Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a ¹ mighty man of power.

And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a ¹ choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go ¹ seek the asses.

And when they were come to the land of ¹ Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.

And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a ¹ shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the ¹ seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a ¹ sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:

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 ¹ bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may ¹ save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine ¹ heart.

And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And ¹ on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the ¹ parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.

And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was ¹ upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I ² have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the ¹ top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us,