Saul (1 Samuel 9:2; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 10:21–24; 1 Samuel 11:6–13; 1 Samuel 13:12–14; 1 Samuel 14:24; 1 Samuel 14:44–45; 1 Samuel 15:9; 1 Samuel 15:22–24; 1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Samuel 18:7–9; 1 Samuel 22:16–19; 1 Samuel 24:16–17; 1 Samuel 28:6; 1 Samuel 31:3–6; 2 Samuel 1:6–10; 2 Samuel 1:19; 2 Samuel 21:1–2; 1 Chronicles 10:13–14; Acts 13:21)

Son of Kish, First King of Israel

A goodly young Benjamite, the son of Kish, whom Samuel anointed after Israel asked for a king; he delivered Jabesh-gilead and fought on every side, then lost the kingdom for not keeping the word of the LORD, set himself against David, and died at Gilboa.

Israel's elders said to Samuel, “now make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5). The one given them was “a 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” (1 Samuel 9:2), a son of Kish who answered Samuel, “Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel?” (1 Samuel 9:21). Samuel anointed him, and “God gave him another heart” (1 Samuel 10:9). When the lot fell on him at Mizpah “he could not be found” (1 Samuel 10:21); when Jabesh-gilead was threatened, “the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul” (1 Samuel 11:6), and after the victory he said, “There shall not a man be put to death this day” (1 Samuel 11:13). He “fought against all his enemies on every side” (1 Samuel 14:47) and “did valiantly” (1 Samuel 14:48).

The same chapters record his failures. At Gilgal he offered the burnt-offering himself and Samuel told him, “Thou hast done foolishly” (1 Samuel 13:13). After he spared Agag and the best of the spoil, Samuel said, “Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:23). Then “the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him” (1 Samuel 16:14). David came to play the harp for him and became his armorbearer, but when the women sang of thousands and ten thousands, “Saul eyed David from that day and forward” (1 Samuel 18:9). He cast his spear, gave Michal to David with a plan that the Philistines might kill him, and sought him in the wilderness; at En-gedi he wept and said, “Thou art more righteous than I” (1 Samuel 24:17), yet the pursuit went on. Told that Ahimelech had inquired of God for David, he condemned the priests of Nob, and when his own servants would not fall upon them, Doeg “slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod” (1 Samuel 22:18).

Before the last battle, “when Saul inquired of Jehovah, Jehovah answered him not” (1 Samuel 28:6), and he went to a woman at En-dor. First Samuel 31 tells that he fell upon his own sword on Mount Gilboa; in 2 Samuel 1 an Amalekite tells David a different account. David lamented, “How are the mighty fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19). Chronicles gives the reason: “So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Jehovah, because of the word of Jehovah, which he kept not” (1 Chronicles 10:13). In David's days a famine came “for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites” (2 Samuel 21:1), and afterward the bones of Saul and Jonathan were buried “in the sepulchre of Kish his father” (2 Samuel 21:14). Psalm titles that bear David's name mention Saul, and Isaiah names “Gibeah of Saul” (Isaiah 10:29). Of him Acts says: “God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years” (Acts 13:21).

Strengths

• Little in his own sight
• Held his peace when despised
• Would not put a man to death that day
• Owned that the LORD wrought deliverance
• Fought on every side and did valiantly
• Kept the people from eating with the blood
• Put away those that had familiar spirits
• Owned David more righteous than he

Weaknesses

• Did foolishly at Gilgal
• Troubled the land with an oath
• Feared the people, obeyed their voice
• Rejected the word of the LORD
• Eyed David from that day forward
• Cast the spear; made Michal a snare
• Slew the priests of the LORD
• Put the Gibeonites to death
• Asked counsel of a familiar spirit

Themes

• Israel's first king
• Obedience better than sacrifice
• Jealousy
• The Spirit departs
• The LORD's anointed
• House of Saul

Seeks his father's donkeys and is anointed (1 Samuel 9:1–10:16)

Sent by Kish to seek lost donkeys, Saul is brought to Samuel, who pours oil on his head and gives him signs; God gives him another heart, and he prophesies among a band of prophets.

Chosen by lot at Mizpah (1 Samuel 10:17–27)

The lot falls on Saul, who is found hidden among the baggage; the people shout for the king, while certain worthless fellows despise him and he holds his peace.

Delivers Jabesh-gilead (1 Samuel 11:1–15)

Coming from the field after the oxen, Saul is moved by the Spirit of God, summons Israel, smites the Ammonites, and spares those who had spoken against him.

Delivers Jabesh-gilead

Nahash the Ammonite encamped against Jabesh-gilead and offered a covenant only on this condition: “that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel” (1 Samuel 11:2). The messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and the people wept. “And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep?” (1 Samuel 11:5).

“And the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the dread of Jehovah fell on the people, and they came out as one man” (1 Samuel 11:6-7). On the morrow Saul put the people in three companies and they “smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day” (1 Samuel 11:11).

Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.” (1 Samuel 11:12) “And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day; for to-day Jehovah hath wrought deliverance in Israel” (1 Samuel 11:13). At Gilgal “they made Saul king before Jehovah” (1 Samuel 11:15).

The burnt-offering at Gilgal (1 Samuel 13:1–14)

Saul waits seven days for Samuel, the people scatter, and he offers the burnt-offering himself; Samuel tells him his kingdom shall not continue.

The burnt-offering at Gilgal

Samuel had told Saul to go down to Gilgal and “seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come unto thee” (1 Samuel 10:8). The verse that opens chapter 13 runs on into the next: “Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel” (1 Samuel 13:1-2). Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines in Geba; the Philistines assembled at Michmash, and the people hid themselves in caves and pits, while “all the people followed him trembling” (1 Samuel 13:7).

“And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring hither the burnt-offering to me, and the peace-offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering” (1 Samuel 13:8-9). When Samuel came, Saul answered, “I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt-offering” (1 Samuel 13:12).

“And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly; thou hast not kept the commandment of Jehovah thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would Jehovah have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Jehovah hath sought him a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:13-14).

Saul's oath and Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:24–46)

Saul binds the people with a curse on any who eat before evening; Jonathan, who had not heard it, tastes honey, and Saul says he shall surely die, but the people rescue him.

Amalek, Agag, and the rejection (1 Samuel 15:1–35)

Sent to destroy Amalek utterly, Saul and the people spare Agag and the best of the spoil, and Samuel declares that the LORD has rejected him from being king.

Amalek, Agag, and the rejection

Samuel brought the word of the LORD of hosts: “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not” (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul smote the Amalekites, “But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them” (1 Samuel 15:9). The LORD said to Samuel, “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king” (1 Samuel 15:11).

Saul met him with, “I have performed the commandment of Jehovah” (1 Samuel 15:13). Samuel answered, “What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” (1 Samuel 15:14), and Saul said the people spared the best “to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God” (1 Samuel 15:15). Samuel said, “to obey is better than sacrifice … For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

“And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah, and thy words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice” (1 Samuel 15:24). As Samuel turned away, “Saul laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it rent” (1 Samuel 15:27). “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul” (1 Samuel 15:35).

The evil spirit, the harp, and Goliath (1 Samuel 16:14–23; 1 Samuel 17:11; 1 Samuel 17:38–39; 1 Samuel 17:55)

The Spirit of the LORD departs and an evil spirit troubles Saul; David plays the harp for him and becomes his armorbearer, Saul and Israel are dismayed at the Philistine, and Saul clothes David in his apparel and asks whose son the youth is.

Jealousy and the spear (1 Samuel 18:6–30)

After the women's song Saul eyes David, casts the spear, fears him because the LORD was with him, and becomes his enemy continually.

Jealousy and the spear

When David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out “singing and dancing, to meet king Saul” (1 Samuel 18:6) and sang, “Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). “And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward” (1 Samuel 18:8-9).

“And Saul had his spear in his hand; and Saul cast the spear; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall. And David avoided out of his presence twice” (1 Samuel 18:10-11). “And Saul was afraid of David, because Jehovah was with him, and was departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 18:12).

He offered his elder daughter Merab, thinking, “Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him” (1 Samuel 18:17); she was given to Adriel. Of Michal he said, “I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him” (1 Samuel 18:21), and for a dowry he asked a hundred foreskins of the Philistines: “Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 18:25). David brought them, and Saul gave him Michal. “And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David's enemy continually” (1 Samuel 18:29).

Jonathan, Michal, and the escapes (1 Samuel 19:1–24; 1 Samuel 20:30–34)

Saul speaks of slaying David; Jonathan pleads and Saul swears an oath, but the spear is cast again, Michal lets David down through the window, Saul himself prophesies at Naioth, and he casts the spear at Jonathan.

The priests of Nob (1 Samuel 21:1–9; 1 Samuel 22:6–23)

Saul accuses his servants of conspiracy; after Doeg the Edomite tells what he saw at Nob, Saul condemns Ahimelech and all his father's house, and when his servants will not fall upon the priests, Doeg slays them and smites Nob.

The priests of Nob

David came to Nob, and Ahimelech the priest gave him the holy bread and the sword of Goliath. “Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Jehovah; and his name was Doeg the Edomite” (1 Samuel 21:7). Later, sitting in Gibeah with his spear in his hand, Saul said to his servants, “all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that discloseth to me when my son maketh a league with the son of Jesse” (1 Samuel 22:8). Doeg answered that Ahimelech “inquired of Jehovah for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine” (1 Samuel 22:10).

Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all thy servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and is taken into thy council, and is honorable in thy house?” (1 Samuel 22:14), and said, “thy servant knoweth nothing of all this, less or more” (1 Samuel 22:15). “And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house” (1 Samuel 22:16).

“And the king said unto the guard that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of Jehovah … But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of Jehovah. And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and he slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen and asses and sheep, with the edge of the sword” (1 Samuel 22:17-19).

One son of Ahimelech, Abiathar, escaped and “told David that Saul had slain Jehovah's priests” (1 Samuel 22:21). David answered, “I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house” (1 Samuel 22:22).

Spared at En-gedi and Hachilah (1 Samuel 24:1–22; 1 Samuel 26:1–25)

Saul takes three thousand chosen men after David and enters a cave, where David cuts off his skirt but spares him; Saul weeps, says David is more righteous, and asks that his seed be spared, and later at Hachilah, spared again, he says he has played the fool.

Spared at En-gedi and Hachilah

Saul “took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats” (1 Samuel 24:2). “And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave” (1 Samuel 24:3). David “cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily” (1 Samuel 24:4) and afterward said to his men, “Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing unto my lord, Jehovah's anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6).

Outside the cave David held up the skirt and said, “there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my life to take it” (1 Samuel 24:11). “Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil” (1 Samuel 24:16-17).

“And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely be king … Swear now therefore unto me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me” (1 Samuel 24:20-21). “And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home” (1 Samuel 24:22). At Hachilah, with Saul asleep and his spear at his head, David again would not put forth his hand, and Saul said, “I have sinned … behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly” (1 Samuel 26:21).

The woman at En-dor (1 Samuel 28:3–25)

Afraid at the host of the Philistines and unanswered by the LORD, Saul seeks a woman with a familiar spirit, and Samuel's word tells him the kingdom is given to David and that he and his sons will be with him on the morrow.

Death at Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1–13; 1 Chronicles 10:1–14)

The archers overtake Saul on Mount Gilboa; he falls upon his sword, his three sons die with him, and the men of Jabesh-gilead take their bodies and bury the bones.

Death at Gilboa

“And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers. Then said Saul to his armorbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armorbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it” (1 Samuel 31:3-4). “So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armorbearer, and all his men, that same day together” (1 Samuel 31:6).

The Philistines fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. “All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan” (1 Samuel 31:12), and “buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days” (1 Samuel 31:13).

Chronicles repeats the death and states the reason: “So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Jehovah, because of the word of Jehovah, which he kept not; and also for that he asked counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire thereby, and inquired not of Jehovah: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).

The Amalekite's report and David's lament (2 Samuel 1:1–27)

A man who says he is an Amalekite tells David that Saul asked him to slay him; David rends his clothes, has the man put to death, and laments Saul and Jonathan.

The Amalekite's report and David's lament

On the third day after David returned to Ziklag, a man came from the camp with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. He told David, “Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also” (2 Samuel 1:4). Asked how he knew, the young man said: “As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him” (2 Samuel 1:6). “I am an Amalekite. And he said unto me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me; for anguish hath taken hold of me” (2 Samuel 1:8-9). “So I stood beside him, and slew him … and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord” (2 Samuel 1:10).

That is the Amalekite's own telling, and 1 Samuel 31:4-5 is the narrator's: there Saul takes his own sword and falls upon it. The text records both and does not comment on the difference. David said to the man, “How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah's anointed?” (2 Samuel 1:14) and “Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee” (2 Samuel 1:16).

David's lament: “Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19). “Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided” (2 Samuel 1:23).

The Gibeonites and the bones of Saul (2 Samuel 21:1–14)

In David's days a famine comes for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death; seven men of his sons are hanged, Rizpah keeps watch, and David buries the bones of Saul and Jonathan in the sepulchre of Kish.

Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 13:13–14; 1 Samuel 15:35; 1 Samuel 28:15–19)

Anointed Saul prince over the LORD's inheritance, told him the kingdom would not continue, mourned for him, and spoke to him at En-dor.

David (1 Samuel 16:21–23; 1 Samuel 18:8–9; 1 Samuel 24:16–17)

His harpist and armorbearer, whom he loved greatly, then the one he eyed, feared, and sought, and called more righteous than himself.

The LORD (1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Samuel 28:6)

Gave Saul the kingdom, then rejected him; the Spirit departed from him and the LORD answered him not.

Jonathan (1 Samuel 13:3; 1 Samuel 14:45; 1 Samuel 19:1–6; 1 Samuel 31:2)

His son, who smote the garrison at Geba, was rescued by the people from the oath, delighted much in David, and fell at Gilboa.

Michal (1 Samuel 18:20–27; 1 Samuel 19:11–17; 1 Samuel 25:44)

His younger daughter, who loved David, was given to him as a snare, and let him down through the window; Saul later gave her to Palti.

Merab (1 Samuel 18:17–19)

His first-born daughter, offered to David and given instead to Adriel the Meholathite.

Abner (1 Samuel 14:50–51; 1 Samuel 17:55; 1 Samuel 26:5; 2 Samuel 2:8–9)

Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle, was captain of his host and after Saul's death made Ish-bosheth king.

Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 2:8–10; 1 Chronicles 8:33)

Saul's son, made king by Abner at Mahanaim; the lists in Chronicles name a son Eshbaal, and the text does not say whether they are one man.

Agag (1 Samuel 15:8–9; 1 Samuel 15:32–33)

The king of the Amalekites whom Saul took alive and spared; Samuel hewed him in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

Doeg the Edomite (1 Samuel 21:7; 1 Samuel 22:9–10; 1 Samuel 22:18)

The chiefest of Saul's herdsmen, who told what he saw at Nob and slew the priests when the king's servants would not.

Ahimelech the priest (1 Samuel 22:11–16)

The priest at Nob whom Saul accused of conspiracy and ordered slain with his father's house.

The Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1–9)

Saul sought to slay them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah, though Israel had sworn unto them; in David's days seven men of his sons were hanged for it.

Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 9:1–7)

Jonathan's son, lame of his feet, to whom David restored all the land of Saul for Jonathan's sake.

The men of Jabesh-gilead (1 Samuel 11:1–11; 1 Samuel 31:11–13)

Delivered by Saul at the start of his reign, they went all night to take the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan.

Major sections

• 1 Samuel 8–10
• 1 Samuel 11–15
• 1 Samuel 16–20
• 1 Samuel 21–27
• 1 Samuel 28–31
• 2 Samuel 1–4
• 2 Samuel 9
• 2 Samuel 21:1–14
• 1 Chronicles 10

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