Lexicon :: Strong's H7586 - šā'ûl

So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.

Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God,” for it was with the Israelites[fn] at that time.

While Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you’re doing.”[fn]

Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and there the Philistines were, fighting against each other in great confusion!

There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had[fn] placed the troops under an oath: “The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.” So none of the troops tasted any food.

Some reported to Saul, “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.”

Saul said, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here at once.”

He then said, “Go among the troops and say to them, ‘Let each man bring me his ox or his sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat. Don’t sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood in it.’ ” So every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.

Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD.

Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning. Don’t let even one remain! ”

“Do whatever you want,” the troops replied.

But the priest said, “Let’s approach God here.”

So Saul inquired of God, “Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel? ” But God did not answer him that day.

Saul said, “All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let’s investigate[fn] how this sin has occurred today.

So he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.”

And the troops replied, “Do whatever you want.”

So Saul said to the LORD, “God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, LORD God of Israel, give Urim; but if the fault is in your people Israel, give Thummim.”[fn] Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge.

Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected.

Saul commanded him, “Tell me what you did.”

Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff I was carrying. I am ready to die! ”

Saul declared to him, “May God punish me and do so severely if you do not die, Jonathan! ”

But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die? He accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel! No, as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God’s help today.” So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die.

Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.

When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc.[fn]

Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, his firstborn, and Michal, the younger.

The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul’s uncle Ner.

Saul’s father was Kish. Abner’s father was Ner son of Abiel.

The conflict with the Philistines was fierce all of Saul’s days, so whenever Saul noticed any strong or valiant man, he enlisted him.

Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah.

Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi.

He warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I’ll sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.

Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt.

Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and choice animals,[fn] as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the LORD all night.

Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, “Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal.”

When Samuel came to him, Saul said, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”

Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep, goats, and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we destroyed.”

“Stop! ” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”

“Tell me,” he replied.

“But I did obey the LORD! ” Saul answered.[fn] “I went on the mission the LORD gave me: I brought back King Agag of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites.

Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned. I have transgressed the LORD’s command and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them.

Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the LORD, the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the LORD.

Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.

Even to the day of his death, Samuel never saw Saul again. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted he had made Saul king over Israel.

Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me! ”

The LORD answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and an evil spirit sent from the LORD began to torment him,

so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.

Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul.

When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul loved him very much, and David became his armor-bearer.