Ibn Jarir meriwayatkan bahawa keadaan kaum Israel semakin merosot. Mereka melakukan banyak dosa dan membunuh sesiapa sahaja yang mereka mahu daripada kalangan nabi-nabi. Akibatnya, Allah mengutuskan kepada mereka seorang raja yang zalim, yang menganiaya mereka dan menumpahkan darah mereka, dan Allah juga membiarkan musuh-musuh mereka dari luar menyerang mereka.

Ibn Jarir reported that the condition of the Israelites deteriorated. They committed many sins and killed whom they wished of the prophets. Consequently Allah sent them tyrannous king who ill-treated them and spilled their blood, and set their enemies from outside against them as well.

Mereka dahulu pergi berperang sambil membawa Tabut Perjanjian. Mereka melakukan ini supaya memperoleh kemenangan dengan keberkatannya, dan ia menjadi lambang ketenangan serta peninggalan yang ditinggalkan oleh kaum Musa. Apabila mereka pergi berperang dengan penduduk Gaza dan Askalon, mereka dikalahkan kerana Tabut Perjanjian telah dirampas daripada mereka. Apabila raja Bani Israil mendengar perkara ini, dia mati di tempat itu juga.

They used to go war, taking with them The Ark of the Covenant. They did this so that they would be victorious by its blessings, and it became a symbol of calm and a relic left behind by Moses's people. When they went to war with the people of Gaza and Askalon, they were defeated because the Ark of the Covenant was captured from them. When the king of the Israelites heard of this he died on the spot.

Bani Israil kekal seperti kambing tanpa gembala sehingga Allah Yang Maha Kuasa mengutus kepada mereka seorang nabi bernama Samuel (Shammil) (pbuh). Mereka memintanya melantik seorang raja ke atas mereka untuk memimpin peperangan menentang musuh-musuh mereka.

The children of Israel remained like sheep without a shepherd until Almighty Allah sent them a prophet named Samuel (Shammil) (pbuh). They asked him to appoint a king over them to lead in a war against their enemies.

Menurut Ibn 'Asaker, Bani Israel menganggap Tabut Perjanjian mereka sangat suci dan simbol penting dalam sejarah mereka. Mereka membawa Tabut itu bahkan ketika berperang, dan mereka percaya bahawa dengan sebab Tabut itu, Allah akan melindungi mereka daripada musuh mereka. Kepercayaan ini memberi mereka ketenangan jiwa dan keberanian yang besar, dan musuh-musuh mereka menjadi gentar kerana Tabut itu. Musuh-musuh mereka juga percaya bahawa Tabut itu dikurniakan kuasa istimewa oleh Allah. Lama-kelamaan, Bani Israel mula mengabaikan syariat Allah; tabiat-tabiat buruk menjadi sebahagian daripada kehidupan mereka. Allah lalu mengirimkan ke atas mereka seorang musuh, iaitu orang Filistin, yang mengalahkan Bani Israel, merampas Tabut mereka, mengusir mereka dari rumah-rumah mereka, dan membawa pergi anak-anak mereka untuk digunakan atau dijual sebagai hamba. Kekuatan mereka pun hancur. Mereka berpecah-belah antara satu sama lain dan menjadi sangat patah semangat.

According to Ibn 'Asaker, the Israelites believed their Ark of the Covenant to be very holy and an important symbol of their history. The carried the Ark even in battle and believed that, because of it, Allah would protect them from their enemies. This belief gave them peace of mind and great courage, and their enemies were terrified by it. Their enemies also believed that it was given special power by Allah. Gradually the Israelites started to ignore Allah's law; evil habits became part of their lives. Allah sent upon them an enemy, the Philistines, who defeated the Israelites, captured their Ark, drove them out of their homes, and took away their children to use or sell as slaves. Their power was broken. They separated from one another and were very disheartened.

Kemudian datanglah Nabi Samuel (a.s.) di kalangan mereka untuk membawa sedikit kelegaan. Mereka meminta bantuan nabi itu untuk melantik seorang pemimpin yang kuat, seorang raja yang di bawah panjinya mereka dapat bersatu dan berperang melawan orang Filistin. Nabi Samuel (a.s.), dengan mengetahui kelemahan mereka, berkata kepada mereka: "Aku bimbang apabila tiba masanya untuk berperang, kamu mungkin enggan." Namun mereka meyakinkannya bahawa mereka telah menanggung penghinaan yang cukup dan kini bersedia untuk berperang di jalan Allah, walaupun mereka kehilangan nyawa.

Then came Prophet Samuel (pbuh) among them to bring some relief. They asked the prophet's help in appointing a strong leader, a king under whose banner they could unite and fight the Philistines. Prophet Samuel (pbuh), knowing their weakness, told them: "I fear that when the time comes to fight you may refuse." But they assured him that they had suffered enough insults and were now ready to fight in the way of Allah, even if they lost their lives.

Nabi Samuel berdoa kepada Allah memohon petunjuk. Allah mewahyukan kepadanya bahawa Dia telah memilih seorang, iaitu Saul (Talut), untuk menjadi raja mereka. Nabi itu ingin mengetahui bagaimana untuk mengenali raja yang akan datang. Dia diberitahu bahawa Saul akan datang kepadanya dengan sendirinya, dan bahawa mereka hendaklah kemudian menyerahkan kuasa kerajaan kepadanya, kerana dia akan memimpin mereka dalam peperangan menentang orang Filistin.

Prophet Samuel prayed to Allah for guidance. Allah revealed to him that He had chosen one, Saul (Talut), to be their king. The prophet wanted to know how to recognize the future king. He was told that Saul would come to him by himself and that they should then hand over the control of kingdom to him, for he would lead them in battle against the Philistines.

Saul adalah seorang yang tinggi dan kukuh, warak, dan sangat bijak. Dia tinggal dan bekerja bersama ayahnya di ladang mereka. Pada suatu hari, beberapa ekor keldai mereka hilang. Ditemani oleh hambanya, Saul pergi mencari keldai-keldai tersebut. Mereka mengembara selama berhari-hari dan sangat letih. Saul berkata kepada hambanya: "Lebih baik kita pulang, kerana saya yakin ayah saya pasti sudah risau sekarang, dan haiwan-haiwan lain juga perlu dijaga." Hambanya mencadangkan bahawa oleh kerana mereka sudah berada di negeri Nabi Samuel, mereka sebaiknya pergi menemuinya untuk bertanya tentang keldai-keldai yang hilang itu.

Saul was tall and sturdy, pious, and very intelligent. He lived and worked with his father on their farm. One day, several of their donkeys were lost. Accompanied by his servant, Saul went in search of them. They traveled for many days and were very tired. Saul said to his servant: "Let us rather go back, for I am sure that my father will be worried by now, and the other animals must also be cared for." His servant suggested that as they were already in the land of Samuel the prophet, they should go to him to inquire about the lost donkeys.

Saul bersetuju, lalu mereka meneruskan perjalanan. Dalam perjalanan itu, mereka bertanya arah kepada beberapa gadis yang membawa air. Mereka diberitahu supaya pergi ke arah gunung. Di sana, sekumpulan besar orang sedang menunggu Nabi Samuel. Apabila Saul memandangnya, dia serta-merta mengenalinya sebagai seorang nabi melalui orang-orang sucinya. Samuel juga mengenali Saul sebagai raja yang telah dipilih oleh Allah untuk mereka. Saul memberi salam kepada nabi itu dengan penuh hormat. Apabila dia bertanya tentang keldai-keldainya yang hilang, Samuel memberitahunya supaya tidak risau, kerana keldai-keldainya sudah dalam perjalanan ke ladang ayahnya.

Saul agreed, and they carried on. On their way, they asked directions from some maidens carrying water. They were told to go in the direction of the mountain. Here, a vast crowd was waiting for the Prophet Samuel. When Saul set eyes on him, he instantly recognized him as a prophet by his holy men. Samuel also recognized Saul as the king that Allah had chosen for them. Saul greeted the prophet respectfully. When he asked about his missing donkeys, Samuel told him not to worry, his donkeys were already on their way to his fat's farm.

Kemudian beliau memberitahu Saul bahawa Allah telah memilihnya sebagai raja bagi Bani Israil. Tugasnya ialah menguruskan hal ehwal mereka, menyatukan mereka di bawah satu panji, dan melindungi mereka daripada musuh-musuh mereka. Sekiranya beliau melaksanakan perintah Allah, beliau akan dikurniakan kemenangan. Saul terkejut dengan kehormatan yang tiba-tiba ini yang ditawarkan kepadanya. Ia juga merupakan tanggungjawab yang berat. Beliau membantah kepada nabi bahawa beliau hanyalah seorang daripada Bani Benjamin, iaitu suku yang paling kurang terkenal dalam kalangan suku-suku Ya'qub; beliau tidak mengetahui apa-apa tentang kepimpinan atau kerajaan dan tidak mempunyai harta. Samuel memberitahunya bahawa itulah kehendak Allah bahawa beliau hendaklah menjadi raja, dan beliau hendaklah bersyukur kepada Allah atas kurnia-Nya serta teguh dalam iman.

Dengan memegang tangan Saul, Samuel membawanya kepada Bani Israel, tetapi mereka bersikeras meminta tanda langsung daripada Allah. Nabi Samuel menyuruh mereka keluar dari kota untuk melihat tanda itu, dan mereka pun melakukannya.

Taking Saul by the hand, Samuel led him to the children of Israel, but they insisted on a direct sign from Allah. Prophet Samuel told them to go outside the city to see the sign, which they did.

Allah Yang Maha Kuasa berfirman:

Almighty Allah revealed:

"Tidakkah engkau memikirkan golongan Bani Israil selepas (zaman) Musa? Ketika mereka berkata kepada seorang Nabi mereka: "Lantiklah untuk kami seorang raja, nescaya kami akan berperang di Jalan Allah." Nabi itu berkata: "Adakah kamu akan menahan diri daripada berperang, sekiranya peperangan itu diwajibkan ke atas kamu?" Mereka berkata: "Mengapakah kami tidak akan berperang di Jalan Allah, sedangkan kami telah diusir dari rumah-rumah kami dan anak-anak kami (keluarga kami telah ditawan)?" Namun apabila peperangan diperintahkan ke atas mereka, mereka berpaling, kecuali sebahagian kecil daripada mereka. Dan Allah Maha Mengetahui akan orang-orang yang zalim (golongan musyrik dan orang-orang yang berbuat zalim)."

"Have you not thought about the group of children of Israel after (the time of ) Moses? When they said to a Prophet of theirs: "Appoint for us a king and we will fight in Allah's Way." He said: "Would you then refrain from fighting, if fighting was prescribed for you?" They said: "Why should we not fight in Allah's Way while we have been driven out of our homes and our children (families have been taken as captives)?" But when fighting was ordered for them, they turned away, all except a few of them. And Allah is All-Aware of the Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrongdoers).

Dan Nabi mereka (Samuel) berkata kepada mereka: "Sesungguhnya Allah telah melantik Saul menjadi raja ke atas kamu." Mereka berkata: "Bagaimana dia boleh menjadi raja ke atas kami, sedangkan kami lebih layak daripadanya untuk kerajaan itu, dan dia pula tidak diberikan harta yang mencukupi?" Dia berkata: "Sesungguhnya Allah telah memilihnya melebihi kamu dan telah menganugerahkan kepadanya ilmu pengetahuan dan kekuatan tubuh yang melimpah. Dan Allah memberikan Kerajaan-Nya kepada sesiapa yang Dia kehendaki. Dan Allah Maha Luas (pemberian-Nya lagi) Maha Mengetahui." Dan Nabi mereka (Samuel) berkata kepada mereka:

And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them: "Indeed Allah has appointed Saul as a king over you." They said: "How can he be a king over us when we are better fitted than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth." He said: "Verily, Allah has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah grants His Kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower." And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them:

Maka ketika Saul keluar bersama tentera, dia berkata: "Sesungguhnya Allah akan menguji kamu dengan sebatang sungai. Sesiapa yang minum daripadanya, maka dia bukan daripada golonganku; dan sesiapa yang tidak merasainya, maka dia daripada golonganku, kecuali orang yang menceduk dengan telapak tangannya." Namun mereka minum daripadanya, semuanya, kecuali sedikit daripada mereka. Maka apabila dia dan orang-orang yang beriman bersamanya telah menyeberanginya (sungai itu), mereka berkata: "Kami tidak mempunyai kekuatan pada hari ini untuk melawan Jalut dan tenteranya." Tetapi mereka yang yakin bahawa mereka akan menemui Tuhan mereka berkata: "Betapa kerap kumpulan kecil telah mengalahkan tentera yang besar dengan izin Allah?" Dan Allah bersama orang-orang yang sabar.

Then when Saul set out with the army, he said:"Verily! Allah will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes thereof in the hollow of his hand." Yet, they drank thereof, all, except a few of them. So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: "We have no power on this day against Goliath and his hosts." But those who knew with certainty that they were to meet their Lord, said: "How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allah's Leave?" And Allah is with the patient.

Dan ketika mereka maju untuk menghadapi Jalut dan tenteranya, mereka berdoa:

And when they advanced to meet Goliath and his forces, they invoked:

Maka ketika Talut (Saul) keluar bersama tenteranya, dia berkata: "Sesungguhnya Allah akan menguji kamu dengan sebatang sungai. Maka sesiapa yang minum daripadanya, dia bukan dari golonganku, dan sesiapa yang tidak merasainya, dia dari golonganku, kecuali orang yang menceduk dengan telapak tangannya." Namun, mereka meminumnya, semuanya, kecuali sebilangan kecil daripada mereka. Maka ketika dia dan orang-orang yang beriman bersamanya telah menyeberanginya (sungai itu), mereka berkata: "Kami tidak mempunyai kekuatan hari ini untuk melawan Jalut (Goliath) dan tenteranya." Tetapi mereka yang yakin bahawa mereka akan menemui Tuhan mereka berkata: "Betapa seringnya sekumpulan kecil mengalahkan tentera yang besar dengan izin Allah?" Dan Allah bersama As-Sabirin (orang-orang yang sabar, dan lain-lain).

"Then when TalÛt (Saul) set out with the army, he said: "Verily! AllÂh will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand." Yet, they drank thereof, all, except a few of them. So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: "We have no power this day against JalÛt (Goliath) and his hosts." But those who knew with certainty that they were to meet their Lord, said: "How often a small group overcame a mighty host by AllÂh's Leave?" And AllÂh is with As-SÂbirin (the patient ones, etc.).

Saul memulakan usaha menyusun tenteranya dengan iman yang kuat dan hikmah. Beliau memerintahkan agar hanya lelaki yang bebas daripada tanggungjawab sahaja boleh menyertai tentera. Mereka yang sedang sibuk membina rumah, lelaki yang hampir berkahwin dan mereka yang sibuk dengan perniagaan tidak boleh menyertai.

Saul set about organizing his army with strong faith and wisdom. He ordered that only men free from responsibilities should join. Those engaged in building homes, men who were about to be married and those occupied with business should not join.

Selepas menubuhkan sebuah tentera yang terlatih dengan baik, beliau memutuskan untuk menguji mereka. Beliau memberitahu mereka bahawa sepanjang perjalanan mereka akan melalui sebatang sungai, dan mereka hendaklah minum air sekadar untuk memuaskan dahaga, tidak lebih daripada itu. Kepada kekecewaannya, beliau mendapati sebahagian besar daripada mereka minum lebih banyak air daripada yang sepatutnya. Beliau memecat mereka kerana tidak taat, dan hanya mengekalkan segelintir yang telah mematuhinya, kerana merekalah yang membuktikan keikhlasan mereka. Ini menyebabkan tentera itu berpecah, namun beliau tidak mengambil hati. Beliau percaya kepada kualiti, bukan kuantiti; lebih baik sekumpulan kecil orang beriman yang sejati, yang boleh beliau harapkan, daripada sebuah tentera besar yang terdiri daripada lelaki yang tidak boleh dipercayai.

After establishing a well-trained army, he decided to put them to the test. He told them that along the route they would pass a river where they should drink enough water to quench their thirst but not more than that. To his disappointment, he discovered the majority of them drank more water than they should have. He discharged them for disobedience and kept only the few who had obeyed him, as they were the ones who proved their sincerity. This resulted in a split in the army, but he was not bothered. He believed in quality and not numbers; better a small band of true believers he could rely on than a huge army of unreliable men.

Tentera-tentera Saul ternampak musuh di seberang sungai. Lawan mereka kelihatan kuat dari segi fizikal dan bersenjatakan senjata yang lebih baik. Mereka diketuai oleh pahlawan perkasa Goliath (Galut), yang terkenal dengan tubuh badannya yang besar dan kekuatannya yang luar biasa. Sebilangan besar tentera Saul melarikan diri apabila melihat kekuatan yang gagah ini. Sekumpulan kecil yang tinggal bersedia untuk berperang, apa pun hasilnya, kerana mereka telah mendengar bahawa dahulu telah berlaku banyak peristiwa di mana Allah menyebabkan sebuah pasukan kecil mengalahkan pasukan yang lebih besar.

Saul's men sighted the enemy on the other side of the river. Their opponents appeared physically strong and were armed with better weapons. They were led by the mighty warrior Goliath (Galut), known for his huge build and brute strength. A great number of Saul's men ran away on seeing this strong force. The small band that remained was willing to fight, whatever the outcome, for they had heard that there had been many incidents in the past in which Allah had caused a small force to defeat a larger one.