Holman Christian Standard Bible

1 Samuel 9:8-24 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

8. The attendant answered Saul: “Here, I have a piece of silver. I’ll give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”

9. Formerly in Israel, a man who was going to inquire of God would say, “Come, let’s go to the seer,” for the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.

10. “Good,” Saul replied to his attendant. “Come on, let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11. As they were climbing the hill to the city, they found some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here? ”

12. The women answered, “Yes, he is ahead of you. Hurry, he just now came to the city, because there’s a sacrifice for the people at the high place today.

13. If you go quickly, you can catch up with him before he goes to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he comes because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests can eat. Go up immediately — you can find him now.”

14. So they went up toward the city.Saul and his attendant were entering the city when they saw Samuel coming toward them on his way to the high place.

15. Now the day before Saul’s arrival, the Lord had informed Samuel,

16. “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over My people Israel. He will save them from the hand of the Philistines because I have seen the affliction of My people, for their cry has come to Me.”

17. When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man I told you about; he will rule over My people.”

18. Saul approached Samuel in the gate area and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is? ”

19. “I am the seer,” Samuel answered. “Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. When I send you off in the morning, I’ll tell you everything that’s in your heart.

20. As for the donkeys that wandered away from you three days ago, don’t worry about them because they’ve been found. And who does all Israel desire but you and all your father’s family? ”

21. Saul responded, “Am I not a Benjaminite from the smallest of Israel’s tribes and isn’t my clan the least important of all the clans of the Benjaminite tribe? So why have you said something like this to me? ”

22. Samuel took Saul and his attendant, brought them to the banquet hall, and gave them a place at the head of the 30 or so men who had been invited.

23. Then Samuel said to the cook, “Get the portion of meat that I gave you and told you to set aside.”

24. The cook picked up the thigh and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Notice that the reserved piece is set before you. Eat it because it was saved for you for this solemn event at the time I said, ‘I’ve invited the people.’ ” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.