1 Samuel 9

All 27 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2. 2Kish had a son named Saul, a young man of choice quality and good appearance. There was no one among the children of Israel more handsome than he, and he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.
3. 3The donkeys belonging to Kish, Saul's father, were lost. Kish said to his son Saul, 'Take one of the servants with you and go search for the donkeys.'
4. 4So Saul searched through the hill country of Ephraim and through the region of Shalisha, but they didn't find them. They went through the region of Shalim — nothing there either. They searched through the territory of Benjamin, but still couldn't find them.
5. 5When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, "Come, let us return, or my father will stop caring about the asses and begin worrying about us."
6. 6His servant said, "There is a man of God in this city, and he is a respected man. Everything he says surely comes true. Let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go."
7. 7Saul replied, "If we go to him, what can we bring? We've eaten all the bread in our bags, and we don't have a gift for the man of God. What do we even have?"
8. 8The servant answered, "Look, I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I'll give that to the man of God, and he can tell us which way to go."
9. 9(Back in those days in Israel, when someone wanted to ask God for guidance, they would say, "Let's go to the seer." The person now called a prophet used to be called a seer.)
10. 10Saul said, "Good idea. Let's go." So they headed to the town where the man of God lived.
11. 11As they were climbing the hill toward the town, they ran into some young women coming out to draw water. They asked them, "Is the seer here?"
12. 12The women answered, "Yes, he is! He's just ahead of you. Hurry — he arrived in town today because the people are holding a sacrifice at the high place.
13. 13As soon as you enter the town, you'll find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won't start eating until he arrives, because he's the one who blesses the sacrifice. After that, the invited guests eat. Go now, for around this time you will find him.
14. 14So they went up into the town, and just as they entered, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.
15. 15Now the day before Saul arrived, the LORD had spoken privately to Samuel, saying,
16. 16Tomorrow around this time, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him as captain over my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines, for I have looked upon my people because their cry has come to me.
17. 17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "This is the man I told you about. He will reign over my people."
18. 18Saul approached Samuel at the town gate and asked, "Could you tell me where the seer's house is?"
19. 19Samuel answered, "I am the seer. Go on ahead of me to the high place — you're going to eat with me today. In the morning I'll send you on your way, and I'll tell you everything that's on your mind.
20. 20As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, don't worry about them; they have been found. And who is the desire of all Israel? Is it not you and your entire father's house?
21. 21Saul replied, "Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the least of all the families in the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?"
22. 22Samuel took Saul and his servant into the dining hall and seated them at the head of the table, in the place of honor among the roughly 30 invited guests.
23. 23Then Samuel told the cook, "Bring out the special portion I gave you — the one I told you to set aside."
24. 24The cook brought out the shoulder and the meat on it and placed it in front of Saul. Samuel said, 'See what has been reserved for you! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you for this very occasion ever since I said, I have invited the people.' So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25. 25After they came down from the high place back into town, Samuel talked with Saul on the rooftop of his house.
26. 26They got up early the next morning, and at dawn, Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, "Get up, so I can send you on your way." Saul got up, and the two of them, he and Samuel, went out together.
27. 27As they reached the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell your servant to go on ahead of us." The servant went ahead, and Samuel said, "Now stop here for a moment, so I can give you a message from God."