Dual Panel1Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it over Saul's head; he kissed him and said, “The LORD anoints you prince over his people Israel. You are to rule the people of the LORD and deliver them from the enemies round about. You will receive a sign that the LORD has anointed you prince to govern his possession:
2when you leave me today, you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys you set out to look for have been found and that your father is concerned for them no longer; he is anxious about you and keeps saying, ‘What shall I do about my son?’
3From there go across country as far as the terebinth of Tabor, where three men going up to Bethel to worship God will meet you. One of them will be carrying three young goats, the second three loaves, and the third a skin of wine.
4They will greet you and offer you two loaves, which you will accept.
5Then when you reach the hill of God, where the Philistine governor resides, you will meet a company of prophets coming down from the shrine, led by lute, drum, fife, and lyre, and filled with prophetic rapture.
6The spirit of the LORD will suddenly take possession of you, and you too will be rapt like a prophet and become another man.
7When these signs happen, do whatever the occasion demands; God will be with you.
8You are to go down to Gilgal ahead of me, and I shall come to you to sacrifice whole-offerings and shared-offerings. Wait seven days until I join you; then I shall tell you what to do.”
9As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God made him a different person. On that same day all these signs happened.
10When they reached the hill there was a company of prophets coming to meet him, and the spirit of God suddenly took possession of him, so that he too was filled with prophetic rapture.
11When people who had known him previously saw that he was rapt like the prophets, they said to one another, “What can have happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
12One of the men of that place said, “And whose sons are they?” Hence the proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
13When the prophetic rapture had passed, he went home.
14Saul's uncle said to him and the boy, “Where have you been?” Saul answered, “To look for the donkeys, and when we could not find them, we went to Samuel.”
15His uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said.”
16“He told us that the donkeys had been found,” replied Saul; but he did not repeat what Samuel had said about his being king.
17Samuel summoned the Israelites to the LORD at Mizpah
18and said to them, “This is the word of the LORD the God of Israel: I brought Israel up from Egypt; I delivered you from the Egyptians and from all the kingdoms that oppressed you.
19But today you have rejected your God who saved you from all your misery and distress; you have said, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Therefore take up your positions now before the LORD tribe by tribe and clan by clan.”
20Samuel presented all the tribes of Israel, and Benjamin was picked by lot.
21Then he presented the tribe of Benjamin, family by family, and the family of Matri was picked. He presented the family of Matri, man by man, and Saul son of Kish was picked; but when search was made he was not to be found.
22They went on to ask the LORD, “Will the man be coming?” The LORD answered, “There he is, hiding among the baggage.”
23So some ran and fetched him out, and as he took his stand among the people, he was a head taller than anyone else.
24Samuel said to the people, “Look at the man whom the LORD has chosen; there is no one like him in this whole nation.” They all acclaimed him, shouting, “Long live the king!”
25Samuel explained to the people the nature of a king, and made a written record of it on a scroll which he deposited before the LORD. He then dismissed them to their homes.
26Saul too went home to Gibeah, and with him went some fighting men whose hearts God had moved.
27But there were scoundrels who said, “How can this fellow deliver us?” They thought nothing of him and brought him no gifts.