Study Desk

Now Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah;

And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh;

and he said to the sons of Israel, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: 'I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.'

And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:

"But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your catastrophes and your distresses; yet you have said, 'No, but put a king over us!' Now then, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your groups of thousands."

And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.

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

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin forward by its families, and the Matrite family was selected by lot. And Saul the son of Kish was selected by lot; but when they looked for him, he could not be found.

When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.

Therefore they inquired further of the LORD: "Has the man come here yet?" And the LORD said, "Behold, he is hiding himself among the baggage."

Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff.

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.

And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and 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!"

And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

Then Samuel told the people the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrote them in the book, and placed it before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house.

Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord . And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

Saul also went to his house in Gibeah; and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him.

And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

But certain useless men said, "How can this one save us?" And they despised him and did not bring him a gift. But he kept silent about it.

But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought no presents. But he held his peace.