The city where the seer lived lay on the side of a hill, and there was a well by the gate, and as Saul and his servant drew near they found young maidens going out, with pitchers on their heads, to fetch water for supper. And they said to the maidens, “Is the seer here?” And they answered them and said, “He is: behold, he is before you. This is the day of a feast on the top of the hill, and of a sacrifice to the Lord. And already the people are waiting for the seer, for they will not sit down to the table until he comes to ask the blessing. He will be coming out of the gate directly. You are just in time to meet him.” And as they spoke there came an old man out of the gate, tall and wrapped in a cloak.
And Saul said, “Will you kindly tell me where the seer’s house is?”
And the old man said, “I am the seer. I am Samuel, the seer. I have been expecting you. You must dine with me to-day, and spend the night.”
And when Saul said that he must go home, because his father would be worried about him and about the asses, Samuel said, “The lost asses have been found. And you are found also; for I perceive that you are he on whom is the desire of all Israel.”
And Saul said, “Why do you speak so to me? My tribe is the least of the tribes, and my father’s family is the least of the families of my tribe. What do you mean?” But Samuel did not reply, and Saul followed him up to the top of the hill, greatly wondering.
Now there was a house at the top of the hill, and about thirty men who had been invited to dinner were waiting in the parlor. In came Samuel, bringing Saul and his servant, just as they were in their dusty clothes; and Samuel gave them the best seats at the table, Saul on his right and Saul’s servant on his left. And Samuel called the cook and said, “Bring me the portion of meat which I told you to set apart for me,” and the cook brought in a leg of lamb and set it before Samuel. And Samuel said to Saul, “I knew that you were coming, and when I sent the invitations I had a place and a portion kept for you.” So Saul ate with Samuel, and was more and more astonished.
At last the feast was over, and the guests went down from the top of the hill to their houses in the city, and Saul and his servant went home with Samuel. And as the sun went down, and the cool wind began to blow in the hot streets and the stars came out, Samuel took Saul upstairs to the flat roof, and there they sat and had a long talk together.
And Samuel said, “Saul, I had a dream about you yesterday afternoon. I heard in my dream the voice of God saying, ‘To-morrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him king over my people Israel.’ And to-day, when I came to the gate and saw you, the Lord said in my heart, ‘There is the man of whom I spoke.’ ”
The next morning they rose as the sun was coming up over the side of the hill. And Samuel went with Saul to show him the right road. And as they came out of the city into the open country, Samuel said, “Bid the servant to pass on before us, but you wait here a while that I may show you what is the will of God.” So the servant went on ahead, and they two were alone. And Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it on Saul’s head, and kissed him, and