Who was Saul in The Bible?

Answer 1

There are actually two persons in The Bible names Saul. The first was a Benjamite descended from Jeiel (presumably also called Abiel) through Ner and Kish (1 Chronicles 8:29-33; 9:35-39); the first divinely selected king of Israel. (1 Samuel 9:15, 16; 10:1) Saul came from a wealthy family. A handsome man, standing head and shoulders taller than all others of his nation, he possessed great physical strength and agility. - 1 Samuel 9:1, 2; 2Sa 1:23.

About a month after being anointed as King, Ammonite King Nahash demanded the surrender of Jabesh in Gilead. When messengers brought news of this to Saul, God's spirit became operative upon him. He quickly rallied an army of 330,000 men and led it to victory. This resulted in a strengthening of Saul's position as king, the people even requesting that those who had spoken against him be put to death. But Saul, appreciating that Jehovah had granted the victory, did not consent to this. Subsequently, at Gilgal, Saul's kingship was confirmed anew.-1 Samuel 11:1-15.

Next Saul undertook steps to break the power of the Philistines over Israel. He chose 3,000 Israelites, placing 2,000 under himself and the remainder under his son Jonathan. Evidently acting at his father's direction, "Jonathan struck down the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba." In retaliation, the Philistines assembled a mighty force and began camping at Michmash.-1 Samuel 13:3, 5.

Meanwhile Saul had withdrawn from Michmash to Gilgal in the Jordan Valley. There he waited seven days for Samuel. But Samuel did not come at the appointed time. Fearing that the enemy would sweep down upon him when he had not secured Jehovah's help and that further delay would result in losing his army, Saul 'compelled himself' to offer up the burnt sacrifice. Samuel, on arriving, condemned Saul's 'foolish act' as sinful. Evidently, Saul's sin consisted of his presumptuously going ahead with the sacrifice and not obeying Jehovah's commandment, which had been given through his representative Samuel, to wait for Samuel to offer up the sacrifice. (Compare 1 Samuel 10:8.) As a consequence of this act, Saul's kingdom was not to last.-1 Samuel 13:1-14.

In the progress of the campaign against the Philistines, Saul pronounced a curse upon anyone partaking of food before vengeance was executed on the enemy. This rash oath led to adverse consequences. The Israelites tired, and though they triumphed over the Philistines, their victory was not as great as it might have been. Famished, they did not take time to drain the blood from the animals they afterward slaughtered, thereby violating God's law concerning the sanctity of blood. Not having heard his father's oath, Jonathan ate some honey. Saul, therefore, pronounced the death sentence upon him. But the people redeemed Jonathan, for he had been instrumental in Israel's gaining the victory.-1 Samuel 14:1-45.

Throughout Saul's reign there were repeated battles against the Philistines and other peoples, including the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and Amalekites. (1 Samuel 14:47, 48, 52) In the war against the Amalekites, Saul transgressed Jehovah's command by sparing the best of their flock and herd as well as their king, Agag. When asked why he had not obeyed Jehovah's voice, Saul disclaimed guilt and shifted the blame onto the people. Only after Samuel emphasized the serious nature of the sin and said that, because of it, Jehovah was rejecting him as king did Saul acknowledge that his error was the result of his fearing the people. After Saul pleaded with Samuel to honor him in front of the older men and in front of Israel by accompanying him, Samuel did appear with him before them. Then Samuel himself proceeded to put Agag to death. After that, Samuel parted from Saul and they had no further association.-1 Samuel 15:1-35.

It was after this and after the anointing of David as Israel's future king that Jehovah's spirit left Saul. From then on "a bad spirit from Jehovah terrorized him." Having withdrawn his spirit from Saul, Jehovah made it possible for a bad spirit to gain possession of him, depriving Saul of his peace of mind and stirring up his feelings, thoughts, and imaginations in a wrong way. Saul's failure to obey Jehovah indicated a bad inclination of mind and heart, against which God's spirit offered Saul no protection or resistive force. However, since Jehovah had permitted the "bad spirit" to replace his spirit and terrorize Saul, it could be termed a "bad spirit from Jehovah," so that Saul's servants spoke of it as "God's bad spirit." On the recommendation of one of his attendants, Saul requested that David be his court musician to calm him when he was troubled by the "bad spirit."-1 Samuel 16:14-23; 17:15.

The second Saul mentioned in the Bible was a Benjamite of the city of Tarsus in Asia Minor who persecuted Christ's followers but later became an apostle of Jesus Christ. (Acts 9:1, 4, 17; 11:25; 21:39; Philippians 3:5) In all of his letters he referred to himself by his Latin name Paul.

Answer 2

In the Bible, we read about two Sauls who live centuries apart.

One was the first king of Israel, who started out good, but later developed a haughty spirit, and lost God's favor. You can read about this one beginning in 1 Samuel chapter 9. King Saul became very jealous of his most valiant warrior, David. Saul tried on many occasions to kill David because of his envy over the attention David received from the people over his great acts. Saul's own son Jonathan became close friends with David, in spite of his father's hatred for David, and the fact that David was many years his junior. David became the second king of Israel after Saul's death.

The second one who was named Saul in the Bible is found in the book of Acts. He is Saul of Tarsus who later was known as Paul. In Bible times a person's name was often changed by God, as if to give the person a new start, or to signify their new assigned role.

In the case of the latter Saul, he was an extreme persecutor of Christians, even sharing in the murder of Stephen, a disciple of Christ. He later was confronted by directly by Jesus from heaven on the road to Damascus, to where he was traveling to further persecute Christians. After this experience, Saul completely changed his life course and became the Christian Apostle Paul. He was even priveledged to write many of the books of the Christian Greek scriptures (or the New Testiment).

Answer 3

Saul was the first King of Israel. He went mad, and was killed in battle.

Answer 4

Saul was the first king of Israel after the Israelites reached Eretz Yisroel (the Land of Israel). He is mentioned in Samuel I and II.

Answer 5

Saul was the first king of the bible for the Jews , he started of as a good king , but he then fell of from Gods favour, and got possessed, and David played on the harp for him,.