The last session described the incompatibility of the Israelites' faith in YHWH, the God of History, with the Canaanites' fertility-worship of the Baals which revolved around the natural seasons of each year. This session will explore the next danger to Israel as the people set out to be 'like the other nations' under the leadership of a king.

Remember: all the Biblical literature covering this development comes from the 'prophetic histories' in which King David is the golden hero for all time, and this bias has covered all the records of King Saul.

Initially it was the ever-growing danger of Philistine advances that demanded stronger leadership with greater authority for Israel, but there was no obvious candidate since the whole tribal Confederation looked to YHWH as their King.

The choice fell on Saul, the tall, handsome, charismatically-fearless warrior from the tribe of Benjamin, and there are three different stories describing his selection. Two are in the 'Saul tradition', and the third is known as the 'Samuel tradition'.

1. 1 Sam 9 -10.17. Saul set off to find his father's lost asses and went to find a local 'seer' (NB. 1 Sam 9.9), who could 'see' answers to problems, with money to pay for the consultation. (Samuel, the well-known Judge in all Israel, was unknown to Saul!). Samuel met Saul with honour and respect. He inspired Saul to become king, anointed him secretly, and sent him home while encouraging him to develop his charismatic abilities on the way. Saul met, and became like, a group of traveling ecstatic prophets
2. 1Sam 11 is from the same tradition, and describes Saul's charismatic call to arms among all the tribes to fight the Ammonites who were oppressing the people of Jabesh-Gilead. They came! They won! And the people made Saul their King. (This seems the most likely account. Saul emerged as a military leader, in the tradition of the Judges, but became a King instead).
3. 1Sam 8, 10.17-27. The Samuel tradition is more conservative, and records a reluctance by some to abandon their theocracy for a monarchy. Samuel was persuaded to hand over authority to a king, however, and an unknown Saul emerged as the winner of a ballot, fortunately looking the obvious man, standing head and shoulders above all others.

KING SAUL:    Saul's reign is summarized briefly in 1 Sam 14.47-52, and was mainly concerned with military campaigns and victories, even against the Philistines. He had little opportunity, or will?, to initiate great changes. The tribes continued to be fiercely independent, and no attempt was made to create a centralized administration. Saul had neither a palace nor a harem, (the recognized features of a King's life), nor lots of courtiers. He made only one official appointment, of his cousin, Abner, to oversee the first taxes to pay for the new emerging standing army which was loyal and obedient to the king. This army was much more successful against the Philistines, and soon Saul had control of the Plain of Esdraelon in the centre of the land. He was then able to make contact with the southern tribes, particularly Judah, and fight their enemies, the Amalekites from the wilderness. (It is likely that David was recruited into the army during this campaign). It would seem that Saul's next campaign would be in the north, opening up easy contact with the most northerly tribes, but by then tragedy had claimed his reign and his life. The prophet, Samuel, took exception to Saul when he offered a sacrifice before battle, when Samuel did not arrive in time, and again, when Saul did not obey Samuel's instructions to kill all the Amalekites; Saul spared the life of King Agag. Samuel was furious, he killed Agag himself, and totally withdrew his support from Saul. The two men did not meet again. 1 Sam 15. Immediately afterwards Samuel went secretly to Bethlehem and anointed a new candidate, David, to be king, 1 Sam 16.

Saul began to falter without Samuel's support; his charismatic gifts disappeared too, (the 'Spirit of YHWH was departed from him'), and he began to have bouts of black despair. Internal dissensions began to emerge among the tribes, and the Philistines were still a threat, but the poison that destroyed Saul was his jealousy of David. DAVID There are two accounts of David's arrival at court, one, as a musician to soothe Saul when he was ill, and the other, as the champion after single combat with the Philistine giant, Goliath. 1 Sam 17. David soon ingratiated himself in Saul's family, particularly with Prince Jonathan, but when he received greater praise than Saul for his military expertise (1Sam 18.6-9), Saul rightly saw him as a rival for the throne itself, and was fearful for both himself and for his heir, Jonathan. David was not only a skilled musician, and a brave and fearless fighter, he was also full of charm. Undoubtedly he was very ambitious, and cunning as well.

David's story claims the limelight from now on, in Saul's reign. When David played his lyre for Saul now, he was in danger of Saul's spear attacks, and in ever-growing fear, Saul became more and more paranoid,. He had no hereditary claim to the throne, only the strength of his own personality. As his personality degenerated Saul reached the sad state of insanity. This was a tragedy for the new monarchial system, but David was determined to succeed where Saul was failing.

REFLECTION on the MONARCHY: Israel did not become 'like the other nations' when there was a king. Military necessity prevented them from developing the city-state system of the Canaanites, and their Covenant promise to obey YHWH's Law prevailed, preventing the kings of Israel from becoming autocrats, 'above' the law. All through the next centuries there were prophets at work, reminding the King of his obligations, and criticizing his faults - a system unique to Israel!