And he had a son, whose name [was] Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward [he was] higher than any of the people.
Ver. 2. And he had a son, whose name was Saul.] Which signifieth desired or sought after: Nomen, Omen.
A choice young man, and a goodly.] Heb., Good. That is of a good nature and disposition, saith Lyra. So perhaps he was at first: as was also Nero for the first five years of his reign, so that Seneca sets him forth for a singular example of clemency. Saul proved to be the reigning hypocrite, by whom "the people were ensnared." Job 34:30 It is threatened as a heavy curse, "If you still trespass against me, I will set princes over you that shall hate you." Lev 26:17
There was none … a goodlier person than he.] This won him much respect with the vulgar, that he was Os humerosque Deo similis, proper and comely, looking like a prince, a as the tragedian noteth of Priamus: for want of which, Agesilaus, that gallant man, was much slighted by the Persians. The French had a Philip the Fair: and Artaxerxes Longimanus was omnium hominum pulcherrimus, saith Emilius Probus, the comliest man alive.
a αξιον ειδος τυραννιδος - Eurip.