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 career ==
Almost at once, Saul had a battle to fight. [[Nabash]] 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/>
== 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 so-called "Holy 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/>
== Related References ==
<references/>
== See Also also ==
*[[David]]
*[[United Kingdom of Israel]]
*[[Samuel]]
*[[Biblical chronology dispute]]
[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Biblical persons]]