1st Shamu'AL (1 Samuel) — 10

Shamu'AL Anoints Shaul as King

1 Then Shamu'AL took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Shaul’s head, and he kissed Shaul and said, “I am doing this because 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has appointed you to be the ruler over Yashar'AL, his special possession. 

2 When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachal’s tomb at Zalzah, on the border of Banyamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you, and asking, ‘have you seen my son?’

3 “When you get to the oak of Tabur, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH at Bathal. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a wineskin full of wine. 

4 They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept.

5 “When you arrive at Hill of 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of Nabym coming down from the place of worship, they will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying. 

6 At that time the Ruach of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. .

7 After these signs take place, do what must be done, for the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL is with you. 

8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and Shalum offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.”

Shamu'AL’s Signs Are Fulfilled

9 As Shaul turned and started to leave, for  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH gave him a new heart, and all Shamu'AL’s signs were fulfilled that day. 

10 When Shaul and his servant arrived at Gibaah, they saw a group of Nabym coming toward them. Then the Ruach of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH came powerfully upon Shaul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 

11 When those who knew Shaul heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is Shaul a Nabym? How did the son of Kish become a Nabym?”

12 And one of those standing there said, “Can anyone become a Nabym, no matter who his father is?” So that is the origin of the saying “Is Shaul a Nabym?”

13 When Shaul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship. 

14 “Where have you been?” Shaul’s uncle asked him and his servant. “We were looking for the donkeys,” Shaul replied, “but we could not find them. So we went to Shamu'AL to ask him where they were.”

15 “Oh? And what did he say?” his uncle asked.

16 “And Shaul replied; he told us that the donkeys had already been found,” But Shaul did not tell his uncle what Shamu'AL said about the kingdom.

Shaul Is Acclaimed King

17 Later Shamu'AL called all the people of Yashar'AL to meet before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH at Mizpah. 

18 And he said, “This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL, has declared: I brought you from Mitzraym and rescued you from the Mitzraym and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. 

19 But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH by tribes and clans.”

20 So Shamu'AL brought all the tribes of Yashar'AL before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and the tribe of Banyamin was chosen by lot. 

21 Then he brought each family of the tribe of Banyamin before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and the family of the Matrites was chosen, and finally Shaul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 

22 So they asked 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, “Where is he?” And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.” 

23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.

24 Then Shamu'AL said to all the people, “This is the man 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has chosen as your king. No one in all Yashar'AL is like him!” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

25 Then Shamu'AL told the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. Then Shamu'AL sent the people home again.

26 When Shaul returned to his home at Gibaah, a group of men whose hearts 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH had touched went with him. 

27 But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Shaul ignored them. [Nahash, king of the Ammunites, had been grievously oppressing the people of Gad and Rauban who lived east of the Yurdan River, he gouged out the right eye of each of the Yasharalym living there, and he didn’t allow anyone to come and rescue them. In fact, of all the Yasharalym east of the Yurdan, there was not a single one whose right eye Nahash had not gouged out. But there were 7,000 men who had escaped from the Ammunites, and they had settled in Yabash-gilaad.]