This chart summarizes the King Saul’s family tree, based on what we know from Scripture. I’m always looking for this information and couldn’t find it in one place. I decided to make a chart, combining as much information as I could from my various sources. This is a work in progress. Please contact me if you find errors, omissions or broken links.
From my research, skipping names was common practice in genealogies both in the gospels and in secular records of ancient kings. They can jump from grandfather to grandson because it still preserves the line of descent. Also, names tended to be repeated (sons named after grandfathers, etc) and names may be spelled differently when they are translated from Hebrew into English.
Saul’s Family Tree
| Abiel (Jeiel) & wife: Maacah | had 10 sons including Kish & Ner | 1Chronicles 9:35-44; 1Chronicles 8:29-34 |
| Ner, son of Abiel | fathered Kish & Abner | 1Chronicles 9:39; 1Samuel 14:49-52 |
| Kish, son of Ner | fathered Saul | 1Chronicles 9:35-44; 1Chronicles 8:29-34; 1Samuel 14:49-52 |
Ner has a brother named Kish (1Chronicles 9:36). However, in 1Chronicles 8:33 and 1Chronicles 9:39, Ner is clearly the father of Kish. Thus Abner is Saul’s uncle (1Samuel 14:50-51).
Most likely there were two men named Kish, one being Ner’s brother and the other his son.
| Relationship to Saul | Name(s) | Scripture |
| Grandfather | Ner | 1Samuel 14:50-51 |
| Father | Kish, son of Ner | 1Samuel 9:1-2; 1Samuel 14:50-51 |
| Uncle | Abner, son of Ner | 1Samuel 14:50-51 |
| Wife | Ahinoam | 1Samuel 14:50 |
| Children of Saul & Ahinoam | Jonathan Ishvi (Abinadab) Malchi-Shua Ish-bosheth (Esbaal) Merab (daughter) Michal (daughter; David’s wife) | 1Chronicles 9:39; 1Samuel 14:49 |
| grandson | Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan) | 2Samuel 21:7 |
| Concubine | Rizpah | 2Samuel 3:7 |
| children of Saul & Rizpah | Armoni Mephibosheth (son of Saul) | 2Samuel 21:8 |
Further Study:
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