⁵ and said to him, “Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, like all the nations, to rule us.”^(A)

Persistent Demand. ¹⁹ The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said, “No! There must be a king over us.^(A)

¹⁶ At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin whom you are to anoint as ruler of my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people; their cry has come to me.^(A)

Chapter 10

¹ Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying: “The Lord anoints you ruler over his people Israel. You are the one who will govern the Lord’s people and save them from the power of their enemies all around them.^(A)

The Signs Foretold. “This will be the sign^[a] for you that the Lord has anointed you ruler over his heritage:

²⁰ So Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.^{[a] 21} Next he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by clans, and the clan of Matri was chosen, and finally Saul, son of Kish, was chosen. But when they went to look for him, he was nowhere to be found.

²⁴ Then Samuel addressed all the people, “Do you see the man whom the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people!” Then all the people shouted out, “Long live the king!”^(A)

¹⁵ So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king in the Lord’s presence. They also sacrificed communion offerings there before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.