1 Samuel

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 mighty man of power.

1There was a man named Kish. He came from the family group called Benjamin. His father was Abiel. Before Abiel came Zeror, then Bechorath, then Aphiah. Kish was a strong and important man.

2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a 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.

2Kish had a son named Saul. Saul was a fine young man, and handsome. No one in Israel looked better than he did. He was taller than everyone else, head and shoulders above them.

3And 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 seek the asses.

3One day the donkeys of Saul's father Kish wandered off. Kish said to Saul, "Take one of the servants with you. Go and look for the donkeys."

4And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.

4Saul went through the hills of Ephraim and the land of Shalisha. No donkeys. He went through the land of Shalim. Not there either. He went through the land of Benjamin. Still nothing.

5And when they were come to the land of 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.

5They came to the land of Zuph. Saul said to his servant, "Let's go home. My father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us."

6And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

6The servant said, "Wait. There is a man of God in this city. People here look up to him. Everything he says really happens. Let's go to him. Maybe he can tell us which way to go."

7Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

7Saul said, "If we go, what can we bring him? The bread in our bags is gone. We have no gift for the man of God. What do we have?"

8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

8The servant answered, "I have a small piece of silver here in my hand. I will give it to the man of God. Then he will tell us which way to go."

NoteThe silver was a quarter of a shekel. A shekel was a small weight of silver, not a coin. This was a small, polite gift.

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

9(Long ago in Israel, if someone wanted to ask God a question, he said, "Let's go to the seer." A seer was a person who saw things God showed him. Today we call that person a prophet.)

10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

10Saul said to his servant, "Good idea. Come on, let's go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

11They climbed the hill toward the city. On the way they met some young women coming out to get water. They asked the women, "Is the seer here?"

12And 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 sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:

12The women said, "Yes, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He came to the city today. The people are giving an offering to God at the high place."

NoteA high place was a flat spot on a hill where people brought offerings to God. In this story it is also where they shared the meal.

13As 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 bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

13"Go into the city and you will find him right away. He has not gone up to eat yet. The people will not start eating until he comes. First he asks God to bless the offering. Then the guests eat. So go up now. You will find him."

14And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.

14They went up into the city. Just as they came in, there was Samuel. He was walking toward them, on his way up to the high place.

15Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

15One day before Saul arrived, the LORD had told Samuel something.

16To 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 save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

16God said, "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Pour oil on his head to show he is the leader of my people Israel. He will save them from the Philistines, who fight against them. I have seen my people. I have heard them crying for help."

17And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "That is the man I told you about. He is the one who will rule my people."

18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.

18Saul walked up to Samuel in the gateway. He said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."

19And 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 heart.

19Samuel answered, "I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place. You will eat with me today. In the morning I will send you on your way. I will tell you everything that is on your mind."

NoteThe old wording says "I will let thee go." Here "let go" means send you off on your trip. It does not mean stop you.

20And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?

20"Do not worry about the donkeys you lost three days ago. They have been found. And everything Israel is hoping for belongs to you and your father's family."

21And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

21Saul said, "But I am from Benjamin, the smallest family group in Israel. And my own family is the least important one in Benjamin. Why are you saying this to me?"

22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.

22Samuel took Saul and his servant into the big dining room. He sat them in the best seats. About thirty guests were there.

23And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

23Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the piece of meat I gave you. I told you to set it aside."

24And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was 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 have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

24The cook brought the leg and the meat on it. He set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, "Here is the part I saved. It is for you. Eat it. I have been keeping it for you since I invited the people." So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

25They came down from the high place into the city. Samuel talked with Saul on the flat roof of his house.

26And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the 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.

26They got up early. Just before the sun came up, Samuel called to Saul on the roof. He said, "Get up. I will send you on your way." Saul got up, and the two of them went outside together.

27And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

27They walked down toward the edge of the city. Samuel said to Saul, "Tell your servant to go on ahead of us." The servant walked on. "Now stand still here for a moment. I will tell you what God says."