1 Then Shemuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, “Is it not because יהוה hath anointed you to be captain over His inheritance?
2 When you are departed from me today, then you shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin (Binyamin) at Zelzah; and they will say unto you, ‘The asses which you wentest to seek are found; and, behold, your father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, “What shall I do for my son?”’
3 Then shalt you go on forward from thence, and you shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet you three men going up to God (Elohim) to Bethel (Beit-El), one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine.
4 And they will salute you, and give you two loaves of bread; which you shalt receive of their hands.
5 After that you shalt come to the hill of God (Elohim), where is the garrison of the Philistines; and it shall come to pass, when you are come thither to the city, that you shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy.
6 And the Spirit of יהוה will come upon you, and you shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto you, that you do as occasion serve you; for God (Elohim) is with you.
8 And you shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt you tarry, till I come to you, and shew you what you shalt do.”
9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Shemuel, God (Elohim) gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.
10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God (Elohim) came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, “What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
12 And one of the same place answered and said, “But who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
14 And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, “Whither went you?” And he said, “To seek the asses; and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Shemuel.”
15 And Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Shemuel said unto you.”
16 And Saul said unto his uncle, “He told us plainly that the asses were found.” But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Shemuel spake, he told him not.
17 And Shemuel called the people together unto יהוה to Mizpeh;
18 And said unto the children of Yisrael, “Thus saith יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael): ‘I brought up Yisrael out of Egypt (Mitsrayim), and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians (Mitsrayim), and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you.’
19 And you have this day rejected your God (Elohim), who Himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said unto Him, ‘Nay, but set a king over us!’ Now therefore present yourselves before יהוה by your tribes, and by your clans.”
20 And when Shemuel had caused all the tribes of Yisrael to come near, the tribe of Benjamin (Binyamin) was taken.
21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin (Binyamin) to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken; and when they sought him, he could not be found.
22 Therefore they enquired of יהוה further, if the man should yet come thither. And יהוה answered, “Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.”
23 And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
24 And Shemuel said to all the people, “See you him whom יהוה hath chosen, that there is none like Him among all the people?” And all the people shouted, and said, “Long live the king!”
25 Then Shemuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before יהוה. And Shemuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God (Elohim) had touched.
27 But the scoundrel (beliyaal) children said, “How shall this man save us?” And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.