'Well said; come, let us go.' So they went unto the city where the man of God was. 11As they went up the ascent 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 thee; make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place. 13As soon as ye are come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that are bidden. Now therefore get you up; for at this time ye shall find him.' 14And they went up to the city; and as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.
15Now the Lord had revealed unto Samuel a day before Saul came, saying: 16'To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be prince over My people Israel, and he shall 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 spoke unto him: 'Behold the man of whom I said unto thee: This same shall have authority 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 to-day; and in the morning I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy 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? wherefore then speakest thou to me after this manner?'
22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the chamber, 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 thigh, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And [Samuel] said: 'Behold that which hath been reserved! set it before thee and eat; because unto the appointed time hath it been kept for thee, for 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, he spoke with Saul upon the housetop. 26And they arose early; and it came to pass about the break of day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying: 'Up, that I may send thee away.' And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 27As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul: 'Bid the servant pass on before us—and he passed on—but stand thou still at this time, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God.'
10Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said: 'Is it not that the Lord hath anointed thee to be prince over His inheritance? 2When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by the tomb of Rachel, in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee: The asses which thou wentest to seek are found; and, lo, thy father hath left off caring for the asses, and is anxious concerning you, saying: What shall I do for my son? 3Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the terebinth of Tabor, and there shall meet thee there three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine. 4And they will salute thee, and give thee two cakes of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hand. 5After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines; and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they will be prophesying. 6And the spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 7And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as thy hand shall find; for God is with thee. 8And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings; seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come unto thee, and tell thee what thou shalt do.'
9And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. 10And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another: 'What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?' 12And one of the same place answered and said: 'And who is their father?' Therefore it became a proverb: 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' 13And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
14And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant: 'Whither went ye?' And he said: 'To seek the asses; and when we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.' 15And Saul's uncle said: 'Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.' 16And Saul said unto his uncle: 'He told us plainly that the asses were found.' But concerning the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spoke, he told him not.
17And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpah. 18And he said unto the children of Israel: 'Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. 19But ye have this day rejected your God, who Himself saveth you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and ye have said unto Him: Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.' 20So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 21And he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families, and the family of the Matrites was taken; and Saul the son of Kish was taken; but when they sought him, he could not be found. 22Therefore they asked of the Lord further: 'Is there yet a man come hither?' And the Lord answered: 'Behold, he hath hid himself among the baggage.' 23And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. 24And Samuel said to all the people: 'See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?' And all the people shouted, and said: 'Long live the king.'
25Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26And Saul also went to his house to Gibeah; and there went with him the men of valour, whose hearts God had touched. 27But certain base fellows said: 'How shall this man save us?' And they despised him, and brought him no present. But he was as one that held his peace.
11Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash: 'Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.' 2And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them: 'On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.' 3And the elders of Jabesh said unto him: 'Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel; and then, if there be none to deliver us, we will come out to thee.' 4Then came the messengers to Gibeath-shaul, and spoke these words in the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept. 5And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said: 'What aileth the people that they weep?' And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying: 'Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen.' And the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out as one man. 8And he numbered