Saul, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, is a choice and goodly person. The Lord reveals to Samuel the seer that Saul is to be king. Saul seeks guidance from Samuel and is anointed to be king.
1 Samuel 9:1–2, 15–19, 25–27; 10:1
1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. . . .
15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. . . .
25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God. . . .
1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:
“In the beginning, Saul was ‘a choice young man, . . . and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he’ (1 Samuel 9:2). Saul was personally chosen by God to be king (see 1 Samuel 9:17). He had every advantage—he was physically imposing (see 1 Samuel 10:23), and he came from an influential family (see 1 Samuel 9:1).”
(“A Matter of a Few Degrees,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 58.)
