Saul

Saul was the son of Kish, a wealthy Benjamite. He stood head and shoulders above other Israelites, and when he was brought forward as Israel's first king, he was hiding among the baggage—displaying the humility that would later turn to pride. Initially, he seemed a promising leader, rallying Israel to rescue Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites.

Saul's downfall came through a series of disobedient acts. Before a battle at Gilgal, when Samuel delayed arriving, Saul unlawfully offered sacrifices himself. Later, he was commanded to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their livestock, but he spared King Agag and the best animals. When confronted, Saul made excuses and blamed the people. Samuel declared that "to obey is better than sacrifice" and announced that God had rejected Saul as king.

From that point, "the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him." Music from the young David could soothe him, but Saul's jealousy grew into murderous obsession. He spent years pursuing David instead of fighting Israel's enemies, killed the priests of Nob for helping David, and even consulted a witch at Endor against God's explicit command.

Saul's end came at Mount Gilboa, where the Philistines killed his sons, including Jonathan. Wounded and facing capture, Saul fell on his own sword. His body was hung on the walls of Beth-shan until the men of Jabesh-gilead—remembering his early deliverance—retrieved and buried him with honor.