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 18:11
And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:12
And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:13
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:15
Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:17
And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. valiant: Heb. a son of valour
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:18
And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:19
But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:20
And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. pleased him: Heb. was right in his eyes
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:21
And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:22
And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:23
And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:24
And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David. On: Heb. According to these words
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:25
And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:27
Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:28
And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:29
And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 18:30
Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by. set by: Heb. precious
Read in context - 1 Samuel 19:1
And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 19:2
But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
Read in context - 1 Samuel 19:4
And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
Read in context - 1 Samuel 19:6
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 19:7
And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. in times: Heb. yesterday, third day
Read in context - 1 Samuel 19:9
And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 19:10
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 19:11
Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
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