Study Desk

Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab's house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.

So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.

He said, "This will be the manner of the king who will rule over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.

He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.

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

He will take a tenth of your grain and vintage and give it to his officials and servants.

And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.

He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

"Listen to their voice," the LORD said to Samuel. "Appoint a king for them." Then Samuel told the men of Israel, "Everyone must go back to his city."

One day the donkeys of Saul's father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys."

When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, "Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us."

(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, "Come, let us go to the seer." For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)

"Good," said Saul to his servant. "Come, let us go." So they set out for the city where the man of God was.

So Saul and his servant went up toward the city, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited-about thirty in all.

And after they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house.