The height of Saul would be very important to the people in terms of indicating the expected ability and quality of his leadership.1 Saul is chosen according to the people’s standard. They want a king like the nations. To the people of the ancient Near East (the nations around Israel), physical attributes were very important in the choice of a king.2
23 Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.