Saul Chosen as King
Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. 1Sa 14:51Act 13:211Ch 9:36-391Ch 8:30-331Sa 25:2Job 1:32Sa 19:32 And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people. 1Sa 16:72Sa 14:25-26Gen 6:2Num 13:331Sa 17:4Jer 9:231Sa 10:23-24
One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” Jdg 10:4Jdg 5:101Sa 10:2
So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them. 2Ki 4:42Jos 24:33Gen 33:18Jdg 17:1Jdg 19:1Jhn 3:23
When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.” 1Sa 10:21Sa 1:1Luk 12:11Luk 12:22Mat 6:25Mat 6:28Mat 6:34
“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.” 1Ki 13:11Ti 6:11Deu 33:11Sa 2:271Sa 3:19-201Th 2:101Th 5:132Ki 6:6
“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” 1Ki 14:32Ki 8:82Ki 4:422Ki 5:152Ki 5:5Jdg 13:15-17Jdg 6:18
The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. 1 I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”
(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.) Isa 30:101Ch 26:281Ch 29:292Ki 17:13Amo 7:122Sa 24:11Gen 25:22Isa 29:10
“Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was. 2Ki 5:13-14 And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?” Gen 24:11Exo 2:16Gen 24:18-20Jdg 5:11
“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place. Gen 31:541Ki 3:2-41Sa 10:51Sa 16:21Co 5:7-8Deu 12:6-71Ch 16:391Sa 7:17 As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.” Jhn 6:111Co 10:301Ti 4:4Jhn 6:23Luk 24:30Mat 26:26Mrk 6:41
So Saul and his servant went up toward the city, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.
Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel, Act 13:211Sa 15:12Sa 7:27Amo 3:7Job 33:16Psa 25:141Sa 20:2Mrk 14:13-16 “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him leader over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.” 1Sa 10:1Exo 3:7-9Psa 106:44Psa 25:181Sa 15:1Exo 2:23-251Ki 19:15-162Ki 9:3-6
When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.” Act 13:21Hos 13:111Sa 16:6-121Sa 3:132Sa 23:6-7Neh 13:19Neh 13:25Rom 13:3-4
Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
“I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And when I send you off in the morning, I will tell you all that is in your heart. 1Co 14:25Jhn 4:29 As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?” 1Sa 8:51Sa 12:131Sa 9:31Ch 29:31Sa 12:151Sa 4:201Sa 8:19Col 3:2
Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?” 1Sa 15:17Eph 3:8Jdg 20:46-48Luk 14:11Psa 68:271Sa 10:271Sa 18:181Sa 18:23
Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited—about thirty in all. Gen 43:32Luk 14:10 And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.” 1Sa 1:5Gen 43:34
So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul dined with Samuel that day. Ezk 24:4Lev 7:32-33Exo 29:22Exo 29:27Num 18:18
And after they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house. Act 10:9Deu 22:82Sa 11:2Neh 8:16Jer 19:13Mat 10:27
They got up early in the morning, and just before dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way!” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went outside together. Gen 19:14Gen 44:4Jdg 19:28Jos 7:13
As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on. Jhn 15:14-151Sa 20:38-392Ki 9:5-61Sa 15:16