Saul

Passages on this topic

From Nave’s Topical Bible (1896), a historical reference index. The groupings are Nave’s; the verses are shown in the text used across this site.

1. Also called SHAUL

King of Edom

• Genesis 36:37–38 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place. When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place.
• 1 Chronicles 1:48–49 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place. When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place.

2. King of Israel

A Benjamite, son of Kish

• 1 Samuel 9:1–2 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. And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites — a head taller than any of the people.

Sons of

• 1 Chronicles 8:33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

His personal appearance

• 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.
• 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.

Made king of Israel

• 1 Samuel 9 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. And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites — a head taller than any of the people. One day the donkeys of Saul… (whole chapter)
• 1 Samuel 10 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? When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been foun… (whole chapter)
• 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!” But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew…
• Hosea 13:11 So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.

Lives at Gibeah of Saul

• 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,
• 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.
• Isaiah 10:29 They have crossed at the ford: “We will spend the night at Geba.” Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees.

Defeats the Philistines

• 1 Samuel 13 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years. He chose for himself three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the troop… (whole chapter)
• 1 Samuel 14:46 Then Saul gave up his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.
• 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.

Strikes the Amalekites

• 1 Samuel 15 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. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt. Now go and attack the… (whole chapter)

Is reproved by Samuel for usurping the priestly functions

• 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, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will descend upon me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the…

Samuel rebukes him for disobedience by not exterminating the Amalekites; the loss of his kingdom is foretold

• 1 Samuel 15 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. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt. Now go and attack the… (whole chapter)

Dedicates the spoils of war

• 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.” But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is bett…
• 1 Chronicles 26:28 Everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, along with everything else that was dedicated, was under the care of Shelomith and his brothers.

Sends messengers to Jesse, asking that David be sent to him as a musician and an armor-bearer

• 1 Samuel 16:17–23 And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.” One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.” So Saul sent messe…

Defeats the Philistines after Goliath is killed by David

• 1 Samuel 17 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines. The Philistines stood on one hill and the Isr… (whole chapter)

His jealousy of David; gives his daughter, Michal, to David to be his wife; becomes David' s enemy

• 1 Samuel 18 After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.… (whole chapter)

Tries to kill David; Jonathan intercedes and incurs his father' s displeasure; David' s loyalty to Jonathan; Saul' s temporary remorse; prophesies

• 1 Samuel 19 Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David, so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there. I will go out and stand beside my father in the field… (whole chapter)

Hears Doeg against Ahimelech, and kills the priest and his family. pursues David to wilderness of Ziph; the Ziphites betray David to

• 1 Samuel 23 Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.” So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “L… (whole chapter)

Pursues David to En-gedi

• 1 Samuel 24:1–6 After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, w…

His life spared by David

• 1 Samuel 24:5–8 Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.” With these words David restra…

Saul' s contrition for his bad faith

• 1 Samuel 24:16–22 When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. And you have declared this day how you have treated me…

David is again betrayed to, by the Ziphites; Saul pursues him to the hill of Hachilah; his life spared again by David; his confession, and his blessing upon David

• 1 Samuel 26 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah opposi… (whole chapter)

Kills the Gibeonites; crime avenged by the death of seven of his sons

• 2 Samuel 21:1–9 During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonite…

His kingdom invaded by Philistines; seeks counsel of the witch of En-dor, who foretells his own death

• 1 Samuel 28:3–25 Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the P…
• 1 Samuel 29:1 Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

Is defeated, and is killed with some of his sons

• 1 Samuel 31 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him… (whole chapter)

Their bodies exposed in Beth-shan; rescued by the people of Jabesh and burned; bones of, buried under a tree at Jabesh

• 1 Samuel 31 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him… (whole chapter)
• 2 Samuel 1 After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage. “Where have you come from?” David asked. (whole chapter)
• 2 Samuel 2 Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD. So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. (whole chapter)
• 1 Chronicles 10 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overto… (whole chapter)

His death is a judgment on account of his sins

• 1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance,

3. Of Tarsus

See Paul