1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and handsome {a goodly}; and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome {goodlier} person than he; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. 3And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul, his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. 4And he passed through Mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not; and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not. 5And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and become anxious {take thought} for us. 6And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go there {thither}; perhaps he can show us our way that we should go. 7Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? 8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver; that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9(Previously {Beforetime} in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spoke, Come, and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was formerly {beforetime} called a Seer.) 10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

11And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? 12And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: Make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people today in the high place: 13As soon as ye are {be} come into the city, ye shall immediately {straightway} find him, before he go up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now, therefore, get {you} up; for about this time ye shall find him. 14And they went up into the city; and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out toward {against} them, for to go up to the high place.

15Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over My people Israel, that he may save My people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon My people, because their cry is come unto Me. 17And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spoke to thee of! This same shall reign over My people.

18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is. 19And 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 to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. 20And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house? 21And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why, {Wherefore} then, speakest thou so to me? 22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, who were about thirty persons. 23And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 24And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! Set it before thee, and eat, for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. 25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel talked {communed} with Saul upon the top of the house. 26And they arose early; and it came to pass about the dawn {spring} of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 27And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God.