Shaul, son of Kish, of the tribe of Binyamin, is the first king of Israel according to the Book of Samuel. Sent by his father to look for lost donkeys, he came to consult the prophet Shmuel, who anointed him in secret; on that occasion he prophesied with a band of prophets, giving rise to the saying "Is Shaul also among the prophets?" Scholars place his reign in the second half of the 11th century BCE.

At the public selection in Mitzpah the lot fell on Shaul, but he had hidden himself: "he is hiding among the baggage." He was brought out and stood a head taller than all the people. The Sages praised his righteousness, humility and modesty, teaching among other things that when he became king he had never tasted sin.

Soon after his anointing he rescued Yavesh Gilad from the Ammonites, then fought the Philistines at Michmash and secured the kingdom's borders against Moab, Ammon, Tzovah and Amalek. Commanded to wipe out Amalek, he spared King Agag and the choicest livestock, and Shmuel told him that the kingship would not pass to his descendants.

The young David, who entered his service as a musician to soothe the evil spirit that troubled him, defeated Goliath, became his son-in-law by marrying Michal, and the close friend of his son Yonatan. Jealous of David's popularity, Shaul pursued him for a long time; David spared his life twice, at Ein Gedi and in his camp.

Shaul fell in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, where his sons Yonatan, Avinadav and Malkishua were also killed. The men of Yavesh Gilad recovered the bodies and buried them, and David mourned Shaul and Yonatan in a famous lament. Later David had the bones of Shaul and Yonatan buried in Tzela, in the territory of Binyamin, in the tomb of Shaul's father Kish. According to Rabbi Yochanan, his sins were forgiven and he dwells in the World to Come alongside the prophet Shmuel.