Study Desk

The donkeys of Kish, Sha'ul's father, were lost. Kish said to Sha'ul his son, Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the donkeys.

When they had come to the land of Tzuf, Sha'ul said to his servant who was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the donkeys, and be anxious for us.

Then said Sha'ul 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?

Then said Sha'ul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.

Shemu'el took Sha'ul and his servant, and brought them into the guest-chamber, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.

Then Shemu'el took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, Isn't it that the LORD has anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?

It was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Shemu'el, God gave him another heart: and all those signs happened that day.

Sha'ul's uncle said to him and to his servant, Where went you? He said, To seek the donkeys; and when we saw that they were not found, we came to Shemu'el.

Sha'ul said to his uncle, He told us plainly that the donkeys were found. But concerning the matter of the kingdom, whereof Shemu'el spoke, he didn't tell him.

They ran and fetched him there; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

Then Shemu'el told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. Shemu'el sent all the people away, every man to his house.

Sha'ul also went to his house to Gevah; and there went with him the host, whose hearts God had touched.

But certain worthless fellows said, How shall this man save us? They despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his shalom.

The Spirit of God came mightily on Sha'ul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.

He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Yisra'el by the hand of messengers, saying, Whoever doesn't come forth after Sha'ul and after Shemu'el, so shall it be done to his oxen. The dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man.

Here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose donkey have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I taken a ransom to blind my eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

He said to them, the LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. They said, He is witness.

If you will fear the LORD, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the mitzvah of the LORD, and both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of the LORD your God, [well]:

For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people to himself.

Sha'ul chose him three thousand men of Yisra'el, whereof two thousand were with Sha'ul in Mikhmash and in the Mount of Beit-El, and one thousand were with Yonatan in Gevah of Binyamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.