(NIV)
Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.
And he had a
son whose
name was
Saul,
a
handsome young man. There was
not a
man among the
people of
Israel more handsome than he. From his
shoulders upward he was
taller than any of the
people.
(NIV)
Now the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, ‘Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.’
Now the
donkeys of
Kish,
Saul’s father, were
lost. So
Kish said to
Saul his
son, “
Take one of the
young men with you, and
arise,
go and
look for the
donkeys.”
(NIV)
When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, ‘Come, let’s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.’
When they
came to the
land of
Zuph,
Saul said to his
servant who was with him, “
Come, let us go
back,
lest my
father cease to
care about the
donkeys and
become anxious about us.”
(NIV)
Saul said to his servant, ‘If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?’
Then
Saul said to his
servant, “But if we
go,
what can we
bring the
man?
For the
bread in our
sacks is
gone, and there is
no present to
bring to the
man of
God.
What do we have?”
(NIV)
The servant answered him again. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.’
The
servant answered Saul again, “
Here, I
have with
me a
quarter of a
shekel of
silver, and I will
give it to the
man of
God to
tell us our
way.”
(NIV)
‘Good,’ Saul said to his servant. ‘Come, let’s go.’ So they set out for the town where the man of God was.
And
Saul said to his
servant, “
Well said;
come, let us
go.” So they
went to the
city where the
man of
God was.
(NIV)
Now the day before Saul came, the
Lord had revealed this to Samuel:
Now the day before Saul came,
the
Lord had
revealed to Samuel:
(NIV)
When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the
Lord said to him, ‘This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.’
When
Samuel saw Saul, the
Lord told him, “
Here is the
man of
whom I
spoke to you! He it
is who shall
restrain my
people.”
(NIV)
Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, ‘Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?’
Then
Saul approached Samuel in the
gate and
said, “
Tell me
where is the
house of the
seer?”
(NIV)
‘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.
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.
(NIV)
Saul answered, ‘But am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?’
Saul answered, “Am I
not a
Benjaminite,
from the
least of the
tribes of
Israel?
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?”
(NIV)
Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited – about thirty in number.
Then
Samuel took Saul and his
young man and
brought them into the
hall and
gave them a
place at the
head of those who had been
invited, who were about
thirty persons.
(NIV)
So the cook took up the thigh with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, ‘Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion from the time I said, “I have invited guests.”’ And Saul dined with Samuel that day.
So the
cook took up the
leg and what was on it and
set them
before Saul. And Samuel
said, “
See, what was
kept is
set before you.
Eat,
because it was
kept for you until the hour
appointed, that you might eat with the
guests.”
So
Saul ate with
Samuel that
day.
(NIV)
After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house.
And when they
came down from the
high place into the
city, a bed was spread for
Saul on the
roof, and he lay down to sleep.
(NIV)
They rose about daybreak, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, ‘Get ready, and I will send you on your way.’ When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together.
Then at the break of
dawn Samuel called to
Saul on the
roof, “
Up, that I may
send you on your way.” So
Saul arose, and
both he and
Samuel went out into the
street.
(NIV)
As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, ‘Tell the servant to go on ahead of us’ – and the servant did so – ‘but you stay here for a while, so that I may give you a message from God.’
As they were going
down to the
outskirts of the
city,
Samuel said to
Saul, “
Tell the
servant to pass
on before us, and when he has
passed on,
stop here yourself for a
while, that I may
make known to you the
word of
God.”
(NIV)
Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, ‘Has not the
Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?
Then
Samuel took a
flask of
oil and
poured it
on his
head and
kissed him and
said, “Has
not the
Lord anointed you to be
prince over
his people Israel?
And you shall
reign over the
people of the
Lord and you will
save them from the
hand of
their surrounding enemies.
And this shall be the
sign to
you that the
Lord has
anointed you to be
prince over his
heritage.
(NIV)
As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.
When he
turned his
back to
leave Samuel,
God gave him
another heart. And
all these signs came to
pass that
day.
(NIV)
When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, ‘What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?’
And when
all who
knew him
previously saw how he
prophesied with the
prophets, the
people said to
one another, “
What has come over the
son of
Kish?
Is
Saul also among the
prophets?”
(NIV)
A man who lived there answered, ‘And who is their father?’ So it became a saying: ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’
And a
man of the
place answered,
“And
who is their
father?”
Therefore it became a
proverb,
“Is
Saul also among the
prophets?”
(NIV)
After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place.
When he had
finished prophesying, he
came to the
high place.
(NIV)
Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, ‘Where have you been?’
‘Looking for the donkeys,’ he said. ‘But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.’
Saul’s uncle said to him and to his
servant, “
Where did you
go?” And he
said,
“To
seek the
donkeys. And when we
saw they were
not to be found, we
went to
Samuel.”
(NIV)
Saul’s uncle said, ‘Tell me what Samuel said to you.’
And
Saul’s uncle said, “
Please tell me
what Samuel said to you.”
(NIV)
Saul replied, ‘He assured us that the donkeys had been found.’ But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.
And
Saul said to his
uncle,
“He
told us
plainly that the
donkeys had been
found.” But about the
matter of the
kingdom, of
which Samuel had
spoken, he did
not tell him anything.
(NIV)
Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.
He
brought the
tribe of
Benjamin near by its
clans, and the
clan of the
Matrites was
taken by lot; and
Saul the
son of
Kish was
taken by lot. But when they
sought him, he could
not be
found.
(NIV)
Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.
Saul also went to his
home at
Gibeah, and
with him
went men of
valor whose
hearts God had
touched.
(NIV)
But some scoundrels said, ‘How can this fellow save us?’ They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.
But some
worthless fellows said, “
How can
this man
save us?” And they
despised him and
brought him
no present. But he held his
peace.
(NIV)
When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud.
When the
messengers came to
Gibeah of
Saul, they
reported the
matter in the
ears of the
people,
and
all the
people wept aloud.
(NIV)
Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, ‘What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?’ Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
Now,
behold,
Saul was
coming from the
field behind the
oxen. And
Saul said, “
What is wrong with the
people,
that they are
weeping?” So they
told him the
news of the
men of
Jabesh.
(NIV)
When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger.
And the
Spirit of
God rushed upon Saul when he
heard these words, and his
anger was
greatly kindled.
(NIV)
He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, ‘This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.’ Then the terror of the
Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one.
He
took a
yoke of
oxen and cut them in
pieces and
sent them throughout
all the
territory of
Israel by the
hand of the
messengers,
saying,
“
Whoever does
not come out after Saul and
Samuel,
so shall it be
done to his
oxen!” Then the
dread of the
Lord fell upon the
people, and they
came out as
one man.
(NIV)
When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.
When he
mustered them at
Bezek,
the
people of
Israel were
three hundred thousand, and the
men of
Judah thirty thousand.
(NIV)
The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
And the
next day Saul put the
people in
three companies. And they
came into the
midst of the
camp in the
morning watch and
struck down the
Ammonites until the
heat of the
day. And those who
survived were
scattered, so that
no two of them were
left together.
(NIV)
The people then said to Samuel, ‘Who was it that asked, “Shall Saul reign over us?” Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.’
Then the
people said to
Samuel,
“
Who is it that
said, ‘Shall
Saul reign over us?’
Bring the
men, that we may put them to
death.”
(NIV)
But Saul said, ‘No one will be put to death today, for this day the
Lord has rescued Israel.’
But
Saul said,
“
Not a
man shall be
put to death this day,
for today the
Lord has
worked salvation in
Israel.”
(NIV)
So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the
Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the
Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.
So
all the
people went to
Gilgal, and
there they made
Saul king before the
Lord in
Gilgal. There they
sacrificed peace offerings before the
Lord, and
there Saul and
all the
men of
Israel rejoiced greatly.
(NIV)
Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel for forty- two years.
Saul lived for one
year and then
became king, and when he had
reigned for
two years over Israel
(NIV)
Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.
Saul chose three thousand men of
Israel. Two
thousand were with
Saul in
Michmash and the
hill country of
Bethel, and a
thousand were with
Jonathan in
Gibeah of
Benjamin. The
rest of the
people he
sent home, every
man to his
tent.
(NIV)
Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, ‘Let the Hebrews hear!’
Jonathan defeated the
garrison of the
Philistines that was at
Geba, and the
Philistines heard of it. And
Saul blew the
trumpet throughout
all the
land,
saying, “Let the
Hebrews hear.”
(NIV)
So all Israel heard the news: ‘Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious to the Philistines.’ And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
And
all Israel heard it
said that
Saul had
defeated the
garrison of the
Philistines, and
also that
Israel had become a
stench to the
Philistines. And the
people were
called out to
join Saul at
Gilgal.
(NIV)
Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.
and some
Hebrews crossed the fords of the
Jordan to the
land of
Gad and
Gilead.
Saul was
still at
Gilgal, and
all the
people followed him
trembling.
(NIV)
He waited for seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.
He
waited seven days, the
time appointed by
Samuel. But
Samuel did
not come to
Gilgal, and the
people were
scattering from him.
(NIV)
So he said, ‘Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.’ And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
So
Saul said, “
Bring the
burnt offering here to me, and the
peace offerings.” And he
offered the
burnt offering.
(NIV)
Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
As soon as he had
finished offering the
burnt offering,
behold,
Samuel came. And
Saul went out to
meet him and
greet him.
(NIV)
‘What have you done?’ asked Samuel.
Saul replied, ‘When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,
Samuel said, “
What have you
done?” And
Saul said, “
When I
saw that the
people were
scattering from me, and that you did
not come within the
days appointed, and that the
Philistines had
mustered at
Michmash,
(NIV)
‘You have done a foolish thing,’ Samuel said. ‘You have not kept the command the
Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
And
Samuel said to
Saul,
“You have done
foolishly.
You have
not kept the
command of the
Lord your
God, with
which he
commanded you.
For then the
Lord would have
established your
kingdom over
Israel forever.
(NIV)
Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.
And
Samuel arose and
went up from
Gilgal. The
rest of the
people went up after Saul to meet the
army;
they went up from Gilgal
to Gibeah of
Benjamin.
And
Saul numbered the
people who were
present with him, about
six hundred men.
(NIV)
Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.
And
Saul and
Jonathan his
son and the
people who were
present with them
stayed in
Geba of
Benjamin, but the
Philistines encamped in
Michmash.
(NIV)
So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
So on the
day of the
battle there was
neither sword nor
spear found in the
hand of
any of the
people with
Saul and
Jonathan, but
Saul and
Jonathan his
son had them.
(NIV)
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armour-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.’ But he did not tell his father.
One
day Jonathan the
son of
Saul said to the
young man who
carried his
armor, “
Come, let us go
over to the
Philistine garrison on the
other side.” But he did
not tell his
father.
(NIV)
Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men,
Saul was
staying in the
outskirts of
Gibeah in the
pomegranate cave at
Migron. The
people who were
with him were about
six hundred men,
(NIV)
Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions.
And the
watchmen of
Saul in
Gibeah of
Benjamin looked, and
behold, the
multitude was
dispersing here and
there.
(NIV)
Then Saul said to the men who were with him, ‘Muster the forces and see who has left us.’ When they did, it was Jonathan and his armour-bearer who were not there.
Then
Saul said to the
people who were with him, “
Count and
see who has
gone from us.” And when they had
counted,
behold,
Jonathan and his
armor-bearer were
not there.
(NIV)
Saul said to Ahijah, ‘Bring the ark of God.’ (At that time it was with the Israelites.)
So
Saul said to
Ahijah, “
Bring the
ark of
God here.”
For the
ark of
God went at that
time with the
people of
Israel.
(NIV)
While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, ‘Withdraw your hand.’
Now while
Saul was
talking to the
priest, the
tumult in the
camp of the
Philistines increased more and
more. So
Saul said to the
priest, “
Withdraw your
hand.”
(NIV)
Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.
Then
Saul and
all the
people who were with him
rallied and
went into the
battle. And
behold,
every Philistine’s
sword was against his
fellow, and there was
very great confusion.
(NIV)
Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
Now the
Hebrews who had been with the
Philistines before that
time and
who had
gone up with them into the
camp,
even they
also turned to be
with the
Israelites who were
with Saul and
Jonathan.
(NIV)
Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!’ So none of the troops tasted food.
And the
men of
Israel had been
hard pressed that
day,
so
Saul had laid an
oath on the
people,
saying, “
Cursed be the
man who
eats food until it is
evening and I am
avenged on my
enemies.” So
none of the
people had
tasted food.
(NIV)
Then someone said to Saul, ‘Look, the men are sinning against the
Lord by eating meat that has blood in it.’
‘You have broken faith,’ he said. ‘Roll a large stone over here at once.’
Then they
told Saul, “
Behold, the
people are
sinning against the
Lord by
eating with the
blood.” And he
said, “You have dealt
treacherously;
roll a
great stone to me
here.”
(NIV)
Then he said, ‘Go out among the men and tell them, “Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the
Lord by eating meat with blood still in it.”’
So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.
And
Saul said, “
Disperse yourselves among the
people and
say to them, ‘Let
every man bring his
ox or his
sheep and
slaughter them
here and
eat, and do
not sin against the
Lord by
eating with the
blood.’” So every
one of the
people brought his
ox with him that
night and they
slaughtered them
there.
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