en_tn_lite_do_not_use/1sa/09/04.md

the hill country of Ephraim ... the land of Shalishah ... the land of Shaalim ... the land of the Benjamites

These are all areas in Israel. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)

did not find them ... they were not there ... did not find them

The words "them" and "they" all refer to the donkeys.