Later, David prayed to the Lord, saying, “Should I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” The Lord said to David, “Go.” David asked, “Where should I go?” The Lord answered, “To Hebron.”
During the time David was king, there was a shortage of food that lasted for three years. So David prayed to the Lord. The Lord answered, “Saul and his family of murderers are the reason for this shortage, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
He must stand before Eleazar the priest, and Eleazar will get advice from the Lord by using the Urim. At his command all the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will all come in.”
The Israelites went up to the city of Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe shall be first to attack the Benjaminites?” The Lord answered, “Judah shall go first.”
A priest named Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before the Ark of the Agreement.) They asked, “Shall we go to fight our relatives, the Benjaminites, again, or shall we stop fighting?” The Lord answered, “Go, because tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”
Samuel had them pass by in family groups, and Matri’s family was picked. Then he had each man of Matri’s family pass by, and Saul son of Kish was picked. But when they looked for Saul, they could not find him.
Samuel said, “Once you didn’t think much of yourself, but now you have become the leader of the tribes of Israel. The Lord appointed you to be king over Israel.
Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase the people who took our families? Will I catch them?” The Lord answered, “Chase them. You will catch them, and you will succeed in saving your families.”
Saul answered, “But I am from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel. And my family group is the smallest in the tribe of Benjamin. Why are you saying such things?”