Now that God has decided to let Israel have a king, the issue becomes: who will that be? Who will Samuel anoint? I Samuel 9 provides the answer to that question.
We are introduced to a tall, handsome young man named Saul. Although perhaps a bit of a country bumpkin, he looks the part of a king. "There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders above everyone else" (vs. 2). Saul's roots are humble: he is from the territory of Benjamin, which, after their troubles in Judges 21, is now the smallest and least influential tribe in Israel.
Through a series of seemingly chance events, Saul ends up before the prophet Samuel, in an attempt to ask the "seer" about his father's lost donkeys. Saul gets the surprise of his life when Samuel knows all about his errand but instead wants to give him the place of honor at a banquet and talk with him about his family being the fulfillment of "Israel's desire."
It is a little sad to read this chapter and see the hope, promise and naivete of the one chosen to lead Israel - and yet realize what will happen to Saul in future years. His story is a tragedy, for though the kingdom of Israel was handed to him by God, he was not able to restrain his jealousy, insecurity and paranoia when he later attempts to cling to power.
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