Questions tagged [saul]

The first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel.

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How did the writer of 1 Samuel 31 know that Saul committed suicide if his armor bearer also committed suicide?

I know that the explanation of Saul's death from 1 Samuel 31 contradicts what the Amalekite told David in 2 Samuel 1, but how do we even have the first explanation? Both people committed suicide ...
Bogdan Martinov 's user avatar
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What exactly was Saul's sin that caused God to reject him and punish him?

I see similar questions have already been asked about this passage but there was a lack of definite answer, some see it as a series of mistakes. I have been trying to understand the exact nature of ...
Jo Aldridge's user avatar
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1 answer
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Why did Samuel hide the anointing from the servant in 1 Samuel 9:27?

When Samuel is about to anoint Saul he requests that the servant go ahead whilst they remain behind KJV 1 Samuel 9 : 27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
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Was Samuel referring to Saul in 1 Samuel 8:10-17?

After asking for a king Samuel goes on to numerate the rights the king will demand from the Israelites KJV 1 Samuel 8 : 10 - 17 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
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Why is 1 Samuel 14:49-51 missing such a large portion of Saul's family?

1 Samuel 14:49-51 tells us that: 49 Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal. 50 His wife’s name was Ahinoam ...
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1 Samuel 1:20 - what are the implications of the pun on Samuel's name, or was it actually Saul?

In 1 Sam. 1:20, why does Hannah apparently make a pun on her son's name that makes no sense if his name was Samuel, but makes perfect sense if his name was Saul? The bible if full of puns made by ...
Dan Fefferman's user avatar
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Were inquiries ever made for ordinary israelite using the Urim and Thummim? [closed]

It seems almost all inquiries made using the Urim and Thummim were made for either kings or leaders of the community Numbers 27:18,21 NASB So the Lord said to Moses, “[g]Take Joshua the son of Nun, a ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
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1 Samuel 14:18 - "Bring the ark of God" or "Bring the ephod"?

Saul was in his earlier reign of Israel and he was in a battle against the Philistines. His son Jonathan and his armor-bearer went into the camp of Philistines and caused a turmoil. Saul discovered it ...
Vincent Wong's user avatar
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Must Acts 13:21 mean that Saul reigned 40 years?

Acts 13:21 is usually taken to mean that Saul reigned 40 years. However, some hold that the forty years are to include Samuel's time on the scene before Saul's reign began. Here are the revelant ...
Marcy Powell's user avatar
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Did Saul believe that the spirit of Samuel was in Sheol?

Several questions have already been asked on 1 Samuel 28 (e.g. here, here & here), but none has had a focus on what Saul believed about Sheol. In 1 Samuel 28, the witch of En-dor describes Samuel ...
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Did David and Saul have different afterlife theologies?

On the one hand, one could arguably say that David seemed to have believed that the dead were unconscious, based on what he said in Psalm 146:4 (YLT): His spirit goeth forth, he returneth to his ...
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And the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul?

Act 7:58 Why is this mention in the bible? Is it because of the following Luke wanted to introduce Saul here, in some filmy-like plot (not just plainly - he was to be a special figure in the Bible, in ...
Jony Dcosta's user avatar
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Was Saul's slaughter of the city of Nob a fulfillment of the curse on the House of Eli the priest (1 Samuel 2:27, 31-34)?

In the Book of First Samuel, we read of the brutal slaughter of the people and animals of Nob by order of King Saul: 1 Samuel 22:18-19: "Then [Saul] said to Doeg [the Edomite], 'You turn around ...
Xeno's user avatar
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Was David responsible for Saul's insane order to slaughter everyone in the city of Nob (1 Sam. 22:22)?

In the Book of First Samuel, David appears to take the blame for the massacre of the priests (and the entire city) of Nob: 1 Samuel 22:20-23: "But one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named ...
Xeno's user avatar
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Abner and Saul's Final Battle

Abner is not mentioned in the final battle, (1 Sam. 31) that concluded with the death of Saul and all his sons. Why wouldn't the commander of Saul's forces be leading and involved in that battle? It ...
EDS's user avatar
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Why did King Saul prophesy w/o clothing all day after pursuing David in 1 Samuel 19:24?

This question is not about the shame of nudity we often read in the Bible. It is a question about why King Saul would ever do this (while prophesying). In I Samuel 10:10 we are told that Saul also ...
Xeno's user avatar
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Did Doeg the Edomite kill the whole town of Nob single-handedly as alluded in 1 Samuel 22:19?

1 Samuel 22:19 NASN 19 He also struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants; he also struck oxen, donkeys, and sheep with the edge of the ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
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Why were the guards of king Saul not charged for refusing to carry out his order In 1 Samuel 22:16-17?

King Saul orders his guards to kill the priests but somehow the guards refuse to carry out this order which is subsequently carried out by Doeg the Edomite.Under normal circumstances this should have ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
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Why was Israel accused of "evil" by seeking a king (1 Samuel 12, cf. Deu. 17:14-15)?

In the Book of 1st Samuel, Israel looks to Samuel to ask God for a king: 1 Samuel 8:4-7: "Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5and they said to him, '...
Xeno's user avatar
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Why were the killings of the Gibeonites in 2 Samuel 21:1 noticed more than that of the priests at Nob in 1 Samuel 22:18-19?

1 Samuel 22:18-19 NIV 18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
8 votes
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How is rebellion likened unto the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness as both iniquity & idolatry?

Peace and blessings to all. In 1st Samuel 15:22-23 it states: 1 Samuel 15 22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? ...
יהודה's user avatar
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Would it be correct to say that Esther was a "closely related" collateral descendant of King Saul?

It's would have made a great movie/film plot if we could say that Esther was a lineal descendant of King Saul, but based on the following bible genealogy, it does Not seem that way. However, in both ...
user1338998's user avatar
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What exactly happened to Saul when the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him and turned him into "another man"? 1 Samuel 10:6

1 Samuel 10:6-7 (ESV): 6 Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do,...
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1 vote
1 answer
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Why did God change Saul's mind immediately after Samuel spoke to him which was prior to the events mentioned in 1 Samuel 10?

After Samuel had anointed Saul it is said God changed his mind which seems to be contrary to what Samuel had told Saul. 1 Samuel 10:9 NIV 9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
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What does it mean that God gave Saul "another heart" in 1 Samuel 10:9?

1 Samuel 10:9 (ESV): When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. What does it that "God gave him another heart"? Did ...
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4 votes
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Did King Saul lose his salvation?

King Saul appeared to have had a "born again" experience: 9 When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. 10 When they came ...
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How long did Saul reign?

In 1 Samuel 13:1 (BPT09) Saul era de meia-idade, quando se tornou rei de Israel e reinou cerca de vinte anos. which translates to: Saul was middle-aged when he became king of Israel and reigned for ...
Tiago Martins Peres's user avatar
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What is going on in 2 Samuel 1, when David ordered the death of the Amalekite who kill Saul at Saul's request? [duplicate]

Saul said to the Amalekite in 2 Samuel 1:9 'Stand here by me and kill me! I'm in the throes of death, but I'm still alive.'
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2 answers
543 views

Did the ghost of Samuel really appear to Saul? [closed]

Did the ghost of Samuel really appear to Saul or was it just a demon or something else?
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4 votes
6 answers
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Did Samuel pitch in within seven days as promised in 1 Samuel 10:8?

Samuel promises to meet Saul within seven days at Gilgal 1 Samuel 10:8 NIV 8 “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
434 views

Saul’s soldiers eat meat with blood, why were they not executed ? 1 Samuel 14:32-33

1 Samuel 14:32-33 (NASB) 32 "The people [a]rushed greedily upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they ...
Ozzie  Ozzie's user avatar
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Does 2 Samuel 21:1 suggest that Saul's sons who were killed were involved in the massacre of the Gibeonites?

Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the ...
CMK's user avatar
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Why does David describe Saul as pleasant in 2 Samuel 1:23?

2 Samuel 1:23 NASB “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life, And in their death they were not parted; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions. When Saul is ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
211 views

Is Glen Miller's explanation concerning why the women, children, and animals were killed in 1 Samuel 15 possible based on the text?

Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 2Thus saith the LORD of ...
CMK's user avatar
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Did King Saul cunningly calculate that Michal's arrogance & spiteful nature would be a snare to David? (1 Samuel 18:20-21) & (2 Samuel 6:16-20)

I present the following passage as evidence of Michal's arrogant and spiteful nature: 2 Samuel 6:16-20, New American Standard Bible (NASB) 16Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city ...
user1338998's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Could Kng Uzziah's judgement have been more severe than that of King Saul?

After committing more or less similar acts of defiance the two Kings of Israel seem to have been judged differently. 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 NASB 16 But when he became strong, his heart was so [m]...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
7 votes
6 answers
6k views

Why Was A Benjamite Chosen as Israel's First King? (Gen 49:10, I Sam 8-9)

Since Jacob had blessed Judah and prophesied that (Genesis 49:10): The scepter will not turn aside from Judah until Shiloh comes, and to him the obedience of the people will belong why was King ...
Sherry's user avatar
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Was Agag's mother alive during Saul's time?

"And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal."- 1 Samuel 15:33. Was Agag's mother ...
AngelusVastator's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
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How is Saul's "בֶן־" (son) in 1 Samuel 20:31b to be understood?

Saul to Jonathan about David: WLC: וְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁלַ֨ח וְקַ֤ח אֹתֹו֙ אֵלַ֔י כִּ֥י בֶן־מָ֖וֶת הֽוּא׃ ס (ESV: Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.) Is it standard and ...
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6 votes
5 answers
2k views

How would marrying Saul's daughter be a snare/stumbling block to David?

1 Samuel 18:20-21 (KJV): And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand ...
user avatar
3 votes
7 answers
7k views

Did The Amalekites survive?

There seems to be a contradiction is scriptures. 1 Samuel 15:15 says: And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to ...
vs06's user avatar
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5 answers
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In 1 Samuel 16:1-13 why did David not establish himself as king when Saul decided to go after him?

In 1 Samuel 16:1-13 David was anointed king of Israel. As far as I know when you're anointed king back in those days, you could already set up your kingdom after. I'm curious as to why - instead of ...
Philip's user avatar
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Why does Samuel say it was the threat of Nahash that made the Israelites ask for a king in 1Samuel 12:12?

1 Samuel 12:12-13 NASB [12]When you saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' although the Lord your God was your king. ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
369 views

In 1 Samuel 13 and 1 Samuel 15, for which act of Saul's disobedience did God take away the kingdom?

After offering an unsanctioned sacrifice Saul is told the kingdom has been taken away from him & has been given to a man after God's own heart 1 Samuel 13 NASB 8 Now he waited seven days, ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
4k views

How long was the ark at Kirjath Jearim in 1 Samuel 7:2?

In the text its clear that the ark was captured & then kept afterwards at Kirjath Jearim before Saul had been anointed king & Saul went on to rule for about forty years.David came into power ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
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Why were the bodies of Saul & his sons cremated - 1 Samuel 31:11?

1 Samuel 31:11-13 (KJV) 11 And when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; 12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
10k views

Did God permit David to marry numerous wives in 2 Samuel 12:8?

2 Samuel 12:8-10 New International Version (NIV) 8 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
4k views

Did David not break his oath when he handed Saul's descendants to the Gibeonites in 2 Samuel 21?

After a severe drought David hands over Saul's descendants to the Gibeonites as an atonement for what Saul had done 2 Samuel 21:1-6 (KJV) 1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years,...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
17k views

How did Saul find out that David had been anointed to be king?

In 1 Samuel 20:31, Saul tells Jonathan that David was a direct, major threat to his reign: For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. ...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

Why did Samuel think that Saul would kill him given that all of Saul's recorded erratic behavior seems to have happened later?

This is a follow-up question to: https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/30959/would-saul-actually-have-killed-samuel-if-he-found-out-that-samuel-had-annointed Again, from 1 Samuel 16:1-3 (...
EJoshuaS - Stand with Ukraine's user avatar