Saul: character analysis and biblical significance

Saul was the victim of his own frailties and shortcomings. He is presented especially through an implicit comparison with David, who possesses all the qualities that Saul lacks: generosity, honesty, humility and goodness. The son of a wealthy man of the tribe of Benjamin, Saul was the first king of Israel whose story is told in the books of Samuel, chapters 9-31. His reign extended over approximately two decades towards the end of the second millennium B.C. At the time of his enthronement the land of Israel was ruled by judges but the people wanted a kind like other nations, so Samuel, the last Judge of Israel, asked God for advice. God told Samuel to anoint Sault as the first king:."..Behold the man whom I spoke to thee of! this same shall reign over my people" (1 Samuel 9:17).

Saul's first battle as the king of Israel was against the army of the Ammonites whom he miraculously defeated, and his string of victories continued. Nonetheless, he did not obey the Lord and continued to loot the territories he conquered. In fact, the beginning of his decay is one of the most tragic images in the bible. Although God wanted to change Saul's destiny by making him the first king of Israel: "And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy...and shalt be turned into another man" (1 Samuel 10:6). Nonetheless, Saul's nature did not change. He became jealous of David who had been his ally and support, because of David's good deeds such as killing Goliath. His jealousy kept growing and he became distant from God:."..God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams..." (1 Samuel 28:15). Instead, he even tried to kill David and threw a spear at his own son, Jonathan whom David had befriended.