וַיְהִי אִישׁ מִבִּנְיָמִין וּשְׁמוֹ קִישׁ בֶּן אֲבִיאֵל בֶּן צְרוֹר בֶּן בְּכוֹרַת בֶּן אֲפִיחַ בֶּן אִישׁ יְמִינִי גִּבּוֹר חָיִל

There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin, and his name was Kish, son of Aviel, son of Tzeror, son of Bekhorat, son of Afiah, son of a Benjamite man. Kish could trace his lineage back to one of the ruling dynasties of the tribe, and he himself was a valiant and capable man, a powerful, or wealthy and well-respected, individual.

וְלוֹ הָיָה בֵן וּשְׁמוֹ שָׁאוּל בָּחוּר וטוֹב וְאֵין אִישׁ מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל טוֹב מִמֶּנּוּ מִשִּׁכְמוֹ וָמַעְלָה גָּבֹהַּ מִכָּל הָעָם

He had a son, and his name was Saul, a distinguished and fine person in appearance, and there was no man among the children of Israel who was better than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. Saul was tall; he stood prominently above his peers. Apparently, he was also outstanding in his handsome looks and other fine qualities, in addition to his height.

וַתֹּאבַדְנָה הָאֲתֹנוֹת לְקִישׁ אֲבִי שָׁאוּל וַיֹּאמֶר קִישׁ אֶל שָׁאוּל בְּנוֹ קַח נָא אִתְּךָ אֶת אַחַד מֵהַנְּעָרִים וְקוּם לֵךְ בַּקֵּשׁ אֶת הָאֲתֹנֹת

The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, became lost, and Kish said to Saul, his son: Please, take one of the lads with you and rise; go seek the donkeys. This was probably a herd of donkeys, and therefore, whether the animals were lost or stolen, it was likely that they would all be found together.

וַיַּעֲבֹר בְּהַר אֶפְרַיִם וַיַּעֲבֹר בְּאֶרֶץ שָׁלִשָׁה ולֹא מָצָאוּ וַיַּעַבְרוּ בְאֶרֶץ שַׁעֲלִים וָאַיִן וַיַּעֲבֹר בְּאֶרֶץ יְמִינִי וְלֹא מָצָאוּ

Saul obeyed his father; he passed through the highlands of Ephraim, and he passed through the land of Shalisha, but they, he and his servant, did not find; they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there was nothing, and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find.

הֵמָּה בָּאוּ בְּאֶרֶץ צוּף וְשָׁאוּל אָמַר לְנַעֲרוֹ אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ לְכָה וְנָשׁוּבָה פֶּן יֶחְדַּל אָבִי מִן הָאֲתֹנוֹת וְדָאַג לָנוּ

They had come to the land of Tzuf, which was back in the territory of Ephraim, and Saul said to his lad who was with him: Let us go and return home; lest my father forget the donkeys and worry about us.

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הִנֵּה נָא אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים בָּעִיר הַזֹּאת וְהָאִישׁ נִכְבָּד כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר בּוֹא יָבוֹא עַתָּה נֵלֲכָה שָּׁם אוּלַי יַגִּיד לָנוּ אֶת דַּרְכֵּנוּ אֲשֶׁר הָלַכְנוּ עָלֶיהָ

He, the servant said to him: Behold, now, a man of God, a holy man, a prophet, is in this nearby city, Rama in the land of Tzuf, elsewhere called Ramatayim Tzofim, and the man is esteemed; everything that he speaks occurs. Now, let us go there; perhaps he will tell us our way upon which we have been going. He might inform us of the path to follow to find the donkeys.

וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לְנַעֲרוֹ וְהִנֵּה נֵלֵךְ וּמַה נָּבִיא לָאִישׁ כִּי הַלֶּחֶם אָזַל מִכֵּלֵינוּ וּתְשׁוּרָה אֵין לְהָבִיא לְאִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים מָה אִתָּנוּ

Saul was not enthusiastic about the idea. Saul said to his lad: Behold, were we to go, what gift would we bring to the man? It was obvious to Saul that one who comes to request a service or assistance must have something to offer in exchange. As the bread, the food we took for several days, when we thought that the donkeys would be found quickly, has been exhausted from our vessels, and there is with us no other gift to bring to the man of God. What is with us that we can give him?

וַיֹּסֶף הַנַּעַר לַעֲנוֹת אֶת שָׁאוּל וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה נִמְצָא בְיָדִי רֶבַע שֶׁקֶל כָּסֶף וְנָתַתִּי לְאִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים וְהִגִּיד לָנוּ אֶת דַּרְכֵּנוּ

The lad continued to answer Saul, and said: Behold, I have a quarter of a silver shekel in my possession, which was certainly not a large sum; I will give to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.

לְפָנִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּה אָמַר הָאִישׁ בְּלֶכְתּוֹ לִדְרוֹשׁ אֱלֹהִים לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה עַד הָרֹאֶה כִּי לַנָּבִיא הַיּוֹם יִקָּרֵא לְפָנִים 'הָרֹאֶה'

The chapter adds a parenthetical observation in order to help the reader understand the continuation of the story: Previously in Israel, so would a man say when going to seek God: Come, let us go to the seer, as the prophet today would previously be called the seer. In olden times, people would not commonly use the word prophet. Rather, they would call such an individual a seer, due to his ability to see the future.

וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לְנַעֲרוֹ טוֹב דְּבָרְךָ לְכָה נֵלֵכָה וַיֵּלְכוּ אֶל הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר שָׁם אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים

Saul said to his lad: Your words are good; come, let us go. They went to the city in which was the man of God.

הֵמָּה עֹלִים בְּמַעֲלֵה הָעִיר וְהֵמָּה מָצְאוּ נְעָרוֹת יֹצְאוֹת לִשְׁאֹב מָיִם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לָהֶן הֲיֵשׁ בָּזֶה הָרֹאֶה

They were ascending the ascent to the city, since like many cities at the time, it was built on a hilltop, for reasons of security, and they encountered young women going out to draw water from the spring, which, as was usually the case, flowed at the foot of the city, and they said to them: Is the seer, the prophet, found here? Perhaps they were unsure that this was the city they had been looking for, or they wanted to know whether Samuel was present at that time or if he was on one of his travels (7:16–17).

וַתַּעֲנֶינָה אוֹתָם וַתֹּאמַרְנָה יֵּשׁ הִנֵּה לְפָנֶיךָ מַהֵר עַתָּה כִּי הַיּוֹם בָּא לָעִיר כִּי זֶבַח הַיּוֹם לָעָם בַּבָּמָה

They answered them and said: He is here; behold, he is before you. Quickly now, as today, this very day, he came to the city, as there is a feast offering, a festive meal, today for the people at the shrine. Offerings to God would be sacrificed on tall mounds or raised structures.

כְּבֹאֲכֶם הָעִיר כֵּן תִּמְצְאוּן אֹתוֹ בְּטֶרֶם יַעֲלֶה הַבָּמָתָה לֶאֱכֹל כִּי לֹא יֹאכַל הָעָם עַד בֹּאוֹ כִּי הוּא יְבָרֵךְ הַזֶּבַח אַחֲרֵי כֵן יֹאכְלוּ הַקְּרֻאִים וְעַתָּה עֲלוּ כִּי אֹתוֹ כְהַיּוֹם תִּמְצְאוּן אֹתוֹ

Upon your arrival in the city, so you will find him before he ascends to the shrine to eat, for the people will not eat until his arrival, because he will bless upon the feast offering; only thereafter, the invitees will eat. The Sages cite this verse as one of the sources for reciting a blessing before eating. Now ascend, for today you will find him, the man whom you seek.

וַיַּעֲלוּ הָעִיר הֵמָּה בָּאִים בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר וְהִנֵּה שְׁמוּאֵל יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתָם לַעֲלוֹת הַבָּמָה

They ascended to the city. They were entering within the city, and behold, Samuel was going out toward them to ascend to the shrine, as the young maidens had said.

וַה' גָּלָה אֶת אֹזֶן שְׁמוּאֵל יוֹם אֶחָד לִפְנֵי בוֹא שָׁאוּל לֵאמֹר

The Lord had revealed to Samuel’s ear one day before Saul’s arrival, saying:

כָּעֵת מָחָר אֶשְׁלַח אֵלֶיךָ אִישׁ מֵאֶרֶץ בִּנְיָמִן וּמְשַׁחְתּוֹ לְנָגִיד עַל עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת עַמִּי מִיַּד פְּלִשְׁתִּים כִּי רָאִיתִי אֶת עַמִּי כִּי בָּאָה צַעֲקָתוֹ אֵלָי

At this time tomorrow, I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him as ruler, the king, over My people Israel, and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines, the primary enemy of Israel at that time. Indeed, when Israel later spoke of David’s deeds on their behalf, they stressed that he saved them from the hands of the Philistines. God added: For I have seen My people, for its cry has come to Me. In one respect, Israel is right. They need a leader to wage wars against their enemies who continually harass them.

וּשְׁמוּאֵל רָאָה אֶת שָׁאוּל וַה' עָנָהוּ הִנֵּה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ זֶה יַעְצֹר בְּעַמִּי

Samuel saw Saul entering the city, and the Lord proclaimed to him, the prophet: Here is the man of whom I said to you: This one will rule over My people.

וַיִּגַּשׁ שָׁאוּל אֶת שְׁמוּאֵל בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׁעַר וַיֹּאמֶר הַגִּידָה נָּא לִי אֵי זֶה בֵּית הָרֹאֶה

Saul approached Samuel within the gate. The gate was considered the center of the city, as the public representatives and dignitaries would gather at or near the city gate to discuss important matters. And when Saul saw Samuel, who had the appearance of a distinguished man, he turned to him and said: Please tell me which is the house of the seer.

וַיַּעַן שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת שָׁאוּל וַיֹּאמֶר אָנֹכִי הָרֹאֶה עֲלֵה לְפָנַי הַבָּמָה וַאֲכַלְתֶּם עִמִּי הַיּוֹם וְשִׁלַּחְתִּיךָ בַבֹּקֶר וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבְךָ אַגִּיד לָךְ

Samuel answered Saul and said: I am the seer. Ascend before me to the shrine, and you, in the plural, you and your servant, shall eat with me today in the public festivities. I will send you in the morning, and as a seer, everything that is in your heart I will tell you; I will answer the questions that preoccupy you.

וְלָאֲתֹנוֹת הָאֹבְדוֹת לְךָ הַיּוֹם שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַיָּמִים אַל תָּשֶׂם אֶת לִבְּךָ לָהֶם כִּי נִמְצָאוּ וּלְמִי כָּל חֶמְדַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲלוֹא לְךָ וּלְכֹל בֵּית אָבִיךָ

As for your donkeys that have been lost to you three days today (see 30:13), do not pay heed to them; you do not need to worry about them or continue looking for them, for they have been found. Already, Samuel had provided Saul with the answer to the main question he was going to ask him, thereby proving that he was indeed a seer. Samuel added a compliment that alluded to forthcoming events: And to whom is all the treasure of Israel? Isn’t it for you and for all your father’s house? In other words, as all the property and honor of Israel is destined for you, do not bother yourself with a few missing donkeys.

וַיַּעַן שָׁאוּל וַיֹּאמֶר הֲלוֹא בֶן יְמִינִי אָנֹכִי מִקְּטַנֵּי שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִשְׁפַּחְתִּי הַצְּעִרָה מִכָּל מִשְׁפְּחוֹת שִׁבְטֵי בִנְיָמִן וְלָמָּה דִּבַּרְתָּ אֵלַי כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה

Saul obviously understood Samuel’s statement about the donkeys, but his last comment caught him completely off guard. Saul answered, and said: Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel? In the incident of the concubine at Giva, the tribe of Benjamin was almost destroyed. Many years had passed since then, and in the meantime the tribe had recovered, but it still remained very small. Saul added: And isn’t my family the youngest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why did you speak of such matters to me? Saul’s reaction was a polite response to Samuel’s lavish praise.

וַיִּקַּח שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת שָׁאוּל וְאֶת נַעֲרוֹ וַיְבִיאֵם לִשְׁכָּתָה וַיִּתֵּן לָהֶם מָקוֹם בְּרֹאשׁ הַקְּרוּאִים וְהֵמָּה כִּשְׁלֹשִׁים אִישׁ

Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the chamber, and he provided them with a place next to him, at the head of the invitees, and they, the invitees present, were some thirty men.

וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל לַטַּבָּח תְּנָה אֶת הַמָּנָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לָךְ אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ שִׂים אֹתָהּ עִמָּךְ

Samuel said to the cook: Set forth the portion that I gave you earlier, of which I said to you: Keep it with you.

וַיָּרֶם הַטַּבָּח אֶת הַשּׁוֹק וְהֶעָלֶיהָ וַיָּשֶׂם לִפְנֵי שָׁאוּל וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה הַנִּשְׁאָר שִׂים לְפָנֶיךָ אֱכֹל כִּי לַמּוֹעֵד שָׁמוּר לְךָ לֵאמֹר הָעָם קָרָאתִי וַיֹּאכַל שָׁאוּל עִם שְׁמוּאֵל בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא

The cook lifted, or set aside, the animal haunch and a piece of that which was attached to it [vehe’aleha]. Some interpret vehe’aleha as veha’alya, the tail. And he set it before Saul. He said: Behold, that portion which was reserved has been set before you. Now eat, for this portion is not a leftover, as it was reserved for you by Samuel for the appointed time, saying: I have invited the people. From the moment I invited the public, I kept the best portion for you. In fact, this entire celebration is for your sake. Some explain that this statement was said by the cook, in reference to Samuel, and not by the prophet himself. In any case, Saul, who considered himself a simple guest from the tribe of Benjamin who had happened to arrive at that place, had no idea why Samuel, who had never seen him before, was paying him such respect. Nevertheless, he accepted the offer. So Saul ate with Samuel on that day.

וַיֵּרְדוּ מֵהַבָּמָה הָעִיר וַיְדַבֵּר עִם שָׁאוּל עַל הַגָּג

They descended from the shrine to the city, and he spoke with Saul on the roof. In those days, the tops of houses were flat, broad, and generally open, and therefore it was possible to stroll and engage in a conversation upon them.

וַיַּשְׁכִּמוּ וַיְהִי כַּעֲלוֹת הַשַּׁחַר וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל שָׁאוּל הַגָּגָ לֵאמֹר קוּמָה וַאֲשַׁלְּחֶךָּ וַיָּקָם שָׁאוּל וַיֵּצְאוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם הוּא וּשְׁמוּאֵל הַחוּצָה

They arose early, and it was at dawn that Samuel called Saul to the roof, saying: Rise, and I will send you. Saul rose, and the two of them, he and Samuel, went outside, with the servant following them.

הֵמָּה יוֹרְדִים בִּקְצֵה הָעִיר וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר אֶל שָׁאוּל אֱמֹר לַנַּעַר וְיַעֲבֹר לְפָנֵינוּ וַיַּעֲבֹר וְאַתָּה עֲמֹד כַּיּוֹם וְאַשְׁמִיעֲךָ אֶת דְּבַר אֱלֹהִים

They were descending at the end of the city, with the prophet accompanying his guest out of the city, and Samuel said to Saul: Say to the lad that he should pass before us, as I wish to convey a private matter to you, and he, the servant, passed. But you, Samuel continued to Saul, stay now, and I will let you hear the word of God.