Topical Bible: Tribe of Benjamin: Celebrated Persons of Saul

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The Tribe of Benjamin holds a significant place in biblical history, particularly through its association with Saul, the first king of Israel. Saul's account is one of both promise and tragedy, and his life and reign are pivotal in understanding the transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel.

Saul's Ancestry and Early Life

Saul was a Benjamite, the son of Kish, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel. The tribe of Benjamin, despite its size, was known for its fierce warriors and played a crucial role in the history of Israel. Saul's lineage is detailed in 1 Samuel 9:1-2 : "Now there was a man of Benjamin named Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite of standing. And he had a son named Saul, a choice and handsome young man. There was no one more handsome among the Israelites than he, and he stood a head taller than any of the people."

Saul's Anointing as King

Saul's rise to kingship was divinely orchestrated. The prophet Samuel, under God's direction, anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. This event is recorded in 1 Samuel 10:1 : "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?'" Saul's anointing marked the beginning of the monarchy in Israel, a significant shift from the previous system of judges.

Saul's Reign and Achievements

Saul's reign was marked by military successes and failures. He initially achieved victories over Israel's enemies, including the Ammonites and the Philistines. His leadership brought temporary relief and unity to the tribes of Israel. However, Saul's reign was also characterized by disobedience to God's commands, leading to his eventual downfall. One notable instance of disobedience is found in 1 Samuel 15:22-23 , where Samuel rebukes Saul: "But Samuel declared: 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.'"

Saul's Relationship with David

Saul's relationship with David is a central theme in his narrative. Initially, Saul welcomed David into his service, but as David's popularity grew, Saul's jealousy and fear led to a prolonged conflict. Despite Saul's attempts to kill him, David consistently showed respect for Saul as the Lord's anointed. This complex relationship is highlighted in 1 Samuel 24:6 , where David spares Saul's life: "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.'"

Saul's Tragic End

Saul's life ended tragically on the battlefield against the Philistines. His death, along with that of his sons, marked the end of his dynasty and paved the way for David's ascension to the throne. The account of Saul's death is recorded in 1 Samuel 31:4 : "Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, 'Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and torture me!' But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it."

Saul's life serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of faithfulness to God's commands. Despite his tragic end, Saul remains a significant figure in the history of Israel and the narrative of the Tribe of Benjamin.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 9:1
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 10:1
Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD has anointed you to be captain over his inheritance?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Was A Sedition Arisen, The Tribe Of Benjamin Was Destroyed ... The Son Of Uzziah Reigned
Over The Tribe Of Judah ... CHAPTER 5. How Herod Celebrated The Games That Were ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... 5:14) contains an allusion to Benjamin, which is ... the families which constituted the
half-tribe of Manasseh ... of the people of Shechem, who celebrated under his ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Historical Books.
... the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem ... David, first at Hebron
over the tribe of Judah ... which identifies him with the celebrated Xerxes of ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

English Version of the Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... For the Scripture has delivered unto us a manifest distinction of persons; the angel ...
To-morrow I will send unto thee a man of the tribe of Benjamin,' etc. ...
/.../english version of the second.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... of the history of the first two kings; the one dealing with Saul, for instance ... century
BC, perhaps in the time of Jehoshaphat, a member of the tribe of Judah ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... and rolled up in shining tapers, to illuminate temple students in finding out the
honey that couches in the carcass of the slain Lion of the tribe of Judah ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm