The House of Saul was a reigning dynasty of the united
Kingdom of Israel. It is named after its founder,
Saul
Saul (; he, , ; , ; ) was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the first monarch of the United Kingdom of Israel. His reign, traditionally placed in the late 11th century BCE, supposedly marked the transition of Israel and Judah from a scattered tri ...
.
Biblical narrative
The primary source about this dynasty are the
Books of Samuel
The Book of Samuel (, ''Sefer Shmuel'') is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books (1–2 Samuel) in the Old Testament. The book is part of the narrative history of Ancient Israel called the Deuteronomistic history, a series of books (Joshu ...
, with additional document witnesses in the
Books of Chronicles
The Book of Chronicles ( he, דִּבְרֵי־הַיָּמִים ) is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books (1–2 Chronicles) in the Christian Old Testament. Chronicles is the final book of the Hebrew Bible, concluding the third sect ...
. A Saul-David narrative covers most of the first book of Samuel and the first part of the second book of Samuel. The narrative begins with the story of the lost asses and an encounter between Saul and
Samuel
Samuel ''Šəmūʾēl'', Tiberian: ''Šămūʾēl''; ar, شموئيل or صموئيل '; el, Σαμουήλ ''Samouḗl''; la, Samūēl is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the bibl ...
(–10:16) and ends with a list of subdued peoples and kings (2 Samuel 8:1–15). There is reason to believe that several sections of this narrative were later additions. The main purpose of this narrative is a defense of
David
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
's legitimacy as a king, through a
translatio imperii
''Translatio imperii'' (Latin for "transfer of rule") is a historiographical concept that originated from the Middle Ages, in which history is viewed as a linear succession of transfers of an ''imperium'' that invests supreme power in a singular r ...
((
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
for "transfer of rule") from Saul to David.
[Oswald (2020), pp. 93–111]
The narrative makes three arguments concerning David's legitimacy as a king. The first is that this transfer of power was decided by God. The second is that the transfer was caused by Saul's failure as a king. The third is that David himself did not force his rise to the throne. The narrative further presents Saul as a representative of the
Tribe of Benjamin
According to the Torah, the Tribe of Benjamin () was one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The tribe was descended from Benjamin, the youngest son of the patriarch Jacob (later given the name Israel) and his wife Rachel. In the Samaritan Pentateuc ...
and David as a representative of the
Tribe of Judah
According to the Hebrew Bible, the tribe of Judah (, ''Shevet Yehudah'') was one of the twelve Tribes of Israel, named after Judah, the son of Jacob. Judah was the first tribe to take its place in the Land of Israel, occupying the southern ...
, and covers the story of the dynasties which the two founded: the House of Saul and the
House of David.
[Oswald (2020), pp. 93–111]
A rivalry between the two dynasties is hinted through certain passages of the narrative. In 1 Samuel, 20:16, there is mention of a covenant between
Jonathan and the House of David. In , Saul himself predicts the rise of David to the throne, and the establishment of the Kingdom of Israel through David's hand. Saul asks David to swear an oath that he will not eliminate Saul's descendants or wipe out Saul's name "from the house of my father". In ,
Abigail
Abigail () was an Israelite woman in the Hebrew Bible married to Nabal; she married the future King David after Nabal's death ( 1 Samuel ). Abigail was David's second wife, after Saul and Ahinoam's daughter, Michal, whom Saul later married ...
appears certain that David will establish a "steadfast house", with the rationale that David is fighting the battles of
Yahweh
Yahweh *''Yahwe'', was the national god of ancient Israel and Judah. The origins of his worship reach at least to the early Iron Age, and likely to the Late Bronze Age if not somewhat earlier, and in the oldest biblical literature he posse ...
. In , the two dynasties are reported to be rivals in a long war, with the House of David growing stronger and the House of Saul growing weaker.
[Oswald (2020), pp. 93–111]
This is not the only Biblical narrative of an Israelite or Juhadite leader gaining an important victory. In the
Book of Judges
The Book of Judges (, ') is the seventh book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. In the narrative of the Hebrew Bible, it covers the time between the conquest described in the Book of Joshua and the establishment of a kingdom i ...
,
Barak
Barak ( or ; he, בָּרָק; Tiberian Hebrew: '' Bārāq''; ar, البُراق ''al-Burāq'' "lightning") was a ruler of Ancient Israel. As military commander in the biblical Book of Judges, Barak, with Deborah, from the Tribe of Ephraim, ...
defeats
Sisera
Sisera ( he, סִיסְרָא ''Sîsərā'') was commander of the Canaanite army of King Jabin of Hazor, who is mentioned in of the Hebrew Bible. After being defeated by the forces of the Israelite tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali under the comm ...
,
Ehud
Ehud ben‑Gera ( he, אֵהוּד בֶּן־גֵּרָא, Tiberian ''ʾĒhūḏ ben‑Gērāʾ'') is described in the biblical Book of Judges chapter 3 as a judge who was sent by God to deliver the Israelites from Moabite domination. He is des ...
defeats
Eglon, and
Gideon
Gideon (; ) also named Jerubbaal and Jerubbesheth, was a military leader, judge and prophet whose calling and victory over the Midianites are recounted in of the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible.
Gideon was the son of Joash, from the Abiez ...
defeats
Oreb and Zeeb. In the
Books of Kings
The Book of Kings (, '' Sēfer Məlāḵīm'') is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books (1–2 Kings) in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. It concludes the Deuteronomistic history, a history of Israel also including the books ...
,
Asa of Judah
Asa (; el, Ασά; la, Asa) was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the third king of the Kingdom of Judah and the fifth king of the Davidic line, House of David. The Hebrew Bible gives the period of his reign between 40–41 years. His reign is da ...
defeats
Baasha of Israel
Baasha ( he, , ''Baʿšāʾ'') was the third king of the northern Israelite Kingdom of Israel. He was the son of Ahijah of the Tribe of Issachar. Baasha's story is told in .
Reign
Baasha became king of Israel in the third year of Asa, king ...
. But these victory narratives are much shorter than the Saul-David narrative. The reason for the emphasis on this narrative was its impact on the intended audience. The narrative was more important than a mere victory in battle or the establishment of a state, because it depicted the foundation of the kingdom where the audience lived.
[Oswald (2020), pp. 93–111]
The narrative defends the legitimacy of David and his dynasty, and accomplishes this through the delegitimization of the House of Saul. The stakes of this narrative was proving whether the legitimate king of Israel originates in the House of David or the House of Saul. The rivalry between the two dynasties is also depicted as a rivalry between the Tribe of Judah and the Tribe of Benjamin. In 1 Samuel, 22:7, Saul appeals to the loyalty of his
Benjaminite kinsmen. Elsewhere, David relies on the loyalty of the tribe of Judah.
[Oswald (2020), pp. 93–111]
Another Biblical narrative is the so-called "Court History" or Succession Narrative, covering 2 Samuel 9–20, and 1 Kings 1–2. There,
Shimei
Shimei ( ''Šīmʿī'') is the name of a number of persons referenced in the Hebrew Bible and Rabbinical literature.
*The second son of Gershon and grandson of Levi (; ; ). The family of the Shimeites, as a branch of the tribe of Levi, is mentione ...
ben Gera accuses David of having murdered the House of Saul. In 2 Samuel, 16:5, Shimei is depicted as a Benjaminite from the same clan as Saul, while in 2 Samuel, 19:21, Shimei is depicted as first among the
Tribe of Joseph
The Tribe of Joseph is one of the Tribes of Israel in biblical tradition. Since Ephraim and Manasseh (often called the "two half-tribes of Joseph") together traditionally constituted the tribe of Joseph, it was often not listed as one of th ...
. In 2 Samuel, 20:1,
Sheba son of Bichri
In the Old Testament, Sheba was a Benjaminite leader who revolted against King David, recounted in 2 Samuel.
In the Bible
Sheba was a son of Bichri, of the family of Becher, the son of Benjamin, and thus of the tribe of King Saul.
When David r ...
of the Tribe of Benjamin proclaims a rebellion against the House of David. In both cases, the two Benjaminites are instigators of conflict against David, and in both cases the Tribe of Benjamin appears opposed to the House of David and to the Tribe of Judah.
[Oswald (2020), pp. 93–111]
While the two dynasties compete over kingship of Israel, the kingship of Judah is depicted as separate and belonging to the House of David alone. In 2 Samuel, 5:5, the narrative reports that David ruled over Judah at the capital city of
Hebron
Hebron ( ar, الخليل or ; he, חֶבְרוֹן ) is a Palestinian. city in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains, it lies above sea level. The second-largest city in the West Bank (after East J ...
for 7 years and 6 months, before reigning over Israel. In ,
Abner
In the Hebrew Bible, Abner ( he, אַבְנֵר ) was the cousin of King Saul and the commander-in-chief of his army. His name also appears as "Abiner son of Ner", where the longer form Abiner means "my father is Ner".
Biblical narrative
Ab ...
states his intentions to set up the throne of David over both kingdoms, Israel and Judah.
[Oswald (2020), pp. 93–111]
The Saul-David narrative depicts the House of David gaining the throne without resorting to illegal actions, such as usurpation or acts of violence. Instead it depicts Saul acting "reprehensibly". The aim seems to be to convince an audience of both Judahites and Benjaminites. This suggests that the text was composed in an era where relations between the two tribes were uncertain.
[Oswald (2020), pp. 93–111]
Reign
Following the death of Saul, there was a bloody
civil war
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
between a Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah, represented respectively by the House of Saul and David. It lasted for two years. At the end of it, Saul's son and successor Ishbaal (
Ish-bosheth
Ish-bosheth ( he, , translit=ʼĪš-bōšeṯ, "man of shame"), also called Eshbaal (, ; alternatively spelled Ishbaal, "fire of Baal") was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the second monarch of the Kingdom of Israel who succeeded his father, Sau ...
) was assassinated. The kingdom of northern Israel then sent representatives to David at the city of
Hebron
Hebron ( ar, الخليل or ; he, חֶבְרוֹן ) is a Palestinian. city in the southern West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains, it lies above sea level. The second-largest city in the West Bank (after East J ...
, where they anointed him king. The reign and death of Ishbaal are recorded in 2 Samuel, but omitted entirely in the
Books of Chronicles
The Book of Chronicles ( he, דִּבְרֵי־הַיָּמִים ) is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books (1–2 Chronicles) in the Christian Old Testament. Chronicles is the final book of the Hebrew Bible, concluding the third sect ...
.
[Knoppers (2006), pp. 187–214]
David was a son-in-law of Saul, having married Saul's daughter
Michal
Michal (; he, מיכל , gr, Μιχάλ) was, according to the first Book of Samuel, a princess of the United Kingdom of Israel; the younger daughter of King Saul, she was the first wife of David (), who later became king, first of Judah, ...
. In case all of Saul's perished, David had a chance to claim Saul's inheritance through his marriage to Michal. This can be seen to improve his claim to power through an advantageous marriage. The Chronicler does not mention David's marriage to Michal. There is no record of children from this marriage.
[Knoppers (2006), pp. 187–214]
The genealogy of Saul in the Books of Chronicles (
1 Chronicles 9–
10) mentions his sons
Jonathan,
Malchi-shua,
Abinadab, and Eshbaal. The genealogy continues with Jonathan's son Meribaal (
Mephibosheth
Mephibosheth (Biblical Hebrew: , ''Məfīḇōšeṯ'', also called Meribaal, , ''Mərīḇ-Baʻal'') was the son of Jonathan—and, thus, a grandson of Saul—mentioned in the Biblical Books of Samuel and Chronicles.
Mephibosheth was five yea ...
). David is not mentioned as part of this genealogy.
[Knoppers (2006), pp. 187–214] The genealogy then mentions Meribaal's son Micah and Micah's descendants.
[Knoppers (2006), pp. 187–214]
See also
*
David and Jonathan
David and Jonathan were, according to the Hebrew Bible's Books of Samuel, heroic figures of the Kingdom of Israel, who formed a covenant, taking a mutual oath.
Jonathan was the son of Saul, king of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and David w ...
References
Sources
*
*
{{Dynasties of Ancient Israel