Who was Shaul in the Bible?

Shaul was a king of Edom, the nation descended from Esau. He is listed as coming from Rehoboth on the Euphrates River and reigned after King Samlah and before King Baal-hanan (Genesis 36:37-38).

Why is King Shaul of Edom significant?

Shaul's brief mention is significant because it documents the succession of Edomite kings, showing the nation's established monarchy before Israel had a king. This list in Genesis 36 confirms God's fulfillment of His promise to make Esau into a nation (Genesis 36:31).

What do we know about Shaul's life and reign?

The Bible records only his name, his city of origin (Rehoboth on the Euphrates), and his place in the line of Edomite kings. No specific events from his life or reign are detailed in Scripture (Genesis 36:37-38).

Shaul

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleKing

Shaul, from Rehoboth on the Euphrates, was a king of Edom who reigned after Samlah and before Baal-hanan.

Shaul

Biography

Shaul of Rehoboth-on-the-River was an Edomite king who reigned in the era before Israel had any monarchy, listed in the ancient king list of Genesis 36:37-38 and its parallel in 1 Chronicles 1:48-49. He succeeded King Samlah and was in turn succeeded by Baal-hanan son of Achbor. His city, Rehoboth-on-the-River, likely refers to a settlement near the Euphrates, suggesting connections with Mesopotamian trade networks. The name Shaul is the Semitic form of "asked for" or "borrowed." This Edomite king list is among the oldest archival materials preserved in the Pentateuch, providing a glimpse into the political organization of Esau's descendants during the patriarchal period. No narrative events are attributed specifically to Shaul's reign.

Significance

Shaul of Edom's inclusion in Genesis 36's king list carries theological significance as evidence of God's faithfulness to promises made to Abraham, who was told that kings would come from his lineage (Genesis 17:6). While Israel had yet to establish a monarchy, Edom, descended from Esau, already had dynastic succession. This contrast highlights the distinctive trajectory of God's dealings with Jacob's descendants: their kingship would come through divine appointment rather than natural political development. Shaul of Edom thus serves as an indirect backdrop against which Israel's later theological claim that Yahweh alone is their true king (1 Samuel 8:7) comes into sharper relief.

Verse Appearances (4)

Genesis

Genesis 36:37 Genesis 36:38

1Chr

1Chr 1:48 1Chr 1:49

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources