Who was the first king of Israel?

According to the Hebrew Bible, Saul was the first king of Israel. His rise marked the Israelites' transition from a loose tribal confederation led by judges to a centralized monarchy.

The biblical books of Samuel describe Saul as the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. The prophet Samuel anointed him, and Saul later gained public support after leading the Israelites to victory against the Ammonites. His royal base was at Gibeah, and his reign is traditionally placed in the 11th century BCE.

Saul is often remembered for his troubled relationship with David, who eventually became his successor. The biblical narrative portrays Saul as a capable military leader but also as a king whose disobedience to divine commands led to the loss of prophetic support.

David and Solomon are commonly confused with Saul because both ruled the united Israelite kingdom after him. Hezekiah was also a king of Judah, but he lived centuries later, after the kingdoms of Israel and Judah had divided.