Samuel

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “The LORD helped us until now.”

So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel. The hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah;

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to the LORD.

The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.

Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked of him a king.

But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No; but we will have a king over us,

Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.”

They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.

Now the LORD had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,

When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! this same shall have authority over my people.”

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

Samuel answered Saul, and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.

Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.

Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’”

The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, “Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before yourself and eat; because for the appointed time has it been kept for you, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.

They arose early: and about daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant pass on before us” (and he passed on), “but stand still first, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.”

Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, “Isn’t it that the LORD has anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?

It was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs happened that day.