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1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was 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 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.

5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.

6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:

13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.

15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.

19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.

20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.

23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

<html><b>To the land of Tzuph.</b> [Targum renders] 'into the land wherein there was a prophet.' <b>Tzuph.</b> [<span>צוּף</span>] meaning a seer.¹<i class=“footnote”> See above 1:1.</i> <b>Lest my father stop worrying about the donkeys.</b> Because his worry about us will grow so that he will forget the donkeys. <b>And worry.</b> <i>E dubitera</i> in O.F.</html>

<html><b>Our road.</b> The story about the donkeys, i.e., what has become of them, for whom we have gone all this way.²<i class=“footnote”>They were not only seeking advice where to look for the donkeys, but were also looking for an explanation for their long journey. They were puzzled over why they had searched and not found them yet, being that donkeys usually do not stray far from their home.</i></html>

<html><b>What shall we bring to the man.</b> Targum Yonoson renders, 'If he accepts money, what shall we bring to the man?' Shaul was not familiar with Shmuel's habits and thought that he would ask for remuneration.³<i class=“footnote”> It seems that in those days it was customary to bring gifts in this type of situation; as in II Melachim 4:42. They thought that perhaps Shmuel might demand some form of remuneration for his prophecies just as diviners seek gifts from those for whom they predict the future.—Radak</i> <b>And [we have no] gift.</b> Targum Yonoson renders, 'and there is nothing proper.' This is an expression of <span>יוֹשֶׁר</span> [=propriety]. Menachem, however, explains <span>תְּשׁוּרָה</span> as an expression of a tribute for the privilege of seeing a king or an important person; [<span>תְּשׁוּרָה</span> being] an expression related to <span>אֲשׁוּרֶנּוּ</span> [meaning] 'I behold them,'⁴<i class=“footnote”>Bamidbar 24:17.</i> and I agree with his explanation.⁵<i class=“footnote”>That <span>וּתְשׁוּרָה</span> is from the root <span>שוּר</span> [=to see].</i></html>

<html><b>A quarter shekel.</b> One <i>zuz</i> of silver.</html>

<html><b>In former times in Yisroel.</b> The author wrote this verse,⁶<i class=“footnote”>I.e., Shmuel. See Maseches Bava Basra 14b which states that Shmuel authored the Book of Shmuel. However, being that Shmuel died before Shaul who only reigned for two years, what is the meaning of “formerly” and “of today” as stated in the verse? Radak therefore suggests that “formerly” refers to an earlier period when prophets were known for their ability to predict the future and to display a knowledge of hidden things, therefore the term <span>רוֹאֶה</span>. However, in Shmuel’s time prophecy became widespread, but the type of prophecy was a Divine inspiration to bring to the people the word of ‘<span>ה</span>, therefore the term <span>נָבִיא</span> [from the root <span>בוֹא</span>]. In Shaul’s case he was looking for a <span>רוֹאֶה</span> to tell him where his donkeys were. Others however, maintain that the author of this ==== Verse may have been Ezra or Yirmiyahu.</i> i.e., this is not part of the youth of Shaul's statement. <b>For the “prophet” of today.</b> The one who is called 'prophet' today was formerly called 'seer.'</html>

<html><b>As you enter the city you…</b> They prolonged their conversation in order to gaze upon Shaul's handsomeness.⁷<i class=“footnote”>Maseches Berachos 48b. The girls gave an extraordinarily long answer to a relatively simple question. The fact that the entire conversation was recorded in Scripture makes it likely that they were struck by Shaul’s handsome appearance and wanted to gaze at him a few moments longer.</i> <b>The high place.</b> Targum Yonoson renders, 'to the banquet hall.' When Shiloh was destroyed, it became permissible [to offer sacrifices on] the high places, and they would sacrifice peace-offerings on the high place and eat together. <b>Because he blesses the offering.</b> Targum Yonoson renders, <span>אֲרֵי הוּא פָּרִיס עַל מְזוֹנָא</span> meaning, 'for he will break bread.' [Before] partaking of the peace-offering they recited: 'Blessed are You Adonoy, our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to eat the sacrifice.“ <b>As [surely as it is] day.</b> Just as the day exists.⁸<i class=“footnote”>He said this to emphasize the truthfulness of his statement.—Radak</i></html>

<html><b>Will rule over My people.</b> Will restrain [=will rule], similar to 'restrained [<span>עָצוּר</span>] and let free.'⁹<i class=“footnote”>Devarim 32:36.</i> This is the function of the ruler, to restrain the people during war, that they not scatter or spread out one from another, and¹⁰<i class=“footnote”>In the time of peace…</i> to restrain each one from doing evil.¹¹<i class=“footnote”>The phrase may be translated as “he will restrain them [the Philistines] from [attacing] My people”.—Radak</i> In our language, we call <span>מַעֲצוֹר</span><i>destenir,</i> in O.F.</html>

<html><b>Approached.</b> Targum Yonoson renders, 'met.'</html>

<html><b>But for whom does all of Yisroel desire?</b> Here he [Shmuel] hints to him the matter of the kingship.</html>

<html><b>At the head of the invited guests.</b> In the place where the important people are seated; by the manner of the seating, it was obvious in which place the most important person was seated.</html>

<html><b>About which I told you.</b> Because Shmuel knew that Shaul would come, he ordered to give him a fine portion for his benefit.¹²<i class=“footnote”>When the special portion that Shmuel had set aside was placed before Shaul, it publicized the honor that Shmuel as giving him.</i></html>

<html><b>The thigh with what was attached to it.</b> The thigh and the hip above it.¹³<i class=“footnote”> See Maseches Avodah Zara 25a for differing views of “what was attached to it.”</i> <b>Here is what remains.</b> From the portions of the invited guests, and has been set aside for you. <b>Put before you and eat.</b> In the final chapter of [Maseches] Zevochim,¹⁴<i class=“footnote”></i> it is established that [the waving of] the breast and thigh is [performed] in a large [i.e., public] high place, [but the waving of] the breast and thigh is not [performed] in a small [i.e., private] high place. It was therefore permissible for Shaul to eat¹⁵<i class=“footnote”>The phrase “put before you and eat” indicates that at first Shaul hesitated to eat because it was his opinion that his portion was the kohein’s due. Shmuel therefore told him that in a private high place, the breast and thigh were neither waved nor given to the kohein.</i> [the thigh]. <b>For it was kept… until the appointed time.</b> Because for the appointed time of the banquet, this thigh had been reserved for you. <b>I told the [cook], I have invited the people.</b> My statement to the cook was, 'I invited the people to the feast, and I know their number. Be careful with their portions.' And I ordered from him the number of portions accordingly, and this one was reserved for you.</html>

<html><b>And he spoke with Shaul on the roof.</b> Reproving him¹⁶<i class=“footnote”>Based on Maseches Makos 11a that states that using the form of <span>וַיְדַבֵּר</span> for describing speech indicates harshness.</i> and teaching him to fear the Holy One, Blessed is He.</html>

<html><b>To pass ahead of us.</b> To go at a distance from us so that he will not hear our conversation. <b>And he went ahead.</b> The youth went ahead of them, but to Shaul he said, 'And you stand with me.'</html>