Saul becomes the first king of Israel (chps 9-12)


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  • Samuel A Chapter 8: Israel demans a King to Rule Over Them

    22 verses. Samuel aged, and his sons moved into executive positions, only that they were corrupt, and so Israel came to Samuel demanding that he annoint a King. God told Samuel that this demand is not a blemish on Samuel's record, but a sign of dissatisfaction with the rule of God. Samuel returned to the people, trying to dissuade them from being ruled by a King, arguing that a king would oppress them for his glory. But the people insisted, and God instructed Samuel to signal acceptance, and so the people returned home.

  • Samuel A Chap 9: Shaoul is being selected as the first king of Israel

    27 verses. Young man Shaoul comes to Shmuel for help in finding his lost donkeys, and is surprised when Shmuel the High Priest sets him up for a special role. God tells Shmuel to appoint the young man approaching him as the first king of the nation.

  • Samuel A Chap 10: Shaoul is being Crowned

    27 verses. Shmuel gives Shaoul clear instructions to follow, then assembles the people of Israel to announce the crowning of the first king. Shaoul accepts the honor. The chapter says that the Shaoul's heart metamorphosed.

  • Samuel A Chap 11: Shaul leads Israel to victory, and is widely recognized as King

    15 verses: Amon threatens some Israelis on the east bank of the river. They ask for seven days to decide on the Amonite's humiliating and painful terms of defeat. They then cry to the rest of Israel. Shaul, who until then appears to have returned to his usual agriculteral business, hears the commotion, and is charged mysteriously with a divine spirit. He rises to recruit the Israeli soldiers and ends up beating the Amonites very thoroughly. The people are impressed, and the former doubters now accede to Shaul as King. Shmuel the prince repeats the coronation, and Israel becomes a de-facto kingdom.



  • Shmuel A, Chap 12: Shmuel warns Israel to worship God

    25 verses. Shmuel old, almost departing gathers Israel, chides them for their desire to be like other nations, ruled by a kind, reminds them of the many times they have steered away from worshipping God, and how God punished them every such time. Then he proves again that he speaks on behalf of God, by performing a miracle, and saying that even though they have sinned requestion a king, if they end up worshipping God as a kingdom, they will benefit from God's care -- otherwise God's punishment.