Dual Panel1There was <01961> a Benjaminite <01144> man <0376> named <08034> Kish <07027> son <01121> of Abiel <022>, the son <01121> of Zeror <06872>, the son <01121> of Becorath <01064>, the son <01121> of Aphiah <0647> of Benjamin. He was a prominent <01368> person <0376>.
2He had <01961> a son <01121> named <08034> Saul <07586>, a handsome <02896> young man <0970>. There was no <0369> one <0376> among the Israelites <03478> <01121> more <04480> handsome <02896> than <04480> he was; he stood head <01364> and shoulders <07926> above <04605> all <03605> the people <05971>.
3The donkeys <0860> of Saul’s <07586> father <01> Kish <07027> wandered off <06>, so Kish <07027> said <0559> to <0413> his son <01121> Saul <07586>, “Take <03947> one <0259> of the servants <05288> with you and go <01980> look for <01245> the donkeys <0860>.”
4So Saul crossed through <05674> the hill country <02022> of Ephraim <0669>, passing through <05674> the land <0776> of Shalisha <08031>, but they did not <03808> find <04672> them. So they crossed through <05674> the land <0776> of Shaalim <08171>, but they were not <0369> there. Then he crossed through <05674> the land <0776> of Benjamin, and still they did not <03808> find <04672> them.
5When they <01992> came <0935> to the land <0776> of Zuph <06689>, Saul <07586> said <0559> to his servant <05288> who <0834> was with <05973> him, “Come on <01980>, let’s head back <07725> before <06435> my father <01> quits worrying <02308> about <04480> the donkeys <0860> and becomes anxious <01672> about us!”
6But the servant said <0559> to him, “Look <02009>, there is a man <0376> of God <0430> in this <02063> town <05892>. He <0376> is highly respected <03513>. Everything <03605> that <0834> he says <01696> really happens <0935> <0935>. Now <06258> let’s go <01980> there <08033>. Perhaps <0194> he will tell <05046> us where <0834> we should go <01980> from <05921> here <01870>.”
7So Saul <07586> said <0559> to his servant <05288>, “All right <02009>, we can go <01980>. But what <04100> can we bring <0935> the man <0376>, since <03588> the food <03899> in our bags <03627> is used up <0235>? We have no <0369> gift <08670> to take <0935> to the man <0376> of God <0430>. What <04100> do we have <0854>?”
8The servant <05288> went <03254> on to answer <06030> Saul <07586>, “Look <02009>, I happen to have <04672> in my hand <03027> a quarter <07253> shekel <08255> of silver <03701>. I will give <05414> it to the man <0376> of God <0430> and he will tell <05046> us where we should go <01870>.”
9(Now it used to be in Israel <03478> that whenever <03541> someone <0376> went <01980> to inquire <01875> of God <0430> he would say, “Come on <01980>, let’s go <01980> to <05704> the seer <07203>.” For <03588> today’s <03117> prophet <05030> used to be called <07121> a seer <07203>.)
10So Saul <07586> said <0559> to his servant <05288>, “That’s a good <02896> idea <01697>! Come on <01980>. Let’s go <01980>.” So they went <01980> to <0413> the town <05892> where <08033> <0834> the man <0376> of God <0430> was.
11As they <01992> were going up <05927> the ascent <04608> to the town <05892>, they <01992> met <04672> some girls <05291> coming out <03318> to draw <07579> water <04325>. They said <0559> to them, “Is <03426> this <02088> where the seer <07203> is?”
12They replied <06030>, “Yes <02009>, straight ahead <06440>! But hurry <04116> now <06258>, for <03588> he came <0935> to the town <05892> today <03117>, and the people <05971> are making a sacrifice <02077> at the high place <01116>.
13When <03651> you enter <0935> the town <05892>, you can find <04672> him before <02962> he goes up <05927> to the high place <01116> to eat <0398>. The people <05971> won’t <03808> eat <0398> until <05704> he arrives <0935>, for <03588> he <01931> must bless <01288> the sacrifice <02077>. Once that happens, those who have been invited <07121> will eat <0398>. Now <06258> go <05927> on up <05927>, for <03588> this is the time <03117> when you can find <04672> him!”
14So they went up <05927> to the town <05892>. As they <01992> were heading <0935> for the middle <08432> of the town <05892>, Samuel <08050> was coming <03318> in their direction <07122> to go up <05927> to the high place <01116>.
15Now the day <03117> before <06440> Saul <07586> arrived <0935>, the Lord <03068> had told <0241> <01540> Samuel <08050>:
16“At this time <06256> tomorrow <04279> I will send <07971> to <0413> you a man <0376> from the land <0776> of Benjamin <01144>. You must consecrate <04886> him as a leader <05057> over <05921> my people <05971> Israel <03478>. He will save <03467> my people <05971> from the hand <03027> of the Philistines <06430>. For <03588> I have looked <07200> with favor on my people <05971>. Their cry <06818> has reached <0935> me!”
17When Samuel <08050> saw <07200> Saul <07586>, the Lord <03068> said <06030>, “Here <02009> is the man <0376> that <0834> I told <0559> you about! He <02088> will rule <06113> over my people <05971>.”
18As Saul <07586> approached <05066> Samuel <08050> in the middle <08432> of the gate <08179>, he said <0559>, “Please <04994> tell <05046> me where <0335> the seer’s <07203> house <01004> is.”
19Samuel <08050> replied <06030> to Saul <07586>, “I <0595> am the seer <07203>! Go up <05927> in front <06440> of me to the high place <01116>! Today <03117> you will eat <0398> with <05973> me and in the morning <01242> I will send <07971> you away <07971>. I will tell <05046> you everything <03605> that <0834> you are thinking <03824>.
20Don’t <0408> be concerned <03820> about the donkeys <0860> that you lost <06> three <07969> days <03117> <03117> ago, for <03588> they have been found <04672>. Whom <04310> does all <03605> Israel <03478> desire <02532>? Is it not <03808> you, and all <03605> your father’s <01> family <01004>?”
21Saul <07586> replied <06030>, “Am I <0595> not <03808> a Benjaminite <01145>, from the smallest <06996> of Israel’s <03478> tribes <07626>, and is not my family <04940> clan <04940> the smallest <06810> of all <03605> the tribes <07626> of Benjamin <01144>? Why <04100> do you speak <01696> to me <0413> in this <02088> way <01697>?”
22Then Samuel <08050> brought <0935> <03947> Saul <07586> and his servant <05288> into the room <03957> and gave <05414> them a place <04725> at the head <07218> of those who had been invited <07121>. There were about thirty <07970> people <0376> present.
23Samuel <08050> said <0559> to the cook <02876>, “Give <05414> me the portion <04490> of meat that <0834> I gave <05414> to you– the one I asked <0559> you to <0413> keep <07760> with <05973> you.”
24So the cook <02876> picked up <07311> the leg <07785> and brought it and set <07760> it in front <06440> of Saul <07586>. Samuel said <0559>, “What was kept <07604> is now set <07760> before <06440> you! Eat <0398>, for <03588> it has been kept <08104> for you for this meeting <04150> time, from the time I said <0559>, ‘I have invited <07121> the people <05971>.’” So Saul <07586> ate <0398> with <05973> Samuel <08050> that day <03117>.
25When they came down <03381> from the high place <01116> to the town <05892>, Samuel spoke <01696> with <05973> Saul <07586> on <05921> the roof <01406>.
26They got up <07925> at dawn <07837> and Samuel <08050> called <07121> to <0413> Saul <07586> on the roof <01406>, “Get up <06965>, so I can send <07971> you on your way.” So Saul <07586> got up <06965> and the two <08147> of them <01931>– he and Samuel <08050>– went <03318> outside <02351>.
27While they <01992> were going down <03381> to the edge <07097> of town <05892>, Samuel <08050> said <0559> to <0413> Saul <07586>, “Tell <0559> the servant <05288> to go <05674> on ahead <06440> of us.” So he did <05674>. Samuel then said, “You <0859> remain <05975> here awhile <03117>, so I can inform <08085> you of God’s <0430> message <01697>.”