“I Have Rejected Saul” – Part 1

Posted on October 19, 2018 by jamesbradfordpate

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament

“The LORD said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel’” (1 Samuel 16:1).

This passage raises many questions about the nature and character of God. What kind of God would choose a man to be king and then reject him as a king? Why did Yahweh reject Saul? Some people say that Saul was rejected because it was the people who chose Saul to be king in Israel and not Yahweh. This view contradicts what the Bible says about Saul’s selection to be the first king of Israel. In order to properly understand God’s rejection of Saul, it is necessary to review the rise of the monarchy in Israel.

The Establishment of the Monarchy

The establishment of the monarchy in Israel must be understood in the context of Israel’s wars against the Philistines. The Bible says that when Samuel…

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About jamesbradfordpate

My name is James Pate. This blog is about my journey. I read books. I watch movies and TV shows. I go to church. I try to find meaning. And, when I can’t do that, I just talk about stuff that I find interesting. I have degrees in fields of religious studies. I have an M.Phil. in the History of Biblical Interpretation from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio. I also have an M.A. in Hebrew Bible from Jewish Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and a B.A. from DePauw University.
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