1 Havia um homem de Benjamim, chamado Cis, filho de Abiel, filho de Seror, filho de Becorat, filho de Afia, de família benjaminita, que era um homem valente.2 Tinha um filho chamado Saul, que era jovem e belo. Não havia em Israel outro mais belo do que ele; dos ombros para cima sobressaía a todo o povo.3 Tendo-se perdido as jumentas de Cis, pai de Saul, disse aquele ao seu filho: Toma um servo contigo e vai procurar as jumentas.4 Saul atravessou a montanha de Efraim e entrou na terra de Salisa, sem nada encontrar; percorreu a terra de Salim, mas em vão. Na terra de Benjamim não as encontrou tampouco.5 Tendo chegado à terra de Suf, Saul disse ao seu servo: Vem, voltemos. Meu pai poderia não mais pensar nas jumentas e ficar com cuidados por nós.6 Nesta cidade, disse-lhe o servo, há um homem de Deus, varão muito considerado; tudo o que ele prediz se cumpre. Vamos lá; talvez ele nos mostrará o caminho que devemos tomar.7 Saul respondeu: Está bem, vamos; mas o que havemos de oferecer-lhe? Nossos alforjes estão vazios, e não temos presente algum para dar ao homem de Deus. O que nos resta?8 Tenho aqui um quarto de siclo de prata, respondeu o servo; dá-lo-ei ao homem de Deus para que ele nos mostre o caminho.9 {Antigamente, em Israel, todo o que ia consultar a Deus, dizia: Vinde, vamos ao vidente. Chamava-se então vidente ao que hoje se chama profeta.}10 Saul disse ao seu servo: Tens razão. Anda, vamos E foram à cidade onde estava o homem de Deus.11 Subindo eles a encosta da cidade, encontraram umas moças que saíam a buscar água. Há um vidente aqui?, perguntaram-lhes.12 Sim, responderam elas; ali diante de ti. Apressa-te; ele veio hoje à cidade, porque o povo oferece um sacrifício no lugar alto.13 Ao entrar na cidade, encontrá-lo-eis seguramente antes que suba ao lugar alto para o festim. O povo não comerá antes que ele chegue, pois ele deverá abençoar o sacrifício; os convidados só comerão depois. Subi, pois; hoje o encontrareis.14 Subiram à cidade. No momento em que entravam, encontraram Samuel que saía para subir ao lugar alto.15 Ora, na véspera da chegada de Saul, o Senhor tinha revelado a Samuel:16 Amanhã, e esta mesma hora, mandar-te-ei um homem da terra de Benjamim, e tu o ungirás para chefe do meu povo de Israel, para que ele livre o povo das mãos dos filisteus. Porque voltei os meus olhos para o meu povo, e o seu clamor chegou até a mim.17 Quando Samuel viu Saul, Deus disse-lhe: Eis o homem de quem te falei: este reinará sobre o meu povo.18 Saul aproximou-se de Samuel à porta da cidade e disse-lhe: Rogo-te que me digas onde é a casa do vidente.19 Sou eu mesmo o vidente, respondeu Samuel; sobe na minha frente ao lugar alto; comereis hoje comigo. Amanhã te deixarei partir, depois de ter revelado a ti tudo o que tens no coração.20 Quanto às jumentas perdidas há dois ou três dias, não te inquietes por isso, porque já foram encontradas. E de quem será toda a beleza de Israel? Não é porventura tua e de toda a casa de teu pai?21 Saul respondeu: Eu sou um benjaminita, filho da menor tribo de Israel; e minha família é a menor de todas as famílias de Benjamim. Por que, pois, me falas assim?22 Samuel, tomando Saul e o seu servo, levou-os para a sala do festim e deu-lhes o primeiro lugar entre os convidados, que eram em número de aproximadamente trinta pessoas.23 Samuel disse ao cozinheiro: Serve a porção que te dei e que te mandei pôr à parte.24 Tomou, pois, o cozinheiro a espádua com o que nela havia e a serviu a Saul. Samuel disse: Eis diante de ti a porção que te foi reservada. Come-a; reservei-a para este momento quando convidei o povo. Saul e Samuel comeram juntos naquele dia.25 Do lugar alto desceram para a cidade e prepararam uma cama para Saul no terraço26 e ele foi dormir. No dia seguinte, ao romper da aurora, Samuel chamou Saul ao terraço e disse-lhe: Levanta-te, e deixar-te-ei partir. Saul levantou-se e saíram os dois juntos.27 Quando chegaram aos limites da cidade, Samuel disse a Saul: Dize ao teu servo que passe e vá adiante de nós, e o servo passou adiante; mas tu detém-te aqui para que eu te comunique uma palavra de Deus.

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 Aphiach, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, young and handsome; and there was not a man among the children of Israel handsomer than he: from his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.3 And there were lost the asses belonging to Kish, Saul’s father; and Kish said to Saul his son, Do take with thee one of the servants, and arise, go seek the asses.4 And he passed through the mountain of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not; then they passed through the land of Sha’alim, and there was nothing there; and he passed through the land of Benjamin, but they found them not.5 When they were come in the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father relinquish the care for the asses, and become anxious for us.6 And the other said unto him, Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is honored; all that he ever saith will surely come to pass: now let us go thither; perhaps he can tell us our way that we should go.7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we should go, what shall we bring to the man? for the bread is spent out of our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we with us?8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver; and I will give this to the man of God, that he may tell us our way.9 In former times it was custom in Israel, that when a man went to inquire of God, he said thus, Come, and let us go as far as the seer; for the Prophet of the present day was in former times called a Seer.10 Then said Saul to his servant, Thy word is good: come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.11 As they went up the ascent to the city, they found some maidens going out to draw water; and they 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 this day came he to the city; because the people have a sacrifice today on the high–place;13 As soon as ye are come into the city, ye will straightway find him, before yet he can go up to the high–place to eat; for the people will not eat until he be come, because he always blesseth the sacrifice; afterward eat those that are invited; and now go you up; for just today will ye surely find him.14 And they went up into the city. They were entering into the city, when, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high–place.15 And the Lord had revealed to Samuel’s ear one day before Saul’s coming, saying,16 About this time tomorrow will I send unto thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him as chief over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have beheld my people, because their cry is come unto me.17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord addressed him, Behold, the man of whom I spoke to thee, This one shall rule over my people.18 And Saul drew near to Samuel within the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where is the house of the seer.19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high–place, and ye shall eat with me today; and I will let thee go in the morning, and all that is in thy heart will I tell thee.20 And as for thy asses that were lost unto thee this day three days ago, do not set thy heart on them; for they have been found. And to whom belongeth all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not to thee, and to all thy father’s house?21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a son of Benjamin, of one of the smallest tribes of Israel? and is not my family the least of all the families of the tribes of Benjamin? wherefore then hast thou spoken to me such thing?22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the apartment; and he assigned them a place at the head of the invited guests, who were about thirty persons.23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Hand here the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Put it away by thee.24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul; and he said, Behold what is left! set it before thee, and eat; for unto this time hath it been kept from thee, since I said, I have invited the people. And Saul ate with Samuel on that day.25 And they went down from the high–place into the city, and he spoke with Saul upon the roof.26 And they got up early; and it came to pass when the morning–dawn arose, that Samuel called Saul to the roof, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out, both of them, he and Samuel, into the street.27 As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Say to the servant that he pass on before us,––and he passed on,––but thou remain standing a while, and I will let thee hear the word of God.