There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish, a man of standing. His father was Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
Kish had a son named Saul, a young man who was impressive and without equal among the Israelites. He stood a head taller than anyone else in the land.
One day, the donkeys belonging to Saul's father were lost. Kish said to his son, "Take one of the servants and go search for the donkeys."
So Saul and the servant went through the hill country of Ephraim and the surrounding area of Shalisha, but they did not find the donkeys.
They continued into the district of Shaalim, yet still they did not find them. Then they passed through the territory of Benjamin, but the donkeys were nowhere to be found.
When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, "Let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us."
The servant replied, "Look, in this town there is a man of God, highly respected. Everything he says comes true. Let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way."
Saul said, "If we go, what can we bring to the man? Our sacks are empty, and we have no gift to offer the man of God. What do we have?"
The servant answered, "I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he can tell us the right way."
(At that time, in Israel, a prophet was called a seer.)
Saul agreed, "Good. Let us go." So they set out for the town where the man of God lived.
As they climbed the hill to the town, they met some girls drawing water. They asked them, "Is the seer here?"
"He is," they said. "He is just ahead. Hurry, for he has come to town today. The people are preparing a sacrifice at the high place. As you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he blesses the sacrifice. You should find him at this time."
They went into town, and there, coming toward them, was Samuel, on his way up to the high place.
The day before, the LORD had revealed to Samuel, "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to lead my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me."
When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "This is the man I told you about; he will govern my people."
Saul approached Samuel at the town gate and asked, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
"I am the seer," Samuel replied. "Go up ahead of me to the high place, for you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will send you on your way and tell you everything that is in your heart. As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry; they have been found. And to whom is all Israel turning, if not to you and your family?"
Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel? And is my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? Why do you speak this way to me?"
Samuel took Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those invited—about thirty in all.
He said to the cook, "Bring the piece of meat I set aside for you." The cook took the leg and placed it in front of Saul. Samuel said, "Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, for it has been set aside since I invited the guests." Saul ate with Samuel that day.
After descending from the high place, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house. Early the next morning, Samuel called to Saul, "Get ready, and I will send you on your way." Saul prepared, and together they went outside the town.
As they reached the edge of town, Samuel said, "Tell your servant to go on ahead, but you stay here a while, so that I may give you a message from God."