Saul searches for his asses

SAUL SEARCHES FOR HIS ASSES, c. 1035 B.C.

It appears that Israelite-Philistine relations were a continuous chain of hostile actions and reactions. The surprising Israelite victory in the days of Samuel may have brought about, in turn, more intensified efforts on the part of the Philistines. They now penetrated to the heart of the Israelite settlement in the hill country and secured their rule in the conquered regions by installing permanent occupation forces.

The time was ripe in Israel for rule by kingship. Saul, the first of the Israelite kings, arose in the midst of the Philistine oppression. He came from Gibeah of Benjamin. This city became Saul’s stronghold and the first capital of the kingdom of Israel; henceforth it was known as Gibeah of Saul. The biblical account of the route taken by Saul as he found a kingdom while searching for his lost asses in the central Mount Ephraim is a fine example of the instructive topographical data included in this type of folk tale (see 1 Sam 9–10:16).

Article abstract from The Sacred Bridge