1 Samuel 13 1

1 Samuel 13:1 kjv

Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

1 Samuel 13:1 nkjv

Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

1 Samuel 13:1 niv

Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty- two years.

1 Samuel 13:1 esv

Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel,

1 Samuel 13:1 nlt

Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years.

1 Samuel 13 verses

1 Samuel 13 1 Meaning

First Samuel chapter 13, verse 1 primarily serves as a chronological marker for the commencement of Saul's active reign as king over Israel, following his initial anointing and confirmation. While the Masoretic Text (standard Hebrew text) of this verse presents a unique textual difficulty by either omitting the specific numbers for Saul's age at accession and the total length of his reign, or containing corrupted numbers ("one year old" and "two years" of reign), its underlying purpose remains clear: to provide introductory chronological data for Israel's first king before delving into the events of his kingship, particularly the significant conflict with the Philistines. It sets the stage for the narrative of Saul's reign, emphasizing his role as the reigning monarch over God's people.

1 Samuel 13 1 Context

First Samuel chapter 13 verse 1 introduces the functional beginning of Saul’s kingship as described in detail. The preceding chapters recount Israel’s demand for a king, God’s granting of this request through Samuel, Saul's anointing by Samuel (1 Sam 9-10), his initial military victory over the Ammonites which solidified his position (1 Sam 11), and Samuel’s solemn farewell address confirming the monarchy while warning Israel of the dangers of disobeying God (1 Sam 12). Thus, 1 Samuel 13:1 marks a transition from the establishment of the monarchy to the execution of Saul’s reign, setting the stage immediately for a critical period of conflict with the Philistines. Historically and culturally, this marks Israel's full transition from a tribal confederacy under charismatic judges to a centralized monarchy, an institution common among surrounding nations, but distinctively tied to divine appointment and law in Israel.

1 Samuel 13 1 Word analysis

• Saul (שָׁאוּל, Sha'ul): The proper name of Israel’s first king. It derives from the Hebrew verb meaning "to ask" or "to inquire." This etymology is highly significant given that Israel asked for a king, and Saul was the one given to them (1 Sam 8:5-7, Acts 13:21). His character arc often exemplifies the tension between God's divine choosing and human failure.
• was... old (בֶּן־שָׁנָה, ben-shanah): Literally "son of a year." This phrase, "בן־שָׁנָה," often means "one year old." In the context of 1 Samuel 13:1, where many reliable Hebrew manuscripts leave a blank or insert this highly problematic reading, it highlights a recognized textual difficulty. It's almost universally understood not as Saul literally being one year old, but rather an indication that the precise number has been lost, corrupted, or left unspecified in the most ancient Hebrew texts used by modern translations (Masoretic Text). Many modern English versions reflect this by inserting a blank or noting the textual uncertainty. This contrasts with common biblical practice of giving specific ages for important figures like Abraham (Gen 12:4), Joseph (Gen 37:2), and other kings (2 Sam 5:4).
• when he began to reign (בְּמָלְכוֹ, b'molkho): The infinitive construct form of the verb "to reign" (מָלַךְ, malakh) with a pronominal suffix. It precisely denotes the point at which his active reign commenced. This is crucial as Saul had already been anointed and affirmed, but this phrase marks the specific entry into his effective governance and leadership over the nation.
• and he reigned... years (מָלַךְ...שְׁנַיִם שָׁנִים, malakh...sh'nayim shanim): Literally, "he reigned two years" in the Masoretic Text. Like the preceding phrase, "two years" here presents a significant textual difficulty. A reign of only two years would contradict the detailed narrative of Saul's long kingship, which includes multiple military campaigns and the mature age of his son Jonathan. Consequently, scholars and translations understand this "two years" as either another textual corruption, an indicator that the subsequent reign lasted more than two years, or that these "two years" refer to a specific significant period within his longer reign, such as his independent establishment of armies, not his entire rule. Given the internal narrative, the longer period stated by Josephus (22 years total) or in Acts 13:21 (40 years) for his total reign makes more historical and literary sense, implying the numbers were lost or intentionally condensed in the Masoretic Text for theological emphasis rather than exact chronology.
• over Israel (עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, al-Yisra'el): Clearly designates the scope and domain of Saul’s authority – he was the divinely appointed (and humanly requested) sovereign specifically over the unified nation of Israel.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Saul was... old when he began to reign: This phrase sets the individual on the throne at the point of his accession. It’s an essential part of royal chronologies in the Ancient Near East and throughout the biblical narrative, establishing legitimacy and historical grounding for a ruler. The lack of concrete numbers here in the Masoretic Text (unlike David or Solomon) is unique and highlights textual transmission challenges.
• and he reigned... years over Israel: This part of the verse provides the duration and territory of Saul’s rule. It indicates the totality of his active governance over God's people. Despite the numerical ambiguity in the MT, the intent is to sum up his time as the reigning monarch. The explicit mention of "Israel" signifies his God-given authority over the chosen nation.

1 Samuel 13 1 Bonus section

The textual uncertainty in 1 Samuel 13:1 regarding Saul's age and reign length is a significant point for biblical textual criticism. While other sources (like Acts 13:21 stating 40 years for his reign or Josephus providing 22 years) offer different figures, the standard Hebrew Bible's silence or problematic rendering underscores that for this particular verse, a definitive, universally accepted chronology for Saul is elusive within the Hebrew tradition itself. This anomaly can encourage reliance on the thematic progression of the narrative rather than precise chronological markers, inviting readers to consider Saul's character and the divine principles at play (e.g., obedience over sacrifice in 1 Samuel 15) more centrally than exact historical dating. The very first active statement of his reign carries this unique textual challenge, perhaps hinting that human kingly reigns, unlike God's eternal rule, are temporary and fraught with imperfection from their very inception.

1 Samuel 13 1 Commentary

First Samuel 13:1, though chronologically crucial, is paradoxically a verse shrouded in textual ambiguity concerning the precise numbers of Saul's age and reign length in the primary Hebrew text. Unlike other biblical accounts of kings which meticulously list these details (e.g., David, Solomon), the Masoretic Text of this verse either presents incomplete or corrupted numbers, often appearing as "one year old" and a two-year reign, or simply left blank in modern translations. This signals a unique scribal challenge in the text's transmission or a very early omission. Regardless of the numerical specifics, the verse’s core function is to transition the narrative from Saul's election and confirmation to the active period of his reign, specifically positioning him as Israel's military and civil leader immediately before his fateful conflict with the Philistines. It underscores his established authority as the nation's first king over Israel. The textual anomaly forces readers to focus less on precise dates and more on the qualitative aspects of Saul's leadership, which swiftly moves into a depiction of his early obedience and subsequent tragic failure to heed God's commands.