Before Saul was King of Israel, this is what the Bible tells us about who he was and what he was doing…
Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish son
of Abiel son of Zeror son of Becorath son of Aphiah son of a Benjamite. He was
a mighty man of valor and he had a son whose name was
Saul—young and handsome—there was no one among Bnei-Yisrael better than him.
From his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father,
were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now one of the servants with
you, get up and look for the donkeys.” So he passed through the hill country of
Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them.
Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he
passed through the land of Benjamin but still did not find them. When
they arrived in the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant with him, “Come,
let’s go back—otherwise my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and
start worrying about us.” (1 Samuel 9:1-5 TLV)
I am going to summarize a bit here and make a long story shorter.
Well, hopefully.
Kish’s servant tells Saul, Dude…there is a man of God near
the town we are headed. I’ve got a little jingle in my pocket. Let’s give the
local seer some coin in exchange for the location of the donkeys. Soooooo, they
head on into town, run into some girls who are on their way to the local well
and ask them about the whereabouts of said man of God. The girls point toward
town because as luck would have it, the seer happens to be just ahead of them.
He was in town for a little breakfast before heading back up the mountain for a
full day of sacrifices.
Samuel is easily found by Saul because God, as He often does
when we are faithful in prayer and mutual conversation, had already given Samuel
a heads up that Saul was coming his way.
“Tomorrow about this time, I will send you a man from the
land of Benjamin, and you will anoint him ruler over My people Israel. He
will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. I have observed My
people, because their cry has come to Me.” (1 Samuel 9:16 TLV)
The Tribe of Benjamin. What do you know about them? Remember
anything particular from Sunday school or church? You probably know that Benjamin
was Jacob and Rachel’s youngest son. She calls him Ben-Oni, meaning son of my
sorrow because she dies shortly after giving birth, but Jacob renames him,
Benjamin, son of my right hand. He is the full brother of Joseph. Unlike Joseph,
he is protected by his half-brothers whose mother is Leah. He is the father of
the Tribe of Benjamin. The Tribe of Benjamin begets Saul, the first King of
Isreal, his son, Jonathan (of course) and Mordecai, the uncle of Queen Esther.
You might even know that Paul was a Benjamite (I am now singing I come from the
land down under because Benjamite reminds me of vegemite).
Jabob’s blessing over his son and the future tribe says, Benjamin
is a ravening wolf—in the morning he devours spoils, and in the evening divides
plunder. (Genesis 49:27 TLV)
Moses’s blessing stated, The beloved of Adonai, rests
securely beside Him. He shields him all day long. Between His shoulders he
rests. (Deuteronomy 33:12 TLV)
Jacob’s blessing indicates Benjamin will be successful warriors,
and Moses’ follows up emphasizing the divine protection and favor of God over
the tribe.
Benjamin WAS a tribe of warriors known for their military expertise.
They are a population of ambidextrous soldiers (they could wield weapons using either
hand) especially skilled in archery and use of the sling. The Tribe was strategically
located between Judah to the south and Ephraim to the north. It skirts the shores
of the Dead Sea and the Jordon River. Within its borders were the towns of Jerusalem
(split with Judah), Jericho and Bethel.
The southern Kingdom of Judah (tribes of Judah and Benjamin)
were protected but permanently separated from the northern Kingdom of Israel (tribes
of Reuben, Simeon, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Manasseh, and
Ephraim) after the conquest of the Assyrian Empire. Israel was exiled by Assyria’s
King Sargon the Second, who scattered the Jews throughout his empire. The
deportation of approximately 30,000 Israelites gives way to the idea of the “Lost
Tribes” and beginning of diaspora. Diaspora of all 12 tribes becomes complete
after the subjugation of the Kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians.
Let’s back up just a bit and think more about Saul:
Kish, Saul’s father is a mighty man of valor (gibbor chayil in
Hebrew: gibbor - mighty or valiant and chayil – valor, strength, wealth and
capability, as well as army).
Saul was young, handsome and taller than any of the people (no
one in Israel is better than him, the Hebrew words used mean young, handsome
and choice).
All that about Kish and Saul being said, why was Saul the
one out looking for his father’s donkeys? Seems a bit beneath his position, no?
God told Samuel explicitly that Saul would deliver Israel
from the Philistines.
Saul hails from the Tribe of Benjamin, soldiers skilled in the use of the sling.
Back to the story…Samuel invites Saul to go ahead of him up to
the mountain so that they can have dinner together presumably after he is done performing
the sacrifices for the community. He tells Saul that he is a “seer” and promises
that in the morning before Saul leaves, he will tell Saul all that is in his heart
(Saul’s not Samuel’s) and assures him that the donkeys were, in fact, found and
therefore there is no further need to worry. He compliments Saul by pointing
out the desirability of not only Saul himself, but the house of his father. Saul
answers Samuel peculiarly pointing out that he is from the least clan (Matrites)
of the smallest tribe. Samuel throws a dinner party for about 30 people. Saul
is set at the head of the table and well fed.
Side note: a seer or ro’eh or chozeh is someone who receives
divine revelation through visions and or dreams. A prophet or nabi or navi speaks
truth on behalf of God, delivering a divine message and guidance, yes but using
scripture.
When morning comes, they rose early and Samuel proclaims the
word of God over Saul, anointing him with oil atop his head and kissing him.
The proclamation is a question, “has Adonai not anointed you ruler over His
inheritance?” Samuel gives Saul a laundry list of things that will follow. Saul
will go here and there and do this then that before meeting up with a bunch of prophets
after which he will be seized by the Ruach of Adonai (Spirit of
God). He is then to proceed to Gilgal where he is to wait for Samuel for 7 days.
When Samuel finally arrives, he will make offerings and sacrifices then instruct
Saul about what comes next.
Side note: Gilgal is the place where the Jews celebrated
their first Passover in the Promised Land and were circumcised post Egypt. It is
over the Jordon River on the eastern border of Jericho.
All happens as Samuel predicted. Saul’s heart is immediately
transformed by God in the very moment he turns to leave Samuel. When he runs into
the band of prophets, Saul is filled with the Spirit of God and himself
prophesies. Everyone notices BIG changes in Saul. Some start asking questions
because apparently, this is QUITE the transformation. Saul’s uncle corners him,
detective-style, he wants to know EXACTLY what happened while he was gone finding
those donkeys. Obviously, the uncle feels something is amiss, but Saul only
gives him half the story, leaving out the bit about being anointed king.
The Tiffany translation of these events: Saul was a tall, handsome,
strapping young man but maybe not the brightest bulb in the bunch which is why
his father sends him out looking for donkeys instead of keeping him home doing something
more pertinent to the family business. HOWEVER! After the infilling of the Holy
Spirit, Saul is transformed into someone who suddenly can prophecy which does
not mean tell the future but does mean interpret the scripture and speak to its
immediate importance (think Jesus at 12 who stayed behind at the temple). No
longer the bumbling dumb jock, those that know him start to wonder what the
heck happened on the road while trying to find a bunch of lost donkeys.
Samuel gathers all the tribes together in Mizpah.
Side note: Interestingly, the word Mizpah has come to be representative
of a deep emotional bond, particularly in times of separation.
Samuel singles out the Tribe of Benjamin then the Clan of Matrites
(Rain of Jehovah equivalent to the idea of divine provision) and lastly, Saul (the
donkey herder) as the first King of Israel. Instead of boldly stepping into the
role of king, Saul is initially absent from this gathering. The Bible says they
had to ask Adonai where he was and God said behind a bunch of stuff (kelim = vessels,
supplies, equipment or stuff but verse reads baggage) and they had to run and
bring Saul out from there.
Samuel announced to all the tribes, “Do you see the one Adonai
has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people!” The people all
shouted and said, “Long live the king!” Samuel explains the rules of kingship,
writes them in a scroll and places it before Adonai. Then Samuel sent
all the people away, every man to his house. Saul also went
home to Gibeah, accompanied by men of valor whose hearts God had touched. But
certain worthless men said, “How can this one save us?” So they despised him
and brought him no present. But he kept silent. (1 Samuel 10:24-27 TLV)
Before having a king, Israel was ruled by God through judges.
These judges were not like our judges. Judges were not just legal figures but
rather civil and spiritual leaders. Judges had authority in specific regions as
opposed to over the whole of Israel. God used judges not just to interpret His
law but to administrate justice and deliver the Israelites from oppression whether
that oppression was external or internal.
Israel was to be reigned over by God, Himself, making this
kingdom set apart from any other in the world. The Kingdom of Israel was never
meant to be of the world though it was in the world (sound familiar). Before
the anointing of Saul as king, God had Samuel warn Israel that obeying a physical
king would not be akin to being beholden to the King of the Universe. If you
want the full description of God’s cautioning, it can be found in 1 Samuel 8.
There is a HUGE difference in being governed by a man versus
LOVE, as Love is patient and kind. It doesn’t envy, brag or get puffed up. It doesn’t
behave inappropriately or seeks its own way. It never provokes or keeps account
of wrongdoing. Love never rejoices over injustice but instead rejoices in
truth. Love bears, believes, hopes and endures all things. It never fails…unlike
man.
Israel was meant to be qodash-set apart, consecrated,
sanctified, made holy and dedicated to the purpose and story of God. A kingdom
of priests (Exodus 19:6), strategically placed in the crossroad of the world. A
monarchy like no other with shalom at the center. All people on earth were going
to be blessed through them (Genesis 12:3).
Be an ass. Get an ass herder.
