Kish was a wealthy man from the tribe of Benjamin and the father of Saul, Israel's first king. He is known as a prominent man of his clan, and his son was anointed by the prophet Samuel to become Israel's first king. Kish played an indirect but important role in Israel's transition from the period of the judges to the monarchy.
1There was a man from Benjamin whose name was Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite; he was a man of standing.
2He had a son named Saul, young and handsome. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders above all the people.
3Now the donkeys belonging to Kish, Saul's father, had strayed off, and Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys."
4So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the region of Shalishah, but they did not find them. They went on through the region of Shaalim, and they were not there. They passed through the territory of Benjamin, and still did not find them.
5When they came to the region of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, "Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us."
2When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel's tomb at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you went to look for have been found. Your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and is anxious about you, asking, "What shall I do about my son?"'
Samuel gathered the people at Mizpah and presented Saul, son of Kish, as Israel's chosen king. Kish is specifically mentioned as his father's name in this royal selection.
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!"
Kish's family tree and background are repeated in the books of Chronicles, where his connection to the tribe of Benjamin and his role as Saul's father are confirmed.
33Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.[^1]
[^1]: Eshbaal is called Ish-bosheth in the books of Samuel.
The apostle Paul mentions Kish in his speech at the synagogue in Antioch, stating that God gave the people Saul, son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin, as king for forty years.