Saul
First king of the United Monarchy of Israel and Judah
Saul was a monarch of ancient Israel and Judah and, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, the first king of the United Monarchy. His reign, traditionally placed in the late eleventh century BC, marked the transition of the Israelites from a scattered tribal society ruled by various judges to organized statehood. The historicity of Saul and the United Kingdom of Israel is not universally accepted, as what is known of both comes largely from the Hebrew Bible.
Lore & Background
According to the Hebrew Bible, Saul was the son of Kish, of the family of the Matrites, and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. He came from Gibeah. Saul married Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz, with whom he sired at least four sons (Jonathan, Abinadab, Malchishua, and Ishvi, who is also called Ish-bosheth) and two daughters (Merab and Michal). He also had a concubine named Rizpah, who bore him two sons, Armoni and Mephibosheth. Saul died at the Battle of Mount Gilboa, and was buried in Zelah, in the region of Benjamin. Three of his sons – Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua – died with him. His surviving son Ish-bosheth (also known as Ishvi) became king of Israel, reigning for two years before being murdered. The biblical narrative contains several textual inconsistencies and plays on words, including conflicting accounts of Saul's anointing and death.
Reader's Guide
The biblical accounts of Saul's life are found in the Books of Samuel. According to the Hebrew text, Saul reigned for two years, but Biblical scholars generally agree that the text is faulty and that a reign of 20 or 22 years is more probable. In the New Testament book of Acts 13:21, the Apostle Paul indicates that Saul's reign lasted for forty years. The First Book of Samuel gives three accounts of Saul's rise to the throne: he was anointed privately by Samuel; he was chosen by lot at Mizpah; and he was acclaimed king after leading a victory over the Ammonites. After being rejected by God for disobeying Samuel's instructions, Saul's story becomes largely the account of his increasingly troubled relationship with David.
Did You Know?
- Saul is said to have committed suicide by falling on his sword during a battle with the Philistines at Mount Gilboa.
- Saul's son Ishvi is the same person as Ish-bosheth, as confirmed by 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39; the different names appear in different biblical lists.
- During a famine, David granted the Gibeonites jurisdiction to execute seven of Saul's descendants to avenge Saul's treatment of the Gibeonites.
Elsewhere in Figures of Scripture
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