Saul's stature, humility, and initial military success seemed to make him the ideal candidate to be Israel's first king. However, Saul soon lost favor with God through impatience, disobedience, and compromise. Samuel rebuked him, plainly saying, "You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel." Saul reigned for about 15 more years, yet those years were characterized by jealousy, outbursts of rage, and being tormented. Saul died in battle, falling on his sword so as not to be captured by the Philistines. For the entirety of Saul's story, see 1 Samuel 9-31.
