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.”
Samũeli Gũitĩrĩria Saũlũ Maguta
19:1 1Sam 14:51; 1Maũ 9:39; Ruth 2:1Na rĩrĩ, nĩ kwarĩ Mũbenjamini ũmwe, mũndũ warĩ igweta wetagwo Kishu mũrũ wa Abieli, mũrũ wa Zeroru, mũrũ wa Bekorathu, mũrũ wa Afia wa Benjamini. 29:2 Kĩam 39:6; 1Sam 10:23Mũndũ ũcio aarĩ na mũriũ wetagwo Saũlũ, mwanake kĩĩrorerwa na gũtirĩ ũngĩ mangĩaigananirio nake harĩ andũ a Isiraeli, nake aarĩ mũraihu gũkĩra andũ arĩa angĩ othe, kuuma ciande ciake gũthiĩ na igũrũ aakĩrĩte andũ arĩa angĩ othe.
3Na rĩrĩ, ndigiri cia Kishu, ithe wa Saũlũ, ikĩũra, nake Kishu akĩĩra mũriũ Saũlũ atĩrĩ, “Oya ndungata ĩmwe mũthiĩ nayo mũgacarie ndigiri.” 49:4 Josh 24:33; 2Ath 4:42; 1Sam 10:2Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩhĩtũkĩra bũrũri ũrĩa ũrĩ irĩma wa Efiraimu na bũrũri wa Shalisha, no matiacionire. Magĩthiĩ o na mbere magĩkinya rũgongo rwa Shaalimu no ndigiri icio itiarĩ kũu. Agĩcooka akĩgera rũgongo rwa Benjamini, no matiacionire.
59:5 1Sam 1:1; 1Sam 10:2Rĩrĩa maakinyire rũgongo rwa Zufu, Saũlũ akĩĩra ndungata ĩrĩa aarĩ nayo atĩrĩ, “Ũka, reke tũhũndũke; baba ahota gũtiga gwĩciiria ũhoro wa ndigiri ambĩrĩrie gũtũmakĩra.”
69:6 Gũcook 33:1; 1Sam 3:19; Atiir 13:6No ndungata ĩgĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Atĩrĩrĩ, itũũra-inĩ rĩĩrĩ nĩ kũrĩ mũndũ wa Ngai; na nĩ mũtĩĩe mũno, na ũrĩa wothe oigaga nĩũhingaga. Nĩtũthiĩ kuo o rĩu. Hihi no atwĩrĩre kũrĩa tũngĩciona.”
79:7 1Ath 14:3; 2Ath 4:42; Kĩam 32:20Saũlũ akĩĩra ndungata yake atĩrĩ, “Tũngĩthiĩ-rĩ, nĩ kĩĩ tũngĩhe mũndũ ũcio? Irio nĩ thiru makũnia-inĩ maitũ. Tũtirĩ na kĩheo gĩa gũtwarĩra mũndũ wa Ngai. Nĩ kĩĩ tũrĩ nakĩo?”
8Ndungata ĩyo ĩkĩmũcookeria o rĩngĩ, ĩkiuga atĩrĩ, “Atĩrĩrĩ, ndĩ na gĩcunjĩ gĩa kana gĩa cekeri ya betha.9:8 nĩ ta giramu 3 Nĩngũmĩhe mũndũ wa Ngai nĩgeetha atwĩrĩre kũrĩa tũngĩciona.” 99:9 2Sam 24:11; 1Maũ 26:28; Isa 30:10(Tene thĩinĩ wa Isiraeli, mũndũ angĩathiire kũhooya kĩrĩra kuuma kũrĩ Ngai, oigaga atĩrĩ, “Ũka, tũthiĩ kũrĩ muoni-maũndũ,” nĩ ũndũ ũrĩa wĩtagwo mũnabii matukũ maya hĩndĩ ĩyo eetagwo muoni-maũndũ.)
10Saũlũ akĩĩra ndungata yake atĩrĩ, “Nĩ wega, nĩ tũgĩthiĩ.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio magĩthiĩ merekeire itũũra rĩrĩa mũndũ ũcio wa Ngai aarĩ.
119:11 Kĩam 24:11Na rĩrĩa maambataga kĩrĩma marorete itũũra-inĩ, magĩcemania na airĩtu amwe magĩthiĩ gũtaha maaĩ, makĩmooria atĩrĩ, “Mũndũ ũrĩa muoni-maũndũ arĩ gũkũ?”
129:12 Ndar 28:11; Alaw 26:30Nao magĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Ekuo, arĩ hau mbere yanyu. Hiũhai, ooka itũũra-inĩ riitũ o ũmũthĩ, nĩ ũndũ andũ marĩ na igongona rĩkũrutĩrwo handũ harĩa hatũũgĩru. 139:13 Math 14:19; 1Akor 10:16O mwarĩkia gũtoonya itũũra-rĩ, nĩmũkũmuona atanambata handũ hau hatũũgĩru kũrĩa.9:13 Magongona-inĩ mamwe nĩ gwakoragwo na ndĩa. Andũ matingĩambĩrĩria kũrĩa nginya arĩkinya, tondũ no nginya arathime igongona; thuutha-inĩ arĩa metĩtwo marĩe. Rĩu ambatai; ihinda rĩĩrĩ nĩrĩo mũngĩmuona.”
14Nao makĩambata itũũra-inĩ, na rĩrĩa maatoonyaga kuo-rĩ, makĩona Samũeli agĩũka na kũrĩ o akĩambata athiĩ handũ harĩa hatũũgĩru.
15Na mũthenya ũmwe mbere ya Saũlũ gũũka-rĩ, Jehova nĩaguũrĩirie Samũeli ũndũ ũyũ akamwĩra atĩrĩ, 169:16 Thaam 30:25; 2Sam 7:8; Thab 102:1; 1Ath 8:16; Thaam 3:8; 1Sam 23:4“Rũciũ ihinda ta rĩrĩ nĩngagũtũmĩra mũndũ kuuma bũrũri wa Benjamini. Mũitĩrĩrie maguta atuĩke mũtongoria wa andũ akwa a Isiraeli; nĩagakũũra andũ akwa kuuma guoko-inĩ kwa Afilisti. Nĩndorete andũ akwa, nĩ ũndũ kĩrĩro kĩao nĩkĩnginyĩire.”
179:17 1Sam 16:12Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Samũeli onire Saũlũ, Jehova akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ũyũ nĩwe mũndũ ũrĩa ndĩrakwĩrire ũhoro wake; nĩwe ũgaatha andũ akwa.”
18Saũlũ agĩkuhĩrĩria Samũeli hau itoonyero-inĩ rĩa itũũra, akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Ndagũthaitha no ũnjĩĩrĩre harĩa nyũmba ya muoni-maũndũ ĩrĩ?”
19Nake Samũeli agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Niĩ nĩ niĩ muoni-maũndũ. Ambata, ũthiĩ mbere yakwa nginya handũ harĩa hatũũgĩru, nĩgũkorwo ũmũthĩ nĩũkũrĩanĩra na niĩ, na rũciinĩ nĩngakũrekereria ũthiĩ, na ngwĩre maũndũ mothe marĩa me ngoro-inĩ yaku. 209:20 1Sam 12:13; Dan 2:44; Hag 2:7; Mal 3:1Ha ũhoro wa ndigiri iria wateire mĩthenya ĩtatũ mĩhĩtũku-rĩ, ndũkamake nĩ ũndũ wacio; nĩirĩkĩtie kuoneka. Na nĩ kũrĩ ũ wendi wothe wa Isiraeli werekeirio, angĩkorwo ti kũrĩ wee na nyũmba ya thoguo yothe?”
219:21 Thaam 3:11; 1Akor 15:9; Atiir 20:35, 46Nake Saũlũ agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Githĩ ndikĩrĩ Mũbenjamini, kuuma mũhĩrĩga ũrĩa mũnini wa Isiraeli? Anga mbarĩ iitũ tiyo nini gũkĩra mbarĩ iria ingĩ cia mũhĩrĩga wa Benjamini? Nĩ kĩĩ gĩgũtũma ũnjĩĩre ũndũ ta ũcio?”
22Ningĩ Samũeli akĩrehe Saũlũ na ndungata yake, akĩmatoonyia nyũmba ĩrĩa yarĩagĩrwo, na akĩmaikaria thĩ handũ ha andũ arĩa atĩĩku arĩa meetĩtwo; nao othe maarĩ ta andũ mĩrongo ĩtatũ. 23Samũeli akĩĩra ũrĩa warugaga atĩrĩ, “Rehe gĩcunjĩ kĩa nyama kĩrĩa ngũnengerire, kĩrĩa ngwĩrire ũige handũ mwanya.”
249:24 Alaw 7:34Nake ũcio warugaga akĩoya kũgũrũ kũu na kĩrĩa kĩarĩ kũgũrũ-inĩ, agĩkũiga mbere ya Saũlũ. Samũeli akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Gĩkĩ nĩkĩo ũraigĩirwo. Rĩa, tondũ nĩwe ũkũigĩirwo nĩ ũndũ wa ihinda rĩĩrĩ, kuuma hĩndĩ ĩrĩa ndoigire atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩnjĩtĩte ageni.’ ” Nake Saũlũ akĩrĩĩanĩra na Samũeli mũthenya ũcio.
259:25 Gũcook 22:8; Luk 5:19; Josh 2:8Maikũrũka kuuma handũ hau hatũũgĩru na maakinya itũũra-inĩ-rĩ, Samũeli akĩaranĩria na Saũlũ marĩ nyũmba igũrũ. 26Nao makĩrooka gũũkĩra rũciinĩ tene, nake Samũeli agĩĩta Saũlũ kũu nyũmba igũrũ akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ũkĩra wĩhaarĩrie na nĩngũkũrekereria ũthiĩ.” Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Saũlũ ehaarĩirie, we hamwe na Samũeli makiuma nja. 27Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa maikũrũkaga makinye mũthia wa itũũra-rĩ, Samũeli akĩĩra Saũlũ atĩrĩ, “Ĩra ndungata ĩno ĩthiiage mbere iitũ, no wee ũtithie hanini ngũhe ndũmĩrĩri ya Ngai.” Nayo ndungata ĩgĩĩka o ũguo.
