1 Samuel 9

"There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people." vv.1-2

Read chapter 9

Here we meet Saul, Israel's soon to be first king.  Just as we saw in chapter 8 of Israel desiring to be like the other nations so we see in the physical description of Saul an "ideal" one to become king.  He was not a man of riches or of authority for his family was least of the families of the tribe of Benjamin, 1 Samuel 9:21, yet was a man in the prime of manhood, distinguished among others by his great stature, and for his grace and manly beauty, a man of great strength, an able bodied man.  The name Saul means "asked for" and we see that this type of person is what was asked for by man/Israel for what they wanted in a king.  Saul now seems like a humble man with great qualities.  So we see learn a little of what Saul was like before he became king and we'll see how his character changes with the power and responsibility he gets.