19. But today you have rejected your God, who alone saved you from all your evils and tribulations. And you have said: 'By no means! Instead, appoint a king over us.' Now therefore, stand in the sight of the Lord, by your tribes and by your families."
20. And Samuel brought near all the tribes of Israel, and the lot fell upon the tribe of Benjamin.
21. And he brought near the tribe of Benjamin, with its families, and the lot fell upon the family of Matri. And then it went to Saul, the son of Kish. Therefore, they sought him, but he was not found.
22. And after these things, they consulted the Lord as to whether he would soon arrive there. And the Lord responded, "Behold, he is hidden at home."
23. And so they ran and brought him there. And he stood in the midst of the people, and he was taller than the entire people, from the shoulders upward.
24. And Samuel said to all the people: "Certainly, you see the one whom the Lord has chosen, that there is not anyone like him among all the people." And all the people cried out and said, "Long live the king!"
25. Then Samuel spoke to the people the law of the kingdom, and he wrote it in a book, and he stored it in the sight of the Lord. And Samuel dismissed all the people, each one to his own house.
26. And then Saul went away to his own house at Gibeah. And a portion of the army, whose hearts had been touched by God, went away with him.
27. Yet the sons of Belial said, "How could this one be able to save us?" And they despised him, and they brought him no presents. But he pretended not to hear them.