9:1 Now there was a man of Benyamin, whose name [was] Kish Ben Aviel Ben Tzeror Ben Bechorat Ben Aphiach, a Benyamin, a gibbor chayil (man of valor).
9:2 And he had a son, whose name [was] Sha'ul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the benai Yisrael a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward [he was] higher than any of the people.
9:3 And the asses of Kish Sha'ul's father were lost. And Kish said to Sha'ul his son, Take now one of the avadim with your, and arise, go seek the asses.
9:4 And he passed through mount Efrayim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found [them] not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and [there they were] not: and he passed through the land of the Benyamites, but they found [them] not.
9:5 [And] when they were come to the land of Zuph, Sha'ul said to his eved that [was] with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave [caring] for the asses, and take thought for us.
9:6 And he said to him:
Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of Elohim (אלהים), and [he is] an honourable man; all that he said cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
9:7 Then said Sha'ul to his eved, But, behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring the man? for the lechem is spent in our vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of Elohim (אלהים): what have we?
9:8 And the eved answered Sha'ul 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 Elohim (אלהים), to tell us our way.
9:9 (Beforetime in Yisrael, when a man went to enquire of Elohim (אלהים), thus he spoke, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Navi was beforetime called a Seer.)
9:10 Then said Sha'ul to his eved, Well said; come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of Elohim (אלהים) [was].
9:11 [And] as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, Is the seer here?
9:12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is] before you: make havee now, for he came to day to the city; for [there is] a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
9:13 As soon as ye be 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 be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
9:14 And they went up into the city: [and] when they were come into the city, behold, Shemuel (שׁמוּאל) came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
9:15 Now YEHOVAH (יהוה) had told Shemuel (שׁמוּאל) in his ear a day before Sha'ul came, saying,
9:16 To morrow about this time I will send your a man out of the land of Benyamin, and you shall anoint him [to be] captain over my people Yisrael, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Pelishtim : for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come to me.
9:17 And when Shemuel (שׁמוּאל) saw Sha'ul, YEHOVAH (יהוה) said to him, Behold the man whom I spoke to your of! this same shall reign over my people.
9:18 Then Sha'ul drew near to Shemuel (שׁמוּאל) in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray your, where the seer's house [is].
9:19 And Shemuel (שׁמוּאל) answered Sha'ul, and said, I [am] the seer: go up before me to the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let your go, and will tell your all that [is] in your heart.
9:20 And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, set not your mind on them; for they are found. And on whom [is] all the desire of Yisrael? [Is it] not on your, and on all your father's house?
9:21 And Sha'ul answered and said, [Am] not I a Benyamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Yisrael? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benyamin? wherefore then speakest you so to me?
9:22 And Shemuel (שׁמוּאל) took Sha'ul and his eved, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which [were] about thirty persons.
9:23 And Shemuel (שׁמוּאל) said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave your, of which I said to your, Set it by your.
9:24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and [that] which [was] upon it, and set [it] before Sha'ul. And [Shemuel (שׁמוּאל)] said, Behold that which is left! set [it] before your, [and] eat: for to this time has it been kept for your since I said, I have invited the people. So Sha'ul did eat with Shemuel (שׁמוּאל) that day.
9:25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, [Shemuel (שׁמוּאל)] communed with Sha'ul upon the top of the house.
9:26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Shemuel (שׁמוּאל) called Sha'ul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send your away. And Sha'ul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Shemuel (שׁמוּאל), abroad.
9:27 [And] as they were going down to the end of the city, Shemuel (שׁמוּאל) said to Sha'ul, Bid the eved pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand you still a while, that I may shew your the Dvar Elohim (אלהים).