It's easy to think they were simply rejecting God's rule, but the story is more nuanced than that. According to some accounts, it wasn't the desire for a leader that upset Samuel and angered God. It was how they asked. The people cried out, "We want a king, that we may be like the other nations!" That desire to simply fit in, to mirror the surrounding cultures, that was the real issue.
And why Saul? What made him the chosen one? Ginzberg, in Legends of the Jews, paints a fascinating picture. It wasn't just about being a military hero, though he certainly proved himself there. Remember the Philistines' victory under the sons of Eli? They even captured the tables of the law! Legend says Saul, upon hearing this in Shiloh, marched sixty miles to the camp, wrestled the tables back from Goliath himself, and returned the same day to Eli. Now that's dedication!
But it wasn't just battlefield bravery. Saul, we're told, was strikingly handsome. That explains, according to the tale, why the young women in his town were so eager to chat with him when he asked about the seer. And despite his good looks and heroic deeds, Saul possessed an incredible modesty. When he and his servant were searching for lost asses, he treated his servant as an equal, worrying that "My father will take thought of us."
Even after being anointed king, he hesitated to fully accept the honor. He insisted on consulting the Urim and Thummim – those mysterious oracular objects used to discern God's will.
But perhaps Saul's greatest quality was his innocence. The text says he was as free from sin as "a one year old child." This purity, this unblemished soul, made him worthy of prophecy. It's said his prophecies concerned the war of Gog and Magog, and even the final judgment itself! Imagine, this humble, handsome warrior, privy to the secrets of the end times.
And finally, there's the influence of his ancestors. Specifically, his grandfather Abiel. We learn that Abiel was deeply concerned with public welfare. He even had the streets lit at night so that people could safely travel to the houses of study after dark. It's a lovely detail, isn't it? A reminder that even seemingly small acts of kindness and civic responsibility can leave a lasting legacy. That the merits of our ancestors can play a role in our own destinies.
So, the next time you read about Saul, remember the full picture. A complex figure, chosen for his courage, his humility, his innocence, and even the good deeds of his grandfather. A reminder that leadership isn't just about power, but about character, and a willingness to serve something greater than oneself. What qualities do you think are most important in a leader? Perhaps the stories of our past can help us better understand the challenges of our present.