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1 Samuel 10-12
Easy-to-Read Version

Samuel Anoints Saul

10 Samuel took a jar of the special oil and poured the oil on Saul’s head. Samuel kissed Saul and said, “The Lord has anointed you to be the leader over the people who belong to him. You will control the people. You will save them from the enemies that are all around them. He has anointed you to be ruler over his people. Here is a sign that will prove this is true:[a] 2 After you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb on the border of Benjamin at Zelzah. The two men will say to you, ‘Someone found the donkeys you were looking for. Your father stopped worrying about his donkeys. Now he is worrying about you. He is saying: What will I do about my son?’”

3 Samuel said, “Then you will go until you come to the large oak tree at Tabor. Three men will meet you there. They will be on their way to worship God at Bethel. One man will be carrying three young goats. The second man will be carrying three loaves of bread. And the third man will have a leather bag full of wine. 4 These three men will say hello to you. They will offer you two bread offerings reserved for priests,[b] and you will accept that bread. 5 Then you will go to Gibeath Elohim. There is a Philistine fort in that place. When you come to this town, a group of prophets will come out. These prophets will come down from the place for worship.[c] They will be prophesying.[d] They will be playing harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres. 6 Then the Lord’s Spirit will come on you with great power. You will be changed. You will be like a different man. You will begin to prophesy with these prophets. 7 After that happens, you can do whatever you choose to do, because God will be with you.

8 “Go to Gilgal before me. Then I will come there to you. And I will offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. But you must wait seven days. Then I will come and tell you what to do.”

Saul Becomes Like the Prophets

9 Just as Saul turned to leave Samuel, God turned Saul’s life around. All these things happened that day. 10 When Saul and his servant came to Gibeath Elohim, Saul met a group of prophets. God’s Spirit came on Saul with great power, and Saul prophesied with the prophets. 11 Some of the people who had known Saul before saw him prophesying with the prophets. So they asked each other, “What has happened to Kish’s son? Is Saul also one of the prophets?”

12 A man living in Gibeath Elohim said, “Yes, and it seems that he is their leader.”[e] That is why this became a famous saying: “Is Saul also one of the prophets?”

Saul Arrives Home

13 After Saul finished prophesying, he went to the place of worship.

14 Saul’s uncle asked Saul and his servant, “Where have you been?”

Saul said, “We were looking for the donkeys. When we couldn’t find them, we went to see Samuel.”

15 Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me, what did Samuel say to you?”

16 Saul answered, “Samuel told us the donkeys were already found.” He did not tell his uncle everything. Saul did not tell him what Samuel said about the kingdom.

Samuel Announces Saul as King

17 Samuel told all the Israelites to meet together with the Lord at Mizpah. 18 Samuel told the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘I led Israel out of Egypt. I saved you from Egypt’s control and from the other kingdoms that tried to hurt you.’ 19 But today you have rejected your God. Your God saves you from all your troubles and problems. But you said, ‘No, we want a king to rule us.’ Now come, stand before the Lord in your family groups and tribes.”

20 Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near. Then Samuel began to choose the new king. First, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. 21 Samuel told each family in the tribe of Benjamin to pass by. Matri’s family was chosen. Then Samuel told each man in Matri’s family to walk by. Saul son of Kish was chosen.

But when the people looked for Saul, they could not find him. 22 Then they asked the Lord, “Has Saul come here yet?”

The Lord said, “Saul is hiding behind the supplies.”

23 The people ran and took Saul out from behind the supplies. Saul stood up among the people. He was a head taller than anyone else.

24 Samuel said to all the people, “See the man the Lord has chosen. There is no one like Saul among the people.”

Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

25 Samuel explained the rules of the kingdom to the people. He wrote the rules in a book and put the book before the Lord. Then Samuel told the people to go home.

26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah. God touched the hearts of brave men who then began to follow Saul. 27 But some troublemakers said, “How can this man save us?” They said bad things about Saul and refused to bring gifts to him. But Saul said nothing.

Nahash, King of the Ammonites

King Nahash of the Ammonites had been hurting the tribes of Gad and Reuben. Nahash poked out the right eye of each of the men and did not allow anyone to help them. He poked out the right eye of every Israelite man living in the area east of the Jordan River. But 7000 Israelite men ran away from the Ammonites and came to Jabesh Gilead.[f]

11 About a month later, Nahash the Ammonite and his army surrounded Jabesh Gilead. All the people of Jabesh said to Nahash, “If you will make a treaty with us, we will serve you.”

2 But he answered, “I will make a treaty with you people only if I can poke out the right eye of each person. Then all Israel will be ashamed.”

3 The leaders of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Let us have seven days. We will send messengers through all Israel. If no one comes to help us, we will come up to you and surrender to you.”

Saul Saves Jabesh Gilead

4 The messengers came to Gibeah where Saul lived. They told the news to the people. The people cried loudly. 5 Saul had been out in the field with his oxen. When he came in from the field he heard the people crying and asked, “What’s wrong with the people? Why are they crying?”

Then the people told Saul what the messengers from Jabesh said. 6 Saul listened to their story. Then God’s Spirit came on him with great power. Saul became very angry. 7 He took a pair of oxen and cut them in pieces. Then he gave the pieces of the oxen to messengers. He ordered the messengers to carry the pieces throughout the land of Israel. He told them to give this message to the Israelites: “Come follow Saul and Samuel. If anyone doesn’t come and help them, this same thing will happen to his oxen.”

A great fear from the Lord came on the people. They all came together like one person. 8 Saul gathered the men together at Bezek. There were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.

9 Saul and his army told the messengers from Jabesh, “Tell the people at Jabesh in Gilead that by noon tomorrow, you will be saved.”

The messengers told Saul’s message to the people at Jabesh, and they were very happy. 10 Then the people of Jabesh said to Nahash the Ammonite, “Tomorrow we will come to you, and you can do whatever you want to us.”

11 The next morning Saul separated his soldiers into three groups. At sunrise, Saul and his soldiers entered the Ammonite camp. Saul attacked while they were changing guards that morning. He and his soldiers defeated the Ammonites before noon. The Ammonite soldiers all ran away in different directions—no two soldiers stayed together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Where are the people who said they didn’t want Saul to rule as king? Bring them here, and we will kill them.”

13 But Saul said, “No, don’t kill anyone today! The Lord saved Israel today.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal. At Gilgal we will again make Saul the king.”

15 All the people went to Gilgal. There, in front of the Lord, the people made Saul king. They offered fellowship offerings to the Lord. Saul and all the Israelites had a great celebration.

Samuel Speaks About the King

12 Samuel said to all Israel: “I have done everything you wanted me to do. I have put a king over you. 2 Now you have a king to lead you. I am old and gray, but my sons are here with you. I have been your leader since I was young. 3 Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, you must tell these things to the Lord and his chosen king.[g] Did I steal anyone’s ox or donkey? Did I hurt or cheat anyone? Did I ever take money, or even a pair of sandals, to do something wrong? If I did any of these things, I will make it right.”

4 The Israelites answered, “No, you never did anything bad to us. You never cheated us or took things from us.”

5 Samuel said to the Israelites, “The Lord and his chosen king are witnesses today. They heard what you said—that you found nothing wrong with me.” The people answered, “Yes, the Lord is witness!”

6 Then Samuel said to the people, “The Lord has seen what happened. He is the one who chose Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors out of Egypt. 7 Now, stand there. I will accuse you before the Lord and I will tell you about[h] the good things the Lord did for you and your ancestors.

8 “Jacob went to Egypt. Later, the Egyptians made life hard for his descendants. So they cried to the Lord for help. The Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and they took your ancestors out of Egypt and led them to live in this place.

9 “But your ancestors forgot the Lord their God. So he let them become the slaves of Sisera, the commander of the army at Hazor. Then the Lord let them become the slaves of the Philistines and the king of Moab. They all fought against your ancestors. 10 But your ancestors cried to the Lord for help. They said, ‘We have sinned. We left the Lord, and we served the false gods Baal and Ashtoreth. But now save us from our enemies, and we will serve you.’

11 “So the Lord sent Gideon,[i] Barak,[j] Jephthah, and Samuel.[k] He saved you from your enemies around you, and you lived in safety. 12 But then you saw King Nahash of the Ammonites coming to fight against you. You said, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us!’ You said that, even though the Lord your God was already your king. 13 Now, here is the king you chose. The Lord put this king over you. 14 You must fear and respect the Lord. You must serve him and obey his commands. You must not turn against him. You and the king ruling over you must follow the Lord your God. If you do, God will save you.[l] 15 But if you don’t listen to the Lord, if you refuse to do what the Lord says, he will be against you. The Lord will destroy you and your king.

16 “Now stand still and see the great thing the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 Now is the time of the wheat harvest.[m] I will pray to the Lord and ask him to send thunder and rain. Then you will know you did a very bad thing against the Lord when you asked for a king.”

18 So Samuel prayed to the Lord. That same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. And the people became very afraid of the Lord and Samuel. 19 All the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for us, your servants. Don’t let us die! We have sinned many times. And now we have added to these sins—we have asked for a king.”

20 Samuel answered, “Don’t be afraid. It is true that you did all these bad things, but don’t stop following the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 Idols are only statues—they can’t help you. So don’t worship them. Idols can’t help you or save you. They are nothing!

22 “But the Lord won’t leave his people. No, the Lord was pleased to make you his own people. So for his own good name, he won’t leave you. 23 And as for me, I would never stop praying for you. If I stopped praying for you, I would be sinning against the Lord. I will continue to teach you the right way to live a good life. 24 But you must honor the Lord. You must serve him sincerely with all your heart. Remember the wonderful things he has done for you. 25 But if you are stubborn and do evil, God will throw you and your king away, like dirt swept out with a broom.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 10:1 You will control … true This is from the ancient Greek version.
  2. 1 Samuel 10:4 two bread offerings … priests This is from the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran. The standard Hebrew text has “two of bread.”
  3. 1 Samuel 10:5 place for worship Or “high places,” places for worshiping God or false gods. These places were often on the hills and mountains.
  4. 1 Samuel 10:5 prophesying This usually means “speaking for God.” But here, this also means that the Spirit of God took control of people, causing them to sing and dance. Also in verses 11, 13.
  5. 1 Samuel 10:12 Yes … leader Literally, “And who is their father?” Often the man who taught and led other prophets was called “father.”
  6. 1 Samuel 10:27 Nahash … came to Jabesh Gilead This is found in some ancient versions and in a Hebrew scroll from Qumran but not in the standard Hebrew text.
  7. 1 Samuel 12:3 chosen king Literally, “anointed one.” Also in verse 5.
  8. 1 Samuel 12:7 and I will tell you about This is from the ancient Greek version.
  9. 1 Samuel 12:11 Gideon Literally, “Jerub-Baal,” a nickname given to Gideon earlier. (See Judges 6:32.)
  10. 1 Samuel 12:11 Barak This is found in the ancient Greek and Syriac versions. The Hebrew has “Bedan.”
  11. 1 Samuel 12:11 Samuel The Syriac version and some copies of the Greek version have “Samson.”
  12. 1 Samuel 12:14 If you do, God will save you This is from the ancient Greek version.
  13. 1 Samuel 12:17 time of … harvest This was the dry time of year when no rains fell.
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1 Samuel 10-12
New International Version

10 Then Samuel took a flask(A) of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed(B) you ruler over his inheritance?[a](C) 2 When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb,(D) at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys(E) you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried(F) about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”’

3 “Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel(G) will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. 4 They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread,(H) which you will accept from them.

5 “After that you will go to Gibeah(I) of God, where there is a Philistine outpost.(J) As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets(K) coming down from the high place(L) with lyres, timbrels,(M) pipes(N) and harps(O) being played before them, and they will be prophesying.(P) 6 The Spirit(Q) of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed(R) into a different person. 7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever(S) your hand(T) finds to do, for God is with(U) you.

8 “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal.(V) I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven(W) days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”

Saul Made King

9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed(X) Saul’s heart, and all these signs(Y) were fulfilled(Z) that day. 10 When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit(AA) of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying.(AB) 11 When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this(AC) that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”(AD)

12 A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”(AE) 13 After Saul stopped prophesying,(AF) he went to the high place.

14 Now Saul’s uncle(AG) asked him and his servant, “Where have you been?”

“Looking for the donkeys,(AH)” he said. “But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.”

15 Saul’s uncle said, “Tell me what Samuel said to you.”

16 Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys(AI) had been found.” But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.

17 Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah(AJ) 18 and said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed(AK) you.’ 19 But you have now rejected(AL) your God, who saves(AM) you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king(AN) over us.’(AO) So now present(AP) yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”

20 When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken.(AQ) Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22 So they inquired(AR) further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?”

And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.”

23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller(AS) than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen?(AT) There is no one like(AU) him among all the people.”

Then the people shouted, “Long live(AV) the king!”

25 Samuel explained(AW) to the people the rights and duties(AX) of kingship.(AY) He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes.

26 Saul also went to his home in Gibeah,(AZ) accompanied by valiant men(BA) whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some scoundrels(BB) said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts.(BC) But Saul kept silent.

Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

11 Nahash[b](BD) the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead.(BE) And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty(BF) with us, and we will be subject to you.”

2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition(BG) that I gouge(BH) out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace(BI) on all Israel.”

3 The elders(BJ) of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue(BK) us, we will surrender(BL) to you.”

4 When the messengers came to Gibeah(BM) of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept(BN) aloud. 5 Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.

6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit(BO) of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen,(BP) cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel,(BQ) proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone(BR) who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one.(BS) 8 When Saul mustered(BT) them at Bezek,(BU) the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.

9 They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. 10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender(BV) to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”

11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions;(BW) during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites(BX) and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

Saul Confirmed as King

12 The people then said to Samuel, “Who(BY) was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.”

13 But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today,(BZ) for this day the Lord has rescued(CA) Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal(CB) and there renew the kingship.(CC)” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal(CD) and made Saul king(CE) in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.

Samuel’s Farewell Speech

12 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened(CF) to everything you said to me and have set a king(CG) over you. 2 Now you have a king as your leader.(CH) As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons(CI) are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. 3 Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed.(CJ) Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey(CK) have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe(CL) to make me shut my eyes? If I have done(CM) any of these things, I will make it right.”(CN)

4 “You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”

5 Samuel said to them, “The Lord is witness(CO) against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything(CP) in my hand.(CQ)”

“He is witness,” they said.

6 Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought(CR) your ancestors up out of Egypt. 7 Now then, stand(CS) here, because I am going to confront(CT) you with evidence before the Lord as to all the righteous acts(CU) performed by the Lord for you and your ancestors.

8 “After Jacob(CV) entered Egypt, they cried(CW) to the Lord for help, and the Lord sent(CX) Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

9 “But they forgot(CY) the Lord their God; so he sold them(CZ) into the hand of Sisera,(DA) the commander of the army of Hazor,(DB) and into the hands of the Philistines(DC) and the king of Moab,(DD) who fought against them. 10 They cried(DE) out to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned; we have forsaken(DF) the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths.(DG) But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ 11 Then the Lord sent Jerub-Baal,[c](DH) Barak,[d](DI) Jephthah(DJ) and Samuel,[e](DK) and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around you, so that you lived in safety.

12 “But when you saw that Nahash(DL) king(DM) of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule(DN) over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king. 13 Now here is the king(DO) you have chosen, the one you asked(DP) for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you fear(DQ) the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel(DR) against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! 15 But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against(DS) his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

16 “Now then, stand still(DT) and see(DU) this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! 17 Is it not wheat harvest(DV) now? I will call(DW) on the Lord to send thunder(DX) and rain.(DY) And you will realize what an evil(DZ) thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.”

18 Then Samuel called on the Lord,(EA) and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe(EB) of the Lord and of Samuel.

19 The people all said to Samuel, “Pray(EC) to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die,(ED) for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”

20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil;(EE) yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless(EF) idols.(EG) They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake(EH) of his great name(EI) the Lord will not reject(EJ) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make(EK) you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray(EL) for you. And I will teach(EM) you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear(EN) the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart;(EO) consider(EP) what great(EQ) things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist(ER) in doing evil, both you and your king(ES) will perish.”(ET)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 10:1 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate over his people Israel? You will reign over the Lord’s people and save them from the power of their enemies round about. And this will be a sign to you that the Lord has anointed you ruler over his inheritance:
  2. 1 Samuel 11:1 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls gifts. Now Nahash king of the Ammonites oppressed the Gadites and Reubenites severely. He gouged out all their right eyes and struck terror and dread in Israel. Not a man remained among the Israelites beyond the Jordan whose right eye was not gouged out by Nahash king of the Ammonites, except that seven thousand men fled from the Ammonites and entered Jabesh Gilead. About a month later, 1 Nahash
  3. 1 Samuel 12:11 Also called Gideon
  4. 1 Samuel 12:11 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew Bedan
  5. 1 Samuel 12:11 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac Samson
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