1Now there was a wealthy, influential man of the tribe of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bechorath, son of Aphiah. 2And he had a son, named Saul; and there was not a more handsome young man among the Israelites than he: head and shoulders taller than anyone else. 3And one day, when the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost, Kish told Saul, “Take one of the servants with you, and go look for the donkeys.” 4And he passed through Mount Ephraim, and the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they went through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there, either. Then they went through the entire land of the Benjamites, but still did not find them. 5And when they had reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Let us go back home; before my father stops caring about the donkeys, and becomes anxious for us.” 6And his servant said to him, “There is a highly regarded man of God in this city; all that he says comes true. Let us go there; perhaps he can tell us where we should go.” 7Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we offer the man? For the bread in our packs is depleted, and we have no present to bring to this man of God. What else do we have?” 8And the servant answered, “Look, I have a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.” 9(Previously in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, he spoke thusly, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for what is now called a “Prophet” was formerly called a “Seer.”) 10Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11And as they climbed the hill to the city, they met some young women going out to draw water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?” 12And they replied, “He is; he is just ahead of you. Hurry, for he has come to our town today; for the people to make a sacrifice in the high place. 13As soon as you enter the town, you shall find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice; and afterwards, those that are invited will eat. Go up there; for about this time you shall find him.” 14And they went up into the town; and as they entered the town, Samuel was coming toward them, on his way to the high place.

15Now the LORD had told Samuel a day before that Saul was coming: 16“Tomorrow about this time, I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be ruler (king) over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the Philistines: for I have looked down upon My people in mercy, because their cry has come up to Me.” 17And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “This is the man of whom I spoke to you! He is the man who shall reign over My people.”

18Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, “Tell me, I pray you, where the seer's house is.” 19And Samuel replied to Saul, “I am the seer: go up before me to the high place; for you shall eat with me today; and tomorrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not you, and on all your family line?” 21And Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why, then, do you say such a thing to me?” 22And Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the parlor, and had them sit in the chief place among about thirty persons that were invited. 23And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, that I told you to set aside.” 24And the cook took up the shoulder, and all that was on it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what I have kept for you,” And he set it before him and said, “Eat, for it has been saved for you all this time since I said, ‘I have invited guests.’” And so Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25And when they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel talked with Saul on the rooftop of the house. 26And they arose early, about dawn; and Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, “Get ready, so that I may send you on your way.” And Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went outside together. 27And as they were going down toward the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell your servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay here for a while, so that I may tell you a word from God.”