1 

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.

2 

He had a son, whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a better person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.

3 

The donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys."

4 

He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn't find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they weren't there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn't find them.

5 

When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, and let us return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys, and be anxious for us."

6 

The servant said to him, "Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely happens. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go."

7 

Then Saul said to his servant, "But, behold, if we go, what should we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our sacks, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"

8 

The servant answered Saul again, and said, "Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way."

9 

(In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, "Come, and let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer.)

10 

Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said. Come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 

As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?"

12 

They answered them, and said, "He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.

13 

As soon as you have come into the city, you will immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will find him."

14 

They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.

15 

Now the LORD had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,

16 

"Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me."

17 

When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people."

18 

Then Saul approached Samuel in the gateway, and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."

19 

Samuel answered Saul, and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.

20 

As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don't set your mind on them; for they have been found. For whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you, and for all your father's house?"

21 

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 speak to me like this?"

22 

Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.

23 

Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, 'Set it aside.'"

24 

The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, "Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before yourself and eat; because for the appointed time has it been kept for you, for I said, 'I have invited the people.'" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 

When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.

26 

They arose early; and about daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, "Get up, that I may send you away." Saul arose, and they both went outside, he and Samuel, together.

27 

As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us." He went ahead, then Samuel said, "But stand still first, that I may cause you to hear God's message."

1 

Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, "Hasn't the LORD anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?

2 

When you have departed from me today, then you will find two men by Rachel's tomb, on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will tell you, 'The donkeys which you went to look for have been found; and behold, your father has stopped caring about the donkeys, and is anxious for you, saying, "What shall I do for my son?"'

3 

"Then you will go on forward from there, and you will come to the oak of Tabor. Three men will meet you there going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three young goats, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine.

4 

They will greet you, and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hand.

5 

"After that you will come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is; and it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a lute, a tambourine, a pipe, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.

6 

Then The LORD's Spirit will come mightily on you, and you will prophesy with them, and will be turned into another man.

7 

Let it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do what is appropriate for the occasion; for God is with you.

8 

"Go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings. Wait seven days, until I come to you, and show you what you are to do."

9 

It was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs happened that day.

10 

When they came there to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily on him, and he prophesied among them.

11 

When all who knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said to one another, "What is this that has come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?"

12 

One of the same place answered, "Who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

13 

When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 

Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?"He said, "To seek the donkeys. When we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel."

15 

Saul's uncle said, "Please tell me what Samuel said to you."

16 

Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys were found." But concerning the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he didn't tell him.

17 

Samuel called the people together to the LORD to Mizpah;

18 

and he said to the children of Israel, "The LORD, the God of Israel, says 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.'

19 

But you have today rejected your God, who himself saves you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to him, 'No! Set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands."

20 

So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.

21 

He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families; and the family of the Matrites was chosen. Then Saul the son of Kish was chosen; but when they looked for him, he could not be found.

22 

Therefore they asked of the LORD further, "Is there yet a man to come here?"The LORD answered, "Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage."

23 

They ran and got him there. When he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

24 

Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?"All the people shouted, and said, "Long live the king!"

25 

Then Samuel told the people the regulations of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before The LORD. Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

26 

Saul also went to his house to Gibeah; and the army went with him, whose hearts God had touched.

27 

But certain worthless fellows said, "How could this man save us?" They despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.

1 

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you."

2 

Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "On this condition I will make it with you, that all your right eyes be gouged out. I will make this dishonor all Israel."

3 

The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you."

4 

Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke these words in the ears of the people, then all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

5 

Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, "What ails the people that they weep?" They told him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6 

God's Spirit came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger burned hot.

7 

He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whoever doesn't come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen." The dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man.

8 

He counted them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 

They said to the messengers who came, "Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.'" The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

10 

Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you."

11 

On the next day, Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the middle of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 

The people said to Samuel, "Who is he who said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring those men, that we may put them to death!"

13 

Saul said, "No man shall be put to death today; for today the LORD has rescued Israel."

14 

Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there."

15 

All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before The LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

1 

Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.

2 

Now, behold, the king walks before you. I am old and gray-headed. Behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth to this day.

3 

Here I am. Witness against me before The LORD, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a ransom to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you."

4 

They said, "You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone's hand."

5 

He said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand."They said, "He is witness."

6 

Samuel said to the people, "It is the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

7 

Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of The LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.

8 

"When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to The LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place.

9 

"But they forgot the LORD their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.

10 

They cried to The LORD, and said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken The LORD, and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.'

11 

The LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety.

12 

"When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us;' when the LORD your God was your king.

13 

Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have asked for. Behold, the LORD has set a king over you.

14 

If you will fear The LORD, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of The LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of the LORD your God.

15 

But if you will not listen to The LORD's voice, but rebel against the commandment of The LORD, then The LORD's hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

16 

"Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.

17 

Isn't it wheat harvest today? I will call to The LORD, that he may send thunder and rain; and you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in The LORD's sight, in asking for a king."

18 

So Samuel called to The LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

19 

All the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king."

20 

Samuel said to the people, "Don't be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don't turn aside from following The LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

21 

Don't turn aside to go after vain things which can't profit or deliver, for they are vain.

22 

For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.

23 

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

24 

Only fear The LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.

25 

But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king."

1 

Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.

2 

Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people to their own tents.

3 

Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"

4 

All Israel heard that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was considered an abomination to the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.

5 

The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven.

6 

When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in tombs, and in pits.

7 

Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 

He stayed seven days, according to the time set by Samuel; but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.

9 

Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering to me here, and the peace offerings." He offered the burnt offering.

10 

It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.

11 

Samuel said, "What have you done?"Saul said, "Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn't come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;

12 

therefore I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven't entreated the favor of The LORD.' I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering."

13 

Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you; for now the LORD would have established your kingdom on Israel forever.

14 

But now your kingdom will not continue. the LORD has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the LORD has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which the LORD commanded you."

15 

Samuel arose, and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul counted the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

16 

Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

17 

The raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;

18 

another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 

Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears";

20 

but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, each man to sharpen his own plowshare, mattock, ax, and sickle.

21 

The price was one payim each to sharpen mattocks, plowshares, pitchforks, axes, and goads.

22 

So it came to pass in the day of battle, that neither sword nor spear was found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.

23 

The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

1 

Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side." But he didn't tell his father.

2 

Saul stayed in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people who were with him were about six hundred men;

3 

including Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn't know that Jonathan was gone.

4 

Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines' garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

5 

The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 

Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us; for there is no restraint on the LORD to save by many or by few."

7 

His armor bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Turn and, behold, I am with you according to your heart."

8 

Then Jonathan said, "Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.

9 

If they say thus to us, 'Wait until we come to you!' then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them.

10 

But if they say this, 'Come up to us!' then we will go up; for the LORD has delivered them into our hand. This shall be the sign to us."

11 

Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, "Behold, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden themselves!"

12 

The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something!"Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me; for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel."

13 

Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him.

14 

That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land.

15 

There was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the raiders, also trembled; and the earth quaked, so there was an exceedingly great trembling.

16 

The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away and scattered.

17 

Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Count now, and see who is missing from us." When they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

18 

Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring God's ark here." For God's ark was with the children of Israel at that time.

19 

While Saul talked to the priest, the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand!"

20 

Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion.

21 

Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before, and who went up with them into the camp, from all around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 

Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

23 

So the LORD saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over by Beth Aven.

24 

The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.

25 

All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground.

26 

When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.

27 

But Jonathan didn't hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod who was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.

28 

Then one of the people answered, and said, "Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed is the man who eats food today.'" The people were faint.

29 

Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

30 

How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now has there been no great slaughter among the Philistines."

31 

They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;

32 

and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.

33 

Then they told Saul, saying, "Behold, the people are sinning against The LORD, in that they eat meat with the blood."He said, "You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!"

34 

Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, 'Every man bring me here his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don't sin against the LORD in eating meat with the blood.'" All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there.

35 

Saul built an altar to The LORD. This was the first altar that he built to The LORD.

36 

Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take plunder among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them."They said, "Do whatever seems good to you."Then the priest said, "Let us draw near here to God."

37 

Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But he didn't answer him that day.

38 

Saul said, "Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people; and know and see in which this sin has been today.

39 

For, as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.

40 

Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side."The people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."

41 

Therefore Saul said to The LORD, the God of Israel, "Show the right."Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.

42 

Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son."Jonathan was selected.

43 

Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done!"Jonathan told him, and said, "I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must die."

44 

Saul said, "God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan."

45 

The people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God today!" So the people rescued Jonathan, that he didn't die.

46 

Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 

Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned himself, he defeated them.

48 

He did valiantly, and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

49 

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.

50 

The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

51 

Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 

There was severe war against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him into his service.