There wasוַיְהִיa manאִישׁof Benjaminמִבִּנְיָמִיןwhose name wasוּשְׁמוֹKish,קִישׁsonבֶּןof Abiel,אֲבִיאֵלsonבֶּןof Zeror,צְרוֹרsonבֶּןof Becorath,בְּכוֹרַתsonבֶּןof Aphiah,אֲפִיחַsonבֶּןof a Benjaminite,אִישׁ יְמִינִיa mighty manגִּבּוֹרof worth.חָיִל
He hadוְלוֹ הָיָהa sonבֵןwhose name wasוּשְׁמוֹSaul,שָׁאוּלa young manבָּחוּרand handsome;וָטוֹבthere was noוְאֵיןmanאִישׁamong the sonsמִבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלmore handsomeטוֹבthan he;מִמֶּנּוּfrom his shouldersמִשִּׁכְמוֹupwardוָמַעְלָהhe was tallerגָּבֹהַּthan allמִכָּלthe people.הָעָם
Now the donkeysוַ הָאֲתֹנוֹתof Kish,לְקִישׁSaul’sשָׁאוּלfather,אֲבִיwere lost,תֹּאבַדְנָהand Kishוַ קִישׁsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלSaulשָׁאוּלhis son,בְּנוֹ“Takeקַחoneאֶת אַחַדof the young menמֵהַנְּעָרִיםwith you,אִתְּךָplease,נָאand get up,וְקוּםgo,לֵךְlook forבַּקֵּשׁthe donkeys.”אֶת הָאֲתֹנֹת
And he passedוַיַּעֲבֹרthrough the hill countryבְּהַרof Ephraimאֶפְרַיִםand passedוַיַּעֲבֹרthrough the landבְּאֶרֶץof Shalishah,שָׁלִשָׁהbut they did notוְלֹאfind them;מָצָאוּand they passedוַיַּעַבְרוּthrough the landבְאֶרֶץof Shaalim,שַׁעֲלִיםand they were not there;וָאַיִןand he passedוַיַּעֲבֹרthrough the landבְּאֶרֶץof Benjamin,יְמִינִיbut they did notוְלֹאfind them.מָצָאוּ
When theyהֵמָּהcameבָּאוּto the landבְּאֶרֶץof Zuph,צוּףSaulוְשָׁאוּלsaidאָמַרto his young manלְנַעֲרוֹwhoאֲשֶׁרwas with him,עִמּוֹ“Come,לְכָהlet us go back,וְנָשׁוּבָהor elseפֶּןmy fatherאָבִיwill stop thinkingיֶחְדַּלaboutמִןthe donkeysהָאֲתֹנוֹתand worryוְדָאַגabout us.”לָנוּ
But he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Look,הִנֵּהplease,נָאthere is a manאִישׁof Elohimאֱלֹהִיםin thisהַזֹּאתcity,בָּעִירand the manוְהָאִישׁis held in honor;נִכְבָּדallכֹּלthatאֲשֶׁרhe saysיְדַבֵּרsurely comes about.בּוֹא יָבוֹאNowעַתָּהlet us goנֵלֲכָהthere;שָּׁםperhapsאוּלַיhe will tellיַגִּידusלָנוּour wayאֶת דַּרְכֵּנוּon whichאֲשֶׁר עָלֶיהָwe should go.”הָלַכְנוּ
And Saulוַ שָׁאוּלsaidיֹּאמֶרto his young man,לְנַעֲרוֹ“Butוְlook,הִנֵּהif we go,נֵלֵךְthen whatוּמַהshall we bringנָּבִיאthe man?לָאִישׁForכִּיthe breadהַלֶּחֶםis goneאָזַלfrom our sacks,מִכֵּלֵינוּandוּthere is noאֵיןgiftתְשׁוּרָהto bringלְהָבִיאto the manלְאִישׁof Elohim.הָאֱלֹהִיםWhatמָהdo we have?”אִתָּנוּ
And the young manהַנַּעַרansweredלַעֲנוֹתSaulאֶת שָׁאוּלagainוַיֹּסֶףand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Look,הִנֵּהthere is foundנִמְצָאin my handבְיָדִיa quarterרֶבַעof a shekelשֶׁקֶלof silver;כָּסֶףI will give itוְנָתַתִּיto the manלְאִישׁof Elohim,הָאֱלֹהִיםand he will tellוְהִגִּידusלָנוּour way.”אֶת דַּרְכֵּנוּ
(Formerlyלְפָנִיםin Israel,בְּיִשְׂרָאֵלthis is whatכֹּהa manהָאִישׁsaidאָמַרwhen he wentבְּלֶכְתּוֹto inquireלִדְרוֹשׁof Elohim:אֱלֹהִים“Come,לְכוּlet us goוְנֵלְכָהtoעַדthe seer”;הָרֹאֶהforכִּיthe prophetלַנָּבִיאof todayהַיּוֹםwas formerlyלְפָנִיםcalledיִקָּרֵאthe seer.)הָרֹאֶה
And Saulוַ שָׁאוּלsaidיֹּאמֶרto his young man,לְנַעֲרוֹ“Your wordדְּבָרְךָisgood;טוֹבcome,לְכָהlet us go.”נֵלֵכָהSo they wentוַיֵּלְכוּtoאֶלthe cityהָעִירwhereאֲשֶׁר שָׁםthe manאִישׁof Elohim was.הָאֱלֹהִים
As theyהֵמָּהwere going upעֹלִיםthe ascentבְּמַעֲלֵהto the city,הָעִירtheyוְהֵמָּהfoundמָצְאוּyoung womenנְעָרוֹתgoing outיֹצְאוֹתto drawלִשְׁאֹבwater,מָיִםand they saidוַיֹּאמְרוּto them,לָהֶן“Isהֲיֵשׁthe seerהָרֹאֶהhere?”בָּזֶה
And they answeredוַתַּעֲנֶינָהthemאוֹתָםand said,וַתֹּאמַרְנָה“He is;יֵּשׁlook,הִנֵּהhe isahead of you.לְפָנֶיךָHurryמַהֵרnow,עַתָּהforכִּיtodayהַיּוֹםhe has comeבָּאto the city,לָעִירforכִּיthe peopleלָעָםhave a sacrificeזֶבַחtodayהַיּוֹםat the high place.בַּבָּמָה
As soon as you enterכְּבֹאֲכֶםthe city,הָעִירyou will findכֵּן תִּמְצְאוּןhim,אֹתוֹbeforeבְּטֶרֶםhe goes upיַעֲלֶהto the high placeהַבָּמָתָהto eat;לֶאֱכֹלforכִּיthe peopleהָעָםwill notלֹאeatיֹאכַלuntilעַדhe comes,בֹּאוֹbecauseכִּיheהוּאblessesיְבָרֵךְthe sacrifice;הַזֶּבַחafterwardאַחֲרֵי כֵןthose who are invitedהַקְּרֻאִיםeat.יֹאכְלוּSo nowוְעַתָּהgo up,עֲלוּforכִּיabout this timeכְהַיּוֹםyou will findתִּמְצְאוּןhim.”אֹתוֹ אֹתוֹ
So they went upוַיַּעֲלוּto the city.הָעִירAs theyהֵמָּהwere comingבָּאִיםinto the middleבְּתוֹךְof the city,הָעִירthere wasוְהִנֵּהSamuelשְׁמוּאֵלcoming outיֹצֵאto meet them,לִקְרָאתָםto go upלַעֲלוֹתto the high place.הַבָּמָה
Now YHWHוַיהוָהhad made knownגָּלָה אֶת אֹזֶןto Samuel,שְׁמוּאֵלoneאֶחָדdayיוֹםbeforeלִפְנֵיSaulשָׁאוּלcame,בוֹאsaying,לֵאמֹר
“About this timeכָּעֵתtomorrowמָחָרI will sendאֶשְׁלַחto youאֵלֶיךָa manאִישׁfrom the landמֵאֶרֶץof Benjamin,בִּנְיָמִןand you shall anoint himוּמְשַׁחְתּוֹas leaderלְנָגִידoverעַלmy peopleעַמִּיIsrael;יִשְׂרָאֵלand he will saveוְהוֹשִׁיעַmy peopleאֶת עַמִּיfrom the handמִיַּדof the Philistines,פְּלִשְׁתִּיםforכִּיI have seenרָאִיתִיmy people,אֶת עַמִּיforכִּיtheir cryצַעֲקָתוֹhas comeבָּאָהto me.”אֵלָי
When SamuelוּשְׁמוּאֵלsawרָאָהSaul,אֶת שָׁאוּלYHWHוַיהוָהanswered him,עָנָהוּ“Here isהִנֵּהthe manהָאִישׁof whomאֲשֶׁרI spokeאָמַרְתִּיto you!אֵלֶיךָThis oneזֶהwill have commandיַעְצֹרover my people.”בְּעַמִּי
And SaulשָׁאוּלapproachedוַיִּגַּשׁSamuelאֶת שְׁמוּאֵלin the middleבְּתוֹךְof the gateהַשָּׁעַרand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Tellהַגִּידָהme,לִיplease,נָּאwhereאֵי זֶהisthe houseבֵּיתof the seer?”הָרֹאֶה
And SamuelשְׁמוּאֵלansweredוַיַּעַןSaulאֶת שָׁאוּלand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Iאָנֹכִיam the seer.הָרֹאֶהGo upעֲלֵהahead of meלְפָנַיto the high place,הַבָּמָהand you shall eatוַאֲכַלְתֶּםwith meעִמִּיtoday;הַיּוֹםand in the morningבַבֹּקֶרI will send you offוְשִׁלַּחְתִּיךָand tellאַגִּידyouלָךְallוְכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרis in your heart.בִּלְבָבְךָ
As for the donkeysוְלָאֲתֹנוֹתthat were lostהָאֹבְדוֹתto youלְךָthreeשְׁלֹשֶׁתdays agoהַיּוֹם הַיָּמִיםdo notאַלsetתָּשֶׂםyour heartאֶת לִבְּךָon them,לָהֶםforכִּיthey have been found.נִמְצָאוּAnd for whomוּלְמִיisallכָּלthe desireחֶמְדַּתof Israel?יִשְׂרָאֵלIs it notהֲלוֹאfor youלְךָand for allוּלְכֹלthe houseבֵּיתof your father?”אָבִיךָ
And Saulשָׁאוּלansweredוַיַּעַןand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Am I notהֲלוֹא אָנֹכִיa Benjaminite,בֶן יְמִינִיfrom the smallestמִקַּטַנֵּיof the tribesשִׁבְטֵיof Israel?יִשְׂרָאֵלAnd my clanוּמִשְׁפַּחְתִּיisthe leastהַצְּעִרָהof allמִכָּלthe clansמִשְׁפְּחוֹתof the tribesשִׁבְטֵיof Benjamin.בִנְיָמִןWhyוְלָמָּהthen have you spokenדִּבַּרְתָּto meאֵלַיa wordכַּדָּבָרlike this?”הַזֶּה
And SamuelשְׁמוּאֵלtookוַיִּקַּחSaulאֶת שָׁאוּלand his young manוְאֶת נַעֲרוֹand brought themוַיְבִיאֵםinto the hallלִשְׁכָּתָהand gaveוַיִּתֵּןthemלָהֶםa placeמָקוֹםat the headבְּרֹאשׁof those who were invited,הַקְּרוּאִיםand theyוְהֵמָּהwereabout thirtyכִּשְׁלֹשִׁיםmen.אִישׁ
And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto the cook,לַטַּבָּח“Bringתְּנָהthe portionאֶת הַמָּנָהthatאֲשֶׁרI gaveנָתַתִּיyou,לָךְof whichאֲשֶׁרI saidאָמַרְתִּיto you,אֵלֶיךָ‘Putשִׂיםitאֹתָהּaside with you.’”עִמָּךְ
And the cookהַטַּבָּחlifted upוַיָּרֶםthe thighאֶת הַשּׁוֹקand what was on itוְהֶעָלֶיהָand set itוַיָּשֶׂםbeforeלִפְנֵיSaul.שָׁאוּלAnd he said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Look,הִנֵּהwhat has been kept back!הַנִּשְׁאָרSet itשִׂיםbefore youלְפָנֶיךָand eat,אֱכֹלforכִּיit has been keptשָׁמוּרfor youלְךָfor the appointed time,לַמּוֹעֵדsince I said,לֵאמֹר‘I have invitedקָרָאתִיthe people.’”הָעָםSo Saulוַ שָׁאוּלateיֹּאכַלwithעִםSamuelשְׁמוּאֵלthatהַהוּאday.בַּיּוֹם
And they came downוַיֵּרְדוּfrom the high placeמֵהַבָּמָהto the city,הָעִירand he spokeוַיְדַבֵּרwithעִםSaulשָׁאוּלonעַלthe roof.הַגָּג
And they rose early;וַיַּשְׁכִּמוּand it happened,וַיְהִיasכַּthe dawnהַשַּׁחַרcame up,עֲלוֹתthat SamuelשְׁמוּאֵלcalledוַיִּקְרָאtoאֶלSaulשָׁאוּלon the roof,הַגָּגָהsaying,לֵאמֹר“Get up,קוּמָהand I will send you off.”וַאֲשַׁלְּחֶךָּSo Saulשָׁאוּלgot up,וַיָּקָםand the two of them,וַ שְׁנֵיהֶםheהוּאand Samuel,וּשְׁמוּאֵלwent outיֵּצְאוּoutside.הַחוּצָה
As theyהֵמָּהwere going downיוֹרְדִיםto the edgeבִּקְצֵהof the city,הָעִירSamuelוּשְׁמוּאֵלsaidאָמַרtoאֶלSaul,שָׁאוּל“Tellאֱמֹרthe young manלַנַּעַרto pass onוְיַעֲבֹרahead of us”לְפָנֵינוּ(and he passed on),וַיַּעֲבֹר“but youוְאַתָּהstand stillעֲמֹדnow,כַּיּוֹםand I will let you hearוְאַשְׁמִיעֲךָthe wordאֶת דְּבַרof Elohim.”אֱלֹהִים