Lexical Definition

‎שָׁאוּל‎ Shâʼûwl (shaw-ool') Saul ^N:N-M-P
passive participle of ‎שָׁאַל‎; asked

Saul, Shaul.

• § Saul or Shaul = "desired"
• Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites

1) a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the 1st king of Israel
2) an early king of Edom and a successor of Samlah
3) a son of Simeon
4) a Levite, son of Uzziah

See Greek: Σαούλ

Extended Information

• A king of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.2
• son of: Kish (קִישׁ); married to Ahinoam (אֲחִינֹעַם) and Rizpah (רִצְפָּה)
• father of: Jonathan (יְהוֹנָתָן), Abinadab (אֲבִינָדָב), Malchi-shua (מַלְכִּישׁוּעַ), Merab (מֵרָב), Michal (מִיכָל), Ish-bosheth (אִישׁ־בֹּשֶׁת), Armoni (אַרְמֹנִי), Mephibosheth (מְפִיבֹשֶׁת)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎שָׁאוּל‎ proper name, masculine ( = asked (of ‎׳‎‎י‎), cf ‎שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל‎ below; Palmyrene proper name ‎שאילא‎ Lzb³⁷¹ Cooke²⁸³); — Σαονλ:

1.₃₉₇ 1st king of Israel, 1Sam 9:2; 1Sam 9:3 (twice in verse); 1Sam 9:5 (son of Kish, a Benjamite) + 359 t. Samuel; 28 t. 1 Chronicles; Ps 18:1*; Ps 52:2*; Ps 54:2*; Ps 57:1*; Ps 59:1* (all in titles); ‎׳‎‎גִּבְעַת שׁ‎ Isa 10:29 (and 1Sam 11:4; 1Sam 15:34; 2Sam 21:6 see II . ‎גִּבְעָה‎).

2. a king of Edom Gen 36:37; Gen 36:38 (P) = 1Chr 1:48; 1Chr 1:49

3. a son of Simeon Gen 46:10; Exod 6:15; Num 26:13 (all P) = 1Chr 4:24.

4. a Levite 1Chr 6:9*.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • King of Israel, • First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel

King living at the time of United Monarchy

Saul was the first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel, who initially followed God but later disobeyed and was rejected as king.

• A king of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.2;
• referred to as Saul שָׁאוּל, or Saul Σαούλ;
• a son of Kish קִישׁ;
• husband of Ahinoam אֲחִינֹעַם and Rizpah רִצְפָּה;
• father of Jonathan יְהוֹנָתָן, Abinadab אֲבִינָדָב, Malchi-shua מַלְכִּישׁוּעַ, Merab מֵרָב, Michal מִיכָל, Ish-bosheth אִישׁ־בֹּשֶׁת, Armoni אַרְמֹנִי, Mephibosheth מְפִיבֹשֶׁת.

Saul was the first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel in response to the people's request for a king (1 Samuel 8-10). He was a tall and handsome Benjamite who initially showed humility and potential as a leader (1 Samuel 9:2, 21; 10:6-7, 9-10). However, Saul's reign was marked by disobedience and rebellion against God. He offered an unlawful sacrifice before a battle against the Philistines (1 Samuel 13:8-14) and later disobeyed God's command to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions (1 Samuel 15). As a result, God rejected Saul as king and chose David to replace him (1 Samuel 15:23, 28; 16:1, 13). Saul became jealous of David's success and popularity, leading him to pursue David and attempt to kill him on multiple occasions (1 Samuel 18-26). Saul also massacred the priests of Nob for assisting David (1 Samuel 22:6-23). In a battle against the Philistines, Saul was critically wounded and took his own life to avoid capture (1 Samuel 31:1-6). His body was later recovered by the men of Jabesh-gilead and buried (1 Samuel 31:11-13). Despite his tragic end, Saul's reign united the tribes of Israel and laid the foundation for the Israelite monarchy. His life serves as a warning against disobedience and the consequences of turning away from God.

All entries for Saul: שָׁאוּל ☩ Σαούλ

Related Profiles:

• Kish (father)
• Ahinoam (spouse)
• Rizpah (spouse)
• Jonathan (child)
• Abinadab (child)
• Malchi-shua (child)
• Merab (child)
• Michal (child)
• Ish-bosheth (child)
• Armoni (child)
• Mephibosheth (child)