1. An early king of the Edomites, successor of Sam- lah at i:ehol)oth ((Jen. xxxvi, 37, 38), elsewhere called '■ Shaul" (1 Chron. i, 48, 4!)). B.C. post KAK
2. The first king of Israel (B.C. 1093-1053). (In the
following account we make free use of the articles in the dictionaries of Kitto and Smith.)
I. The Name. — This first becomes prominent here in the history of Israel, though found before in the Edom- itish prince already mentioned, and in a son of Simeon (Gen. xlvi, 10; A. V. "Shaul"). It also occurs among the Kohathites in the genealogy of Samuel (1 Chron. vi, 24, "Shaul"), and in Saul, like the king, of the tribe of Benjamin, better known as the apostle Paul (see below). Josephus {War, ii, 18, 4) mentions a Saul, father of one Simon who distinguished himself at Sc3'thopolis in the earh' part of the Jewish war. The name in its applica- tion to the present character seems almost like a mock- ery of his history.
II. Kis Family.-^On the following page is a general view of Saul's pedigree.
In 'this genealogy may be observed — 1. The repeti- tion in two generations of the names of Kish and Ner, of Nadab and Abi-nadab, and of Mephibosheth. 2. The occurrence of the name of Baal in three successive gen- erations; possibly in four, as there were two jMephibo- sheths. 3. The constant shiftings of the names of God, as incorporated in the proper names: («) Ab-iel~./e- hiel ; (6) Malchi-shna. = Je-shna; (c) Esh-irt«Z = Ish- bosheth ; (d) INIephi- (or Meri-) baal — 'MQi^An-hoslieth. 4. The long continuance of the family down to the times of Ezra. 5. Is it possible that Zimri (1 Chron, ix, 42) can be the usurper of 1 Kings xvi — if so, the last attempt of the house of Saul to regain its ascendencj'? The time would agree.
There is a disagreement between the pedigree in 1 Sam. ix, 1 and xiv, 51, which represents Said and Abner as the grandsons of Abiel, and 1 Chron. viii, 33 and ix, 39, which represents them as his great-grandsons. If we adopt the more elaborate pedigree in the Chronicles, we must suppose either that a link has been dropped be- tween Abiel and Kish, in 1 Sam. ix, 1, or that the elder Kish, the son of Abiel (1 Chron. ix, 3G), has been con- founded with the younger Kish, the son of Ner (1 Chron. ix, 39). The pedigree in 1 Chron. viii is not free from confusion, as it omits among the sons of Abiel, Ner, who in 1 Chron. ix, 3G is the fifth son, and who in both is made the father of Kish. See Abiel.
Saul's more particular genealogy and lineage (so far as given) is as ftllows:
Benjamin
Becher
Abiah
rSeveral unknown.]
Aphiah
Bechorath
Zeror
Abiel
or Jehiel
Ner
Kisli
Saul
.Tonal hnn
Meribbaal
or Mepliiboshetli. .
Micah
Ahaz
Jeboadah
or Jarah
Zimri
Moza
Biuea
Rapha
or Rephaiali
Eleasah
Rsliek
IHani
Many sons and
grandsons
Captivity
1 Chron. vii. viii
1S9S ' ISTS? 1S50?
I2fin ?
T2f)0 ?
i-2no?
1200 ?
inr, ?
114.")?
111:? ?
1093? 1050 ?
ions ? loos ?
97S ?
94,'5?
010? 880? 850 ? S'.'O ? 790? 770 ? 710?
650?
58S?
III. Saul's History. — 1.' Up to his Coronation. — The birthplace of Saul is not expressly mentioned; but as Zelah was the place of Kish's sepulchre (2 Sam. xxi), it was probably his native village. There is no war- rant for saying that it was Gibeah, though, IVom its subsequent connection with him, it is called often "Gib-
SAUL
373
SAUL
GENERAL VIEW OF SAUL'S LINEAGE.
Aphiah. (1 Sum. is, 1.)
Bechorath.
Zeror. (Sept. Jaord.)
Abiel or Jehiel =Maachah. (1 Siiin. ix, 1.) (1 (Jhrou. ix.) (1 C'hi'ou. viii, 3'S.)
I Abdou.
Kish. BuaL Ner. Nadab. (1 Chron. ix, 20.)
Gedor,
Ahio. Zecbaiiah Mikloth.
(Zacher, (1 Chron. ix, 37.) 1 Chrou. viii). |
SLimeah.
Kieb.
I
Abiuoani to SAUL to Rizpab.
(1 Chrou. ix, 33.)
Abner,
I I I I I I . , ,
Joualhau. Ishui. Malcbi-shiia. Abiiiadab. Esh-baal. ilei-ab. David ^oMichal fo Phaltiel. Armoni. Mepbiboshelh.
I (1 Sam. Joshua (Jos. ^Ji<. Ishbosbeth. |
Merib-baal xiv, 49.) vi, 6, 1). (Mt'pliibosheth, 1 Chron. ix, 34). I Micah.
I 5 sous.
Pithou.
I Melech.
Tahiea. Ahaz.
Jehoadah (Tarah, 1 Chron. is, 42).
Aleineth,
Azniaveth Ziinri.
Moza.
Binea.
I IJapha (Rephaiah, 1 Chrou. ix, 43).
Eleasah. I
Azel. I
I Eshek.
Aziikam. Bocliern. I.shmael. Sheariah. Obadiah.
I I
Ulam. Jehush.
Ilauau.
i 150 descendants.
Elipiielet.
eah of SauL" See Gibeah. (When Abiel, or Jehiel [1 Chron. viii, 29; ix, 35], is called the father of" Gib- eon," it probably means founder of Giheah.)
His father, Kish, was a powerful and wealthy chief, though the family to which he belonged was of little im- portance (1 Chron. ix, 1, 21). A portion of his property consisted of a drove of asses. In search of these asses, gone astray on the mountains, he sent his son Saul, ac- companied by a servant ("i^'3) ^^'^o acted also as a guide and guardian of the young man (ver. .3-10). After a three days' journey (ver. 20), which it has hitherto proved impossible to track with certainty [see IIamah], through Ephraim and Benjamin [see Shalim; Sha- lisiia; Zuph], they arrived at the foot of a hill sur- rounded by a town, when Saul proposed to return home, but was deterred by the advice of the servant, who sug- gested that before doing so they should consult '• a man of God," " a seer," as to the fate of the asses, securing his oracle by a present (backshish') of a quarter of a sil- ver shekel. They were instructed by the maidens at the well outside the city to catch the seer as he came out of the city to ascend to a sacred eminence, where a sacrilicial feast was waiting for his benediction (1 Sam. ix, 11-13). At the gate they met the seer for the first time — it was Samuel. A divine intimation had indi- cated to him the approach and the future destinj' of the youthful ISenjamite. Surprised at his language, but still obeying his call, they ascended to the high place, and in the inn or caravansary at the top (.Sept. TO KaraXvf^ia, ver. 27) found thirty or (Sept. and Jose- phus, Anf. vi, 4, 1) seventy guests a.ssembled, among whom they took the chief place. In anticipation of some distinguished stranger, Samuel had bidtlen the