Saul Proclaimed King

After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah 18 and said to the Israelites“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’

19 

But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him,‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

20 

Thus Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. 21 Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was selected.[fn] Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they looked for him, they could not find him. 22 So again they inquired of the LORD,“Has the man come here yet?”

And the LORD replied,“Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

23 

So they ran and brought [Saul] and when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people,“Do you see the one the LORD has chosen [There is] no one like him among all the people.”

And all the people shouted,“Long live the king!”

25 

Then Samuel explained to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll and laid [it] up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each to his own home.

26 

Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and the [men] of valor whose hearts God had touched went with him.

27 

But some worthless men said,“How can this [man] save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but [Saul] remained silent [about it].[fn] 11