Achiya HaShiloni, even though he was among those who left Egypt, received from Shmuel in Year 2882 [(Seder Hadoros 66, 72, see Year 3092)].

Ner [the father of Shaul was Barak and also Gidorudos (see Year 2636)].

Shaul, the first king, reigned in Gilgal and sat in Givon in Year 2882 [(Tzemach David)]. He was 59 years old when he was anointed, and at age 59 he destroyed Nov, the city of the Kohanim [(Seder Hadoros). Seder Hadoros (68, 2) writes that some say the people whom Shaul killed in Nov totaled 405, and Evyatar son of Achimelech survived, and he was Yoash, and he was left from the seed of David (see Year 3060)].

And the sin of Nov remained until the day that Sancheiriv destroyed it, see 950, 212 [(as stated in the section of Tzemach David: "And on that day, Nov stood to perish")] - so the sin of Nov existed for 301 years. 11 years Nov stood with the Tabernacle, and the woman who owned Ov, her name was Tzefaniya, mother of Avner [(Pirkei Avot, chapter 32)], and the two men who went with him to Shaul to Nov were Avner and Amasa. And he reigned for two years [(Seder Olam)], and some say 20 [(Ralbag, Shmuel 12)], and some say 17 [(Ma'aseh HaShem, chapter 17), see Seder Hadoros and Tzemach David].

And see Yuchsin in the view of Ben Gurion that he reigned 18 years in the days of Shmuel and two years after the death of Shmuel, and this is correct. And so it seems from what the gentile scholars wrote - that he reigned 40 years. And he died two years after Shmuel, but according to Chazal he died five months after Shmuel (see Rashi on Temurah and Rashi on Shmuel Bet 2:22). And Tzemach David writes that according to the above opinion, it can be explained what is written in Shmuel Bet 12 "and two years he reigned over Israel" - his life until David was anointed, and from then onward his reign was not counted, and he was like a king without crown, etc.

And it can be said that the years of Shaul were within the years of Shmuel, the remainder over 11 were absorbed in the years of Eli in gematria 16 2 - a song for David who sang to HaShem about the words of Kush ben Yemini. What was distinctive about the Kushite in his skin? So Shaul was distinctive in his deeds - if you were Shaul, etc., I would have lost as much as David, for he was more righteous than you].

Shaul [was in the heel of Adam HaRishon, at the head, as it is written "head of the tribes of Israel," therefore his light sin was severe (Bereishit Nezer, letter Mem, Mordechai). It is written in Sefer HaGilgulim that Shaul the first king was a spark of Lemech - the letters [of Lemech] spell Melech (king). And from Lemech until Shaul were 77 generations. And Lemech killed Kayin, and Shaul knew that he deserved death, therefore after 77 [generations] he killed himself to rectify the killing of Kayin (Tashla"h HaRanat).

And this is what is meant by "And Lemech seventy and seven" - the descendants of Lemech will arise after 77 generations (Nazir 78)].

Golyat [Shmuel Bet 17 - a reincarnation of Kilayon (see above Year 2587)].

Doeg [Shmuel Bet 2, chapter 2 "and behold a man of Benjamin from the camp" - Rashi explains there is in the Pesikta that this was Doeg, but it is not settled on my mind, and so it is concluded. And it seems his intention was: why is it not settled on his mind? For it is explicit in many places that Shaul and David knew Doeg, for he was the chief shepherd of Shaul, as explicit in Shmuel Bet 21:8 and section 22:9 "And Doeg the Edomite answered Shaul: I saw the son of Yishai coming," etc.

And in 18 it says Shaul said to Doeg "attack the Kohanim," etc. So how did Shaul ask him "who are you?" in Shmuel Bet 8? And there in chapter 12 it says "And David said to the youth who told him: where are you from? And he said: I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite." And furthermore, it says "And David said to the youth" - how did he call him a youth when he was the chief shepherd of Shaul?

Rashi explains he was the master, and would it enter the mind that a youth would be the master?

Therefore it is not settled on his mind. And I have seen in Tanchuma, end of Tetzaveh: R' Yehuda said he was the son of Doeg the Edomite. And it is a wonder how Rashi, the light of the exile, forgot this? And it is likely that in the Pesikta there is an error, and it was omitted in printing.

And it can be said that this was the son of Doeg. And I saw in Yalkut Shmuel, section 141: R' Yehuda said he was the son of Doeg. And he said to him: "Your blood is on your head - you have shed much blood in Nov, the city of the Kohanim." And there is the statement - Doeg himself was the one, as it is written "you have shed much blood," and so it is concluded. And he wrote beside it "Tanchuma," but in the Tanchuma before us, he is not from this statement, etc.

And perhaps he saw it in the Pesikta that Rashi brings. In the end, it is a wonder about Rashi who did not bring the opinion of R' Yehuda that he was the son of Doeg, which is settled on the mind. And see in Yalkut at the end of Beshalach: R' Yehuda said it was Doeg. And one of the places there is an error, here it says R' Yehuda said the son of Doeg, and there it says R' Yehuda said it was Doeg].

Doeg and Achitofel [were Datan and Aviram (Nazir 44, section 158, 2) - two who dealt with the tower that floated in the air, etc., and they have no share in the World to Come (Chagigah 15, 72). Achitofel was the teacher of David (see above Year 3092)].

Seven [sons of Shaul were hanged - they are the seven who were executed by the kingdom (Bereishit Nezer). On the 16th of Nissan their bodies were hung, and they hung until the 17th of Cheshvan (Rabbah, Nasah, chapter 8)].

Yonatan [and David were a reincarnation of one (see Year 3092). Before the coming of Nov, there stood two pillars of Yonatan - one was called Sela Botzetz (the Rock of Cliffs) and one Seneh (the Bush) (Ma'aseh). Yonatan ben Matityahu, 22nd - from Yonatan (see above Year 3620)].