Study Desk

Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba.

"This is how a king will reign over you," Samuel said. "The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots.

Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment.

He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.

He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.

He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use.

He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.

His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.

Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, "Let's go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!"

As they were climbing the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water. So Saul and his servant asked, "Is the seer here today?"

Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests.

When they reached the edge of town, Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead. After the servant was gone, Samuel said, "Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God."

Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul's head. He kissed Saul and said, "I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.

When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy.

And one of those standing there said, "Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?" So that is the origin of the saying "Is even Saul a prophet?"

"Where have you been?" Saul's uncle asked him and his servant. "We were looking for the donkeys," Saul replied, "but we couldn't find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were."

"Oh? And what did he say?" his uncle asked.

"He told us that the donkeys had already been found," Saul replied. But Saul didn't tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom.

When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him.

About a month later, King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. "Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants," they pleaded.