David is not the first King of Israel! Even though some scholars would actually insist that David was the first king since he was specifically chosen by God and that Saul was just chosen by the people. I beg to differ. Despite the fact that that is the truth, God allowed Saul to be chosen as king and it is also logical to say that from the Bible itself, Saul was the first king. Saul is identified in the Books of Samuel, 1 Chronicles and the Qur’an as the first king of the ancient Kingdom of Israel. Saul reigned from Gibeah for some four decades at the close of the second millennium B.C. When his reign succumbed to a Philistine onslaught, a part of his kingdom fell to the Philistines, while the remainder was contested by his surviving son Ish-bosheth and rival David. The Books of Samuel give three distinct accounts of how Saul came to be anointed as king:

* (1 Samuel 9:1-10:16) Saul was sent with a servant to look for his father’s donkeys, who had strayed; leaving his home at Gibeah, they eventually wander to the district of Zuph, at which point Saul suggests abandoning their search. Saul’s servant however, remarks that they happened to be near the town of Ramah, where a famous seer was located, and suggested that they should consult him first. The seer (later identified by the text as Samuel), having previously had a vision instructing him to do so, offers hospitality to Saul when he enters Ramah, and later anoints him in private.

* (1 Samuel 10:17-24 and 12:1-5) Desiring to be like other nations, there was a popular movement to establish a centralized monarchy. Samuel therefore assembled the people at Mizpah in Benjamin, and despite having strong reservations, which he made no attempt to hide, allows the appointment of a king. Samuel uses cleromancy to determine who it was that God desired to be the king, whittling the assembly down into ever smaller groups until Saul is finally identified. Saul, hiding in baggage, is then publicly anointed.

* (1 Samuel 11:1-11 and 11:15) The Ammonites, led by Nahash, lay siege to Jabesh-Gilead, who are forced to surrender. Under the terms of surrender, the occupants of the city would be forced into slavery, and have their right eyes removed as a sign of this. The city’s occupants send out word of this to the other tribes of Israel, and the tribes west of the Jordan assemble an army under the leadership of Saul. Saul leads the army to victory against the Ammonites, and, in both gratitude and appreciation of military skill; the people congregate at Gilgal, and acclaim Saul as king.

REFERENCE:

            - The Bible; Wikipedia. Org