Saul-Israel's First King

Samuel is pouring oil on the man's head. This is what they used to do to a person to show that he had been chosen as king.  Jehovah tells Samuel to pour the oil on Saul's head.  It is a special sweet-smelling oil.

Saul did not think that he was good enough to be king.  'I belong to the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest one in Israel,'  he tells Samuel. Why do you think that I will be king?'  Jehovah likes Saul because he does not pretend to be big and important. That is why he chooses him to be king.

But Saul is  not poor or a small man. He comes from a rich family, and he is a very handsome, tall man. He is about a foot taller than anyone else in Israel!  Saul is a very fast runner, and he is a very strong man.  The people are glad that Jehovah has chosen Saul to be king.  They all begin to shout:  'Long live the king!'

The enemies of Israel are as strong as ever.  They are still causing a lot of trouble for the Israelites.  Soon after Saul is made king, the Am'mon-ites come up to fight against them. But Saul gathers a big army, and he wins the victory  over the Am'mon-ites. This makes the people happy that Saul is king.



Next time: Conclusion of Saul-Israels First King

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