In brief
Saul is the first king of Israel. A tall young Benjamite, he sets out to look for his father’s donkeys and meets Samuel, who anoints him as leader of Yahweh’s people. Humble at first, he later disobeys the command given against Amalek, because he fears the people. Samuel announces that God rejects him as king. He dies at the battle of Gilboa against the Philistines. We remember that a promising start does not replace obedience to the word of God.
What does the name Saul mean?
His name is generally linked to the Hebrew verb “to ask” and would mean “asked for.” This link recalls that the people had asked for a king. The Bible does not directly explain this name in the passages devoted to his story.
The story of Saul
A young man sent to find donkeys
1 Samuel 9:1-21Saul is the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin. He is young and handsome, and stands taller than everyone else. He goes to look for his father’s lost donkeys and arrives at Samuel’s. Yahweh tells Samuel that this is the man he spoke of, and Saul humbly answers that he comes from one of the smallest tribes of Israel.
The anointing and the new heart
1 Samuel 10:1-9Samuel takes a vial of oil, pours it on Saul’s head and tells him that Yahweh has anointed him to be prince over his inheritance. He announces signs and a change: Saul “will be turned into another man.” As soon as Saul turns his back to leave Samuel, God gives him another heart, and the signs happen that same day.
The king acclaimed by the people
1 Samuel 10:17-27Samuel gathers the people. Saul is chosen, and Samuel asks whether they see the one whom Yahweh has chosen, since there is no one like him among all the people. All the people shout, “Long live the king!” Saul thus becomes the first king of Israel.
Disobedience and rejection
1 Samuel 15:1-35God orders Saul to strike Amalek and to utterly destroy all that they have. Saul and the people spare King Agag and the best of the cattle. Yahweh grieves that he made Saul king. Saul admits, “I have sinned,” then explains that he feared the people. Samuel tells him that, since he has rejected Yahweh’s word, Yahweh has also rejected him from being king.
Death at Gilboa
1 Samuel 31:1-13The Philistines pursue Saul and his sons. Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua are killed, and Saul is severely wounded by the archers. He dies on the same day as his three sons. The next day, the Philistines find the bodies on Mount Gilboa. Men of Jabesh then take the bodies and bury them, and fast for seven days.
What Saul teaches us
- A good start is not enough: we must persevere in obedience to the word of God.
- Fearing the gaze of others more than God leads to bad choices, like Saul before the people.
- God prefers the obedience of the heart to the most visible offerings.
- The humility of the beginning must be kept up, otherwise position takes the place of dependence on God.
Key verses
Samuel presents Saul to the people as the one whom Yahweh has chosen. God’s choice comes before any merit, but it calls for a faithful response from the one who has received it.
“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” This is the central verse of Saul’s story.
Saul admits that he “feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” Fear of people explains his disobedience and remains a present-day trap for believers.
Sermons about Saul
Frequently asked questions
Who was Saul in the Bible?
Saul was the first king of Israel, a Benjamite and the son of Kish. Anointed by Samuel, he reigned over the people, but he disobeyed God and was rejected as king. He died at the battle of Gilboa against the Philistines.
Why did God reject Saul?
In 1 Samuel 15, Saul did not obey the command given against Amalek: he spared King Agag and the best of the cattle. Samuel tells him that obedience is better than sacrifice. Saul admits that he feared the people.
Where can I find the story of Saul in the Bible?
It begins in the first book of Samuel. Chapter 9 tells of his meeting with Samuel, chapter 10 his anointing, chapter 15 his rejection, and chapter 31 his death at Gilboa.