1Now 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.9.1 a Benjamite: or, the son of a man of Jemini9.1 power: or, substance 2And 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.
3And 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. 4And 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. 5And 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. 6And 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. 7Then 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?9.7 is spent…: Heb. is gone out of, etc9.7 have we: Heb. is with us? 8And 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.9.8 I have…: Heb. there is found in my hand 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.) 10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.9.10 Well said: Heb. Thy word is good
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?9.11 the hill…: Heb. in the ascent of the city 12And 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:9.12 sacrifice: or, feast 13As 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.9.13 this time: Heb. to day 14And 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,9.15 told…: Heb. revealed the ear of Samuel 16To 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. 17And 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.9.17 reign over: Heb. restrain in
18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is. 19And 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. 20And 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?9.20 three…: Heb. to day three days 21And 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?9.21 so…: Heb. according to this word 22And 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. 23And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 24And 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.9.24 left: or, reserved
25¶ And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 26And 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. 27And 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.9.27 a while: Heb. to day
Samweli Anamtia Sauli Mafuta
19:1 Yos 18:11-20; Rut 2:1; 1Sam 14:51; 1Nya 8:33; 9:39; Es 2:5; Mdo 13:21Kulikuwako Mbenyamini mmoja, mtu maarufu, ambaye aliitwa Kishi mwana wa Abieli, mwana wa Serori, mwana wa Bekorathi, mwana wa Afia wa Benyamini. 29:2 Mwa 39:6; 1Sam 10:23-24Alikuwa na mwana aliyeitwa Sauli, kijana anayevutia sana, hakuwepo aliyelingana naye miongoni mwa Waisraeli, alikuwa mrefu kuliko wengine wote.
39:3 1Sam 10:14-16Basi punda wa Kishi baba yake Sauli walipotea, naye Kishi akamwambia mwanawe Sauli, “Mchukue mmoja wa watumishi mwende pamoja naye kuwatafuta punda.” 49:4 Yos 24:33; 2Fal 4:42; 1Sam 10:2Hivyo akapita katika nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu na katika eneo la Shalisha, lakini hawakuwapata. Wakaendelea katika sehemu ya Shaalimu, lakini punda hawakuwepo huko. Kisha wakapita katika nchi ya Benyamini, lakini hawakuwapata.
59:5 1Sam 1:1; 10:1Walipofika sehemu ya Sufu, Sauli akamwambia mtumishi aliyekuwa pamoja naye, “Njoo, sisi na turudi, au baba yangu ataacha kufikiria juu ya punda na kuanza kufadhaika kutuhusu sisi.”
69:6 Kum 33:1; Amu 13:6; 1Sam 3:19; 1Fal 13:1; 2Fal 6:6; 1Tim 6:11; 1Sam 3:19; Isa 44:26; Mt 24:35Lakini mtumishi akajibu, “Tazama, katika mji huu yupo mtu wa Mungu, anayeheshimiwa sana na kila kitu asemacho hutokea kweli. Sasa na twende huko. Huenda atatuambia twende njia ipi.”
79:7 Mwa 32:20; 1Fal 13:7; 14:3; 2Fal 4:42; 5:5, 15; Yer 40:5; Amu 6:18; 13:17Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Kama tukienda, tutampa nini huyo mtu? Chakula kimekwisha kwenye mifuko yetu. Hatuna zawadi ya kumpelekea huyo mtu wa Mungu. Je tuna nini?”
8Mtumishi akamjibu Sauli tena, akasema, “Tazama, nina fedha robo shekeli.9:8 Robo shekeli ni sawa na gramu 3. Hiyo nitampa huyo mtu wa Mungu ili aweze kutuambia twende kwa njia ipi.” 99:9 Mwa 25:22; 2Sam 15:27; 24:11; 17:13; 1Nya 9:22; 21:9; 26:28; 29:29; 2Nya 19:2; Isa 29:10; 30:10; Amo 7:12; Kut 28:30; Hes 27:21; Amu 1:1; 20:18-28; 2Sam 24:11; 2Fal 17:13(Zamani katika Israeli, kama mtu alikwenda kuuliza neno kwa Mungu, angalisema, “Njoo na twende kwa mwonaji,” kwa sababu nabii wa sasa alikuwa akiitwa mwonaji.)
10Sauli akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Vyema, njoo na twende.” Basi wakaenda mjini alipokuwepo huyo mtu wa Mungu.
119:11 Mwa 24:11-13; Kut 2:16Walipokuwa wakipanda mlima kwenda mjini, wakakutana na baadhi ya wasichana wanakuja kuchota maji, nao wakawauliza, “Je, mwonaji yuko?”
129:12 Hes 28:11-15; 1Sam 7:17; Law 26:30; 1Fal 3:2Wakajibu, “Yuko, yu mbele yenu amewatangulia, sasa fanyeni haraka, ndiyo tu amekuja mjini kwetu leo, kwa kuwa watu wana dhabihu huko mahali pa juu. 139:13 Mt 14:19; 1Kor 10:16; 1Tim 4:3-5Mara tu mwingiapo mjini, mtamkuta kabla hajapanda kwenda mahali pa juu kula. Watu hawataanza kula mpaka atakapofika kwa sababu ni lazima kwanza yeye abariki dhabihu, ndipo wale walioalikwa watakapokula. Pandeni sasa, mtamkuta kwa wakati huu.”
14Wakapanda mjini, nao walipokuwa wakiingia mjini, tazama, Samweli alikuwa akija kuelekea walikokwenda mahali pa juu.
159:15 1Sam 24:11; Za 25:14; Mk 11:2-4; Mdo 13:11Basi siku moja kabla Sauli hajaja, Bwana alikuwa amemfunulia Samweli jambo hili: 169:16 Kut 30:25; 1Sam 2:35; 12:3; 15:1; 26:9; 2Fal 11:12; Za 2:2; 2Sam 7:8; 1Fal 8; 16; 1Nya 5:2; Kut 3:8; 1Sam 23:4; 2Sam 3:18; Mwa 16:11; Za 102:1“Kesho wakati kama huu nitakupelekea mtu kutoka nchi ya Benyamini. Umtie mafuta awe kiongozi juu ya watu wangu Israeli, ndiye atakayewakomboa watu wangu na mkono wa Wafilisti. Nimewaangalia watu wangu, kwa kuwa kilio chao kimenifikia.”
179:17 1Sam 16:12; Hos 13:11Samweli alipomwona Sauli, Bwana akamwambia, “Huyu ndiye mtu niliyekuambia habari zake, kwamba yeye atawatawala watu wangu.”
18Sauli akamkaribia Samweli langoni na kumuuliza, “Tafadhali, je, waweza kuniambia mahali nyumba ya mwonaji ilipo?”
19Samweli akamjibu Sauli, “Mimi ndiye mwonaji, panda utangulie mbele yangu mpaka mahali pa juu, kwa kuwa leo itakupasa kula pamoja nami na asubuhi nitakuruhusu uende na nitakuambia yale yote yaliyo moyoni mwako. 209:20 1Sam 12:13; Ezr 6:8; Isa 60:4-9; Dan 2:44; Hag 2:7; Mal 3:1Kuhusu wale punda uliowapoteza siku tatu zilizopita, usifadhaike kwa habari yao; wamepatikana. Ni kwa nani ambaye shauku yote ya Israeli imeelekea, kama si kwako na jamaa yote ya baba yako?”
219:21 Za 68:27; Kut 3:11; Mt 2:6; 1Kor 15:9; Amu 6:15; 20:35, 46; 1Sam 18:18; 15:17Sauli akajibu, “Je, mimi si Mbenyamini, kutoka kabila dogo kuliko yote ya Israeli, nao ukoo wangu si ndio mdogo kuliko koo zote za kabila la Benyamini? Kwa nini uniambie jambo la namna hiyo?”
22Kisha Samweli akamleta Sauli na mtumishi wake ndani ukumbini na kuwaketisha mahali pa heshima zaidi miongoni mwa wale waliokuwa wamealikwa; jumla yao walikuwa kama watu thelathini. 23Samweli akamwambia mpishi, “Leta ile sehemu ya nyama niliyokupa, ile niliyokuambia iweke kando.”
249:24 Law 7:24; Hes 18:18; Eze 24:4; Mdo 10:9Hivyo mpishi akachukua mguu pamoja na kile kilichokuwa juu yake akaiweka mbele ya Sauli. Samweli akasema, “Hiki ndicho ambacho kimewekwa kwa ajili yako. Ule, kwa sababu kilitengwa kwa ajili yako kwa tukio hili, tangu niliposema, ‘Nimewaalika wageni.’ ” Naye Sauli akala pamoja na Samweli siku ile.
259:25 Kum 22:8; Yos 2:8; Mt 24:17; Lk 5:19; Mdo 10:9Baada ya kushuka kutoka mahali pa juu na kufika mjini, Samweli alizungumza na Sauli juu ya dari ya nyumba yake. 26Walipoamka mapema alfajiri, Samweli akamwita Sauli darini, akamwambia, “Jiandae, nami nitakuaga uende zako.” Sauli alipokuwa tayari yeye na Samweli wakatoka nje pamoja. 27Hata walipokuwa wakiteremka kuelekea mwisho wa mji, Samweli akamwambia Sauli, “Mwambie mtumishi atangulie mbele yetu.” Naye mtumishi akafanya hivyo. “Lakini subiri hapa kwa kitambo kidogo, ili nipate kukupa ujumbe kutoka kwa Mungu.”
