Our Father Anoints Saul as Ruler
10 1 Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on Saul's head, kissed him, and said, "Hasn't our Father anointed you ruler over his inheritance? You will reign over his people and save them from surrounding enemies. This is your sign that he has anointed you ruler over his inheritance: 2 When you leave me today, you'll meet two men by Rachel's tomb in Zelzah, in Benjamin's territory. They'll say: 'The donkeys you sought are found; your father no longer worries about them, now he worries about you, asking, "What should I do about my son?"'
3 From there, go on to the oak of Tabor, where three men going up to our Father at Bethel meet you—one with three young goats, one with three loaves, one with a skin of wine. 4 They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you accept from them.
5 Then you'll come to Gibeah of our Father, where a Philistine garrison is; entering the town, you'll meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. 6 The Spirit of our Father will rush on you; you'll prophesy with them and become another man. 7 When these signs come to you, do what your hand finds, for our Father is with you. 8 Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what to do.
The Father's Signs Come to Pass
9 When Saul turned from Samuel, our Father changed his heart, and all these signs happened that day. 10 At Gibeah a band of prophets met him, our Father's Spirit rushed on him, and he prophesied among them. 11 Everyone who knew him before saw him prophesying with the prophets, and people asked each other, "What happened to Kish's son? Is Saul also among the prophets?"
12 Someone there asked, "Who's their father?" So it became a saying: "Is Saul also among the prophets?" a a v12 The question "who is their father?" implies prophets need no special lineage — anyone can receive the Spirit. 13 When he had finished prophesying, he went up to the high place.
14 Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, "Where did you go?" "To seek the donkeys," he said. "Seeing they weren't there, we came to Samuel."
15 Saul's uncle said, "Please tell me what Samuel said to you."
16 Saul told his uncle, "He assured us the donkeys were found." But Saul didn't tell his uncle what Samuel said about the reign.
The Father Reveals His Chosen King
17 Then Samuel summoned the people to our Father at Mizpah,
18 he told the Israelites, "This is what our Father of Israel says: 'I brought Israel up from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and all the kingdoms oppressing you.'"
19 But today you've rejected your Father, who himself saves you from all your troubles and distress, and told him, 'No—put a king over us.' Now present yourselves before our Father by tribe and clan. b b v19 Israel's demand for a human king was, at its heart, a rejection of their Father's own loving rule over them.
20 When Samuel brought all Israel's tribes forward, Benjamin's tribe was chosen by lot. 21 He brought Benjamin's tribe forward by clan; the Matrite clan was chosen, then Saul son of Kish was chosen. They looked for him, but couldn't find him.
22 So they asked our Father again, "Has the man come here yet?" And our Father said, "He's hidden among the baggage."
23 They ran and took him from there. Standing among the people, he was taller than everyone, from the shoulders up. 24 Samuel said to all the people, "See whom our Father chose? None is like him among all the people." All the people shouted, "Long live the king!"
25 Samuel told the people the monarchy's rules, wrote them on a scroll, set it before our Father, sent each to his house. 26 Saul too went home to Gibeah, and with him went warriors whose hearts our Father had touched. 27 But worthless men said, 'How can this man save us?' They despised him, brought no gift. But Saul said nothing.
