The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 9שמואל א 9

וַֽיְהִי אִ֣ישׁ מבן ימין מִבִּנְיָמִ֗ין וּ֠שְׁמוֹ קִ֣ישׁ בֶּן אֲבִיאֵ֞ל בֶּן צְר֧וֹר בֶּן בְּכוֹרַ֛ת בֶּן אֲפִ֖יחַ בֶּן אִ֣ישׁ יְמִינִ֑י גִּבּ֖וֹר חָֽיִל

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

וְלוֹ הָיָ֨ה בֵ֜ן וּשְׁמ֤וֹ שָׁאוּל֙ בָּח֣וּר וָט֔וֹב וְאֵ֥ין אִ֛ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ט֣וֹב מִמֶּ֑נּוּ מִשִּׁכְמ֣וֹ וָמַ֔עְלָה גָּבֹ֖הַּ מִכָּל הָעָֽם

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

וַתֹּאבַ֨דְנָה֙ הָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת לְקִ֖ישׁ אֲבִ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וַיֹּ֨אמֶר קִ֜ישׁ אֶל שָׁא֣וּל בְּנ֗וֹ קַח נָ֤א אִתְּךָ֙ אֶת אַחַ֣ד מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔ים וְק֣וּם לֵ֔ךְ בַּקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת הָאֲתֹנֹֽת

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

וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר בְּהַר אֶפְרַ֛יִם וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ שָׁלִ֖שָׁה וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑אוּ וַיַּעַבְר֤וּ בְאֶֽרֶץ שַׁעֲלִים֙ וָאַ֔יִן וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ יְמִינִ֖י וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽאוּ

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

הֵ֗מָּה בָּ֚אוּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ צ֔וּף וְשָׁא֥וּל אָמַ֛ר לְנַעֲר֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר עִמּ֖וֹ לְכָ֣ה וְנָשׁ֑וּבָה פֶּן יֶחְדַּ֥ל אָבִ֛י מִן הָאֲתֹנ֖וֹת וְדָ֥אַג לָֽנוּ

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

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ הִנֵּה נָ֤א אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים֙ בָּעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את וְהָאִ֣ישׁ נִכְבָּ֔ד כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּ֖ר בּ֣וֹא יָב֑וֹא עַתָּה֙ נֵ֣לֲכָה שָּׁ֔ם אוּלַי֙ יַגִּ֣יד לָ֔נוּ אֶת דַּרְכֵּ֖נוּ אֲשֶׁר הָלַ֥כְנוּ עָלֶֽיהָ

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

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל לְנַעֲר֗וֹ וְהִנֵּ֣ה נֵלֵךְ֮ וּמַה נָּבִ֣יא לָאִישׁ֒ כִּ֤י הַלֶּ֨חֶם֙ אָזַ֣ל מִכֵּלֵ֔ינוּ וּתְשׁוּרָ֥ה אֵין לְהָבִ֖יא לְאִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים מָ֖ה אִתָּֽנוּ

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

וַיֹּ֤סֶף הַנַּ֨עַר֙ לַעֲנ֣וֹת אֶת שָׁא֔וּל וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה֙ נִמְצָ֣א בְיָדִ֔י רֶ֖בַע שֶׁ֣קֶל כָּ֑סֶף וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ לְאִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהִגִּ֥יד לָ֖נוּ אֶת דַּרְכֵּֽנוּ

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

לְפָנִ֣ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כֹּֽה אָמַ֤ר הָאִישׁ֙ בְּלֶכְתּוֹ֙ לִדְר֣וֹשׁ אֱלֹהִ֔ים לְכ֥וּ וְנֵלְכָ֖ה עַד הָרֹאֶ֑ה כִּ֤י לַנָּבִיא֙ הַיּ֔וֹם יִקָּרֵ֥א לְפָנִ֖ים הָרֹאֶֽה

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

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֧וּל לְנַעֲר֛וֹ ט֥וֹב דְּבָרְךָ֖ לְכָ֣ה נֵלֵ֑כָה וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ אֶל הָעִ֔יר אֲשֶׁר שָׁ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִֽים

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

הֵ֗מָּה עֹלִים֙ בְּמַעֲלֵ֣ה הָעִ֔יר וְהֵ֨מָּה֙ מָצְא֣וּ נְעָר֔וֹת יֹצְא֖וֹת לִשְׁאֹ֣ב מָ֑יִם וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לָהֶ֔ן הֲיֵ֥שׁ בָּזֶ֖ה הָרֹאֶֽה

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

וַתַּעֲנֶ֧ינָה אוֹתָ֛ם וַתֹּאמַ֥רְנָה יֵּ֖שׁ הִנֵּ֣ה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ מַהֵ֣ר עַתָּ֗ה כִּ֤י הַיּוֹם֙ בָּ֣א לָעִ֔יר כִּ֣י זֶ֧בַח הַיּ֛וֹם לָעָ֖ם בַּבָּמָֽה

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

כְּבֹאֲכֶ֣ם הָעִ֣יר כֵּ֣ן תִּמְצְא֣וּן אֹת֡וֹ בְּטֶרֶם֩ יַעֲלֶ֨ה הַבָּמָ֜תָה לֶאֱכֹ֗ל כִּ֠י לֹֽא יֹאכַ֤ל הָעָם֙ עַד בֹּא֔וֹ כִּֽי הוּא֙ יְבָרֵ֣ךְ הַזֶּ֔בַח אַחֲרֵי כֵ֖ן יֹאכְל֣וּ הַקְּרֻאִ֑ים וְעַתָּ֣ה עֲל֔וּ כִּֽי אֹת֥וֹ כְהַיּ֖וֹם תִּמְצְא֥וּן אֹתֽוֹ

As soon as you be come into the city, you 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 does bless the sacrifice; afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time you shall find him.

וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ הָעִ֑יר הֵ֗מָּה בָּאִים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר וְהִנֵּ֤ה שְׁמוּאֵל֙ יֹצֵ֣א לִקְרָאתָ֔ם לַעֲל֖וֹת הַבָּמָֽה

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

וַֽיהוָ֔ה גָּלָ֖ה אֶת אֹ֣זֶן שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל י֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד לִפְנֵ֥י בֽוֹא שָׁא֖וּל לֵאמֹֽר

Now YHWH had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

כָּעֵ֣ת מָחָ֡ר אֶשְׁלַח֩ אֵלֶ֨יךָ אִ֜ישׁ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ בִּנְיָמִ֗ן וּמְשַׁחְתּ֤וֹ לְנָגִיד֙ עַל עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֶת עַמִּ֖י מִיַּ֣ד פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים כִּ֤י רָאִ֨יתִי֙ אֶת עַמִּ֔י כִּ֛י בָּ֥אָה צַעֲקָת֖וֹ אֵלָֽי

To morrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him 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 to me.

וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל רָאָ֣ה אֶת שָׁא֑וּל וַיהוָ֣ה עָנָ֔הוּ הִנֵּ֤ה הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֵלֶ֔יךָ זֶ֖ה יַעְצֹ֥ר בְּעַמִּֽי

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

וַיִּגַּ֥שׁ שָׁא֛וּל אֶת שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל בְּת֣וֹךְ הַשָּׁ֑עַר וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הַגִּֽידָה נָּ֣א לִ֔י אֵי זֶ֖ה בֵּ֥ית הָרֹאֶֽה

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray you, where the seer's house .

וַיַּ֨עַן שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶת שָׁא֗וּל וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אָנֹכִ֣י הָרֹאֶ֔ה עֲלֵ֤ה לְפָנַי֙ הַבָּמָ֔ה וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֥ם עִמִּ֖י הַיּ֑וֹם וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֣יךָ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ אַגִּ֥יד לָֽךְ

And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I the seer: go up before me to the high place; for you shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that in your heart.

וְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹת הָאֹבְד֣וֹת לְךָ֗ הַיּוֹם֙ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַיָּמִ֔ים אַל תָּ֧שֶׂם אֶֽת לִבְּךָ֛ לָהֶ֖ם כִּ֣י נִמְצָ֑אוּ וּלְמִי֙ כָּל חֶמְדַּ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲל֣וֹא לְךָ֔ וּלְכֹ֖ל בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיךָ

And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, set not your mind on them; for they are found. And on whom all the desire of Israel? not on you, and on all your father's house?

וַיַּ֨עַן שָׁא֜וּל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֲל֨וֹא בֶן יְמִינִ֤י אָ֨נֹכִי֙ מִקַּטַנֵּי֙ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִשְׁפַּחְתִּי֙ הַצְּעִרָ֔ה מִכָּֽל מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת שִׁבְטֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן וְלָ֨מָּה֙ דִּבַּ֣רְתָּ אֵלַ֔י כַּדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה

And Saul answered and said, 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 you so to me?

וַיִּקַּ֤ח שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶת שָׁא֣וּל וְאֶֽת נַעֲר֔וֹ וַיְבִיאֵ֖ם לִשְׁכָּ֑תָה וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֤ם מָקוֹם֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הַקְּרוּאִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אִֽישׁ

And 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 about thirty persons.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ לַטַּבָּ֔ח תְּנָה֙ אֶת הַמָּנָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לָ֑ךְ אֲשֶׁר֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֵלֶ֔יךָ שִׂ֥ים אֹתָ֖הּ עִמָּֽךְ

And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, Set it by you.

וַיָּ֣רֶם הַ֠טַּבָּח אֶת הַשּׁ֨וֹק וְהֶעָלֶ֜יהָ וַיָּ֣שֶׂם לִפְנֵ֣י שָׁא֗וּל וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הִנֵּ֤ה הַנִּשְׁאָר֙ שִׂים לְפָנֶ֣יךָ אֱכֹ֔ל כִּ֧י לַמּוֹעֵ֛ד שָֽׁמוּר לְךָ֥ לֵאמֹ֖ר הָעָ֣ם קָרָ֑אתִי וַיֹּ֧אכַל שָׁא֛וּל עִם שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא

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

וַיֵּרְד֥וּ מֵהַבָּמָ֖ה הָעִ֑יר וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר עִם שָׁא֖וּל עַל הַגָּֽג

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

וַיַּשְׁכִּ֗מוּ וַיְהִ֞י כַּעֲל֤וֹת הַשַּׁ֨חַר֙ וַיִּקְרָ֨א שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל אֶל שָׁאוּל֙ הגג הַגָּ֣גָה לֵאמֹ֔ר ק֖וּמָה וַאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ וַיָּ֣קָם שָׁא֗וּל וַיֵּצְא֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם ה֥וּא וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל הַחֽוּצָה

And 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 you away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

הֵ֗מָּה יֽוֹרְדִים֙ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הָעִ֔יר וּשְׁמוּאֵ֞ל אָמַ֣ר אֶל שָׁא֗וּל אֱמֹ֥ר לַנַּ֛עַר וְיַעֲבֹ֥ר לְפָנֵ֖ינוּ וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֑ר וְאַתָּה֙ עֲמֹ֣ד כַּיּ֔וֹם וְאַשְׁמִיעֲךָ֖ אֶת דְּבַ֥ר אֱלֹהִֽים

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 you still a while, that I may shew you the word of God.