15 Now the day before Saul came, (A)the Lord had (B)revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, (C)and you shall anoint him to be prince[a] over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. (D)For I have seen[b] my people, because their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, (E)“Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 (F)As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?” 21 Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, (G)from the least of the tribes of Israel? (H)And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 9:16 Or leader
  2. 1 Samuel 9:16 Septuagint adds the affliction of

15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint(A) him ruler(B) over my people Israel; he will deliver(C) them from the hand of the Philistines.(D) I have looked on my people, for their cry(E) has reached me.”

17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This(F) is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”

18 Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”

19 “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 As for the donkeys(G) you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire(H) of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?”

21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe(I) of Israel, and is not my clan the least(J) of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin?(K) Why do you say such a thing to me?”

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