Saul Chosen as King

1  וַֽיְהִי־ (And there was) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) מִבִּן־ (of Benjamin), יָמִין (-) וּ֠שְׁמוֹ (and his name) קִ֣ישׁ (was Kish) בֶּן־ (son) אֲבִיאֵ֞ל (of Abiel), בֶּן־ (son) צְר֧וֹר (of Zeror), בֶּן־ (son) בְּכוֹרַ֛ת (of Bechorath), בֶּן־ (son) אֲפִ֖יחַ (of Aphiah), בֶּן־ (the son) אִ֣ישׁ (of a man) יְמִינִ֑י (of Benjamin) גִּבּ֖וֹר (mighty) חָֽיִל׃ (of valor). 2  וְלוֹ־ (And he) הָיָ֨ה (had) בֵ֜ן (a son), וּשְׁמ֤וֹ (and his name) שָׁאוּל֙ (was Saul), בָּח֣וּר (a choice youth) וָט֔וֹב (and handsome). וְאֵ֥ין (And not) אִ֛ישׁ (a man) מִבְּנֵ֥י (among the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) ט֣וֹב (was more handsome) מִמֶּ֑נּוּ (than he)— מִשִּׁכְמ֣וֹ (from his shoulder) וָמַ֔עְלָה (and upward) גָּבֹ֖הַּ (he was taller) מִכָּל־ (than any) הָעָֽם׃ (of the people).

3  וַתֹּאבַ֙דְנָה֙ (And were lost) הָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת (the donkeys) לְקִ֖ישׁ (of Kish) אֲבִ֣י (father) שָׁא֑וּל (of Saul), וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (and said) קִ֜ישׁ (Kish) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֣וּל (Saul) בְּנ֗וֹ (his son), קַח־ (Take) נָ֤א (please) אִתְּךָ֙ (with you) אֶת־ (-) אַחַ֣ד (one) מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔ים (of the servants) וְק֣וּם (and arise), לֵ֔ךְ (go) בַּקֵּ֖שׁ (and look for) אֶת־ (-) הָאֲתֹנֹֽת׃ (the donkeys).

4  וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר (And he passed) בְּהַר־ (through the hill country) אֶפְרַ֛יִם (of Ephraim), וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר (and) בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ (through the land) שָׁלִ֖שָׁה (of Shalisha), וְלֹ֣א (not) מָצָ֑אוּ (they did find them). וַיַּעַבְר֤וּ (And they passed) בְאֶֽרֶץ־ (through the land) שַׁעֲלִים֙ (of Shaalim) וָאַ֔יִן (and they were not there). וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר (And he passed) בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ (through the land) יְמִינִ֖י (of the Benjamite), וְלֹ֥א (not) מָצָֽאוּ׃ (they did find them).

5  הֵ֗מָּה (They) בָּ֚אוּ (came) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (into the land) צ֔וּף (of Zuph), וְשָׁא֥וּל (and Saul) אָמַ֛ר (said) לְנַעֲר֥וֹ (to his servant) אֲשֶׁר־ (who was) עִמּ֖וֹ (with him), לְכָ֣ה (Come) וְנָשׁ֑וּבָה (and let us return), פֶּן־ (lest) יֶחְדַּ֥ל (cease) אָבִ֛י (my father) מִן־ (about) הָאֲתֹנ֖וֹת (the donkeys), וְדָ֥אַג (and become worried) לָֽנוּ׃ (about us).

6  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) ל֗וֹ (to him) הִנֵּה־ (Behold) נָ֤א (now), אִישׁ־ (a man) אֱלֹהִים֙ (of God) בָּעִ֣יר (in the city) הַזֹּ֔את (this) וְהָאִ֣ישׁ (and the man) נִכְבָּ֔ד (is honored); כֹּ֥ל (all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יְדַבֵּ֖ר (he says) בּ֣וֹא (happening) יָב֑וֹא (comes to pass). עַתָּה֙ (So) נֵ֣לֲכָה (let us go) שָּׁ֔ם (there); אוּלַי֙ (perhaps) יַגִּ֣יד (he can declare) לָ֔נוּ (to us) אֶת־ (-) דַּרְכֵּ֖נוּ (the way) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הָלַ֥כְנוּ (we should go) עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (upon it).

7  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) לְנַעֲר֗וֹ (to his servant), וְהִנֵּ֣ה (And behold), נֵלֵךְ֮ (if we go), וּמַה־ (and what) נָּבִ֣יא (shall we bring) לָאִישׁ֒ (to the man)? כִּ֤י (For) הַלֶּ֙חֶם֙ (the bread) אָזַ֣ל (is all gone) מִכֵּלֵ֔ינוּ (in our vessels), וּתְשׁוּרָ֥ה (and gift) אֵין־ (there is no) לְהָבִ֖יא (to bring) לְאִ֣ישׁ (to the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God). מָ֖ה (What) אִתָּֽנוּ׃ (do we have)?

8  וַיֹּ֤סֶף (Added) הַנַּ֙עַר֙ (the servant) לַעֲנ֣וֹת (to answer) אֶת־ (-) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said), הִנֵּה֙ (Behold), נִמְצָ֣א (I have here) בְיָדִ֔י (at hand) רֶ֖בַע (a fourth) שֶׁ֣קֶל (of a shekel) כָּ֑סֶף (of silver). וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ (And I will give that) לְאִ֣ישׁ (to the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) וְהִגִּ֥יד (and to declare) לָ֖נוּ (to us) אֶת־ (-) דַּרְכֵּֽנוּ׃ (our way).

9  לְפָנִ֣ים׀ (Formerly) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (in Israel), כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֤ר (spoke) הָאִישׁ֙ (the man) בְּלֶכְתּוֹ֙ (in his going) לִדְר֣וֹשׁ (to inquire) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God): לְכ֥וּ (Come), וְנֵלְכָ֖ה (and let us go) עַד־ (to) הָרֹאֶ֑ה (the seer). כִּ֤י (For) לַנָּבִיא֙ (the prophet) הַיּ֔וֹם (today) יִקָּרֵ֥א (was called) לְפָנִ֖ים (formerly) הָרֹאֶֽה׃ (the seer).

10  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֧וּל (Saul) לְנַעֲר֛וֹ (to his servant), ט֥וֹב (Good) דְּבָרְךָ֖ (is your word). לְכָ֣ה׀ (Come), נֵלֵ֑כָה (let us go). וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ (And they went) אֶל־ (to) הָעִ֔יר (the city) אֲשֶׁר־ (where) שָׁ֖ם (there was) אִ֥ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (of God). 11  הֵ֗מָּה (They) עֹלִים֙ (were going up) בְּמַעֲלֵ֣ה (on the ascent) הָעִ֔יר (of the city), וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ (and they) מָצְא֣וּ (met) נְעָר֔וֹת (young women) יֹצְא֖וֹת (going out) לִשְׁאֹ֣ב (to draw) מָ֑יִם (water), וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (and said) לָהֶ֔ן (to them), הֲיֵ֥שׁ (Is there) בָּזֶ֖ה (in this place) הָרֹאֶֽה׃ (the seer)?

12  וַתַּעֲנֶ֧ינָה (And they answered) אוֹתָ֛ם (them) וַתֹּאמַ֥רְנָה (and said), יֵּ֖שׁ (He is). הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), לְפָנֶ֑יךָ (ahead of you). מַהֵ֣ר׀ (Hurry) עַתָּ֗ה (now), כִּ֤י (for) הַיּוֹם֙ (today) בָּ֣א (he came) לָעִ֔יר (to the city), כִּ֣י (for) זֶ֧בַח (there is a sacrifice) הַיּ֛וֹם (today) לָעָ֖ם (unto the people) בַּבָּמָֽה׃ (on the high place). 13  כְּבֹאֲכֶ֣ם (In your⁺ entering) הָעִ֣יר (the city), כֵּ֣ן (thus) תִּמְצְא֣וּן (you⁺ will find) אֹת֡וֹ (him) בְּטֶרֶם֩ (before) יַעֲלֶ֨ה (he goes up) הַבָּמָ֜תָה (to the high place) לֶאֱכֹ֗ל (to eat), כִּ֠י (for) לֹֽא־ (not) יֹאכַ֤ל (will eat) הָעָם֙ (the people) עַד־ (until) בֹּא֔וֹ (he comes), כִּֽי־ (because) הוּא֙ (he) יְבָרֵ֣ךְ (must bless) הַזֶּ֔בַח (the sacrifice). אַחֲרֵי־ (After) כֵ֖ן (thus) יֹאכְל֣וּ (those will eat) הַקְּרֻאִ֑ים (who are invited). וְעַתָּ֣ה (And now) עֲל֔וּ (go up), כִּֽי־ (for) אֹת֥וֹ (-) כְהַיּ֖וֹם (at this time) תִּמְצְא֥וּן (you⁺ will find) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (him).

14  וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ (And they went up) הָעִ֑יר (to the city). הֵ֗מָּה (They) בָּאִים֙ (were coming) בְּת֣וֹךְ (into the midst) הָעִ֔יר (of the city), וְהִנֵּ֤ה (and there was) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) יֹצֵ֣א (coming out) לִקְרָאתָ֔ם (toward them) לַעֲל֖וֹת (on his way up) הַבָּמָֽה׃ס (to the high place).

15  וַֽיהוָ֔ה (And YHWH) גָּלָ֖ה (had uncovered) אֶת־ (-) אֹ֣זֶן (the ear) שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל (of Samuel) י֣וֹם (day) אֶחָ֔ד (one) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) בֽוֹא־ (the coming) שָׁא֖וּל (of Saul), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 16  כָּעֵ֣ת׀ (At this time) מָחָ֡ר (tomorrow) אֶשְׁלַח֩ (I will send) אֵלֶ֨יךָ (to you) אִ֜ישׁ (a man) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) בִּנְיָמִ֗ן (of Benjamin), וּמְשַׁחְתּ֤וֹ (and you shall anoint him) לְנָגִיד֙ (commander) עַל־ (over) עַמִּ֣י (My people) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ (that he may save) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֖י (My people) מִיַּ֣ד (from the hand) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (of the Philistines). כִּ֤י (For) רָאִ֙יתִי֙ (I have looked upon) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֔י (My people), כִּ֛י (because) בָּ֥אָה (has come) צַעֲקָת֖וֹ (their cry) אֵלָֽי׃ (to Me).

17  וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (And Samuel) רָאָ֣ה (saw) אֶת־ (-) שָׁא֑וּל (Saul), וַיהוָ֣ה (and YHWH) עָנָ֔הוּ (said to him), הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), הָאִישׁ֙ (the man) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (of whom) אָמַ֣רְתִּי (I spoke) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you). זֶ֖ה (This one) יַעְצֹ֥ר (shall reign) בְּעַמִּֽי׃ (over My people).

18  וַיִּגַּ֥שׁ (And drew near) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) אֶת־ (to) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הַשָּׁ֑עַר (of the gate), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), הַגִּֽידָה־ (Tell) נָּ֣א (please) לִ֔י (me), אֵי־ (where is) זֶ֖ה (-) בֵּ֥ית (the house) הָרֹאֶֽה׃ (of the seer).

19  וַיַּ֨עַן (And answered) שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל (Samuel) אֶת־ (-) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said) אָנֹכִ֣י (I am) הָרֹאֶ֔ה (the seer). עֲלֵ֤ה (Go up) לְפָנַי֙ (before me) הַבָּמָ֔ה (to the high place), וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֥ם (and for you⁺ shall eat) עִמִּ֖י (with me) הַיּ֑וֹם (today). וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֣יךָ (And I will let you go) בַבֹּ֔קֶר (tomorrow), וְכֹ֛ל (and all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ (in your heart) אַגִּ֥יד (I will declare) לָֽךְ׃ (to you). 20  וְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹת (And as for donkeys) הָאֹבְד֣וֹת (that were lost) לְךָ֗ (to you) הַיּוֹם֙ (days) שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (three) הַיָּמִ֔ים (ago), אַל־ (not) תָּ֧שֶׂם (set) אֶֽת־ (-) לִבְּךָ֛ (your heart) לָהֶ֖ם (to them), כִּ֣י (for) נִמְצָ֑אוּ (they have been found). וּלְמִי֙ (And on whom is) כָּל־ (all) חֶמְדַּ֣ת (the desire) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel)? הֲל֣וֹא (Is it not) לְךָ֔ (on you) וּלְכֹ֖ל (and on all) בֵּ֥ית (the house) אָבִֽיךָ׃ס (of your father)?

21  וַיַּ֨עַן (And answered) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), הֲל֨וֹא (Not) בֶן־ (a Ben-) יְמִינִ֤י (jaminite) אָ֙נֹכִי֙ (am I), מִקַּטַנֵּי֙ (from the smallest) שִׁבְטֵ֣י (of the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), וּמִשְׁפַּחְתִּי֙ (and my family) הַצְּעִרָ֔ה (the least) מִכָּֽל־ (of all) מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת (the clans) שִׁבְטֵ֣י (of the tribe) בִנְיָמִ֑ן (of Benjamin)? וְלָ֙מָּה֙ (And why) דִּבַּ֣רְתָּ (do you speak) אֵלַ֔י (to me) כַּדָּבָ֖ר (like) הַזֶּֽה׃ס (this).

22  וַיִּקַּ֤ח (And took) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) אֶת־ (-) שָׁא֣וּל (Saul) וְאֶֽת־ (and) נַעֲר֔וֹ (his servant), וַיְבִיאֵ֖ם (and brought them) לִשְׁכָּ֑תָה (into the hall), וַיִּתֵּ֨ן (and had sit) לָהֶ֤ם (them) מָקוֹם֙ (in the place) בְּרֹ֣אשׁ (of honor) הַקְּרוּאִ֔ים (of those called), וְהֵ֖מָּה (and they) כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים (about thirty) אִֽישׁ׃ (persons). 23  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) לַטַּבָּ֔ח (to the cook), תְּנָה֙ (Bring) אֶת־ (-) הַמָּנָ֔ה (the portion) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נָתַ֖תִּי (I gave) לָ֑ךְ (to you), אֲשֶׁר֙ (of which) אָמַ֣רְתִּי (I said) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you): שִׂ֥ים (Set) אֹתָ֖הּ (it) עִמָּֽךְ׃ (by you).

24  וַיָּ֣רֶם (And took up) הַ֠טַּבָּח (the cook) אֶת־ (-) הַשּׁ֨וֹק (the leg) וְהֶעָלֶ֜יהָ (and what was attached to it), וַיָּ֣שֶׂם׀ (and he set it) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul). וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said), הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), הַנִּשְׁאָר֙ (what was kept back)! שִׂים־ (It was set apart) לְפָנֶ֣יךָ (for your face). אֱכֹ֔ל (Eat), כִּ֧י (for) לַמּוֹעֵ֛ד (for this appointed time) שָֽׁמוּר־ (it has been kept) לְךָ֥ (for you) לֵאמֹ֖ר (since I said), הָעָ֣ם׀ (The people) קָרָ֑אתִי (I have invited). וַיֹּ֧אכַל (And ate) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) עִם־ (with) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) בַּיּ֥וֹם (day) הַהֽוּא׃ (that).

25  וַיֵּרְד֥וּ (And they had come down) מֵהַבָּמָ֖ה (from the high place) הָעִ֑יר (into the city), וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (and he spoke) עִם־ (with) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) עַל־ (on) הַגָּֽג׃ (the roof).

26  וַיַּשְׁכִּ֗מוּ (And they arose early), וַיְהִ֞י (and it came to pass) כַּעֲל֤וֹת (at the ascending) הַשַּׁ֙חַר֙ (of the dawn), וַיִּקְרָ֨א (that called) שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) הַגָּג (on the roof), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), ק֖וּמָה (Get up), וַאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ (that I may send you on your way). וַיָּ֣קָם (And arose) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul), וַיֵּצְא֧וּ (and went) שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם (the two of them)— ה֥וּא (he) וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (and Samuel)— הַחֽוּצָה׃ (outside).

27  הֵ֗מָּה (They) יֽוֹרְדִים֙ (as were going down) בִּקְצֵ֣ה (to the outskirts) הָעִ֔יר (of the city), וּשְׁמוּאֵ֞ל (and Samuel) אָמַ֣ר (said) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul), אֱמֹ֥ר (Speak) לַנַּ֛עַר (to the servant) וְיַעֲבֹ֥ר (that he may pass on) לְפָנֵ֖ינוּ (before our face), וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֑ר (and he went on). וְאַתָּה֙ (And you) עֲמֹ֣ד (stand) כַּיּ֔וֹם (awhile), וְאַשְׁמִיעֲךָ֖ (and I will make you hear) אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֥ר (the word) אֱלֹהִֽים׃פ (of God).