9There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin.H376H1144H8034H7027H1121H22H1121H6872H1121H1064H1121H647H1145H1368H376H2428 2His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.H1121H8034H7586H970H2896H1121H3478H2896H376H7926H4605H1364H5971 3One day Kish's donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, "Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys."H860H7027H7586H1H6H7027H559H7586H1121H3947H259H5288H6965H3212H1245H860 4So Saul took one of the servants and traveled through the hill country of Ephraim, the land of Shalishah, the Shaalim area, and the entire land of Benjamin, but they couldn't find the donkeys anywhere.H5674H2022H669H5674H776H8031H4672H5674H776H8171H5674H776H1145H4672 5Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, "Let's go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!"H935H776H6689H7586H559H5288H3212H7725H1H2308H860H1672 6But the servant said, "I've just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let's go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go."H559H5892H376H430H3513H376H1696H935H935H3212H5046H1870H1980 7"But we don't have anything to offer him," Saul replied. "Even our food is gone, and we don't have a thing to give him."H559H7586H5288H3212H935H376H3899H235H3627H8670H935H376H430 8"Well," the servant said, "I have one small silver piece. We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!"H5288H6030H7586H3254H559H4672H3027H7253H8255H3701H5414H376H430H5046H1870 9(In those days if people wanted a message from God, they would say, "Let's go and ask the seer," for prophets used to be called seers.)H6440H3478H376H3212H1875H430H559H3212H3212H7200H3117H5030H6440H7121H7200 10"All right," Saul agreed, "let's try it!" So they started into the town where the man of God lived.H1697H7586H5288H2896H559H3212H3212H3212H5892H376H430 11As 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?"H5927H4608H5892H4672H5291H3318H7579H4325H559H3426H7200 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.H6030H559H3426H6440H4116H935H3117H5892H2077H5971H3117H1116 13Hurry and catch him before he goes up there to eat. The guests won't begin eating until he arrives to bless the food."H935H5892H3651H4672H5927H1116H398H5971H398H935H1288H2077H310H3651H398H7121H5927H3117H4672 14So 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.H5927H8432H5892H935H5892H8050H3318H7125H5927H1116 15Now the LORD had told Samuel the previous day,H3068H1540H8050H241H259H3117H6440H7586H935H559 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."H4279H6256H7971H376H776H1144H4886H5057H5971H3478H3467H5971H3027H6430H7200H5971H6818H935 17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said, "That's the man I told you about! He will rule my people."H8050H7200H7586H3068H6030H376H559H6113H5971 18Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, "Can you please tell me where the seer's house is?"H7586H5066H8050H8432H8179H559H5046H335H7200H1004 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.H8050H6030H7586H559H7200H5927H6440H1116H398H3117H1242H7971H5046H3824 20And 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."H860H6H7969H3117H3117H7760H3820H4672H2532H3478H1H1004 21Saul 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?"H7586H6030H559H1145H6996H7626H3478H4940H6810H4940H7626H1144H1696H1697 22Then 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.H8050H3947H7586H5288H935H3957H5414H7218H4725H7121H7970H376 23Samuel then instructed the cook to bring Saul the finest cut of meat, the piece that had been set aside for the guest of honor.H8050H559H2876H5414H4490H5414H559H7760 24So 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.H2876H7311H7785H7760H6440H7586H559H7604H7760H6440H398H4150H8104H559H7121H5971H7586H398H8050H3117 25When 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.H3381H1116H5892H1696H7586H1406 26At 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.H7925H5927H7837H8050H7121H7586H1406H559H6965H7971H7586H6965H3318H8147H8050H2351 27When 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."H3381H7097H5892H8050H559H7586H559H5288H5674H6440H5674H5975H3117H8085H1697H430
10Then 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.H8050H3947H6378H8081H3332H7218H5401H559H3068H4886H5057H5159 2When 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?'H3212H5978H3117H4672H8147H582H7354H6900H1366H1144H6766H559H860H1980H1245H4672H1H5203H1697H860H1672H559H6213H1121 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.H2498H1973H935H436H8396H4672H7969H582H5927H430H1008H259H5375H7969H1423H259H5375H7969H3603H3899H259H5375H5035H3196 4They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept.H7592H7965H5414H8147H3899H3947H3027 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.H310H935H1389H430H5333H6430H935H5892H6293H2256H5030H3381H1116H5035H8596H2485H3658H6440H5012 6At 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.H7307H3068H6743H5012H2015H312H376 7After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you.H226H935H6213H4672H3027H430 8Then 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."H3381H6440H1537H3381H5927H5930H2076H2077H8002H7651H3117H3176H935H3045H6213 9As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel's signs were fulfilled that day.H6437H7926H3212H8050H430H2015H312H3820H226H935H3117 10When 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.H935H1389H2256H5030H7125H7307H430H6743H5012H8432 11When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, "What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?"H3045H865H8032H7200H5012H5030H5971H559H376H7453H1121H7027H7586H5030 12And 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?"H376H6030H559H1H4912H7586H5030 13When Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship.H3615H5012H935H1116 14"Where have you been?" Saul's uncle asked him and his servant. "We were looking for the donkeys," Saul replied, "but we couldn't find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were."H7586H1730H559H5288H575H1980H559H1245H860H7200H369H935H8050 15"Oh? And what did he say?" his uncle asked.H7586H1730H559H5046H8050H559 16"He told us that the donkeys had already been found," Saul replied. But Saul didn't tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom.H7586H559H1730H5046H5046H860H4672H1697H4410H8050H559H5046 17Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the LORD at Mizpah.H8050H6817H5971H3068H4709 18And he said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you.H559H1121H3478H559H3068H430H3478H5927H3478H4714H5337H3027H4714H3027H4467H3905 19But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, 'No, we want a king instead!' Now, therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by tribes and clans."H3117H3988H430H3467H7451H6869H559H7760H4428H3320H6440H3068H7626H505 20So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the LORD, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.H8050H7626H3478H7126H7626H1144H3920 21Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the LORD, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared!H7626H1144H7126H4940H4940H4309H3920H7586H1121H7027H3920H1245H4672 22So they asked the LORD, "Where is he?" And the LORD replied, "He is hiding among the baggage."H7592H3068H376H935H1988H3068H559H2244H3627 23So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.H7323H3947H3320H8432H5971H1361H5971H7926H4605 24Then Samuel said to all the people, "This is the man the LORD has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!" And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!"H8050H559H5971H7200H3068H977H5971H5971H7321H559H2421H4428 25Then Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent the people home again.H8050H1696H5971H4941H4410H3789H5612H3240H6440H3068H8050H7971H5971H7971H376H1004 26When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him.H7586H1980H1004H1390H3212H2428H3820H430H5060 27But there were some scoundrels who complained, "How can this man save us?" And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them.[Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the people of Gad and Reuben who lived east of the Jordan River. He gouged out the right eye of each of the Israelites living there, and he didn't allow anyone to come and rescue them. In fact, of all the Israelites east of the Jordan, there wasn't a single one whose right eye Nahash had not gouged out. But there were 7,000 men who had escaped from the Ammonites, and they had settled in Jabesh-gilead.]H1121H1100H559H3467H959H935H4503H2790
11About a month later, King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. "Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants," they pleaded.H5176H5984H5927H2583H3003H1568H582H3003H559H5176H3772H1285H5647 2"All right," Nahash said, "but only on one condition. I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you as a disgrace to all Israel!"H5176H5984H559H2063H3772H5365H3225H5869H7760H2781H3478 3"Give us seven days to send messengers throughout Israel!" replied the elders of Jabesh. "If no one comes to save us, we will agree to your terms."H2205H3003H559H7651H3117H7503H7971H4397H1366H3478H3467H3318 4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the people about their plight, everyone broke into tears.H935H4397H1390H7586H1696H1697H241H5971H5971H5375H6963H1058 5Saul had been plowing a field with his oxen, and when he returned to town, he asked, "What's the matter? Why is everyone crying?" So they told him about the message from Jabesh.H7586H935H310H1241H7704H7586H559H5971H1058H5608H1697H582H3003 6Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry.H7307H430H6743H7586H8085H1697H639H2734H3966 7He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message: "This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!" And the LORD made the people afraid of Saul's anger, and all of them came out together as one.H3947H6776H1241H5408H7971H1366H3478H3027H4397H559H3318H310H7586H310H8050H6213H1241H6343H3068H5307H5971H3318H259H376 8When Saul mobilized them at Bezek, he found that there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.H6485H966H1121H3478H7969H3967H505H376H3063H7970H505 9So Saul sent the messengers back to Jabesh-gilead to say, "We will rescue you by noontime tomorrow!" There was great joy throughout the town when that message arrived!H559H4397H935H559H376H3003H1568H4279H8121H2527H8668H4397H935H5046H582H3003H8055 10The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you wish."H582H3003H559H4279H3318H6213H5869H2896 11But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.H4283H7586H7760H5971H7969H7218H935H8432H4264H1242H821H5221H5983H2527H3117H7604H6327H8147H7604H3162 12Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, "Now where are those men who said, 'Why should Saul rule over us?' Bring them here, and we will kill them!"H5971H559H8050H559H7586H4427H5414H582H4191 13But Saul replied, "No one will be executed today, for today the LORD has rescued Israel!"H7586H559H376H4191H3117H3117H3068H6213H8668H3478 14Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us all go to Gilgal to renew the kingdom."H559H8050H5971H3212H3212H1537H2318H4410 15So they all went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the LORD they made Saul king. Then they offered peace offerings to the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites were filled with joy.H5971H3212H1537H7586H4427H6440H3068H1537H2076H2077H8002H6440H3068H7586H582H3478H8055H3966
12Then Samuel addressed all Israel: "I have done as you asked and given you a king.H8050H559H3478H8085H6963H559H4427H4428 2Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you—an old, gray-haired man—and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day.H4428H1980H6440H2204H7867H1121H1980H6440H5271H3117 3Now testify against me in the presence of the LORD and before his anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong."H6030H3068H4899H7794H3947H2543H3947H6231H7533H3027H3724H5956H5869H7725 4"No," they replied, "you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe."H559H6231H7533H3947H3972H376H3027 5"The LORD and his anointed one are my witnesses today," Samuel declared, "that my hands are clean." "Yes, he is a witness," they replied.H559H3068H5707H4899H5707H3117H4672H3972H3027H559H5707 6"It was the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron," Samuel continued. "He brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt.H8050H559H5971H3068H6213H4872H175H5927H1H5927H776H4714 7Now stand here quietly before the LORD as I remind you of all the great things the LORD has done for you and your ancestors.H3320H8199H6440H3068H6666H3068H6213H1 8"When the Israelites were in Egypt and cried out to the LORD, he sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from Egypt and to bring them into this land.H3290H935H4714H1H2199H3068H3068H7971H4872H175H3318H1H4714H3427H4725 9But the people soon forgot about the LORD their God, so he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of Hazor's army, and also to the Philistines and to the king of Moab, who fought against them.H7911H3068H430H4376H3027H5516H8269H6635H2674H3027H6430H3027H4428H4124H3898 10"Then they cried to the LORD again and confessed, 'We have sinned by turning away from the LORD and worshiping the images of Baal and Ashtoreth. But we will worship you and you alone if you will rescue us from our enemies.'H2199H3068H559H2398H5800H3068H5647H1168H6252H5337H3027H341H5647 11Then the LORD sent Gideon, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel to save you, and you lived in safety.H3068H7971H3378H917H3316H8050H5337H3027H341H5439H3427H983 12"But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the LORD your God was already your king.H7200H5176H4428H1121H5983H935H559H4428H4427H3068H430H4428 13All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him, and the LORD has granted your request.H4428H977H7592H3068H5414H4428 14"Now if you fear and worship the LORD and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the LORD's commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the LORD as your God.H3372H3068H5647H8085H6963H4784H6310H3068H4428H4427H310H3068H430 15But if you rebel against the LORD's commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.H8085H6963H3068H4784H6310H3068H3027H3068H1 16"Now stand here and see the great thing the LORD is about to do.H1571H3320H7200H1419H1697H3068H6213H5869 17You know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest. I will ask the LORD to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize how wicked you have been in asking the LORD for a king!"H2406H7105H3117H7121H3068H5414H6963H4306H3045H7200H7451H7227H6213H5869H3068H7592H4428 18So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the LORD and of Samuel.H8050H7121H3068H3068H5414H6963H4306H3117H5971H3966H3372H3068H8050 19"Pray to the LORD your God for us, or we will die!" they all said to Samuel. "For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king."H5971H559H8050H6419H5650H3068H430H4191H3254H2403H7451H7592H4428 20"Don't be afraid," Samuel reassured them. "You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the LORD with all your heart, and don't turn your back on him.H8050H559H5971H3372H6213H7451H5493H310H3068H5647H3068H3824 21Don't go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless!H5493H310H8414H3276H5337H8414 22The LORD will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the LORD to make you his very own people.H3068H5203H5971H1419H8034H2974H3068H6213H5971 23"As for me, I will certainly not sin against the LORD by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right.H595H2486H2398H3068H2308H6419H3384H2896H3477H1870 24But be sure to fear the LORD and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.H3372H3068H5647H571H3824H7200H1431 25But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be swept away."H7489H7489H5595H4428
80[For the choir director: A psalm of Asaph, to be sung to the tune “Lilies of the Covenant.”] Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your radiant gloryH5329H7802H4210H623H238H7462H3478H5090H3130H6629H3427H3742H3313 2to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Show us your mighty power. Come to rescue us!H6440H669H1144H4519H5782H1369H3212H3444 3Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.H7725H430H6440H215H3467 4O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, how long will you be angry with our prayers?H3068H430H6635H6225H8605H5971 5You have fed us with sorrow and made us drink tears by the bucketful.H398H3899H1832H1832H8248H7991 6You have made us the scorn of neighboring nations. Our enemies treat us as a joke.H7760H4066H7934H341H3932 7Turn us again to yourself, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.H7725H430H6635H6440H215H3467 8You brought us from Egypt like a grapevine; you drove away the pagan nations and transplanted us into your land.H5265H1612H4714H1644H1471H5193 9You cleared the ground for us, and we took root and filled the land.H6437H6440H8328H8327H4390H776 10Our shade covered the mountains; our branches covered the mighty cedars.H2022H3680H6738H6057H410H730 11We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea; our shoots spread east to the Euphrates River.H7971H7105H3220H3127H5104 12But now, why have you broken down our walls so that all who pass by may steal our fruit?H6555H1447H5674H1870H717 13The wild boar from the forest devours it, and the wild animals feed on it.H2386H3293H3765H2123H7704H7462 14Come back, we beg you, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Look down from heaven and see our plight. Take care of this grapevineH7725H430H6635H5027H8064H7200H6485H1612 15that you yourself have planted, this son you have raised for yourself.H3657H3661H3225H5193H1121H553 16For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies. May they perish at the sight of your frown.H8313H784H3683H6H1606H6440 17Strengthen the man you love, the son of your choice.H3027H376H3225H1121H120H553 18Then we will never abandon you again. Revive us so we can call on your name once more.H5472H2421H7121H8034 19Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.H7725H3068H430H6635H6440H215H3467
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. We can at least offer it to the man of God and see what happens!"H5288
