According to the Bible, the Israelites were God chosen people. The Israelite tribes lived as a confederation under ad hoc charismatic leaders called Judges. The Israelites were jealous of the fact that other nations who had earthly kings to lead their army. At around 1020 BC, the tribes of Israel united and demanded to have a king of their own to protect them from their enemies. Samuel the last judge of Israel anointed Saul the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin as the first King of the United Kingdom of Israel.
Saul was tall, among the people he was a whole head higher, and no one of the Israelites was more handsome than he. Best known for the victory over the Ammonites who had besieged the people of Jabesh-Gilead (1 Samuel 11:1 - 11). He brought deliverance to the town. After this event Saul was publicly recognised as King. Saul also succeeded in unifying the nation and organising the fighting men into a dedicated army defeating many enemies. He was responsible for ridding the nation of occult practices (28:3). To some degree he did fulfil God’s appointed role for him. His greatest successes were when he was obedient to the Lord. Soon there were concerns for is dual personality which would bring disgrace to himself and his people. At first he was meek and humble, but would then become proud and self-centred. Even though he was a courageous man he found himself in positions where his weaknesses were evident, he stopped carrying out God’s commands, having become presumptuous, the Spirit of God left him and Saul became gloomy and cruel. Samuel grieved over Saul. The Lord said to him, "How long dost thou mourn for Saul? Go to Bethlehem, to Jesse, for I have seen among his sons a king for me." Samuel went to Bethlehem and at God’s direction anointed David. Because of his disobedience, when he spared the king along with the best spoils and making offering to God after defeating the Amalekites. This was the reason for the Lord to making Samuel anoint young David...