Biblical_account Saul

1 biblical account

1.1 house of king saul
1.2 anointed king
1.3 saul among prophets
1.4 military victories
1.5 rejection
1.6 saul , david
1.7 battle of gilboa , death of king saul

biblical account

the biblical accounts of saul s life found in books of samuel:

house of king saul

according tanakh, saul son of kish, of family of matrites, , member of tribe of benjamin, 1 of twelve tribes of israel. appears came gibeah.

david , saul (1885) julius kronberg.

saul married ahinoam, daughter of ahimaaz. had 4 sons , 2 daughters. sons jonathan, abinadab, malchishua , ish-bosheth. daughters named merab , michal. saul had concubine named rizpah, daughter of aiah, bore him 2 sons, armoni , mephibosheth. (2 samuel 21:8).

saul died @ battle of mount gilboa (1 samuel 31:3–6; 1 chronicles 10:3–6), , buried in zelah, in region of benjamin. (2 samuel 21:14) 3 of saul s sons – jonathan, , abinadab, , malchishua – died him @ mount gilboa (1 samuel 31:2; 1 chronicles 10:2). ish-bosheth became king of israel, @ age of forty. @ david s request abner had michal returned david. ish-bosheth reigned 2 years, after death of abner, killed 2 of own captains. (2 samuel 4:5).

armoni , mephibosheth (saul s sons concubine, rizpah) given david along 5 sons of merab (saul s daughter) gibeonites, killed them. (2 samuel 21:8–9) michal childless. (2 samuel 6:23).

the male descendant of saul survive mephibosheth, jonathan s lame son, (2 samuel 4:4) had been 5 when father , grandfather saul had died in battle. in time, came under protection of david. (2 samuel 9:7–13) mephibosheth had young son, micah, (2 samuel 9:12) had 4 sons , descendants named until ninth generation (1 chronicles 8:35–38).

anointed king

death of king saul , 1848 elie marcuse (germany , france, 1817–1902)

the first book of samuel gives 3 accounts of saul s rise throne in 3 successive chapters:

saul sent servant father s strayed donkeys. leaving home @ gibeah, arrive @ district of zuph, @ point saul suggests abandoning search. saul s servant tells him happen near town of ramah, famous seer located, , suggests should consult him first. seer (later identified text samuel) offers hospitality saul , later anoints him in private (1 samuel 9).
a popular movement having arisen establish centralized monarchy other nations, samuel assembles people @ mizpah in benjamin appoint king, fulfilling previous promise (1 samuel 8). samuel organises people tribe , clan. using urim , thummim, selects tribe of benjamin, within tribe selecting clan of matri, , them selecting saul. after having been chosen monarch, saul returns home in gibeah, along number of followers (1 samuel 10:17-24). however, of people openly unhappy selection of saul.
the ammonites, led nahash, lay siege jabesh-gilead. under terms of surrender, occupants of city forced slavery , have right eyes removed. instead send word of other tribes of israel, , tribes west of jordan assemble army under saul. saul leads army victory on ammonites, , people congregate @ gilgal acclaim saul king , crowned (1 samuel 11). saul s first act forbid retribution against had contested kingship.

andré lemaire finds third account reliable tradition. pulpit commentary distinguishes between private , public selection process.

saul among prophets

having been anointed samuel, saul told of signs indicating has been divinely appointed. last of these saul met ecstatic group of prophets leaving high place , playing lyre, tambourine, , flutes. saul encounters ecstatic prophets , joins them. later, saul sends men pursue david, when meet group of ecstatic prophets playing music, become possessed prophetic state , join in. saul sends more men, join prophets. saul himself goes, , joins prophets. (1 samuel 19:24).

military victories

after relieving siege of jabesh-gilead, saul conducts military campaigns against moabites, ammonites, edomites, aram rehob , kings of zobah, philistines, , amalekites (1 samuel 14:47). biblical summary states wherever turned, victorious .

in continuing battles philistines, saul instructs armies, rash oath, fast. methodist commentator joseph benson suggests saul’s intention in putting oath undoubtedly save time, lest philistines should gain ground of them in flight. event showed false policy; people faint , weak want of food, less able follow , slay philistines if had stopped take moderate refreshment . jonathan s party not aware of oath , ate honey, resulting in jonathan realising had broken oath of not aware, nevertheless liable breach, until popular intervention allowed jonathan saved death on account of victory on philistines.

rejection

saul , witch of endor gustave dore.

saul planned military action against philistines. samuel said arrive in 7 days perform requisite rites. when week passed no word of samuel, , israelites growing restless, saul prepares battle offering sacrifices. samuel arrives saul finishing sacrificing , reprimands saul not obeying instructions.

later samuel instructs saul make war on amalekites , utterly destroy them, in fulfilment of mandate set out deuteronomy 25:19:

when lord god has given rest enemies on every hand, in land lord god giving inheritance possess, shall blot out remembrance of amalek under heaven; not forget.

having forewarned kenites living among amalekites leave, saul goes war , defeats amalekites. saul kills men, women, children , poor quality livestock, leaves alive king , best livestock. when samuel learns saul has not obeyed instructions in full, informs saul god has rejected him king due disobedience. samuel turns go, saul seizes hold of garments , tears off piece; samuel prophecies kingdom likewise torn saul. samuel kills amalekite king himself. samuel , saul each return home , never meet again after these events (1 samuel 15:33-35).

saul , david

david , saul, ernst josephson

after samuel tells saul god has rejected him king, david, son of jesse, tribe of judah, enters story: point on saul s story largely account of increasingly troubled relationship david.

samuel heads bethlehem, ostensibly offer sacrifice , invited jesse , sons. dining together, jesse s sons brought 1 one samuel, each being rejected; @ last, jesse sends david, youngest, tending sheep. when brought samuel, david anointed him in front of other brothers.
in 1 samuel 16:14–23, saul troubled evil spirit sent god. requests soothing music, , servant recommends david son of jesse, renowned skills harpist , other talents:


a son of jesse bethlehemite, skillful in playing, mighty man of valor, man of war, prudent in speech, , handsome person; , lord him
when word of saul s needs reaches jesse, sends david, had been looking after jesse s flock, gifts tribute, , david appointed saul s armor bearer. jesse s permission remains @ court, playing harp needed calm saul during troubled spells. (1 samuel 17:15 suggests david attended court periodically).


(1 samuel 17:1–18:5) philistines return army attack israel, , philistine , israelite forces gather on opposite sides of valley. philistine s champion goliath issues challenge single combat, none of israelite accept. david described young shepherd happens delivering food 3 eldest brothers in army, , hears goliath s challenge. david speaks mockingly of philistines soldiers; speech overheard , reported saul, summons david , appoints david champion. david defeats goliath single shot sling. @ end of passage, saul asks general, abner, david is.

saul offered elder daughter merab wife popular david, after victory on goliath, david demurred. david distinguishes himself in philistine wars. upon david s return battle, women praise him in song:

saul has slain thousands , david tens of thousands

implying david greater warrior. saul fears david s growing popularity , henceforth views him rival throne.

saul s son jonathan , david become close friends. jonathan recognizes david rightful king, , made covenant david, because loved him own soul. jonathan gives david military clothes, symbolizing david s position successor saul.

saul threatening david, josé leonardo.

on 2 occasions, saul threw spear @ david played harp saul. david becomes increasingly successful , saul becomes increasingly resentful. saul actively plots against david. saul offered other daughter, michal in marriage david. david rejects offer also, claiming poor. saul offers accept bride price of 100 philistine foreskins, intending david die in attempt. instead, david obtains 200 foreskins , consequently married michal. jonathan arranges short-lived reconciliation between saul , david , while david served saul in times past (1 samuel 19:1-7) until distressing spirit lord re-appeared. saul sends assassins in night, michal helps him escape, tricking them placing household idol in bed. david flees jonathan, arranges meeting father. while dining saul, jonathan explains david s absence, saying has been called away brothers. saul sees through ruse , reprimands jonathan protecting david, warning him love of david cost him kingdom, furiously throwing spear @ him. next day, jonathan meets david , tells him saul s intent. 2 friends goodbyes, , david flees countryside. saul later marries michal man.

saul later informed head shepherd, doeg edomite, high priest ahimelech assisted david, giving him sword of goliath, had been kept @ temple @ nob. doeg kills ahimelech , eighty-five other priests , saul orders death of entire population of nob.

david had left nob point , had amassed 300 disaffected men including outlaws. these men david rescues town of keilah philistine attack. saul realises trap david , men laying city siege. david realizes citizens of keilah betray him saul. flees ziph pursued saul. saul hunts david in vicinity of ziph on 2 occasions:

some of inhabitants of ziph betray david s location saul, david hears , flees men maon. saul follows david, forced break off pursuit when philistines invade. after dealing threat saul tracks david caves @ engedi. searches cave david manages cut off piece of saul s robe without being discovered, yet david restrains men harming king. david leaves cave, revealing himself saul, , gives speech persuades saul reconcile.
on second occasion, saul returns ziph men. when david hears of this, slips saul s camp night, , again restrains men killing king; instead steals saul s spear , water jug, leaving own spear thrust ground saul s side. next day, david reveals himself saul, showing jug , spear proof have slain him. david persuades saul reconcile him; 2 swear never harm each other. after never see each other again.

battle of gilboa , death of king saul

the battle of gilboa, jean fouquet, protagonists depicted anachronistically 15th century armour

the philistines make war again, assembling @ shunem, , saul leads army face them @ mount gilboa. before battle goes consult medium or witch @ endor. medium, unaware of identity, reminds him king has made witchcraft capital offence, assures saul not harm her. conjures spirit of prophet samuel, before death had prophesied lose kingdom. samuel tells him god has rejected him, no longer hear prayers, has given kingdom david , next day lose both battle , life. saul collapses in fear, , medium restores him food in anticipation of next day s battle.

1 samuel , 2 samuel give conflicting accounts of saul s death. in 1 samuel, , in parallel account in 1 chronicles 10, defeated israelites flee, saul asks armour bearer kill him, refuses, , saul falls upon own sword. in 2 samuel, amalekite tells david found saul leaning on spear after battle , delivered coup de grâce. david has amalekite put death rejoicing in death of anointed king.

the victorious philistines recover saul s body of 3 sons died in battle, decapitated them , displayed them on wall of beth-shan. display saul s armour in temple of ashtaroth (an ascalonian temple of canaanites). @ night inhabitants of jabesh-gilead retrieve bodies cremation , burial.(1 samuel 31:8–13, 1 chronicles 10:12)). later on, david takes bones of saul , of son jonathan , buries them in zela, in tomb of father (2 samuel 21:12–14).

the account in 1 chronicles summarises stating that:

saul died unfaithfulness had committed against lord, because did not keep word of lord, , because consulted medium guidance.




^ jacobs, joseph; price, ira maurice; singer, isidore; lauterbach, jacob zallel (1906). saul . jewish encyclopedia. retrieved 15 september 2014. 
^ 1 samuel 14:51 lists 3 sons – jonathan, , ishvi, , malchi-shua – , 2 daughters. see 2 samuel 2:8 , 1 chronicles 8:33.
^ hebrew versions 5 sons michal s – e.g., 2 samuel 21:8–9
^ driscoll, james f. (1912). saul . catholic encyclopedia. 13. new york: robert appleton company. retrieved 15 september 2014. 
^ cambridge bible schools , colleges on 1 samuel 10, accessed 1 may 2017
^ saul, first king of israel , chabad.org
^ king saul , ancient israel: abraham roman destruction of temple, (hershel shanks, ed.), biblical archaeology society
^ pulpit commentary on 1 samuel 10, accessed 1 may 2017
^ 1 samuel 14:47: new living translation; other translations vary
^ benson commentary on 1 samuel 14, accessed 7 may 2017
^ 1 samuel 14:24-45
^ 1 samuel 15:3
^ cambridge bible schools , colleges on 1 samuel 16, accessed 12 may 2017
^ 1 samuel 16:20: donkey loaded bread, skin of wine, , young goat
^ 1 samuel 18:7, recurring in 1 samuel 21:11 , 1 samuel 29:5
^ 1 samuel 18 ; esv – david , jonathan s friendship . bible gateway. retrieved 15 september 2014. 
^ g. darshan, reinterment of saul , jonathan s bones (ii sam 21, 12–14) in light of ancient greek hero-cult stories , zaw, 125,4 (2013), 640–645.
^ 1 chronicles 10:13-14