Kish

Kish (qish; Kis, Keis, "bow," "power") is the name of the father of the Israelite King Saul (1 Chronicles 12:1), the first king of the Israelites. Kish was a Benjamite of the family of the Matrites (1 Samuel 9:1; 14:51; Acts 13:21; 1 Samuel 10:21), and there is some question over whether he is the brother or son of Ner (1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39; 1 Samuel 14:51; 1 Chronicles 6:28). The question may be resolved by reading both Ner and Kish as son... more

Kish (qish; Kis, Keis, "bow," "power") is the name of the father of the Israelite King Saul (1 Chronicles 12:1), the first king of the Israelites. Kish was a Benjamite of the family of the Matrites (1 Samuel 9:1; 14:51; Acts 13:21; 1 Samuel 10:21), and there is some question over whether he is the brother or son of Ner (1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39; 1 Samuel 14:51; 1 Chronicles 6:28). The question may be resolved by reading both Ner and Kish as sons of Abiel. It appears that Kish resided at Gibeah. His sepulcher is in Zela, in the region of Benjamin in modern-day Israel. (2 Samuel 21:14) "Kish" is the name of one of Mordecai's ancestors. Many equate the two, but some, including Ibn Ezra, argue that this is a different, second Kish. less