So Sha’ul ate with Shemuel that day, 25 and then they went back from the high place down into the city, and Shemuel spoke with Sha’ul on his house roof.

26 They rose early the next day. At dawn, Shemuel had called to Sha’ul on the roof, saying, “Get up and I will send you off.” So Sha’ul got up, and the two of them went outside. 27 When they reached the edge of the city, Shemuel said to Sha’ul, “Tell your servant to go on ahead,” and so he went on ahead. “But you stand here, and I’ll give you the message from God.”

10 Then Shemuel took a flask of oil, and poured it on Sha’ul’s head and kissed him, and told him, “It’s Yahweh who has anointed you to be ruler over his chosen people. 2 After you leave me today and get back to Benyamite territory, then you’ll see two men near Rachel’s tomb in Tseltsah, and they’ll say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to look for have been found. But, wow, your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and now he’s worried about you and trying to figure out what he should do.’ 3 Then further on from there, as you approach the oak tree at Tabor, you’ll find three men going to Beyt-El to worship God. One will be taking three young goats, one will be carrying three rounds loaves of bread, and one will be carrying a wine in a container. 4 They’ll ask about how you’re doing and give you two loaves of bread which you should accept. 5 After that, you’ll come to the hill of God (where there’s a camp of Philistine warriors). When you enter the town, you’ll meet a group of prophets descending from the altar area, 6 and Yahweh’s spirit will rush onto you. Then you’ll join them in prophesying, and you’ll be transformed into a different person. 7 When this all comes true, do whatever you think is correct because God will be helping you. 8 Then go ahead of me to Gilgal and wait there for seven days, until I get there and tell you what to do. I’ll join you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings.

9 Then as Sha’ul started to leave Shemuel, God changed his thinking. Then all Shemuel’s predictions came true that day, 10 so when Sha’ul and his servant came to the hill, a group of prophets met them and God’s spirit rushed onto Sha’ul and he joined them in prophesying. 11 Then everyone who had known Sha’ul previously heard him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What’s happened to Kish’s son? Is Sha’ul really a prophet now?” 12 A man from there answered, “And who is their father?” So after that it became a common saying, “Has Sha’ul also become a prophet?”[ref] 13 When he had finished prophesying, he ascended to the altar area.

14 Later, Sha’ul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you two take off to?”

“To look for the donkeys,” Sha’ul replied. “But we couldn’t find them, so we went to Shemuel.”

15 “And what did he tell you?” the uncle asked.

16 “He assured us that the donkeys had been found,” Sha’ul replied. But he didn’t tell him anything that Shemuel had said about becoming king.