In the meantime, the Israelites, in consternation at the loss of their ark, gathered about Samuel, and besought him to consecrate a king for them, who might go forth to battle before them, and recover for them the ark.
Then Samuel said: “If I consecrate a king for you, will you not desert him, and refuse to obey him?”
But they all protested, “We will follow him wherever he leads, and we will obey all his commands.”[[600]]
Then Schareh, who was surnamed Thalout (Saul), on account of the greatness of his stature, was chosen by Samuel to be their king. He was poor, and by trade a water-carrier, and his ancestors had all been water-carriers.
Now the father of Saul had lost an ass, which had escaped into the desert. Saul went after it.
Then Samuel came to meet him, and said to him: “Thou shalt reign as king over the people of Israel.”
Saul replied: “O prophet of God! thou knowest that my tribe is the least among the tribes, and that I am the poorest among the members of my tribe.”
Samuel said: “Nevertheless, God has ordered that so it should be.”
Then he poured on his head the sacred oil which had been brought to Samuel out of heaven by Gabriel.
But some say that this oil belonged to Joseph the son of Jacob, and it was preserved by the prophets. When this oil was poured on Saul’s head and face, it made his skin brilliant and pure.