Saul is presented to Israel as king by lot (1 Samuel 10). Samuel brings the tribes near, and the tribe of Benjamin is selected; then the Matrite clan within the tribe of Benjamin, and then Saul the son of Kish.
We’ve seen this before. After the first, unsuccessful battle of Ai, Joshua discovers the cause of Israel’s defeat by casting lots. He assembles the tribes, and the tribe of Judah is taken, then the Zerahites, then the family of Zabdi, then Achan son of Carmi (Joshua 7).
The differences between the two events are pronounced. Achan is buried beneath a pile of rocks; Saul is elevated to kingship.
But the similarity is not fortuitous, and it points to an important component of the Old Testament’s theology of kingship. Like the scapegoat at the day of atonement, Saul is selected by lot to be the people’s sin-bearer. Just so is Jesus king of the Jews.
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