1Now there was a man of Binyamin, whose name was Kish Ben Avi’el, Ben Tzeror, Ben Bekhorat, Ben Afiakh, Ben Ish Yemini, a mighty man of valor. 2And he had a son, whose name was Sha’ul, young and goodly, and there was not among B’nei Yisra’el a more goodly person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. 3Now the donkeys of Kish, Sha’ul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to Sha’ul his son, “Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the donkeys.” 4And he passed through the hill country of Efrayim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not; then they passed through the land of Sha’alim, and there they were not; and he passed through the land of Yemini, but they found them not. 5When they were come to the land of Tzuf, Sha’ul said to his servant that was with him, “Come and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the donkeys, and become anxious concerning us.” 6And he said unto him, “Behold now, there is in this city a man of Elohim, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he says comes surely to pass; now let us go there; perhaps he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go.” 7Then said Sha’ul to his servant, “But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of Elohim; what do we have?” 8And the servant answered Sha’ul again, and said, “Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver, I will give that to the man of Elohim, to tell us our way.”
9Beforetime in Yisra’el, when a man went to inquire of Elohim, thus he said, “Come and let us go to the Seer;” for he that is now called a Navi was beforetime called a Seer.
10Then said Sha’ul to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went unto the city where the man of Elohim was. 11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, “Is the Seer here?” 12And they answered them, and said, “He is; behold, he is before you; make haste now, for he is come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place. 13As soon as you come into the city, you shall straightway find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he does bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that are bidden. Now therefore go up; for at this time you shall find him.”
14And they went up to the city; and as they came within the city, behold, Shmu’el came out toward them, to go up to the high place. 15Now יהוה had revealed unto Shmu’el a day before Sha’ul came, saying, 16“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Binyamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Yisra’el, and he shall save My people out of the hand of the P’lishtim; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry is come unto Me.” 17And when Shmu’el saw Sha’ul, יהוה spoke unto him, “Behold the man of whom I said unto you, ‘This same shall have authority over My people’.”
18Then Sha’ul drew near to Shmu’el in the gate, and said, “Tell me, I pray, where the Seer’s house is.” 19And Shmu’el answered Sha’ul, and said, “I am the Seer; go up before me unto the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, set not your mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Yisra’el? Is it not on you, and on all your father’s house?” 21And Sha’ul answered and said, “Am not I a BinYemini, of the smallest of the tribes of Yisra’el? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Binyamin? Why, then, do you speak to me after this manner?” 22And Shmu’el took Sha’ul and his servant, and brought them into the chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, who were about thirty persons. 23And Shmu’el said unto the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said unto you, ‘Set it by you’.” 24And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was upon it, and set it before Sha’ul. And he [Shmu’el] said, “Behold that which has been reserved! Set it before you and eat; because unto the appointed time has it been kept for you, for I said, ‘I have invited the people’.” So Sha’ul did eat with Shmu’el that day. 25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, he spoke with Sha’ul upon the housetop. 26And they arose early; and it came to pass about the break of day, that Shmu’el called to Sha’ul on the housetop, saying, “Up, that I may send you away.” And Sha’ul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Shmu’el, abroad. 27As they were going down at the end of the city, Shmu’el said to Sha’ul, “Bid the servant pass on before us.” And he passed on. “But you, stand still at this time, that I may cause you to hear the D’var Elohim.”
אוַיְהִי אִישׁ מבן ימין (מִבִּנְיָמִין) וּשְׁמוֹ קִישׁ בֶּן אֲבִיאֵל בֶּן צְרוֹר בֶּן בְּכוֹרַת בֶּן אֲפִיחַ בֶּן אִישׁ יְמִינִי: גִּבּוֹר חָיִל. בוְלוֹ הָיָה בֵן וּשְׁמוֹ שָׁאוּל בָּחוּר וָטוֹב וְאֵין אִישׁ מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל טוֹב מִמֶּנּוּ; מִשִּׁכְמוֹ וָמַעְלָה גָּבֹהַּ מִכָּל הָעָם. גוַתֹּאבַדְנָה הָאֲתֹנוֹת לְקִישׁ אֲבִי שָׁאוּל; וַיֹּאמֶר קִישׁ אֶל שָׁאוּל בְּנוֹ קַח נָא אִתְּךָ אֶת אַחַד מֵהַנְּעָרִים וְקוּם לֵךְ בַּקֵּשׁ אֶת הָאֲתֹנֹת. דוַיַּעֲבֹר בְּהַר אֶפְרַיִם וַיַּעֲבֹר בְּאֶרֶץ שָׁלִשָׁה וְלֹא מָצָאוּ ; וַיַּעַבְרוּ בְאֶרֶץ שַׁעֲלִיםוָאַיִן וַיַּעֲבֹר בְּאֶרֶץ יְמִינִי וְלֹא מָצָאוּ. ההֵמָּה בָּאוּ בְּאֶרֶץ צוּף וְשָׁאוּל אָמַר לְנַעֲרוֹ אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ לְכָה וְנָשׁוּבָה פֶּן יֶחְדַּל אָבִי מִן הָאֲתֹנוֹת וְדָאַג לָנוּ. ווַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הִנֵּה נָא אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים בָּעִיר הַזֹּאת וְהָאִישׁ נִכְבָּד כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר בּוֹא יָבוֹא; עַתָּה נֵלְכָה שָּׁם אוּלַי יַגִּיד לָנוּ אֶת דַּרְכֵּנוּ אֲשֶׁר הָלַכְנוּ עָלֶיהָ. זוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לְנַעֲרוֹ וְהִנֵּה נֵלֵךְ וּמַה נָּבִיא לָאִישׁ כִּי הַלֶּחֶם אָזַל מִכֵּלֵינוּ וּתְשׁוּרָה אֵין לְהָבִיא לְאִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים: מָה אִתָּנוּ. חוַיֹּסֶף הַנַּעַר לַעֲנוֹת אֶת שָׁאוּל וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה נִמְצָא בְיָדִי רֶבַע שֶׁקֶל כָּסֶף; וְנָתַתִּי לְאִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים וְהִגִּיד לָנוּ אֶת דַּרְכֵּנוּ.
טלְפָנִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּה אָמַר הָאִישׁ בְּלֶכְתּוֹ לִדְרוֹשׁ אֱלֹהִים לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה עַד הָרֹאֶה: כִּי לַנָּבִיא הַיּוֹם יִקָּרֵא לְפָנִים הָרֹאֶה.
יוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לְנַעֲרוֹ טוֹב דְּבָרְךָ לְכָה נֵלֵכָה; וַיֵּלְכוּ אֶל הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר שָׁם אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים. יאהֵמָּה עֹלִים בְּמַעֲלֵה הָעִיר וְהֵמָּה מָצְאוּ נְעָרוֹת יֹצְאוֹת לִשְׁאֹב מָיִם; וַיֹּאמְרוּ לָהֶן הֲיֵשׁ בָּזֶה הָרֹאֶה. יבוַתַּעֲנֶינָה אוֹתָם וַתֹּאמַרְנָה יֵּשׁ הִנֵּה לְפָנֶיךָ; מַהֵר עַתָּה כִּי הַיּוֹם בָּא לָעִיר כִּי זֶבַח הַיּוֹם לָעָם בַּבָּמָה. יגכְּבֹאֲכֶם הָעִיר כֵּן תִּמְצְאוּן אֹתוֹ בְּטֶרֶם יַעֲלֶה הַבָּמָתָה לֶאֱכֹל כִּי לֹא יֹאכַל הָעָם עַד בֹּאוֹ כִּי הוּא יְבָרֵךְ הַזֶּבַח אַחֲרֵי כֵן יֹאכְלוּ הַקְּרֻאִים; וְעַתָּה עֲלוּ כִּי אֹתוֹ כְהַיּוֹם תִּמְצְאוּן אֹתוֹ.
ידוַיַּעֲלוּ הָעִיר; הֵמָּה בָּאִים בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר וְהִנֵּה שְׁמוּאֵל יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתָם לַעֲלוֹת הַבָּמָה. טווַיהוה גָּלָה אֶת אֹזֶן שְׁמוּאֵל יוֹם אֶחָד לִפְנֵי בוֹא שָׁאוּל לֵאמֹר, טזכָּעֵת מָחָר אֶשְׁלַח אֵלֶיךָ אִישׁ מֵאֶרֶץ בִּנְיָמִן וּמְשַׁחְתּוֹ לְנָגִיד עַל עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת עַמִּי מִיַּד פְּלִשְׁתִּים: כִּי רָאִיתִי אֶת עַמִּי כִּי בָּאָה צַעֲקָתוֹ אֵלָי. יזוּשְׁמוּאֵל רָאָה אֶת שָׁאוּל; וַיהוה עָנָהוּ הִנֵּה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ זֶה יַעְצֹר בְּעַמִּי.
יחוַיִּגַּשׁ שָׁאוּל אֶת שְׁמוּאֵל בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׁעַר; וַיֹּאמֶר הַגִּידָה נָּא לִי אֵי זֶה בֵּית הָרֹאֶה. יטוַיַּעַן שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת שָׁאוּל וַיֹּאמֶר אָנֹכִי הָרֹאֶה עֲלֵה לְפָנַי הַבָּמָה וַאֲכַלְתֶּם עִמִּי הַיּוֹם; וְשִׁלַּחְתִּיךָ בַבֹּקֶר וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבְךָ אַגִּיד לָךְ. כוְלָאֲתֹנוֹת הָאֹבְדוֹת לְךָ הַיּוֹם שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַיָּמִים אַל תָּשֶׂם אֶת לִבְּךָ לָהֶם כִּי נִמְצָאוּ; וּלְמִי כָּל חֶמְדַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲלוֹא לְךָ וּלְכֹל בֵּית אָבִיךָ. כאוַיַּעַן שָׁאוּל וַיֹּאמֶר הֲלוֹא בֶן יְמִינִי אָנֹכִי מִקַּטַנֵּי שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִשְׁפַּחְתִּי הַצְּעִרָה מִכָּל מִשְׁפְּחוֹת שִׁבְטֵי בִנְיָמִן; וְלָמָּה דִּבַּרְתָּ אֵלַי כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה. כבוַיִּקַּח שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת שָׁאוּל וְאֶת נַעֲרוֹ וַיְבִיאֵם לִשְׁכָּתָה; וַיִּתֵּן לָהֶם מָקוֹם בְּרֹאשׁ הַקְּרוּאִים וְהֵמָּה כִּשְׁלֹשִׁם אִישׁ. כגוַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל לַטַּבָּח תְּנָה אֶת הַמָּנָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לָךְ אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ שִׂים אֹתָהּ עִמָּךְ. כדוַיָּרֶם הַטַּבָּח אֶת הַשּׁוֹק וְהֶעָלֶיהָ וַיָּשֶׂם לִפְנֵי שָׁאוּל וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה הַנִּשְׁאָר שִׂים לְפָנֶיךָ אֱכֹל כִּי לַמּוֹעֵד שָׁמוּר לְךָ לֵאמֹר הָעָם קָרָאתִי; וַיֹּאכַל שָׁאוּל עִם שְׁמוּאֵל בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא. כהוַיֵּרְדוּ מֵהַבָּמָה הָעִיר; וַיְדַבֵּר עִם שָׁאוּל עַל הַגָּג. כווַיַּשְׁכִּמוּ וַיְהִי כַּעֲלוֹת הַשַּׁחַר וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל שָׁאוּל הגג (הַגָּגָה) לֵאמֹר קוּמָה וַאֲשַׁלְּחֶךָּ; וַיָּקָם שָׁאוּל וַיֵּצְאוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם הוּא וּשְׁמוּאֵל הַחוּצָה. כזהֵמָּה יוֹרְדִים בִּקְצֵה הָעִיר וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר אֶל שָׁאוּל אֱמֹר לַנַּעַר וְיַעֲבֹר לְפָנֵינוּ וַיַּעֲבֹר; וְאַתָּה עֲמֹד כַּיּוֹם וְאַשְׁמִיעֲךָ אֶת דְּבַר אֱלֹהִים.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 