The Lord Said a Man from Benjamin Shall be Anointed |
1 Samuel 9:1-27 The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
Now, Kish was a man of Benjamin, [Abiel’s] son, [who was] the son of Zeror, [Bechorath’s] son, [who was] the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, & mighty man of power. |
And [Kish] had a son [named] Saul, [an impressive & handsome] young man. And there weren’t [any more] [handsome] among the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel than [Saul.] He was [taller] from his shoulders & upward than any of the people. |
The [donkeys] of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son, Saul, Now, take 1 of the servants with you, & go [search for] the [donkeys.] |
And [Saul] passed through Mount Ephraim, & the land of Shalisha, but they [didn’t find] them. Then, they passed through the land of Shalim, & they weren’t [there.] And [Saul] passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they [didn't find] them. |
And when they [came] to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, Com, & let’s return; lest my father [stops worrying about] the [donkeys,] & [starts worrying about] us. [The servant] said, [Look,] in this city there is a man of God now, [who] is an honorable man; & all he [says,] surely [happens.] Let’s go [there;] & [perhaps] he can [declare to] us the way that we should go. |
Then, Saul said to his servant, But [look,] if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is [used up] in our vessels, [a.k.a. containers,] & there isn’t a present to bring to the man of God. What [do] we have? And the servant answered Saul, [Look,] I have 1/4 of a shekel of silver here: that I will give to the man of God, to tell us our way. |
([Previously] in Israel, when they wanted to [ask] of God, [they said, Let’s] go to the seer, [but] now he is called a Prophet, [but before that time] was called a Seer.) Then, Saul said to his servant, Well said. Come, & let’s go. So, they went to the city where the man of God was. |
And as they went up the hill to the city, they found [that] young maidens [were] going out to draw water, & [asked] them, Is the seer here? And they answered, He is. [Look,] he is in [the city] [in front of] you. [Hurry,] now, [because] he came to the city today; for there is a sacrifice [for] the [Israelite] people, today in the high place. |
As soon as you [have] come into the city, you shall [go] [immediately to] find him, before he [goes] up to the high place to eat. For the people won’t eat until he [comes,] because he [blesses] the sacrifice. And afterwards, [those] eat [who are invited.] |
Therefore, now, [go] up; for you shall find him, [around] this time. And they went up, into the city, & when they [came] into the city, Samuel came out, [toward] them, [in order] to go up to the high place. |
Now, the Lord had [privately] told Samuel in his ear, [the] day before Saul came, saying, Tomorrow about this time, I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin. And you [shall] anoint him to be [a captain, a.k.a. ruler,] over My people, Israel, [so] he may save My people out of the hand of the Philistines. |
For I have looked upon My people, because their [out] cry [has] come to Me. And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to [Samuel, See,] the man, whom I spoke [about] to you! This same [man] shall [rule] over My people. |
Then, Saul drew [close] to Samuel [at] the gate, & said, I pray [that] you tell me where the seer’s house is. And Samuel answered Saul, I am the seer. Go up [in front of] me, to the high place; for you shall eat with me today. And tomorrow, I will let you go, & will tell you all that is [on] your heart. |
As for your [donkeys] that were lost 3 days ago, [don’t worry about] them, for [they’ve been] found. And [isn’t] the desire of all of Israel on you, & your father’s house? And Saul answered, Am I not [just] a Benjamite, [from] the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And [isn't] my family, the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? |
[Why] then [do] you [say this] to me? And Samuel took Saul & his servant, & brought them into the [parlor,] & made them sit in the place [of honor] among about 30 [people, who] were [invited.] |
And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion [of food] [that] I gave you, [about] which I said to you, [Put] it by you. The cook [picked] up the shoulder, & [what was] upon it, set it [in front of] Saul. And Samuel said, [Look, what] is [remaining!] [Put] it [in front of] you, & eat. For it [has] been kept for you, [until] this time, since I [previously] said, I have invited the people. |
So, Saul [ate] with Samuel that day. And when they [went] down from the high place into the city, Samuel [talked] with Saul upon the [rooftop] of the house. |
And they arose early, [at sunrise,] that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, [Go] up, [so] that I may send you away. And Saul arose, & they went out both of them, [Saul,] & Samuel [outside.] |
And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, [Ask] your servant [to go] on [ahead of] us, & (he [went ahead,]) but you [stand] still a while, [so] that I may [declare to] you the Word of God. |