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¹ Samuel took the flask of oil,^(C1) poured it out on Saul’s head,^(C2) kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t the Lord anointed you^(C3) ruler over his inheritance?^{(F1)(C4) 2} Today when you leave me, you’ll find two men at Rachel’s Grave^(C1) at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found,^(C2) and now your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son?’

³ “You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor.^(C1) Three men going up to God at Bethel^(C2) will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a clay jar of wine. ⁴ They will ask how you are and give you two loaves^(F1) of bread, which you will accept from them.

⁵ “After that you will come to Gibeah of God^(C1) where there are Philistine garrisons.^(F1) When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets^(C2) coming down from the high place prophesying.^(C3) They will be preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres. ⁶ The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully on you,^(C1) you will prophesy with them,^(C2) and you will be transformed.^{(C3) 7} When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require^(F1)(C1) because God is with you. ⁸ Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”

⁹ When Saul turned around^(F1) to leave Samuel, God changed his heart,^(F2) and all the signs came about that day. ¹⁰ When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully on him, and he prophesied along with them.

¹¹ Everyone who knew him previously and saw him prophesy with the prophets asked each other, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” ^(C1)

¹² Then a man who was from there asked, “And who is their father?” ^(C1)

As a result, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” became a popular saying. ¹³ Then Saul finished prophesying and went to the high place.

¹⁴ Saul’s uncle^(C1) asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?”

“To look for the donkeys,” Saul answered. “When we saw they weren’t there, we went to Samuel.”^(C2)

¹⁵ “Tell me,” Saul’s uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you?”

¹⁶ Saul told him, “He assured us the donkeys had been found.” However, Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.

Saul Received as King

¹⁷ Samuel summoned the people to the Lord at Mizpah^{(C1) 18} and said to the Israelites, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:^(C1) ‘I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ ¹⁹ But today you have rejected your God,^(C1) who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions. You said to him, ‘You^(F1) must set a king over us.’^(C2) Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”^(C3)

²⁰ Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. ²¹ Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the Matrite clan was selected.^(F1) Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected.^(C1) But when they searched for him, they could not find him. ²² They again inquired of the Lord,^(C1) “Has the man come here yet?”

The Lord replied, “There he is, hidden among the supplies.”

²³ They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else.^{(F1)(C1) 24} Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the Lord has chosen?^(C1) There is no one like him among the entire population.”

And all the people shouted,^(F1) “Long live the king!” ^(C2)

²⁵ Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship.^(C1) He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of the Lord.^(C2) Then Samuel sent all the people home.

²⁶ Saul also went to his home in Gibeah,^(C1) and brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him. ²⁷ But some wicked men said, “How can this guy save us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift,^(C1) but Saul said nothing.^(F1)(F2)