Editing Saul (section)

=== Anointed as king ===
[[File:Elie Marcuse saul.jpg|thumb|"Death of King Saul", 1848 by [[Elie Marcuse]] (Germany and France, 1817–1902)]]
The First Book of Samuel gives three accounts of Saul's rise to the throne in three successive chapters:
*Saul is sent with a servant to look for his father's strayed donkeys. Leaving his home at [[Gibeah]], they eventually arrive at the district of [[Zuph]], at which point Saul suggests abandoning their search. Saul's servant tells him that they happen to be near the town of [[Ramathaim-Zophim|Ramah]], where a famous ''seer'' dwells, and suggests that they should consult him first. The ''seer'' (later identified by the text as Samuel) offers hospitality to Saul and later [[anoints]] him in private.<ref>1 Samuel 9</ref><ref name=driscoll>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13486d.htm |author=Driscoll, James F. |title=Saul |encyclopedia=The Catholic Encyclopedia |volume=13 |location=New York |publisher=Robert Appleton |year=1912 |access-date=15 September 2014}}</ref>
*A popular movement having arisen to establish a centralized monarchy like other nations, Samuel assembles the people at [[Mizpah in Benjamin]] to appoint a king, fulfilling his previous promise to do so.<ref>1 Samuel 8</ref> Samuel organises the people by [[Twelve Tribes of Israel|tribe]] and by clan. Using the [[Urim and Thummim]],<ref>[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/1_samuel/10.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on 1 Samuel 10], accessed 1 May 2017.</ref> he selects the [[tribe of Benjamin]], from within the tribe selecting the clan of [[Matri (biblical figure)|Matri]], and from them selecting Saul. After having been chosen as monarch, Saul returns to his home in Gibeah, along with a number of followers.<ref>1 Samuel 10:17-24</ref><ref name=chabad /> However, some of the people are openly unhappy with the selection of Saul.
*The [[Ammon]]ites, led by [[Nahash of Ammon|Nahash]], lay siege to [[Jabesh-Gilead]]. Under the terms of surrender, the occupants of the city are to be forced into slavery and have their right eyes removed. Instead they send word of this to the other [[tribes of Israel]], and the tribes west of the Jordan assemble an army under Saul. Saul leads the army to victory over the Ammonites, and the people congregate at [[Gilgal]] where they acclaim Saul as king and he is crowned.<ref name=driscoll /><ref>1 Samuel 11</ref> Saul's first act is to forbid retribution against those who had previously contested his kingship.

[[André Lemaire]] finds the third account probably the most reliable tradition.<ref name=Lemaire>{{Cite web |url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/king-saul/ |title=King Saul}}</ref> The [[Pulpit Commentary]] distinguishes between a private and a public selection process.<ref>[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/10.htm Pulpit Commentary on 1 Samuel 10], accessed 1 May 2017.</ref>