Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel,
We are not told wherein it was that the people of Israel offended God, so as to forfeit his presence and turn his hand against them, as Samuel had threatened (Sa1 12:15); but doubtless they left God, else he would not have left them, as here it appears he did; for, I. Saul was very weak and impolitic, and did not order his affairs with discretion.
Commenting on 1 Samuel 13:1-7
Saul reigned one year,.... "Or the son of a year in his reigning" (s); various are the senses given of these words: some interpret them, Saul had a son of a year old when he began to reign, Ishbosheth, and who was forty years of age when his father died, Sa2 2:10, others, who understand the words of Saul himself, think there is an "ellipsis"...
Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, (a) While these things were done. (b) Before he took upon himself the state of a king.