Saul

Saul, the first king of Israel, was the son of Kish, a wealthy chief of the tribe of Benjamin. The circumstances that marked his election to the royal dignity are familiar to all readers of Scripture. Gigantic in stature, noble in mien, and imperious in character, he was admirably fitted to accomplish the task of consolidating the tribes of Israel. His earlier achievements augured hopefully for his future. The deliverance of the men of Jabesh Gilead, above all his victories over the Philistines, Ammonites, and Amalekites, were unmistakable proofs of his military capacity; but gradually there showed itself in the nature of the man a wild perversity—'an evil spirit of God' it is called—which found vent, along with other forms, in a mad jealousy of David, his son-in-law and the chief of his bodyguard, and culminated in paroxysms of insane rage, which led him to attempt David's life with his own hand, and to commit such frightful deeds as the massacre of the priests of Nob. Saul had, however, apparently the strong opposition of the priestly class to contend against, for at length Samuel retired from court, and secretly anointed David as king; see the article SAMUEL. Saul fell in a disastrous and bloody battle with the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. The Afghans claim to be descended from Saul.