SUMMARY
Even as human kingship is presented as a concession to unfaithful people, God remains active in selecting kings and dynasties.
ANALYSIS
After a recitation of God’s salvific work, and the disappointment God felt because the people asked for a human king, God nevertheless appointed SaulThe first king of Israel. as king for the Israelites. The determination of who would be king was done by casting holyHoly is a term that originally meant set apart for the worship or service of God. While the term may refer to people, objects, time, or places, holiness in Judaism and Christianity primarily denotes the realm of the divine lots; presumably, but not explicitly here, through the Urim and Thummim.
The lotNephew of Abraham and Sarah. fell for the tribe of BenjaminA son of Jacob and tribe of Israel., the clan of Matri, and finally for Saul himself. Yet Saul, knowing from SamuelThe judge who anointed the first two kings of Israel. that he was to be selected, was hiding among the baggage. The people might have regretted asking for a king when their appointed leader was found hiding from his duties. That is, until they saw that he was a giant, standing head and shoulders above everyone else. Samuel made sure to point out Saul’s distinct stature. And Saul’s height seems to have been enough to convince almost everyone to support Saul’s kingship.
