Saul

How Nave’s arranged it

• 1. Also called SHAUL
• King of EdomGenesis 36:37Genesis 36:381 Chronicles 1:481 Chronicles 1:49
• 2. King of Israel
• A Benjamite, son of Kish1 Samuel 9:11 Samuel 9:2
• Sons of1 Chronicles 8:33
• His personal appearance1 Samuel 9:21 Samuel 10:23
• Made king of Israel1 Samuel 91 Samuel 101 Samuel 11:12–15Hosea 13:11
• Lives at Gibeah of Saul1 Samuel 14:21 Samuel 15:34Isaiah 10:29
• Defeats the Philistines1 Samuel 131 Samuel 14:461 Samuel 14:52
• Strikes the Amalekites1 Samuel 15
• Is reproved by Samuel for usurping the priestly functions1 Samuel 13:11–14
• Samuel rebukes him for disobedience by not exterminating the Amalekites; the loss of his kingdom is foretold1 Samuel 15

The passages, in Bible order (38)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 36:37

   When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 36:372 voices

   “And Samlah died,.... As is supposed, about A. M. 2283. and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead; Rehoboth was one of the cities built by Ashur, Gen 10:11; and was situated near the river Euphrates; and so the Targum of Jonathan calls it Rehoboth which is by Euphrates; but Jerom (n), from Eusebius, takes it to be another city by a river in Edom, and says, that there was in his days a garrison in the country of Gabalena (a part of Idumea), a large village called by that name. (n) De loc. Heb. fol.

   “Little more is recorded than their names, because the history of those that were out of the church (though perhaps it might have been serviceable in politics) would have been of little use in divinity. It is in the church that the memorable instances are found of special grace, and special providence; for that is the enclosure, the rest is common.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 36:37→

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2. Genesis 36:38

   When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 36:382 voices

   “And Saul died,.... About A. M. 2325: and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead: whose name, inverted, is observed by Grotius to be the same with Hannibal; it signifies a gracious lord or king.

   “Little more is recorded than their names, because the history of those that were out of the church (though perhaps it might have been serviceable in politics) would have been of little use in divinity. It is in the church that the memorable instances are found of special grace, and special providence; for that is the enclosure, the rest is common.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 36:38→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 1 Samuel 9:1

   Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 9:12 voices

   “The genealogy of Saul is here given as far as Aphiah (“Abiah,” 1Ch 7:8), who was of the house of Becher the son of Benjamin Gen 46:21. “Kish” 1Ch 9:35-39 was the son of “Ner” the son of “Jehiel,” (or, “Abiel” here and 1Sa 14:51), the first settler (“father,” 1Ch 9:35) at Gibeon, or Gibeah of Saul, and who married “Maachah,” a daughter or granddaughter of Caleb. If so, it is obvious that the names of several generations are omitted between Kish and Abiel, and among them that from which the family of Matri 1Sa 10:21 was called.

   “He was of the tribe of Benjamin; so was the New-Testament Saul, who also was called Paul, and he mentions it as his honour, for Benjamin was a favourite, Rom. xi.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 9:1→

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4. 1 Samuel 9:2

   And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 9:22 voices

   “Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly--He had a fine appearance; for it is evident that he must have been only a little under seven feet tall. A gigantic stature and an athletic frame must have been a popular recommendation at that time in that country.

   “The name Benjamin is a combination, then, of two words, son and right hand: ben means "son" and jamin means "right hand."Let us remember once for all that the tribe of Benjamin was called Jemini.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 9:2→

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5. 1 Samuel 10:1

   Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 10:12 voices

   “These sacred unctions then used, pointed at the great Messiah, or anointed One, the King of the church, and High-priest of our profession, who was anointed with the oil of the spirit without measure, above all the priests and princes of the Jewish church. Kissed - As a testimony of his sincere friendship and affection to him.

   “But it was only a vial of oil that he anointed him with, the vessel brittle, because his kingdom would soon be cracked and broken, and the quantity small, because he had but little of the Spirit conferred upon him to what David had, who was therefore anointed with a horn of oil, as were Solomon and Jehu with a box of oil.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 10:1→

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6. 1 Samuel 10:23

   So they ran and brought Saul, and when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of the others.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 10:232 voices

   “SAUL seems to have known that he was the elect person, having already been secretly anointed by Samuel and, therefore, while the voting was going on and while the lots were being cast, he hid himself. The Lord answered, "Behold, he has hid himself among the stuff. And they ran and fetched him from there." We hardly know why Saul did this.

   “And they ran and fetched him thence,.... Being in haste to see their king elect, and proclaim him: and when he stood among the people; being brought among them, and presented to them: he was higher than any of the people, from the shoulders, and upwards; which made him look very graceful and majestic; height of stature, and a comely form, as Kimchi observes, recommend to royal dignity; and make the people stand more in awe of a prince, and have always been reckoned among all other nations to make a prince venerable; see Gill on 1Sa 9:2.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 10:23→

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7. 1 Samuel 11:12–15

   Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!”

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 11:12–152 voices

   “15. For the Lord had said above to Samuel: They have not rejected you, but me, that I should not reign over them (1 Kings VIII, 7). But of Saul it was said a little before: Because they despised him, and did not bring him gifts (Ibid., X, 27). But he who was rejected, and he who was despised, after the enemies had been slain and victory obtained, heard the people crying out: Give us the men, and we will kill them.

   “The calm and sagacious counsel of Samuel directed the popular feelings into a right channel, by appointing a general assembly of the militia, the really effective force of the nation, at Gilgal, where, amid great pomp and religious solemnities, the victorious leader was confirmed in his kingdom [1Sa 11:15].

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 11:12–15→

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8. 1 Samuel 13:1

   Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 13:12 voices

   “The text of this verse, omitted by the Septuagint, is held to be corrupt, and the numerals denoting Saul’s age at his accession as well as the duration of his reign, are thought to be omitted or faulty. Saul may have been about 30 at his accession, and have reigned some 32 years, since we know that his grandson Mephibosheth was five years old at Saul’s death 2Sa 4:4; and 32 added to the seven and a half years between the death of Saul and that of Ishbosheth, makes up the 40 years assigned to Saul’s dynasty in Act 13:

   “Saul was the son of one year (so the first words are in the original), a phrase which we make to signify the date of his reign, but ordinarily it signifies the date of one's birth, and therefore some understand it figuratively--he was as innocent and good as a child of a year old; so the Chaldee paraphrase: he was without fault, like the son of a year.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 13:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 1 Samuel 13:11–14

   “What have you done?” Samuel asked. And Saul replied, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me, and that you did not come at the appointed time and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash,

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 13:11–142 voices

   “Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings--Saul, though patriotic enough in his own way, was more ambitious of gaining the glory of a triumph to himself than ascribing it to God.

   “16. The prophet indeed knew what he had done, but by asking, he was reproving the act of disobedience. Hence also to Adam sinning in paradise, the Lord says: "Adam, where are you?" (Gen. 3:9). The magnitude of the guilt can also be conveyed through this question — as if he were saying openly: Does it seem a small thing to you that you sinned by disobeying? Rather, by sinning you fell from the lofty summit of your glory.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 13:11–14→

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10. 1 Samuel 14:2

    Meanwhile, Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. And the troops who were with him numbered about six hundred men,

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:22 voices

    “Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah--Hebrew, "Geba"; entrenched, along with Samuel and Ahiah the high priest, on the top of one of the conical or spherical hills which abound in the Benjamite territory, and favorable for an encampment, called Migron ("a precipice").

    “Under a pomegranate tree - Under Rimmon, which not only signifies a pomegranate tree, but also a strong rock, in which six hundred Benjamites took shelter, Jdg 20:45. Probably it was in this very rock that Saul and his six hundred men now lay hidden.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 14:2→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 1 Samuel 14:46

    Then Saul gave up his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:461 voice

    “Then Saul went up from following the Philistines,.... Returned home to his own city, finding that he could get no answer from the Lord, whether he should pursue further or not, and losing the time and opportunity of doing it, by examining into the affair of his son, and casting lots to find it out: and the Philistines went to their own place; their country and cities, such of them as remained, who were not cut off by their own and the sword of the Israelites. Josephus (n) says, Saul killed about 60,000 of them.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 14:46→

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12. 1 Samuel 14:52

    And the war with the Philistines was fierce for all the days of Saul. So whenever he noticed any strong or brave man, Saul would enlist him.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:522 voices

    “When Saul saw any strong man - This was very politic. He thus continued to recruit his army with strong and effective men.

    “He had little reason to be proud of his royal dignity, nor had any of his neighbours cause to envy him, for he had little enjoyment of himself after he took the kingdom. He could not vex his enemies without some vexation to himself, such thorns are crowns quilted with.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 14:52→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. 1 Samuel 15:1

    Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:11 voice

    “Their territory extended over the whole of the eastern portion of the desert of Sinai to Rephidim--the earliest opponent (De 25:18; Ex 17:8-16) --the hereditary and restless enemy of Israel (Nu 14:45; 6:3), and who had not repented (1Sa 14:48) of their bitter and sleepless hatred during the five hundred years that had elapsed since their doom was pronounced.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 15:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 1 Samuel 15:21–25

    The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:21–252 voices

    “Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord--Saul was either blinded by a partial and delusive self-love, or he was, in his declaration to Samuel, acting the part of a bold and artful hypocrite. He professed to have fulfilled the divine command, and that the blame of any defects in the execution lay with the people.

    “And when Saul was charged with negligence and a breach of the law, he did not benefit his cause by alleging his conduct on other matters. For a defence on one count will not operate to obtain an acquittal on another count; but if all things should be done according to law and justice, a man must defend himself in those particulars wherein he is accused, and must either disprove the past, or else confess it with the promise that he will desist, and do so no more.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 15:21–25→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. 1 Samuel 15:34

    Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:341 voice

    “Then Samuel went to Ramah,.... His native place, and where was his usual residence: and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul; which was also his birth place, and where was his father's house, and where he had his palace, and kept his court; and took its name from him, to distinguish it from another Gibeah; and so Josephus (w) says it was called Gabathsaoule, and was about thirty furlongs or four miles from Jerusalem. (w) De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 1.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 15:34→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. 1 Samuel 16:17–23

    And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”

    Verse page →Original language →