Sauls būs ķēniņš
1 Bija kāds vīrs no Benjāmina, vārdā Kīšs, Abīēla dēls, Cerora dēls, Bhorata dēls, Afīha dēls, benjāminietis – ietekmīgs vīrs. 2 Un viņam bija dēls, vārdā Sauls, jauns un izskatīgs, starp Israēla dēliem nebija izskatīgāka par viņu, viņš bija galvas tiesu garāks par visiem ļaudīm. 3 Reiz Saula tēvam Kīšam bija pazudušas ēzeļmātes. Kīšs teica savam dēlam Saulam: “Ņem sev līdzi kādu no puišiem, celies un ej meklēt ēzeļmātes.” 4 Viņi šķērsoja Efraima kalnus un izstaigāja Šalīša zemi, bet tās neatrada. Viņi izstaigāja Šaalīma zemi, bet nekā. Un viņi izstaigāja Benjāmina zemi, bet tās neatrada. 5 Kad viņi nonāca Cūfa zemē, Sauls teica puisim, kas bija ar viņu: “Nāc, dosimies atpakaļ, citādi mans tēvs raizēsies ne vairs par ēzeļmātēm, bet par mums.” 6 Bet tas viņam teica: “Redzi, šajā pilsētā taču ir kāds Dieva vīrs, viņš ir godājams vīrs – viss, ko viņš saka, piepildās. Tad nu aiziesim turp, varbūt viņš mums pastāstīs, pa kuru ceļu mums doties.” 7 Sauls teica savam puisim: “Nu labi, mēs iesim, bet ko lai tam vīram aiznesam, jo maize mūsu somās ir beigusies un dāvanas nav – nav nekā, ko aiznest Dieva vīram. Kas tad mums ir?” 8 Bet puisis atkal sacīja Saulam: “Redzi, kas man ir – sudraba šekeļa ceturtdaļa. Es to došu Dieva vīram, lai viņš mums izstāsta ceļu.” 9 Agrāk Israēlā cilvēks, kas devās izjautāt Dievu, sacīja: “Nāciet, iesim pie redzētāja,” – jo to, kas šodien ir pravietis, agrāk sauca par redzētāju. 10 Un Sauls teica savam puisim: “Labi teikts! Nāc, iesim.” Un viņi devās uz pilsētu, kurā bija Dieva vīrs. 11 Dodoties augšup pa nogāzi uz pilsētu, tie sastapa meitenes, kas nākušas smelt ūdeni, un jautāja tām: “Vai šeit ir redzētājs?” 12 Viņas tiem atbildēja: “Jā, ir. Redzi, tavā priekšā. Tagad pasteidzies, jo viņš šodien atnācis pilsētā, jo šodien tautai augstienē ir upurēšana. 13 Kolīdz ieiesiet pilsētā, tā viņu sastapsiet, pirms viņš devies uz augstieni ēst upuri. Ļaudis nesāks ēst līdz viņa atnākšanai, jo viņš svētīs upuri, pēc tam ielūgtie ēdīs. Tad nu dodieties augšā pie viņa, un tūlīt jūs viņu sastapsiet.” 14 Viņi devās augšā uz pilsētu un, ienākuši pilsētā, redzēja – Samuēls iznāca tiem pretī, iedams uz augstieni.
15 Bet dienu pirms Saula atnākšanas Kungs bija devis Samuēlam atklāsmi: 16 “Rīt ap šo laiku es atsūtīšu pie tevis kādu vīru no Benjāmina zemes. Tu viņu svaidīsi par valdnieku manai tautai Israēlam, un viņš izglābs manu tautu no filistiešiem, jo es esmu uzlūkojis savu tautu, tādēļ ka tās brēkšana ir nonākusi pie manis.” 17 Kad Samuēls ieraudzīja Saulu, Kungs apliecināja viņam: “Redzi, tas vīrs, par kuru tev teicu! Viņš valdīs manu tautu!” 18 Sauls pienāca pie Samuēla vārtos un teica: “Jel pastāsti, kur ir redzētāja nams.” 19 Samuēls atbildēja Saulam: “Es esmu redzētājs. Ej man pa priekšu uz augstieni, jo šodien jūs ēdīsiet ar mani! Rīt es tevi atlaidīšu un pastāstīšu tev visu, kas tev uz sirds. 20 Bet neraizējies par ēzeļmātēm, kas pazuda pirms trim dienām, jo tās ir atrastas. Pēc kā gan alkst viss Israēls, ja ne pēc tevis un tava tēva nama?” 21 Sauls atbildēja: “Vai tad es neesmu benjāminietis no vismazākās Israēla cilts, vai mana dzimta nav visniecīgākā no visām dzimtām Benjāmina ciltī? Kāpēc tu man runā tādas lietas?”
22 Samuēls ieveda Saulu un viņa puisi istabā un ierādīja tiem goda vietu starp ielūgtajiem, kuru bija ap trīsdesmit vīru. 23 Samuēls teica virējam: “Dod to gabalu, ko es tev iedevu, teikdams, lai tu to noliec savrup.” 24 Virējs ņēma stilbu ar cisku, cēla Saulam priekšā, un Samuēls teica: “Redzi, kas bija pietaupīts, nu likts tev priekšā, ēd, jo tas tika taupīts tev līdz noliktam laikam, kad es teicu, ka esmu ielūdzis ļaudis.” Un Sauls todien ēda ar Samuēlu. 25 Kad viņi no augstienes nokāpa pilsētā, viņš uz jumta runāja ar Saulu. 26 Tie cēlās agri, un, gaismai austot, Samuēls sauca Saulam uz jumta: “Celies, un es tevi laidīšu projām!” Sauls cēlās, un tie abi – viņš un Samuēls – izgāja ārā. 27 Kad viņi nonāca pie pilsētas robežas, Samuēls teica Saulam: “Saki puisim, lai viņš iet uz priekšu mums garām,” – un tas aizgāja – “bet tu apstājies, jo šodien es tev atklāšu Dieva vārdu.”
1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3 And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. 4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not. 5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us. 6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go. 7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? 8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) 10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was .
11 ¶ And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? 12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: 13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him. 14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
15 ¶ Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is . 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. 20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house? 21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me? 22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
25 ¶ And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
