HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 622
1 S A MU EL 1 0
11 As they were climbing the hill to the town,
they met some young women coming out to
draw water. So Saul and his servant asked, “Is
the seer here today?”
12 “Yes,” they replied. “Stay right on this road.
He is at the town gates. He has just arrived to
take part in a public sacrifice up at the place of
worship. 13 Hurry and catch him before he goes
up there to eat. The guests won’t begin eating
until he arrives to bless the food.”
14 So they entered the town, and as they
passed through the gates, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the place of
worship.
15 Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous
day, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you
a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to
be the leader of my people, Israel. He will rescue them from the Philistines, for I have looked
down on my people in mercy and have heard
their cry.”
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said,
“That’s the man I told you about! He will rule
my people.”
18 Just then Saul approached Samuel at the
gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me
where the seer’s house is?”
19 “I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to
the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat
there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you
what you want to know and send you on your
way. 20 And don’t worry about those donkeys
that were lost three days ago, for they have been
found. And I am here to tell you that you and
your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”
21 Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of
Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my
family is the least important of all the families of
that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”
22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant
into the hall and placed them at the head of the
table, honoring them above the thirty special
guests. 23 Samuel then instructed the cook to
bring Saul the finest cut of meat, the piece that
had been set aside for the guest of honor. 24 So
the cook brought in the meat and placed it before Saul. “Go ahead and eat it,” Samuel said.
“I was saving it for you even before I invited
these others!” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 When they came down from the place of
worship and returned to town, Samuel took Saul
up to the roof of the house and prepared a bed
for him there.* 26 At daybreak the next morning,
Samuel called to Saul, “Get up! It’s time you were
on your way.” So Saul got ready, and he and Samuel left the house together. 27 When they reached
the edge of town, Samuel told Saul to send his
servant on ahead. After the servant was gone,
Samuel said, “Stay here, for I have received a
special message for you from God.”
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Samuel Anoints Saul as King
Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and
poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed
Saul and said, “I am doing this because the
Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.* 2 When you leave
me today, you will see two men beside Rachel’s
tomb at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin.
They will tell you that the donkeys have been
found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you.
He is asking, ‘Have you seen my son?’
3 “When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will
see three men coming toward you who are on
their way to worship God at Bethel. One will
be bringing three young goats, another will
have three loaves of bread, and the third will be
carrying a wineskin full of wine. 4 They will greet
you and offer you two of the loaves, which you
are to accept.
5 “When you arrive at Gibeah of God,* where
the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will
meet a band of prophets coming down from the
place of worship. They will be playing a harp,
a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will
be prophesying. 6 At that time the Spirit of the
Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you
will prophesy with them. You will be changed
into a different person. 7 After these signs take
place, do what must be done, for God is with
you. 8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will
join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and
peace offerings. You must wait for seven days
until I arrive and give you further instructions.”
10
Samuel’s Signs Are Fulfilled
9 As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave
him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were
fulfilled that day. 10 When Saul and his servant
arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets
coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God
came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began
to prophesy. 11 When those who knew Saul
heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is even
Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become
a prophet?”
12 And one of those standing there said, “Can
anyone become a prophet, no matter who his
father is?”* So that is the origin of the saying “Is
even Saul a prophet?”
13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he
went up to the place of worship. 14 “Where have
you been?” Saul’s uncle asked him and his
servant.
“We were looking for the donkeys,” Saul
9:25 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads and talked with him
there. 10:1 Greek version reads over Israel. And you will
rule over the Lord’s people and save them from their enemies
around them. This will be the sign to you that the Lord has
appointed you to be leader over his special possession.
10:5 Hebrew Gibeath-haelohim. 10:12 Hebrew said,
“Who is their father?”