8. The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us our way.”
9. (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let’s go to the seer”—for today’s prophet was formerly called a seer.)
10. Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come, let’s go!” So they went to the town where the man of God was.
11. As they went up the hill to the town, they found some girls going out to draw water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?”
12. They answered them and said, “He is there, ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come today to the town because people have a sacrifice at the high place today.
13. As soon as you enter the town, you’ll find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he must first bless the sacrifice—afterward the guests can eat. So now, get up, for you will find him at once.”
14. So they went up to the town. As they were entering the town, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.
15. One day before Saul came, Adonai had revealed to Samuel saying:
16. “Tomorrow about this time, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you will anoint him ruler over My people Israel. He will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. I have observed My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
17. When Samuel saw Saul, Adonai spoke to him, “Behold, this is the man I told you about. This one will govern My people.”
18. Then Saul approached Samuel inside the gate and asked, “Tell me, please, where the seer’s house is?”
19. Samuel answered Saul by saying, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place. For today you will eat with me. In the morning when I send you off, I will tell you everything that is in your heart.
20. As for the donkeys that you lost three days ago, don’t set your heart on them, for they have been found. Now, for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?”
21. Saul answered by saying, “Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my clan is the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? So why do you say such things to me?”
22. Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of the guests, who numbered about 30 people.
23. Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion that I gave you and told you to set aside.”
24. So the cook took up the thigh, raised it, and set it before Saul. Then he said, “Here is what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept until this appointed time for you, since I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.