That’s a very good question. King Saul was the first king of Israel, according to the Bible, who reigned in the 11th century BCE. However, his historicity has been debated by scholars and archaeologists, who have different opinions on how reliable the Biblical accounts are and what kind of evidence can support them.
Some scholars argue that there is historical evidence for King Saul’s existence, based on ancient inscriptions, archaeological findings, and textual analysis. For example, one article claims that an ancient inscription found in Israel confirms the Biblical account of the transition from the last judge, Samuel, to the first king, Saul1. The inscription contains instructions from a higher authority to a local magistrate in language that implies the local magistrate is being told to follow the rules issued by a new king of Israel1. Another article reviews the famous passage in 1 Kings 9:15–19, which tells us that King Solomon fortified Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer, and argues that these three impressive six-chambered city gates can be attributed to the time of Solomon and his predecessors, including Saul2. The article also examines the genetic and linguistic roots of the Hebrew language and suggests that it emerged as a recognizable language around the time of the establishment of the Israelite monarchy2.
Other scholars challenge the historical evidence for King Saul’s existence, and propose alternative interpretations or hypotheses. For example, some scholars question the authenticity and dating of the ancient inscription mentioned above, and suggest that it may not refer to Saul or any Israelite king at all3. Some scholars also dispute the dating and attribution of the six-chambered city gates, and argue that they belong to a later period than Solomon or Saul4. They also point out that there is no archaeological evidence for a united monarchy of Israel under Saul, David and Solomon, and that the Biblical narratives may reflect later political and religious agendas rather than historical facts4.
Therefore, the historical evidence for King Saul’s existence is not conclusive or unanimous. It depends on how one evaluates the sources, methods, and assumptions of different scholars and archaeologists. However, it is possible that some traces of historical reality are preserved in the Biblical narratives, as well as in other ancient records and artifacts. If you want to learn more about King Saul and his role in the Bible and history, you can read some of these articles here, here, here, and here. I hope this answer was helpful and informative. If you have any follow-up questions or want to explore other topics, please feel free to ask me. 😊