Yhdistynyt kuningaskuntaKingWarriorc. 1080–1010 BC
Saul was Israel's first king, anointed by the prophet Samuel. He began humbly and won victories over the Philistines, but disobedience and jealousy led to his downfall. His persecution of David and consultation with a medium showed how far he had drifted from God.
21Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was chosen; and Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.
24Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people." And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!"
7He took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the territory of Israel with this message: "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel." Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man.
11The next day Saul divided his men into three companies. During the last watch of the night they broke into the enemy camp and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there before the LORD they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites celebrated with great joy.
11Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul answered, "When I saw that the people were slipping away from me, and that you did not come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines were massing at Michmash,
13Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. If you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
14But now your kingdom will not endure. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."
9Saul and the army spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fattened animals and the lambs—everything of value. These they were unwilling to destroy; but everything despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.
22But Samuel said: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and defiance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."
8Saul was furious; this saying displeased him deeply. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he said, "but me with only thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?"
10The next day an evil spirit from God came powerfully upon Saul, and he raved inside the house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day after day. Saul had a spear in his hand,