the food; afterward those eat who are invited. Now, go up, for you can find him at this time.”

So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them on his way up to the banqueting hall.

And from before the LORD it was said to Samuel, one day before Saul’s coming,

“Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of the tribe of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be king over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines, for the oppression of my people is revealed before Me, for their complaint has come before Me.”

When Samuel saw Saul, from before the LORD it was said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you. He is it who will take away the dominion from my people.”

Then Saul met Samuel in the gate, and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?”

Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer; go up before me to the banqueting hall. Today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and tell you all that is on your mind.

As for the matter of the asses that were lost to you, and which you came to search – today for three days – do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. But whose is all the delight of Israel? Is it not yours and all the house of your father?”

Saul answered, “Am I not a son of the tribe of Benjamin, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the weakest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken with me in this way?”

Then Samuel led Saul and his young man and brought them to the meal and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons.

And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave to you, of which I said to you, ‘Keep it with you.’”

So the cook took up the shank and the loin and set them before Saul. And he said, “See, what was left over is set before you. Eat, for it was kept for you for the time [I would] say, ‘I have invited the people to the meal.’” So Saul ate with Samuel on that day.

When they came down from the banqueting hall into the city, he spoke with Saul on the roof.

And they got up early. Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul upon the roof, “Rise up, and I will send you off.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went outside.

As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Say to your young man that he must pass on before us,” – and he passed on – “And you, stand here this moment, that I may make you hear the word of the LORD.”