Israel's first king · United monarchy, c. 1050–1010 BC
Saul in the Bible
Saul is anointed as the king Israel demanded and begins well, but his impatience at Gilgal and disobedience over Amalek cost him the dynasty. His decline into jealousy of David and the night visit to the medium at Endor end at Gilboa.
Verses mentioning Saul
430 occurrences across 351 verses in the King James Version.
- 1 Samuel 28:12
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 28:13
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 28:14
And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. What: Heb. What is his form?
Read in context - 1 Samuel 28:15
And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. by prophets: Heb. by the hand of prophets
Read in context - 1 Samuel 28:20
Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. fell: Heb. made haste, and fell with the fulness of his stature
Read in context - 1 Samuel 28:21
And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 28:25
And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 29:3
Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
Read in context - 1 Samuel 29:5
Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
Read in context - 1 Samuel 31:2
And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 31:3
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. and the archers: Heb. and the shooters, men with bows hit: Heb. found him
Read in context - 1 Samuel 31:4
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. abuse: or, mock me
Read in context - 1 Samuel 31:5
And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 31:6
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 31:7
And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 31:8
And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 31:11
And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; of that: or, concerning him that
Read in context - 1 Samuel 31:12
All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 1:1
Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
Read in context - 2 Samuel 1:2
It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 1:4
And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. How: Heb. What was, etc
Read in context - 2 Samuel 1:5
And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
Read in context - 2 Samuel 1:6
And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 1:12
And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 1:17
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
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