1Cis era um homem rico e influente da tribo de Benjamim. Era filho de Abiel, neto de Zeror e bisneto de Becorate e ainda trineto de Afias.2Tinha um filho, Saul, que era o moço mais bem parecido que havia em Israel e que em altura ultrapassava, acima dos ombros, todos os seus concidadãos.3Um dia, os jumentos de Cis extraviaram-se e este mandou Saul com um criado à procura deles.4Percorreram toda a zona das colinas de Efraim, a terra de Salisa e ainda a área de Saalim, assim como todo o território de Benjamim, mas não os encontraram.5Finalmente, depois de os terem procurado na terra de Zufe, Saul disse ao criado: “Vamos embora, pois o meu pai já deve estar mais preocupado connosco do que com os jumentos!”6Mas o moço respondeu-lhe: “Eu pensei numa coisa! Há um profeta aqui nesta terra que é tido em grande consideração por todo o povo, porque tudo quanto diz é verdade. Vamos ter com ele, talvez possa indicar-nos alguma pista para encontrarmos os animais.”7“Mas não temos aqui nada com que lhe pagar”, replicou Saul. “Até a comida que trazíamos se acabou; já não temos mais nada.”8“Eu tenho aqui uma peça de prata*; podemos oferecer-lha e logo se vê o que acontece.”9“Está bem”, concordou Saul, “vamos tentar.” E dirigiram-se para a povoação onde vivia o homem de Deus. Enquanto subiam a encosta em direção à localidade, viram umas raparigas que saíam para ir buscar água e perguntaram-lhes se o vidente estava na cidade. Naqueles dias os profetas eram chamados videntes. As pessoas diziam que iam consultar o vidente e não o profeta como dizemos hoje.12“Sim!”, responderam elas. “Vão sempre por esse caminho, porque vai direito à casa dele. Ele mora mesmo à entrada da povoação. Acabou de chegar de fora e tem de estar presente num sacrifício público no alto da colina. Despachem-se, porque deve estar mesmo a sair de casa; os convidados habitualmente não começam a comer sem que ele chegue e abençoe os alimentos.”14Entraram na cidade e, ao passarem a entrada, viram Samuel que saía para o alto da colina.15Samuel estava prevenido. O SENHOR tinha-lhe dito no dia anterior:16“Amanhã, por esta altura, vou enviar-te um homem da terra de Benjamim. Deverás ungi-lo como chefe do meu povo. Ele irá livrá-lo dos filisteus. Olhei para o meu povo com misericórdia, pois ouvi o seu choro.”17Quando Samuel viu Saul, o SENHOR disse-lhe: “É este o homem de quem te falei. Ele regerá o meu povo!”18Nesse preciso momento Saul aproximou-se de Samuel e perguntou-lhe: “Diz-me, por favor, onde é a casa do vidente.”19“Eu sou o vidente”, replicou Samuel. “Sobe a colina à minha frente e comeremos juntos; amanhã dir-te-ei o que pretendes saber e poderás ir embora.20Entretanto, não te preocupes mais com os jumentos que se perderam há três dias, porque já foram achados. Mas quem é aquele que o povo de Israel mais procura? Porventura não és tu e a família do teu pai?”21“Perdão, senhor”, replicou Saul. “Eu sou da tribo de Benjamim, a mais pequena de Israel, e a minha família é a menos importante da tribo. Deves estar enganado!”22Contudo, Samuel levou Saul e o moço para a sala do banquete e fê-los sentarem-se à cabeceira da mesa, dando-lhe um lugar de honra acima dos outros trinta convidados.23Samuel entretanto tinha já dado ordens ao cozinheiro para reservar o melhor pedaço de carne, destinado ao convidado de honra.24O cozinheiro trouxe-o e pô-lo diante de Saul. “Vá, come!”, disse-lhe Samuel. “Foi para ti que o mandei reservar, mesmo antes de ter convidado estes outros.” E Saul comeu na companhia de Samuel.25Depois daquela celebração, quando regressavam à cidade, Samuel levou Saul para o terraço e esteve ali a conversar com ele.26Ao romper do dia chamou-o: “Levanta-te! Tens de te pôr já a caminho.” Saul levantou-se e preparou-se e Samuel acompanhou-o até à saída da cidade.27Quando chegaram às muralhas, disse a Saul que mandasse o criado à frente e dirigiu-lhe as seguintes palavras: “Recebi da parte de Deus uma mensagem especial para ti.”
English Standard Version
Saul Chosen to Be King
1There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth.2And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.3Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.”4And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they passed through the land of Benjamin, but did not find them.5When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant* who was with him, “Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us.”6But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.”7Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”8The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel* of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.”9(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.)10And Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.11As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?”12They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.13As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat till he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.”14So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.15Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel:16“Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince* over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen* my people, because their cry has come to me.”17When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.”18Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?”19Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind.20As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s house?”21Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”22Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons.23And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’”24So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”* So Saul ate with Samuel that day.25And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep.*26Then at the break of dawn* Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.27As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”
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