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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. [[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/>

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 ==

== 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 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/>

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 ==

== Related References ==

<references/>

<references/>

== See Also ==

== See also ==

*[[David]]

*[[David]]

*[[United Kingdom of Israel]]

*[[United Kingdom of Israel]]

*[[Samuel]]

*[[Samuel]]

*[[Biblical chronology dispute]]

*[[Biblical chronology dispute]]

[[Category:Bible]]

[[Category:Bible]]

[[Category:Biblical persons]]

[[Category:Biblical persons]]