SAUL CONTRASTED WITH DAVID

KING SAUL	KING DAVID
Saul, son of a wealthy man of the tribe of Benjamin, is anointed King of Israel	David is born in Bethlehem into the humble family of Jesse a descendant of Ruth and Boaz of the tribe of Judah
Saul's first campaigns against Israel's enemies are successful, 1Samuel 13 & 14	David, the youngest son, is the shepherd of his father's flocks
Saul separates the religious center of Israel from the political center: 1 Samuel 10:26;	David unites the political and religious center of Israel by moving the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem: 1 Kings 8:1ff
Saul disobeys Samuel and makes a presumptuous sacrifice: Loss of kingdom foretold 1 Samuel 13:14	When still a boy he is anointed by Samuel at God's command, 1Samuel
Makes a foolish curse that falls on his son Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14:24,44	Defeats Goliath in battle and becomes a mighty warrior.1 Samuel chapter 17
Disobeyed God's command and spared King Agag and flocks resulted in loss of kingdom 1Samuel 15:28	Marries Saul's daughter and makes a covenant of friendship with Saul's son Jonathan
Saul becomes mentally unstable.  Lost fellowship with God; unanswered prayer  1Samuel 28:19	Saul attempts to kill David.  David escapes and becomes an outlaw
Seeks help from a medium and receives a prediction of doom. 1Samuel 28:19	David has the opportunity to kill his enemy Saul [2 times] but refuses to kill one who is the anointed of God and king of Israel.
Defeated in battle with the Philistines, his sons are all killed.  He commits suicide; end of his dynasty. 1 Samuel 31:4,6	David becomes King of Judah and 7 years later King of Israel.  He reigns 40 years

LIMITED POWER OF A KING IN DEUTERONOMY 17:14-20	SOLOMON'S FAILURE AS A KING
He must not acquire many horses	He had 12 thousand horses. 1 Kings 10:26
He must not sent to Egypt to increase the power of his army	"Solomon then built up a force of chariots and cavalry" 1 kings 10:26
He must not have many wives	700 wives and 300 concubines 1 Kings 11:3
He must not acquire vast quantities of wealth.	"The weight of gold received annually by Solomon amounted to 666 talents of gold. 1 Kings 10:14

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