Saul ungido por Samuel
1Pegou então num recipiente contendo azeite e derramou-lho sobre a cabeça; beijou-o no rosto e disse-lhe: “Estou a fazer isto porque o Senhor te designou para seres o rei do seu povo Israel. 2Depois de me deixares, verás dois indivíduos junto ao túmulo de Raquel, em Zelza, na terra de Benjamim. Dir-te-ão que os jumentos já foram encontrados e que o teu pai está preocupado contigo e a interrogar-se: ‘Onde estará o meu filho?’
3Quando chegares ao carvalho de Tabor verás três homens vindo na tua direção, os quais vão adorar a Deus em Betel. Um deles traz consigo três cabritinhos, o outro três pães e o terceiro tem um odre com vinho. 4Eles hão de cumprimentar-te e oferecer-te dois dos pães que deverás aceitar.
5Depois disso, virás à colina de Deus, onde está a guarnição dos filisteus. Quando lá chegares encontrarás um grupo de profetas descendo o outeiro, tocando saltérios, tamborins, flautas e harpas, e profetizando ao mesmo tempo. 6Nessa altura, o Espírito do Senhor virá sobre ti com poder e profetizarás no meio deles; vais sentir-te e agir como uma pessoa diferente. 7A partir dessa altura, as tuas decisões serão tomadas de acordo com as circunstâncias, porque Deus é contigo. 8Vai então para Gilgal e espera ali sete dias por mim, porque hei de lá ir para sacrificar holocaustos e ofertas de paz. Dar-te-ei mais instruções quando lá chegar.”
Saul consagrado rei
9Depois de se despedir, ao encetar o caminho de regresso, Deus deu a Saul uma nova atitude e todas as profecias de Samuel se realizaram. 10Quando ele e o criado chegaram a Gibeá, depararam-se com os tais profetas que vinham na sua direção e o Espírito de Deus desceu sobre ele, começando também a profetizar. 11Quando as pessoas que o conheciam ouviram aquilo exclamaram: “O quê? Saul um profeta?” 12E um dos seus vizinhos acrescentou: “Com um pai como o dele?” É esta a origem do provérbio que diz: “Está Saul também entre os profetas?”
13Quando Saul acabou de profetizar, subiu o resto do outeiro até ao altar. 14Um tio dele perguntou-lhe nessa altura: “Por onde é que andaste?”
“Fomos à procura dos jumentos e não pudemos encontrá-los. Depois resolvemos ir consultar Samuel para lhe perguntar onde poderiam estar os animais.”
15“Ah, sim? E o que foi que ele disse?”, perguntou-lhe o tio.
16“Que os jumentos já tinham sido encontrados!” Mas Saul não quis contar o resto; que tinha sido ungido rei.
17Samuel convocou todo o povo para uma assembleia em Mizpá. 18E deu-lhe esta mensagem do Senhor, Deus de Israel: “Trouxe-vos do Egito e resgatei-vos de todas as nações que vos torturavam. 19Contudo, vocês rejeitaram o vosso Deus, aquele que vos livrou de todos os vossos males e de todas as vossas angústias que vos oprimiam, e ainda disseram: ‘Queremos ter um rei!’ Pois bem, apresentem-se todos perante o Senhor, por tribos e famílias.”
20Samuel chamou todos os chefes de tribo e a tribo de Benjamim foi escolhida por sorteio sagrado. 21Depois trouxe cada uma das famílias de Benjamim, e foi escolhida a família de Matri. Até que finalmente foi escolhido Saul, filho de Cis. Mas quando foram à sua procura não o encontraram. 22E perguntaram ao Senhor: “Onde é que ele está? Estará aqui entre nós?”
O Senhor respondeu: “Está escondido entre a bagagem.” 23Foram então buscá-lo. E estando no meio de toda a gente, sobressaía em altura, acima dos ombros, em relação a quem quer que fosse.
24E Samuel disse ao povo: “Este é o homem que o Senhor escolheu para vosso rei. Não há outro igual a ele em todo o Israel!”
E todo o povo gritou: “Viva o rei!”
25Samuel expôs-lhes novamente os direitos e deveres de um rei, escreveu-os num livro e guardou-o perante o Senhor. Depois despediu o povo.
26Quando Saul regressou a casa, a Gibeá, formou-se um grupo de homens cujo coração foi tocado por Deus e que se tornaram seus companheiros. 27No entanto, alguns marginais exclamavam: “Como é que este indivíduo nos pode livrar?” E desprezaram-no, recusando trazer-lhe presentes. Porém, Saul não ligou a isso.
1Then Samuel took a bottle of olive oil. He poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him. He said, “The Lord has anointed you to be the king of his people. 2When you leave me today, you will meet two men. They will be near Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They’ll say to you, ‘The donkeys you have been looking for have been found. Now your father has stopped thinking about them. Instead, he’s worried about you. He’s asking, “What can I do to find my son?” ’
3“You will go on from Zelzah until you come to the large tree at Tabor. Three men will meet you there. They’ll be on their way up to Bethel to worship God. One of them will be carrying three young goats. Another will be carrying three loaves of bread. A third will be carrying a bottle of wine. It will be a bottle made out of animal skin. 4The men will greet you. They’ll offer you two loaves of bread. You will accept the loaves from them.
5“After that, you will go to Gibeah of God. Some Philistine soldiers are stationed there. As you approach the town, you will meet a group of prophets. They’ll be coming down from the high place where they worship. People will be playing lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps at the head of the group. The prophets will be prophesying. 6The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully on you. Then you will prophesy along with them. You will become a different person. 7All these things will happen. Then do what you want to do. God is with you.
8“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. You can be sure that I’ll come down to you there. I’ll come and sacrifice burnt offerings and friendship offerings. But you must wait there for seven days until I come to you. Then I’ll tell you what to do.”
Saul Becomes King of Israel
9As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart. All these things happened that day. 10When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met Saul. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully on him. He prophesied along with them. 11Those who had known Saul before saw him prophesying with the prophets. They asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also one of the prophets?”
12A man who lived in Gibeah answered, “Yes, he is. In fact, he’s their leader.” That’s why people say, “Is Saul also one of the prophets?” 13After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place to worship.
14Later, Saul’s uncle spoke to him and his servant. He asked, “Where have you been?”
“Looking for the donkeys,” Saul said. “But we couldn’t find them. So we went to Samuel.”
15Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.”
16Saul replied, “He told us the donkeys had been found.” But Saul didn’t tell his uncle that Samuel had said he would become king.
17Samuel sent a message to the Israelites. He told them to meet with the Lord at Mizpah. 18He said to them, “The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, ‘Israel, I brought you up out of Egypt. I saved you from their power. I also saved you from the power of all the kingdoms that had treated you badly.’ 19But now you have turned your backs on your God. He saves you out of all your trouble and suffering. In spite of that, you have said, ‘We refuse to listen. Place a king over us.’ So now gather together to meet with the Lord. Do it tribe by tribe and family group by family group.”
20Then Samuel had each tribe of Israel come forward. The tribe of Benjamin was chosen by casting lots. 21Next he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward, family group by family group. Matri’s group was chosen. Finally Saul, the son of Kish, was chosen. But when people looked for him, they realized he wasn’t there. 22They needed more help from the Lord. So they asked him, “Has the man come here yet?”
The Lord said, “Yes. He has hidden himself among the supplies.”
23So they ran over there and brought him out. When he stood up, the people saw that he was a head taller than any of them. 24Samuel spoke to all the people. He said, “Look at the man the Lord has chosen! There isn’t anyone like him among all the people.”
Then the people shouted, “May the king live a long time!”
25Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of the king who ruled over them. He wrote them down in a book. He placed it in front of the Lord in the holy tent. Then he sent the people away. He sent each of them to their own homes.
26Saul also went to his home in Gibeah. Some brave men whose hearts God had touched went with Saul. 27But some people who wanted to stir up trouble said, “How can this fellow save us?” They looked down on him. They didn’t bring him any gifts. But Saul kept quiet about it.
