27 June. Samuel anoints Saul as King of Israel
“Kish, son of Abiel from the tribe of Benjamin, was an important man… Kish had a son named Saul, who was a fine young man. There was no Israelite better than he. Saul stood a head taller than any other man in Israel.”
“Now the donkeys of Saul’s father, Kish, were lost. So Kish said to Saul, his son, ‘Take one of the servants, and go and look for the donkeys.’ Saul went through the mountains of Ephraim and the land of Shalisha, but he and the servant could not find the donkeys… When they arrived in the area of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, ‘Let’s go back or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and will start worrying about us.’”
“But the servant answered, ‘A man of God is in this town [Ramah]. People respect him because everything he says comes true. Let’s go into the town now. Maybe he can tell us something about the journey we have taken…”
“Saul said to his servant, ‘That’s a good idea. Come, let’s go.’ So they went towards the town where the man of God was. As Saul and his servant were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women coming out to get water. Saul and the servant asked them, ‘Is the seer [prophet] here?’ The young women answered, ‘Yes he’s here. He’s ahead of you. Hurry now. He has just come to our town today, because the people will offer a sacrifice at the place of worship… Go now, and you should find him.’”
“Saul and the servant went up to the town. Just as they entered it, they saw Samuel coming towards them on his way up to the place of worship.”
“The day before Saul came, the LORD had told Samuel, ‘About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Appoint him to lead my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines. I have seen the suffering of my people, and I have listened to their cry.’”
“When Samuel first saw Saul, the LORD said to Samuel, ‘This is the man I told you about. He will organise my people.’”
“Saul approached Samuel at the gate and said, ‘Please tell me where the seer’s house is.’ Samuel answered, ‘I am the seer. Go with me to the place of worship. Today you and your servant are to eat with me. Tomorrow morning I will answer all your questions and send you home. Don’t worry about the donkeys you lost three days ago, because they have been found. Soon all the wealth of Israel will belong to you and your family.’”
“Saul answered, ‘But I am from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel. And my family group is the smallest in the tribe of Benjamin. Why are you saying such things?’”
“Then Samuel took Saul and his servant into a large room and gave them a choice place at the table. About 30 guests were there. Samuel said to the cook, ‘Bring the meat I gave you, the portion I told you to set aside.’ So the cook took the thigh and put it on the table in front of Saul…”
“After they finished eating, they came down from the place of worship and went to the town. Then Samuel talked with Saul [in the guest room] on the roof of his house. At dawn they got up, and Samuel called to Saul on the roof. He said, ‘Get up, and I will send you on your way.’ So Saul got up and went out of the house with Samuel.”
“As Saul, his servant, and Samuel were getting near the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, ‘Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay, because I have a message from God for you.’ Samuel took a jar of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, ‘The LORD has appointed you to lead his people.’”
(1 Samuel 9:1-27 & 10:1)
In the Spring of 1012BC, Saul – an impressive looking forty-year-old - went in search of his father's donkeys. He and his father’s servant searched high and low through the hills of Ephraim, from Gibeah (in Benjamin) to Shalishah, Shaalim and Zuph (see 1 on the map).
At Ramah, Saul and his father’s servant consulted Samuel (the local ‘seer’ or prophet) about the missing donkeys.
Samuel immediately recognised this impressive looking young man as God’s appointed leader, and he anointed Saul with olive oil as a sign of kingship. Saul was to become king of God’s chosen people, Israel (see 2 on the map).
The map shows Saul's journey to kingship.
You can read more about this journey @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/sauls-journey-to-kingship/