1There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a powerful Benjamite.
2Kish had a son named Saul, an impressive young man. No one among the Israelites was better looking than he was; he was a head taller than anyone else.
3One day, the donkeys belonging to Saul's father, Kish, got lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys."
4Saul traveled through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah, but they didn't find them. Then they went through the land of Shaalim, but the donkeys weren't there. Then they passed through the land of the Benjamites, but still couldn't find them.
5When they arrived in the land of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, "Come, let's go back. My father might stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us."
6The servant replied, "Look, there's a man of God in this city who is highly respected. Everything he says surely comes true. Let's go there now. Maybe he can tell us where to go."
7Then Saul asked his servant, "But if we go, what can we give the man? The food in our bags is gone, and we have no gift to give the man of God. What do we have?"
8The servant answered Saul again, "Look, I have a quarter of a shekel of silver with me. I'll give that to the man of God so he can tell us our way."
9(In earlier times in Israel, if someone wanted to ask God a question, they would say, "Come, let's go to the seer." Because the person now called a prophet used to be called a seer.)
10Saul said to his servant, "That's a good idea. Come, let's go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11As they were going up the path to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water. They asked them, "Is the seer here?"
12They told them, “He is. Look, he is right in front of you. Hurry now, because he arrived in the city today. The people have a sacrifice today at the place of worship on the hill.”
13As soon as you enter the city, you will find him right away, before he goes up to the place of worship on the hill to eat. The people won't eat until he arrives, because he blesses the sacrifice. After he does, the invited guests eat. So go up now, because you will find him at this time.
14They went up to the city. As they entered the city, Samuel was coming out to meet them, on his way up to the place of worship on the hill.
15The day before Saul arrived, Yahweh had revealed to Samuel,
16“Tomorrow at about this time, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. You are to anoint him as ruler over my people, Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines, because I have seen my people's suffering, and their cry for help has reached me.”
17When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh told him, “Look, this is the man I told you about! He will rule over my people.”
18Then Saul approached Samuel in the city gate and asked, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
19Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the place of worship on the hill, for you will eat with me today. In the morning, I will let you go and tell you everything that is on your mind.
20As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, don’t worry about them, because they have been found. And who is all the most desirable in Israel for? Isn’t it for you and for your father’s whole family?”
21Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family is the least of all the families in the tribe of Benjamin. Why do you speak to me like this?”
22Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them to the guest room. He gave them the best place among the invited guests, who were about thirty people.
23Samuel told the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.”
24The cook picked up the thigh and what was on it, and placed it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “See! This is what has been reserved! Take it and eat, because it has been kept for you for this appointed time, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25When they came down from the place of worship on the hill into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the rooftop.
26They got up early. At daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the rooftop, saying, “Get up, so I can send you on your way.” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside together.
27As they were walking down to the edge of the city, Samuel told Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” The servant went ahead, and then Samuel said, “But you stand still for a moment, so I can let you hear God’s message.”