18. Saul approached Samuel at the gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
19. Samuel answered, “I am the seer. Go with me to the place of worship. Today you and your servant are to eat with me. Tomorrow morning I will answer all your questions and send you home.
20. Don’t worry about the donkeys you lost three days ago, because they have been found. Soon all the wealth of Israel will belong to you and your family.”
21. Saul answered, “But I am from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel. And my family group is the smallest in the tribe of Benjamin. Why are you saying such things?”
22. Then Samuel took Saul and his servant into a large room and gave them a choice place at the table. About thirty guests were there.
23. Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the meat I gave you, the portion I told you to set aside.”
24. So the cook took the thigh and put it on the table in front of Saul. Samuel said, “This is the meat saved for you. Eat it, because it was set aside for you for this special time. As I said, ‘I had invited the people.’ ” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25. After they finished eating, they came down from the place of worship and went to the town. Then Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house.
26. At dawn they got up, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof. He said, “Get up, and I will send you on your way.” So Saul got up and went out of the house with Samuel.
27. As Saul, his servant, and Samuel were getting near the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay, because I have a message from God for you.”