Church of God Knowledge Encyclopedia

Saul

Saul (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל)[1] was the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin and the first king of the Kingdom of Israel. His name means “asked for” or “requested.” Among the Israelites, Saul was known for his impressive appearance—he was taller and more handsome than anyone else.[2] He was anointed by Samuel, the last judge of Israel, and reigned as king for 40 years.[3] During his reign, Saul strengthened the nation by securing victories against the Philistines, Moabites, Amalekites, and other surrounding enemies. However, over time, he became arrogant and disobeyed God’s commands. As a result, his kingship was taken away and given to David from the tribe of Judah.

Saul
Excerpt from David and Saul by Ernst Josephson, 1878: Saul is in agony.
PeriodKingdom Age (B.C. 11th Century)
FamilyFather: Kish (Tribe of Benjamin)
Wife: Ahinoam
Concubine: Rizpah
Sons: Jonathan (eldest son), Ishvi, Malchi-shua, Ish-bosheth
Illegitimate Children: Armoni, Mephibosheth
Grandson: Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan)
Daughters: Merab (eldest daughter), Michal (youngest, wife of David)
Son-in-law: David (Successor)
BirthplaceGibeah of Benjamin
Occupation(Features)First King of the Kingdom of Israel
Activity areaGibeah, Mizpah, Gilgal

Historical Background

After the Israelites left Egypt, they wandered in the desert for forty years before entering Canaan, the promised land. Once they settled in Canaan, they lived in tribal communities, each in the territory allotted to their tribe. Although there was no national leader like Moses or Joshua, God raised up judges whenever foreign enemies invaded. These judges helped unite the people temporarily to overcome crises. However, the Israelites eventually rejected God’s way of leading them and demanded a king, wanting to be like the other nations. They believed that a powerful king would better protect them from their enemies.[4] Although God, through the prophet Samuel, warned that having a king would not be to their benefit, the people insisted.[5] So God granted their request and instructed Samuel to anoint a king.[6] God chose Saul, the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin, as the first king of Israel.[7]

Saul’s Life

Appointed as King

 
Although Saul was chosen as Israel’s first king by lot, he was so humble that he hid among the baggage to avoid attention.

One day, Saul and his servant were searching for his father Kish’s lost donkeys, wandering from town to town. Despite their efforts, they couldn’t find them, and Saul began to worry. Then his servant suggested they seek guidance from Samuel, the prophet of God. Saul agreed, and they went to see him. When Samuel met Saul, God revealed that Saul was the one He had chosen to be king. Samuel delivered this message to Saul, but Saul, in his humility, felt unworthy of such a role.[8] Seeing Saul’s modest heart, God allowed him to be anointed as the king of Israel.[9]

Later, Samuel gathered the people and cast lots to publicly appoint the new king.[10] The lot fell on Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin. Even after being chosen, Saul remained so humble that he hid among the baggage to avoid attention. But God revealed his hiding place,[11] and the people brought him out and joyfully proclaimed him king.[12] Despite the celebration, Saul quietly returned to his hometown and resumed farming, just as he had before.

Saul’s Rise to the Throne

Around that time, the Ammonites attacked the Israelite city of Jabesh Gilead. In desperation, the elders of Jabesh sent messengers to all the tribes of Israel, urgently requesting reinforcements. Saul, who was out in the fields tending his oxen, heard the news. At that moment, God stirred up righteous anger in his heart. To rally the Israelites, Saul slaughtered two oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them throughout Israel as a call to arms. In response, 330,000 men gathered before Saul, ready to join the battle.[13] At dawn the next day, Saul divided the army into three groups and launched a surprise attack on the Ammonites. After fierce fighting until midday, the Israelites won a great victory.[14] Through this triumph, Saul gained the full recognition of the people and was officially crowned as Israel’s first king.[15]

Once on the throne, Saul led Israel to defeat its long-time enemies, including the Philistines, Amalekites, Moabites, and Ammonites.[16] God granted him victory in every battle he fought, and Saul laid the foundation of the kingdom with the people’s unwavering support.

Saul’s Unauthorized Offering

After Saul became king, war broke out between Israel and the Philistines. The Philistine army was vast—30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Faced with such an overwhelming force, the Israelites were terrified. Many went into hiding, while others fled across the Jordan River.[17] To encourage the people and strengthen their hearts, Saul decided to offer a burnt offering. However, he had been instructed to wait seven days for Samuel, the prophet and priest, to arrive and perform the sacrifice. When Samuel didn’t appear on time and the people began to scatter, Saul took matters into his own hands and offered the sacrifice himself.[18] But this was a serious violation. The priestly duty of offering sacrifices was reserved solely for priests—descendants of Aaron. By taking on this role himself, Saul usurped the priesthood and disobeyed God’s command. When Samuel finally arrived and saw what Saul had done, he rebuked him sharply. Saul tried to justify his actions, claiming he had acted out of necessity due to the crisis. But Samuel replied, “You have acted foolishly.” He warned Saul that because of his disobedience, God would take the kingdom away from him and give it to another man. Then Samuel turned and left.[19]

Saul’s Disobedience

 
Saul Reproved by Samuel by John Singleton Copley, 1798

While Saul was establishing the foundation of his kingdom, God gave him a clear mission: to completely destroy the Amalekites. These people had long been enemies of Israel. During the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness, the Amalekites had attacked the weak and vulnerable from behind, showing no compassion.[20] Now, God commanded Saul to carry out His divine judgment against them. The instructions were explicit—Saul was to destroy everything: men, women, children, and even livestock. Nothing was to be spared.[21] However, Saul did not fully obey. Instead, he spared King Agag and took him as a prisoner. He also kept the best of the livestock, only destroying what was weak and worthless.[22]

When God saw Saul’s disobedience, He regretted making him king.[23] Samuel, who deeply cared for Saul, was heartbroken and confronted him. But Saul did not admit his wrongdoing. Instead, he excused his actions by claiming the people had kept the best animals to offer as sacrifices to God.[24] Samuel replied that to obey is better than sacrifice, and disobedience is like idolatry. He then delivered God’s judgment: because of Saul’s rebellion, the kingdom would be taken away from him.


But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

1 Samuel 15:22–23


Amidst all this, Saul became more concerned with his reputation than with obedience to God.[25] He pleaded with Samuel to honor him before the people. Reluctantly, Samuel granted his request, allowing Saul to worship God one last time in front of the assembly. However, after the worship, Samuel immediately fulfilled God’s command—he brought out King Agag and executed him on the spot. From that day forward, Samuel never saw Saul again.[26]

An Evil Spirit Torments Saul

 
David Plays for Saul by Bernardo Cavallino, 1645

The next king after Saul was David, the son of Jesse from the tribe of Judah. Although Samuel was still grieving over Saul’s downfall, he obeyed God’s command and anointed David. From that day on, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon David.[27]

Meanwhile, Saul began to suffer from an evil spirit sent by God.[28] Tormented and restless, Saul’s servants suggested bringing in someone skilled in playing the harp to soothe him. David, known for his musical talent, was brought before the king. Saul was pleased with him and made him his armor-bearer. Whenever the evil spirit came upon Saul, David would play the harp, and the music would calm him. The spirit would depart, and Saul would find relief.[29]

Saul Tries to Kill David

 
Saul Attacking David by Guercino, 1646

David famously defeated Goliath, the Philistine warrior whom all of Israel feared, with a single stone from his sling—a bold act done in the name of God.[30] After the battle, as the Israelite army returned, women came out singing and dancing, praising the victors: “Saul has slain his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.” Hearing this, Saul was furious.[31] The people praised David more than him, and jealousy took root in Saul’s heart.[32]

From then on, Saul saw David as a threat and tried to kill him whenever he had the chance. He hurled a spear at David while he played the harp,[33] and later sent him on a dangerous mission to kill a hundred Philistines, hoping David would die in battle. But David returned victorious every time. Realizing that David was destined to become king, Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill him.

But David had powerful allies within Saul’s own family. Jonathan, Saul’s son and David’s closest friend, recognized that David was God’s chosen one. Though he was the heir to the throne, Jonathan chose loyalty to David over his own claim.[34] Michal, Saul’s daughter and David’s wife, also helped him escape.[35] For years, David fled from place to place—Ramah Naioth, Nob, the cave of Adullam, the forest of Hereth, the wilderness of Ziph, and the wilderness of En Gedi. Wherever he went, Saul relentlessly pursued him. But time and again, God protected David and helped him escape. Twice, David had the chance to kill Saul, but he refused. Instead, he said, “I will not lift my hand against the LORD’s anointed.”[36][37] David honored Saul’s position as king, even while being hunted by him. Eventually, David fled to the land of the Philistines. Only then did Saul finally stop his pursuit.

Saul’s Death

 
Death of King Saul by Elie Marcuse, 1848

The Philistines assembled their full army to attack Israel. When Saul saw the vastness of their forces, he was gripped with fear. In desperation, he made a foolish and forbidden decision—he sought out a medium to try and gain guidance. The battle ended in tragedy. On Mount Gilboa, Saul and his three sons, including Jonathan, were killed. As the tide of war turned against Israel and Saul was critically wounded by an arrow, he chose to take his own life rather than be captured and killed by the enemy.[38] After the battle, the Philistines found Saul’s body and hung it on the wall of Beth Shan as a public display of their victory. When the brave warriors of Jabesh Gilead heard what had happened, they risked their lives to retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons. They brought them back to Jabesh and gave them a proper burial.[39]

Lesson

When Saul saw himself as small and humble, God raised him up and made him king of Israel.[8] But as he grew proud and disobedient, he turned away from God’s ways—and in the end, God regretted choosing him as king.[40]

Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?”

1 Samuel 15:17–19


If our hearts are filled with arrogance, we begin to place our own thoughts above the word of God. This is exactly what happened to Saul when he disobeyed God’s command to destroy the Amalekites—his pride led him down the path of downfall.

In contrast, David remained humble and valued God’s word more than pure gold.[41] He recognized that the nation belonged to God[42] and constantly sought His guidance. Because of this, David was able to lead Israel with strength and wisdom.[43] Arrogance leads to destruction, but humility brings honor.[44] God opposes the proud but gives grace and salvation to the humble.[45][46][47]

See also

Related videos

  • Sermon: David’s Obedience & Saul’s Disobedience

References

  1. ↑ Strong's Hebrew: 7586. שָׁאוּל, Bible Hub
  2. ↑ "1 Samuel 9:1–2".
  3. ↑ "Acts 13:21-22".
  4. ↑ "1 Samuel 8:20".
  5. ↑ "1 Samuel 8:10–19".
  6. ↑ "1 Samuel 8:22".
  7. ↑ "1 Samuel 9:15–16".
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "1 Samuel 9:20-21".
  9. ↑ "1 Samuel 10:1".
  10. ↑ "1 Samuel 10:17–19".
  11. ↑ "1 Samuel 10:21–22".
  12. ↑ "1 Samuel 10:24".
  13. ↑ "1 Samuel 11:5-8".
  14. ↑ "1 Samuel 11:11".
  15. ↑ "1 Samuel 11:14-15".
  16. ↑ "1 Samuel 14:47-48".
  17. ↑ "1 Samuel 13:5-7".
  18. ↑ "1 Samuel 13:8-9".
  19. ↑ "1 Samuel 13:13-15".
  20. ↑ "Deuteronomy 25:17-19".
  21. ↑ "1 Samuel 15:1-3".
  22. ↑ "1 Samuel 15:7-9".
  23. ↑ "1 Samuel 15:10-11".
  24. ↑ "1 Samuel 15:20-21".
  25. ↑ "1 Samuel 15:30".
  26. ↑ "1 Samuel 15:35".
  27. ↑ "1 Samuel 16:13".
  28. ↑ "1 Samuel 16:14".
  29. ↑ "1 Samuel 16:23".
  30. ↑ "1 Samuel 17:45-49".
  31. ↑ "1 Samuel 18:7-8".
  32. ↑ "1 Samuel 18:7-9".
  33. ↑ "1 Samuel 18:10-11".
  34. ↑ "1 Samuel 20:13-14".
  35. ↑ "1 Samuel 19:1-12".
  36. ↑ "1 Samuel 24:4-7".
  37. ↑ "1 Samuel 26:7-12".
  38. ↑ "1 Samuel 31:4-6".
  39. ↑ "1 Samuel 31:11-13".
  40. ↑ "1 Samuel 15:11".
  41. ↑ "Psalms 19:9-11".
  42. ↑ "2 Samuel 5:12".
  43. ↑ "Psalms 144:2-4".
  44. ↑ "Proverbs 18:12".
  45. ↑ "1 Peter 5:5-6".
  46. ↑ "Job 22:29".
  47. ↑ "Proverbs 3:34".
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