1 Samuel 9 – NIRV & BPH

New International Reader’s Version

1 Samuel 9:1-27

Samuel Anoints Saul to Be Israel’s King

1There was a man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. Kish was a very important person. He was the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror. Zeror was the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah from the tribe of Benjamin. 2Kish had a son named Saul. Saul was a handsome young man. He was more handsome than anyone in Israel. And he was a head taller than anyone else.

3The donkeys that belonged to Saul’s father Kish were lost. So Kish spoke to his son Saul. He said, “Go and look for the donkeys. Take one of the servants with you.” 4Saul and his servant went through the hill country of Ephraim. They also went through the area around Shalisha. But they didn’t find the donkeys. So they went on into the area of Shaalim. But the donkeys weren’t there either. Then Saul went through the territory of Benjamin. But they still didn’t find the donkeys.

5When Saul and the servant with him reached the area of Zuph, Saul spoke to the servant. He said, “Come on. Let’s go back. If we don’t, my father will stop thinking about the donkeys. Instead, he’ll start worrying about us.”

6But the servant replied, “There’s a man of God here in Ramah. People have a lot of respect for him. Everything he says comes true. So let’s go and see him now. Perhaps he’ll tell us which way to go.”

7Saul said to his servant, “If we go to see the man, what can we give him? There isn’t any food in our sacks. We don’t have a gift for the man of God. So what can we give him?”

8The servant answered Saul again. “Look,” he said. “I’ve got a tenth of an ounce of silver. I’ll give it to the man of God. Then maybe he’ll tell us which way to go.” 9In Israel, prophets used to be called seers. So if someone wanted to ask God for advice, they would say, “Come on. Let’s go to the seer.”

10Saul said to his servant, “That’s a good idea. Come on. Let’s go and ask the seer.” So they started out for the town where the man of God lived.

11They were going up the hill toward the town. Along the way they met some young women who were coming out to get water from the well. Saul and his servant asked them, “Is the seer here?”

12“Yes, he is,” they answered. “In fact, he’s just up ahead of you. So hurry along. He has just come to our town today. The people are going to offer a sacrifice at the high place where they worship. 13As soon as you enter the town, you will find him. He’ll be there until he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won’t start eating until he gets there. He must bless the sacrifice first. After that, those who are invited will eat. So go on up. You should find him there just about now.”

14They went up to the town. As they were entering it, they saw Samuel. He was coming toward them. He was on his way up to the high place.

15The Lord had spoken to Samuel the day before Saul came. He had said, 16“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man. He is from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the king of my people Israel. He will save them from the power of the Philistines. I have seen how much my people are suffering. Their cry for help has reached me.”

17When Samuel saw a man coming toward him, the Lord spoke to Samuel again. He said, “He is the man I told you about. His name is Saul. He will govern my people.”

18Saul approached Samuel at the gate of the town. He asked Samuel, “Can you please show me the seer’s house?”

19“I’m the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go on up to the high place ahead of me. I want you and your servant to eat with me today. Tomorrow morning I’ll tell you what’s on your mind. Then I’ll send you on your way. 20Don’t worry about the donkeys you lost three days ago. They’ve already been found. But who do all the Israelites want? You and your father’s whole family!”

21Saul answered, “But I’m from the tribe of Benjamin. It’s the smallest tribe in Israel. And my family group is the least important in the whole tribe of Benjamin. So why are you saying that to me?”

22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the room where they would be eating. He seated them at the head table. About 30 people had been invited. 23Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you. It’s the one I told you to put to one side.”

24So the cook went and got a choice piece of thigh. He set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat it. It was put to one side for you for this special occasion. We’ve saved it for you ever since I invited the guests.” And Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25They came down from the high place to the town. After that, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of Samuel’s house. 26The next day they got up at about the time the sun was rising. Samuel called out to Saul on the roof. He said, “Get ready. Then I’ll send you on your way.” So Saul got ready. And he and Samuel went outside together. 27As they were on their way down to the edge of town, Samuel spoke to Saul. He said, “Tell the servant to go ahead of us.” So the servant went on ahead. Then Samuel continued, “Stay here for a while. I’ll give you a message from God.”

Bibelen på hverdagsdansk

1. Samuelsbog 9:1-27

Saul og Samuel mødes

1Der var en rig og anset mand af Benjamins stamme, som hed Kish. Kish var søn af Abiel, som var søn af Zeror, som var søn af Bekorat, som var søn af Afia. 2Kish havde en søn, der hed Saul. Han var den flotteste fyr i hele Israel, og han var et hoved højere end nogen anden i landet.

3En dag var nogle af Kish’ æsler løbet væk. Derfor sagde han til Saul: „Tag en tjener med dig og gå ud og led efter dem.” 4Saul og hans tjener gennemsøgte Efraims højland, Shalisha-egnen, Shalim-egnen og hele Benjamins land uden at finde æslerne. 5Da de til sidst nåede Zuf-området, sagde Saul til tjeneren: „Lad os gå hjem. Nu er min far sikkert mere bekymret for os end for æslerne.”

6Men tjeneren svarede: „Ved du hvad? I den by dér bor der en Guds profet, som folk har stor respekt for, fordi alt, hvad han siger, sker. Lad os opsøge ham. Måske han kan fortælle os, hvor vi kan finde æslerne.”

7„Men vi har ingen penge med, så vi kan betale ham,” indvendte Saul. „Vi har ingen verdens ting, ikke engang et stykke brød.”

8„Jo,” svarede tjeneren. „Jeg har et lille stykke sølv, en kvart shekel. Den vil jeg give ham, så han kan sige os, hvad vi skal gøre.” 9-11„Godt,” sagde Saul. „Lad os så bare prøve.”

Så begav de sig op ad bakken mod byen, hvor profeten holdt til. Undervejs mødte de nogle unge piger, som var på vej ned for at hente vand, og de spurgte dem: „Er seeren hjemme?” (På den tid kaldte man endnu profeter for „seere”. „Lad os gå hen og spørge seeren,” sagde man, når man ville spørge Gud til råds).

12-13Pigerne svarede: „Jo, han er kommet til byen i dag, for der skal ofres et dyr på offerhøjen. Hvis I følger vejen lige frem og går ind i byen, vil I træffe ham der. Han går snart op til offerhøjen, for det er ham, der skal velsigne slagtofferet, og folk har ikke lov at spise af slagtofferet, før han kommer.”

14Så skyndte de sig op til byen, og netop som de kom til byporten, kom Samuel gående hen imod dem på vej til offerhøjen.

15Dagen før havde Herren sagt til Samuel: 16„I morgen ved denne tid sender jeg en mand fra Benjamins land til dig. Ham skal du salve til konge over mit folk. Han skal frelse folket fra filistrenes herredømme, for jeg har hørt folkets klageråb og har besluttet at hjælpe dem.”

17Da Samuel fik øje på Saul, sagde Herren til ham: „Det er den mand, jeg fortalte dig om. Han skal regere over mit folk.”

18I det samme henvendte Saul sig til Samuel dér i byporten og spurgte: „Kan du sige mig, hvor seeren bor?”

19„Det er mig, der er seeren,” svarede Samuel. „Gå foran mig op til offerhøjen. Så kan vi spise sammen, og i morgen tidlig skal jeg fortælle dig, hvad du ønsker at vide, og sende dig af sted. 20Du skal ikke bekymre dig om æslerne, der løb bort for tre dage siden. De er i god behold. Men hvem er det, hele Israels håb står til, om ikke det er til dig og din slægt?”

21„Hvordan kan du sige sådan noget,” indvendte Saul. „Jeg er jo fra Benjamins stamme, den mindste i hele Israel. Og min slægt er den mest ubetydelige i hele stammen!”

22Men Samuel førte Saul og hans tjener ind i gildesalen og gav dem hæderspladsen blandt de 30 indbudte gæster, 23og han sagde til kokken: „Kom med det fine stykke kød, som er forbeholdt hædersgæsten.” 24Kokken løftede kødet op og lagde det foran Saul. „Spis! Det er til dig,” sagde Samuel. „Jeg havde lagt det stykke til side til dig, så du ved denne lejlighed kunne spise det sammen med de øvrige gæster.”

Så spiste Saul sammen med Samuel. 25Derefter gik de ned fra offerhøjen. Da de var kommet tilbage til byen, blev der redt op til Saul på tagterrassen. 26-27Ved daggry næste morgen råbte Samuel op til Saul: „Stå op! Jeg vil følge dig på vej.” Så stod Saul op, og Samuel gik med dem et stykke hen ad vejen. Da de var nået til udkanten af byen, sagde Samuel til Saul: „Sig til tjeneren, at han skal gå i forvejen, men bliv du her lidt endnu. Herren har nemlig givet mig et særligt budskab til dig.”