King Shaul

King Shaul was one of the kings of Israel who was completely righteous, crowned as king by Shmuel HaNavi. He was referred to many times by King David with the title "Moshiach Hashem."

His spiritual root was from the middah of Yesod in the world of Tohu, hinted at in the seven kings by the name "Shaul from Rechovot HaNahar."

His Kingship and Removal

King Shaul was chosen by the word of Hashem through Shmuel HaNavi, but his kingship was taken from him after he had mercy on the animals of Amalek and did not kill them as required. This caused many Amalekites to be saved as they disguised themselves through sorcery as animals.

At that time, there was a debate between Shmuel HaNavi and King Shaul, where Shmuel told him in the name of Hashem, "So says Hashem Tzvaot, I have remembered what Amalek did to you etc. and you shall destroy etc." When the people had mercy on the best of the flock, Shaul contemplated the reason for the mitzvah, whose main purpose was to destroy Amalek from the world. For this reason, he kept the best of the flock "to sacrifice to Hashem," to elevate them through offerings and sacrifices, thinking: what difference does it make if he kills them or sacrifices them to Hashem, as either way they would be destroyed from the world. About this Shaul said, "I have fulfilled the word of Hashem."

To this Shmuel responded: "Does Hashem desire burnt offerings and sacrifices etc., behold obedience is better than sacrifice etc." The Alter Rebbe explains that the word "desire" hints that one must fulfill the mitzvah not only through its simple reason but specifically to fulfill His simple will without any reason or explanation at all.

His Spiritual Essence

Shaul's spiritual level and root was from the inner dimension of Binah which is above being clothed in the world, as it is written about him "he hid among the vessels," meaning he was above being clothed in the vessels of the world, and therefore had mercy on Agag who was not worthy.

Since he was from the level of Binah which operates according to reason and knowledge, he therefore offered sacrifices from the spoils of Amalek, because at his level he understood the greatness of sacrifices that reach until Ein Sof, and thought that the more that comes from below, the higher it would ascend. Therefore he told Shmuel: "I have fulfilled the word of Hashem," meaning he wanted to cause an elevation and ascent in the sefirah of Malchut which is called "the word of Hashem," through refining that which is below.

But the truth was (as Shmuel told him), that since this was against Hashem's will it did not accomplish any elevation but rather the opposite.

Shaul's kingship was meant to be a preparation for the kingship of King David.

The Great Level of Shaul's Soul - The True Moshiach Hashem

Rabbi Menachem Azariah of Pano, who was a divine Mekubal and famous Italian Kabbalah commentator, writes in his sefer about the great level of King Shaul's soul, that according to King David, King Shaul his father-in-law was Moshiach Hashem, first and foremost for Israel, and these are his words: "It was commonly said by King David about King Shaul his father-in-law: 'Shaul is the chosen of Hashem, Moshiach Hashem, completely righteous, and the Shechinah is with him'" (The Rama of Pano, Maamar Meah Kesitah section 93).