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so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."

And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice and appoint a king for them." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go, every man to his city."

Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, had wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, "Now take with you one of the servants and arise, go search for the donkeys."

So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjaminites, but they did not find them.

Then Saul said to his servant, "Good idea; come, let's go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.

Then the cook took up the leg with what was on it and placed it before Saul. And Samuel said, "Here is what has been reserved! Place it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, since I said I have invited the people." So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

And they got up early; and at daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, "Get up, so that I may send you on your way." So Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Speak to the servant and have him go on ahead of us and pass by; but you stand here now, so that I may proclaim the word of God to you."

When they came there to the hill, behold, a group of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, so that he prophesied among them.

So Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had mentioned.

So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel forward; and the tribe of Benjamin was selected by lot.

So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people." So all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!"

So the elders of Jabesh said to him, "Allow us seven days to send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you."

Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen, and Saul said, "What is the matter with the people that they weep?" So they reported to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

They said to the messengers who had come, "This is what you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be saved.'" So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they rejoiced.

The next morning Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch, and struck and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is he that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, so that we may put them to death!"

So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.