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Saul couldn't believe it, and made the protest described above. But Samuel persisted, and eventually persuaded Saul to accept a private anointing. ''Then'' Samuel told Saul where his lost donkeys could be found. Later, Samuel anointed Saul publicly and declared him to be Israel's first king.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Samuel|chap=9-10}}</ref>

Saul couldn't believe it, and made the protest described above. But Samuel persisted, and eventually persuaded Saul to accept a private anointing. ''Then'' Samuel told Saul where his lost donkeys could be found. Later, Samuel anointed Saul publicly and declared him to be Israel's first king.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Samuel|chap=9-10}}</ref>

== Early Career ==

== Early career ==

Almost at once, Saul had a battle to fight. [[Nahash]] of [[Ammon]]<ref name=Spiro/> laid siege to [[Jabesh-gilead]] and demanded a terrible condition for that city's surrender: that he would blind everyone in the town in the right eye. The city fathers begged for seven days to consider the terms--and immediately sent messengers to Saul.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=Catholic/>

Almost at once, Saul had a battle to fight. [[Nahash]] of [[Ammon]]<ref name=Spiro/> laid siege to [[Jabesh-gilead]] and demanded a terrible condition for that city's surrender: that he would blind everyone in the town in the right eye. The city fathers begged for seven days to consider the terms—and immediately sent messengers to Saul.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=Catholic/>

Saul drafted an army three hundred thousand strong by threatening the slaughter of the oxen belonging to anyone who did not respond to the muster. (He slaughtered a team of oxen and sent the pieces to all the tribes to make his point.) With this army, he routed the Ammonite army and raised the siege. This established Saul as a military leader of consequence, and the people rallied to him.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=Spiro/><ref name=Catholic/>

Saul drafted an army three hundred thousand strong by threatening the slaughter of the oxen belonging to anyone who did not respond to the muster. (He slaughtered a team of oxen and sent the pieces to all the tribes to make his point.) With this army, he routed the Ammonite army and raised the siege. This established Saul as a military leader of consequence, and the people rallied to him.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=Spiro/><ref name=Catholic/>

On or about 1079 BC (or 1034 BC according to Thiele), Samuel passed along to Saul God's direct order to do battle against the [[Amalek]]ites and destroy them to the last man, woman, child, and item of livestock. Saul disobeyed ''again.'' He offered [[Agag]], king of the Amalekites, terms of surrender, and preserved intact much livestock and other booty.<ref name=GeoCities/>

On or about 1079 BC (or 1034 BC according to Thiele), Samuel passed along to Saul God's direct order to do battle against the [[Amalek]]ites and destroy them to the last man, woman, child, and item of livestock. Saul disobeyed ''again.'' He offered [[Agag]], king of the Amalekites, terms of surrender, and preserved intact much livestock and other booty.<ref name=GeoCities/>

Now Samuel told Saul definitely that God now rejected him. Saul made a show of repentance, and Samuel accepted it for the moment--but he took care to execute Agag personally. Then Samuel departed from Saul's presence. The two men never saw one another again.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=Spiro/><ref name=Catholic/> (And neither would either man ever know the magnitude of Saul's original error: Agag sired a son before Samuel executed him, and a later descendant of that son, named [[Haman]], would threaten death to the entire Jewish nation under a [[Persia]]n king whom he served as [[vizier]].<ref name=Spiro/>)

Now Samuel told Saul definitely that God now rejected him. Saul made a show of repentance, and Samuel accepted it for the moment—but he took care to execute Agag personally. Then Samuel departed from Saul's presence. The two men never saw one another again.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=Spiro/><ref name=Catholic/> (And neither would either man ever know the magnitude of Saul's original error: Agag sired a son before Samuel executed him, and a later descendant of that son, named [[Haman]], would threaten death to the entire Jewish nation under a [[Persia]]n king whom he served as [[vizier]].<ref name=Spiro/>)

== Early Involvement with David ==

== Early Involvement with David ==

Subsequently, Saul's army was in a standoff against a Philistine army of some size. In the middle of the standoff, a giant-sized warrior named [[Goliath]] came out to challenge the Israelites to send a [[champion]] to fight him in single combat, to decide the issue. The role of single combat to decide a battle between evenly matched forces is well-attested in the Middle East and the [[Mediterranean]] world, so this was hardly an unusual request. What made it formidable was Goliath's sheer size: six cubits and a hand-span tall, and wearing armor that weighed 500 brass [[shekel]]s.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Samuel|chap=17}}</ref>

Subsequently, Saul's army was in a standoff against a Philistine army of some size. In the middle of the standoff, a giant-sized warrior named [[Goliath]] came out to challenge the Israelites to send a [[champion]] to fight him in single combat, to decide the issue. The role of single combat to decide a battle between evenly matched forces is well-attested in the Middle East and the [[Mediterranean]] world, so this was hardly an unusual request. What made it formidable was Goliath's sheer size: six cubits and a hand-span tall, and wearing armor that weighed 500 brass [[shekel]]s.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Samuel|chap=17}}</ref>

In all the army of Israel, no warrior was willing to accept the challenge--none, that is, except a strapping young red-cheeked lad of eighteen. Saul heard that the lad was asking every trooper in sight what reward Saul would give to any man who bested Goliath, and sent for him. Instead of apologizing, the young man said, {{Bible quote|Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.|book=Samuel|chap=17|verses=32|version=KJV}}

In all the army of Israel, no warrior was willing to accept the challenge—none, that is, except a strapping young red-cheeked lad of eighteen. Saul heard that the lad was asking every trooper in sight what reward Saul would give to any man who bested Goliath, and sent for him. Instead of apologizing, the young man said, {{Bible quote|Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.|book=Samuel|chap=17|verses=32|version=KJV}}

Saul couldn't believe such brashness. He pointed out that Goliath had been in the army since he'd been about this youth's age. The lad was unmoved, and said that he had handled lions who had tried to steal his father's sheep, and he would handle Goliath the same way.<ref name=GeoCities/>

Saul couldn't believe such brashness. He pointed out that Goliath had been in the army since he'd been about this youth's age. The lad was unmoved, and said that he had handled lions who had tried to steal his father's sheep, and he would handle Goliath the same way.<ref name=GeoCities/>

To Saul's great surprise, the lad not only killed Goliath, but killed him with no weapon other than a shepherd's sling, and wearing no armor. The Philistines broke and ran, and the Israelites made short work of them and took much battlefield spoil. After it was over, Saul inquired after the lad--and one can only imagine his shock when he learned that the lad was none other than David, son of [[Jesse]] of [[Bethlehem]], the very boy who was accustomed to [[comfort]] him by playing on the harp!<ref name=GeoCities/>

To Saul's great surprise, the lad not only killed Goliath, but killed him with no weapon other than a shepherd's sling, and wearing no armor. The Philistines broke and ran, and the Israelites made short work of them and took much battlefield spoil. After it was over, Saul inquired after the lad—and one can only imagine his shock when he learned that the lad was none other than David, son of [[Jesse]] of [[Bethlehem]], the very boy who was accustomed to [[comfort]] him by playing on the harp!<ref name=GeoCities/>

=== A New General ===

=== A New General ===

Saul was so impressed that he made David a general officer. Jonathan was even more impressed: he and David sealed a friendship that made them closer than brothers.

Saul was so impressed that he made David a general officer. Jonathan was even more impressed: he and David sealed a friendship that made them closer than brothers.

But Saul eventually grew jealous of David, especially when the people credited Saul with killing thousands of enemy, and David with killing myriads.<ref>The Hebrew word, translated ''myriad'' here, is commonly rendered "ten thousand" or "ten of thousands."</ref><ref name=GeoCities/>

But Saul eventually grew jealous of David, especially when the people credited Saul with killing thousands of enemy, and David with killing myriads.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref>The Hebrew word, translated ''myriad'' here, is commonly rendered "ten thousand" or "ten of thousands."</ref>

As part of the reward for killing Goliath, Saul was supposed to let David marry his daughter [[Merab]]. But when the time came, Saul refused--though he did let David marry his younger daughter [[Michal]], who as it happened had fallen in love with David.

As part of the reward for killing Goliath, Saul was supposed to let David marry his daughter [[Merab]]. But when the time came, Saul refused—though he did let David marry his younger daughter [[Michal]], who as it happened had fallen in love with David.

David's reputation continued to wax, and Saul's to wane. From that point on, Saul was David's bitter enemy, to the point where he even threw a javelin at David during one of David's visits to the palace.<ref name=GeoCities/> But in his enmity against David, Saul stood virtually alone--even his own son could not support Saul in his determination to kill David.<ref name=GeoCities/>

David's reputation continued to wax, and Saul's to wane. From that point on, Saul was David's bitter enemy, to the point where he even threw a javelin at David during one of David's visits to the palace.<ref name=GeoCities/> But in his enmity against David, Saul stood virtually alone—even his own son could not support Saul in his determination to kill David.<ref name=GeoCities/>

== Civil War ==

== Civil War ==

== The Last Battle ==

== The Last Battle ==

Shortly after this event, Samuel died. Eventually, Saul found himself about to face a large force of Philistines again, and he urgently desired another message from Samuel, by any means. So he disguised himself, sought out a [[Witch of Endor|witch]] at [[Endor]], and asked her to "bring up" Samuel from the dead. What sort of spirit manifested itself as Samuel, the Bible does not fully explain--but in any event, the message held no hope for Saul.<ref name=GeoCities/>

Shortly after this event, Samuel died. Eventually, Saul found himself about to face a large force of Philistines again, and he urgently desired another message from Samuel, by any means. So he disguised himself, sought out a [[Witch of Endor|witch]] at [[Endor]], and asked her to "bring up" Samuel from the dead. What sort of spirit manifested itself as Samuel, the Bible does not fully explain—but in any event, the message held no hope for Saul.<ref name=GeoCities/>

In the subsequent [[Battle of Mount Gilboa]], Saul and his three sons, Jonathan, [[Abinadab (son of Saul)|Abinadab]], and [[Malchishua]], all fell. The Philistines found his body, dismembered him at the neck, and fastened his body to the wall of [[Bethshan]]. It was one of the worst humiliations a man could suffer in death. Happily, the men of Jabesh-gilead, which was nearby, recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons and decently cremated them.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=Catholic/>

In the subsequent [[Battle of Mount Gilboa]], Saul and his three sons, Jonathan, [[Abinadab (son of Saul)|Abinadab]], and [[Malchishua]], all fell. The Philistines found his body, dismembered him at the neck, and fastened his body to the wall of [[Bethshan]]. It was one of the worst humiliations a man could suffer in death. Happily, the men of Jabesh-gilead, which was nearby, recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons and decently cremated them.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref name=Catholic/>

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

== See Also ==

== See also ==

*[[Samuel]]

*[[Samuel]]

*[[Biblical chronology dispute]]

*[[Biblical chronology dispute]]