Había un hombre de Benjamín que se llamaba Cis^a, hijo de Abiel, hijo de Zeror, hijo de Becorat, hijo de Afía, hijo de un benjamita, un hombre poderoso e influyente¹. 2 Y tenía un hijo que se llamaba Saúl, joven y bien parecido. No había otro más bien parecido que él entre los hijos de Israel^a; de los hombros arriba^b sobrepasaba a cualquiera del pueblo. 3 Y las asnas de Cis, padre de Saúl, se habían perdido, por lo cual dijo Cis a su hijo Saúl: Toma ahora contigo uno de los criados, levántate, y ve en busca de las asnas. 4 Y Saúl pasó por la región montañosa de Efraín^a y recorrió la tierra de Salisa^b, pero no las hallaron. Luego pasaron por la tierra de Saalim^c, mas no estaban allí. Después atravesaron la tierra de los benjamitas, pero no las encontraron.

5 Cuando llegaron a la tierra de Zuf^a, Saúl dijo al criado que estaba con él: Ven, regresemos, no sea que mi padre deje de preocuparse por las asnas y se angustie por nosotros^b. 6 Y él le respondió: He aquí que hay un hombre de Dios^a en esta ciudad, el cual¹ es tenido en alta estima; todo lo que él dice se cumple sin falta^b. Vayamos ahora, quizá pueda orientarnos² acerca de la jornada que hemos emprendido^c. 7 Entonces Saúl dijo a su criado: Pero he aquí, si vamos, ¿qué le llevaremos al hombre? Porque el pan de nuestras alforjas se ha acabado y no hay presente para llevar al hombre de Dios^a. ¿Qué tenemos? 8 Y el criado volvió a responder a Saúl, y dijo: He aquí, tengo en mi mano la cuarta parte de un siclo¹ de plata; se lo daré al hombre de Dios, y él nos indicará² nuestro camino^a. 9 (Antiguamente en Israel, cuando uno iba a consultar a Dios, decía: Venid, vamos al vidente; porque al que hoy se le llama profeta, antes se le llamaba vidente^a.) 10 Entonces Saúl dijo a su criado: Bien dicho; anda, vamos. Y fueron a la ciudad donde estaba el hombre de Dios.

11 Según subían por la cuesta de la ciudad, se encontraron con unas muchachas que salían a sacar agua^a y les dijeron: ¿Está aquí el vidente? 12 Y ellas les respondieron, y dijeron: Sí¹, he aquí está delante de ti. Apresúrate ahora, pues hoy ha venido a la ciudad porque el pueblo tiene hoy un sacrificio^a en el lugar alto^b. 13 Cuando entréis en la ciudad lo encontraréis antes que suba al lugar alto a comer, pues el pueblo no comerá hasta que él llegue, porque él tiene que bendecir el sacrificio^a; después comerán los convidados. Subid ahora, que lo encontraréis enseguida. 14 Ellos, pues, subieron a la ciudad. Cuando entraban a la ciudad, he aquí que Samuel salía hacia ellos para subir al lugar alto.

15 Ahora bien, un día antes de la llegada de Saúl, el SEÑOR había revelado esto a¹ Samuel diciendo^a: 16 Mañana como a esta hora te enviaré un hombre de la tierra de Benjamín, lo ungirás para que sea príncipe sobre mi pueblo Israel^a, y él librará a mi pueblo de la mano de los filisteos. Porque yo he visto la aflicción¹ de mi pueblo, pues su clamor ha llegado hasta mí^b. 17 Cuando Samuel vio a Saúl, el SEÑOR le dijo¹: He aquí el hombre de quien te hablé^a. Este gobernará a mi pueblo. 18 Entonces Saúl se acercó a Samuel en medio de la puerta y le dijo: Te ruego que me enseñes dónde está la casa del vidente. 19 Respondió Samuel a Saúl y dijo: Yo soy el vidente. Sube delante de mí al lugar alto, pues hoy comerás conmigo, y por la mañana te dejaré ir y te declararé todo lo que está en tu corazón. 20 En cuanto a tus asnas que se perdieron hace tres días^a, no te preocupes por¹ ellas pues han sido halladas. Y ¿para quién es todo lo deseable en Israel^b? ¿No es para ti y para toda la casa de tu padre? 21 Saúl respondió, y dijo: ¿No soy yo benjamita, de la más pequeña de las tribus de Israel^a, y no es mi familia la menos importante de todas las familias de la tribu¹ de Benjamín^b? ¿Por qué, pues, me hablas de esta manera?

22 Entonces Samuel tomó a Saúl y a su criado, los llevó a la sala y les dio un lugar a la cabecera de los invitados que eran unos treinta hombres. 23 Y dijo Samuel al cocinero: Trae¹ la porción que te di, de la cual te dije: «Ponla aparte²». 24 Entonces el cocinero alzó el pernil con lo que estaba en él^a y lo colocó delante de Saúl. Y Samuel dijo: He aquí lo que estaba reservado. Ponlo delante de ti y come, porque ha sido guardado para ti hasta el momento señalado, ya que dije¹: He invitado al pueblo. Y Saúl comió con Samuel aquel día.

25 Descendieron del lugar alto a la ciudad, y Samuel habló con Saúl en el terrado^1a. 26 Se levantaron temprano, y¹ al romper el alba Samuel llamó a Saúl en el terrado, diciendo: Levántate, para que yo te despida. Saúl se levantó, y ambos, Saúl² y Samuel, salieron a la calle. 27 Mientras descendían a las afueras de la ciudad, Samuel dijo a Saúl: Di al criado que pase delante de nosotros y siga, pero tú quédate para que yo te declare la palabra de Dios.

Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was ^aKish the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite, a ¹valiant mighty man. 2 He had a son whose name was Saul, a ^ayoung and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome man than he among the sons of Israel; ^bfrom his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Now take with you one of the servants and arise, go search for the donkeys.” 4 So he passed through ^athe hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of ^bShalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of ^cShaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjaminites, but they did not find them.

5 When they came to the land of ^aZuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let’s return, ^bor else my father will stop being concerned about the donkeys and will become anxious about us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold now, there is ^aa man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; ^beverything that he says definitely comes true. Now let’s go there, ^cperhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sacks and there is ^ano gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again and said, “Look, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God and he will ^atell us our way.” 9 (Previously in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let’s go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was previously called ^aa seer.) 10 Then Saul said to his servant, “¹Good idea; come, let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they went up the slope to the city, ^athey found young women going out to draw water, and they said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 They answered them and said, “He is; ¹see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, because ^athe people have a sacrifice on ^bthe high place today. 13 As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because ^ahe must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now then, go up, for you will find him about this time.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.

15 Now a day before Saul’s coming, ^athe LORD had ¹revealed this to Samuel, saying, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and ^ayou shall anoint him as ruler over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For ^bI have considered My people, because their outcry has come to Me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD ¹said to him, “^aBehold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” 19 And Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you everything that is on your mind. 20 ^aAnd as for your donkeys that wandered off three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found. And ^bfor whom is everything that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?” 21 Saul replied, “^aAm I not a Benjaminite, of ^bthe smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the ¹tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “¹Serve the portion that I gave you about which I said to you, ‘Set it ²aside.’” 24 Then the cook ^atook up the leg with what was on it and placed it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved! Place it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, ¹since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they came down from the high place into the city, ¹Samuel spoke with Saul ^aon the roof. 26 And they got up early; and at daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, so that I may send you on your way.” So Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Speak to the servant and have him go on ahead of us and pass by; but you stand here now, so that I may proclaim the word of God to you.”

There was a man of the tribe of Benjamin whose name was ^aKish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of influence and wealth. 2 Kish had a son named Saul, a ^achoice and handsome man; among the sons of Israel there was not a man more handsome than he. ^bFrom his shoulders and up he was a head taller than any of the people.

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off and were lost. Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you and arise, go look for the donkeys.” 4 And they passed through ^athe hill country of Ephraim and the land of ^bShalishah, but did not find them. Then they passed through the land of ^cShaalim, but they were not there and the land of the Benjamites, but they still did not find them.

5 When they came to the land of ^aZuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us return, ^botherwise my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and become anxious about us.” 6 The servant said to him, “Look here, in this city there is ^aa man of God, and the man is held in honor; ^beverything that he says comes true. Now let us go there; ^cperhaps he can advise us about our journey and tell us where we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go to see him, what shall we bring to the man? For the bread from our sacks is gone and there is ^ano gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have to offer?” 8 The servant replied again to Saul, “Here in my hand I have a quarter of a shekel of silver; I will give that to the man of God, and he will ^aadvise us as to where we should go on our journey to find the donkeys.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he would say, “Come, let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet today was formerly called a ^aseer.) 10 Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was living.

11 As they went up the hill to the city, ^athey met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer (prophet) here?” 12 They answered them, “He is; look, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today because ^athe people have a sacrifice on ^bthe high place today. 13 As you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must ask the ^ablessing on the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. So go up now, for about now you will find him.” 14 So they went up to the city. And as they came into the city, there was Samuel coming out toward them to go up to the high place.

15 Now a day before Saul came, ^athe LORD had ¹informed Samuel of this, saying, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and ^ayou shall anoint him as leader over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For ^bI have looked upon the distress of My people, because their cry for help has come to Me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “^aThere is the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall rule over My people as their king.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the city gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go on ahead of me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 ^aAs for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found. And ^bfor whom are all things that are desirable in Israel? Are they not for you and for all your father’s household (family) ?” 21 Saul replied, “^aAm I not a Benjamite, of ^1bthe smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the smallest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken this way to me as if I were very important?”

22 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall at the high place and gave them a place to sit at the head of the persons—about thirty men—who were invited while the rest ate outside. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the priests’ portion that I gave you, regarding which I told you, ‘Set it aside.’” 24 Then the cook ^alifted up the leg (thigh) with the meat that was on it indicating that it was the priest’s honored portion and placed it before Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved for you. Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, ever since I invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul ^aon the ¹roof of his house. 26 They got up early the next day; and at dawn Samuel called Saul who was sleeping on the roof, saying, “Get up, so that I may send you on your way.” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside. 27 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us so that he may pass by but you stand still now so that I may proclaim the word of God to you.”