Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Samuel 14:1) Now it came to pass one day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison that is on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

At the end of the last chapter, three companies of Philistines had pretty much surrounded Saul, Jonathan, and their small army of six hundred men.  The Philistines were busy plundering the land and not immediately intent on attacking Saul and his men.  It appears they must have remained like that for at least a couple of days or more, because "one day" Jonathan, Saul's son, decided it was time to do something.  He told his armor-bearer that they should go over to the Philistine garrison that was on the other side of them.  However, he did not tell his father of his plan.

(2) And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron, and the people with him were about six hundred men, (3) And Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan was gone.

Saul waited in the uppermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron which was north of Gibeah in the field of Gibeah.  He still had his six hundred men, no more or no less, and that included Ahijah the priest.  He came from the line of Eli who had been the Lord's priest in Shiloh.  Ichabod was the child that Phinehas's wife bore prematurely on hearing the news that the ark had been taken and that her husband and Eli, her father-in-law, had died (1 Samuel 4:19).  Ichabod apparently had an older brother named Ahitub, whose son was Ahijah.  Saul and the people with him did not know that Jonathan was gone.

(4) And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines' garrison, a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side, and the name of the one Bozez and the name of the other Seneh. 

I believe "the passages" refers to the common passageways from one place to another that were now obstructed by the Philistines.  Jonathan had to find another way to cross over to the Philistine garrison.  Between the passages were two large sharp rocks that were known and even named, one Bozez meaning "shining" which might suggest smooth and slippery, and the other Seneh meaning "thorn" or "bramble."  

(5) The forefront of the one was situated northward opposite Michmash and the other southward opposite Gibeah.

I believe the sense is that both rocks were in the way between the passages, not across from each other, but the northern one faced Michmash and the southern one faced Gibeah.

(6) And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few."

Jonathan again told his armor bearer that they should go over to the garrison of the Philistines, and in additional encouragement, he said that the Lord might do the work for them, as there was no limit to God's power.  God could save with an army or with just a few men.  That shows that Jonathan had great faith in the Lord.  He hadn't said that the Lord would definitely do the work for them, because he had not received a word from the Lord, but he had no doubt that his Lord was well able if it was in His will to do so.

(7) And his armorbearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart; turn, behold, I am with you according to your heart."

Jonathan's armor bearer told Jonathan to do what was in his heart to do, to turn the way he wanted to go, and he would willingly follow him.

(8) Then Jonathan said, "Behold, we will pass over to these men, and we will let them discover us. (9) If they say thus to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them. (10) But if they say thus, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up, for the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this be a sign to us."

Jonathan told his armor bearer that they would pass over to the Philistines and let them discover them.  Then if the Philistines told them to wait there until they came to them, they would stand there and not go to them.  However, if they said, "Come up to us," they would see that as a sign that the Lord had delivered the Philistines into their hands, and they would indeed go to the Philistines.  That would be a sign from the Lord telling them what they should do.

It's funny; my first instinct was that Jonathan should have prayed to the Lord, that it was a bit arrogant to set up his own scheme and expect the Lord to go along with it.  Well, for one thing, we don't know that Jonathan didn't pray first.  He probably did have some sort of leading to make him take such a bold step.  But then I also realized that I have done the same thing.  When the Lord doesn't speak directly to you, then asking Him to show you the right way between two choices with a sign from Him seems perfectly acceptable and shows faith in Him to direct your paths, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:6).  Jonathan did acknowledge God and His power to save them (verse 6), and he had faith that He would direct them in the way they should go.

(11) And both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, "Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves."

Jonathan and his armor bearer did indeed reveal themselves to the Philistines at that post, and the Philistines took note among themselves that the Hebrews had come out of hiding.

(12) And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel."

The men at the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer's presence, by telling them to come up to them and they would show them something.  Jonathan told his armor bearer to follow him, as he had full faith and confidence that the Lord had delivered those Philistines into Israel's hand.  Not that it made a difference in the way the Philistines told them to come to them, but they did use the exact phrase "Come up to us" that Jonathan had put forth in his plan (verse 10). 

(13) And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armor bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer slew after him.

Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees in a way not easily accessible.  He didn't go the way the Philistines would have expected him to go on the main passageway.  He evidently caught the men off guard, and they fell before him.  Obviously, we know Who really knocked them down.  His armor bearer then killed the men.

(14) At that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were a half acre of land.

Jonathan and his armor bearer killed about twenty men at that garrison and within half an acre from it.

(15) And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked, so it was a very great trembling.

The Philistine host trembled with fear, those in the field, and among all the people.  Men inside the garrison who had not been outside and killed, and the plunderers who ravaged the land, were also terrified and panic-stricken, especially when the earth began to quake, as well, which was surely by God.

(16) And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on stampeding.

The watchmen of Saul at Gibeah saw the Philistine army melting away, as they fled and stampeded over one another.

(17) Then Saul said to the people with him, "Number now, and see who is gone from us." And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

Saul then ordered a roll be taken, and when it was, it was discovered that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

(18) And Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here" (for the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel).

Saul told the priest Ahijah to bring the ark of God to him, for the Israelites had brought the ark with them.

(19) And it came to pass, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise in the host of the Philistines went on and increased, and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

While Saul was talking to the priest, the noise of the Philistines grew louder, and Saul told the priest to stop what he was doing, which was surely to inquire of the Lord over the ark.  Saul once again showed some impatience.

(20) And Saul and all the people with him assembled themselves, and they came to battle, and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, very great confusion.

Saul and his men assembled themselves to battle against the Philistines, but they witnessed their enemy fighting themselves because there was so much confusion.  God, whom Saul was too impatient to hear from, had already taken care of the matter.

(21) Moreover, the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

The Israelites who had been with the Philistines as their servants, had also gone with the Philistines to their camp from the areas round about the camp.  They then went and joined Saul and Jonathan.

(22) Likewise, all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in Mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

Additionally, the men of Israel who had been hiding in Mount Ephraim, in caves, rocks, thickets, and pits (1 Samuel 13:6), when they heard that the Philistines had fled, they also joined Saul's army and chased after the fleeing Philistines.  The historian Josephus wrote that at this time Saul's army had increased to 10,000.

(23) So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over to Beth Aven. 

So the Lord had saved Israel that day with only two men, as Jonathan had had faith He could (verse 6).  Now the battle shifted to Beth Aven. 

(24) And the men of Israel were distressed that day for Saul had adjured the people, saying, "Cursed the man who eats food until evening, that I may be avenged on my enemies." So none of the people tasted food.

It appears that when Saul had assembled his people to pursue the Philistines (verse 20), he had given them a strict order that none of them was to eat anything until the evening so that no time would be lost in making victory over the Philistines, that "he" might be avenged on "his" enemies.  That sounds a bit arrogant and self-centered considering it had been Jonathan and his armor bearer who had thus far done the avenging.

(25) And all the land came to a wood, and there was honey on the ground. (26) And when the people had come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.

As the people were pursuing the Philistines, they came into a wooded area where there was honey on the ground.  Honey was dripping all over, but no one dared pick up any to eat because of the severe command of Saul that carried with it a curse (verse 24).

(27) But Jonathan had not heard when his father charged the people with the oath; therefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened.

Jonathan had not heard his father's order, and he took his rod and dipped the end of it in a honeycomb and ate the honey.  His eyes brightened as he became refreshed.

(28) Then answered one of the people who said, "Your father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed the man who eats food this day.'" And the people were faint.

Someone spoke up and told Jonathan that his father had ordered that no one eat until the evening and had issued the order with a curse. And all the people were faint with hunger.

(29) Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See, I pray you, how my eyes have been enlightened because I tasted a little of this honey. (30) How much more, if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?"

Jonathan said that his father had distressed the people with his order.  He told the people to observe how his eyes had brightened because he was refreshed with a little bit of honey.  He added that had the people been allowed to eat freely of the spoil of the Philistines as they came upon it, there would probably have been a much greater slaughter of their enemies by that time.

(31) And they struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very faint.

The people struck the Philistines from Michmash, the place where the camp of the Philistines was when Jonathan first attacked them, to Aijalon in Judah, about twelve miles.  It appears the people did not eat the honey as Jonathan had encouraged them to do.  By this time, they were extremely faint.  

(32) And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and killed them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood.

The people were so starved they rushed upon the spoil of the Philistines and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and killed them on the spot and ate them raw with the blood still in them, which was against God's law.  

(33) Then they told Saul, saying, "Behold, the people sin against the Lord in that they eat with the blood." And he said, "You have transgressed; roll a great stone to me this day." (34) And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, 'Bring me here every man's ox, and every man's sheep, and slaughter them here, and eat, and do not sin against the Lord in eating with the blood.'" And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night and killed them there.

It was told to Saul that the people had sinned against the Lord in eating flesh with the blood.  Saul then told the people that they had sinned and asked that a large stone be rolled to him.  He then sent word among the people to bring their oxen and their sheep, whatever they intended to eat, and slaughter them there on the stone where they could properly drain the blood, and thusly not sin against the Lord.  All the people brought their animals that night to the stone and killed them there. 

So it was night by the time the people flew upon the spoil of the Philistines and ate ravenously flesh of the animals with the blood.  So they had waited to eat until the evening.  Note that the people feared the order of Saul more than they feared sinning against the Lord.   

(35) And Saul built an altar to the Lord; the same was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

Saul built an altar to the Lord.  It was the first one he had built himself.  He had before sacrificed at altars that were already there, but this was the first he built himself.   

(36) And Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." Then the priest said, "Let us draw near here to God."

Saul then proposed that they go after the Philistines by night and plunder them all night long until the morning light and not leave a man of them alive.  The people agreed to do whatever Saul thought was right.  Then the priest suggested that they should draw near to God to ask what He wanted them to do.

(37) And Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But He did not answer him that day.

Saul had already made up his mind what he wanted to do.  He just wanted God to bless his plan.  He had not inquired of God first what he should do.  He went through the motions now that the priest had suggested it, and he asked God if he should go after the Philistines, and would He deliver them into the hand of Israel.  But God did not answer him.  From the beginning, Saul had not waited for instruction from the Lord.  In verse 19, he was too impatient to wait for the priest to inquire of the Lord and had gone through with his own plan.  He had made a foolish strict order that caused the people to sin.  He now made a decision to go after the Philistines that night and now made a show of pretending that he sought the Lord's guidance.  The Lord did not play that game.

(38) And Saul said, "Draw near here, all the chief of the people, and know and see where this sin has been this day. (39) For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But not a man among all the people answered him.

Saul called all the chiefs of the people together to determine what sin had been committed that day, for he concluded that the reason the Lord didn't answer was because there was sin among them.  He never considered it might be his own.  Then Saul made another rash oath.  He said as the Lord who saved Israel lived, even if the sin was found in his own son, even he would die.  But none of the people answered him.  They knew Jonathan had eaten honey against his father's order, but he had done it unknowingly, and besides, they probably had affection for him as he was the one who had truly saved them that day.

Saul did proclaim that the Lord was the one who saved Israel, but in his arrogance, he was more concerned about someone not obeying his order than any real sin against God.  If someone disobeyed his order, was that really a sin?  It always seems that Saul gives a show of religion, but God is not the true object of his heart.  It always seems to be about Saul first.  Jesus said in Matthew 15:9, "But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."  James said in James 1:26, "If any man among you seems to be religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain."  Those seem to sum up Saul pretty well.

(40) Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." (41) Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, "Give a perfect lot." And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.

Then Saul spoke to all the people, instructing them to divide into two groups, he and Jonathan on one side against all the people on the other.  The people again told Saul he should do what seemed good to him.  Saul then asked the Lord to give a perfect lot, as if He didn't always, and have it land on the guilty party.  The lot showed that the guilty party was among Saul and Jonathan, and the people were shown to be innocent.

(42) And Saul said, "Cast between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was taken.

Saul, having no sense of his own guilt, would have his own son put to death because he did not obey his order.  It's interesting that God would show Jonathan as the guilty one.  Eating the honey was not a sin against God.  However, it wasn't God's intention that Jonathan be killed, but rather to reveal Saul's arrogant rashness in making such an oath.

(43) Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, and said, "I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod in my hand; lo, I must die."

Saul asked Jonathan what he had done to have the lot fall to him, what "sin" had he committed?  Jonathan told him that he had only tasted a little honey with the end of his rod, and for that, he must die.  Jonathan didn't even try to defend himself with the fact he had not heard his father's order.  He willingly accepted his fate.  Or was he rather pointing out that for so trivial a matter, he must die, pointing out the absurdity of so harsh a punishment for something that was not a sin against God.  Since God was using this as a lesson for Saul, I'm sure His spirit could have been directing responses.

(44) And Saul answered, "God do so and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan."

Saul's point was that God may do even more evil if he did not follow through with his oath, so he told Jonathan he must surely die.

(45) And the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan that he did not die.

The people spoke up for Jonathan, asking if Jonathan with whom God had surely worked to bring salvation to Israel should die.  It was obvious that he had not offended God, but God had used him mightily to save Israel.  Adam Clarke put it this way, in his Commentary on the Bible, "Here was a righteous and impartial jury, who brought in a verdict according to the evidence."  After all, no man should die except for a breach of the law of God, and Jonathan had not broken any law of God, so he should not die.  So the people rescued Jonathan from his death penalty, but actually, it was God who saved him by exposing Saul's arrogance and recklessness.

(46) Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul gave up following the Philistines since he did not get an answer from the Lord, and he probably thought he had lost the opportunity, since his plan had been to attack at night.  The Philistines who remained went back to their own place.

(47) So Saul took the kingdom over Israel and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines, and wherever he turned himself, he vexed them. (48) And he gathered a host and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

Saul established his sovereignty over Israel.  It seemed to have been taken from him when he was in Gibeah with only 600 men and surrounded by Philistines.  Having obtained victory over the Philistines, he recovered his kingdom and resumed his administration.  He fought his enemies on all sides, defending Israel against them.  Wherever he turned, he troubled his enemies.  He assembled an army and struck the Amalekites, as well, delivering Israel out of the hands of all who plundered them.

(49) Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Malchishua, and the names of his two daughters were, the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.

Saul had three sons, Jonathan, Ishui, and Malchishua, and two daughters, Merab and Michal.  Actually, Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Bible, pointed out that Saul had other children.  He had another son named Ishbosheth, sometimes called Eshbaal.  The commentators I study presume that the reason he wasn't mentioned here is because the author intended to mention only Saul's sons who went with him into the battles.  Saul also had other children by a concubine, or second wife, Rizpah.

(50) And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz, and the name of the captain of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. (51) And Kish, the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, were the sons of Abiel.

Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz.  The captain of his army was Abner, the son of Saul's uncle Ner, making Abner his cousin.  Saul's father Kish and his uncle Ner were brothers and the sons of Abiel.

(52) And there was fierce war against the Philistines all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him to him.

Saul continued to fight fierce battles against the Philistines all the days of his life.  Whenever he saw any strong or valiant man, he took them for his purposes, just as Samuel had forewarned the people he would do, in 1 Samuel 8:11, "This will be the manner of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them for himself..."

Invasion of the Philistines and King Saul's First Great Error

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Samuel 13:1) Saul reigned one year, and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 

Before the parenthetical chapter of Samuel's address to the people in chapter 12, the people had come to accept Saul as their rightful king after he had defeated the Ammonites, and he was made king officially (again) in 1 Samuel 11:15.  Since then he had reigned one year with nothing in it worth recording, but after he had reigned two years over Israel, the following occurred:

(2) Saul chose him three thousand of Israel; two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in Mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin, and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

Saul chose three thousand men of the men of Israel.  Two thousand were under Saul's command and he placed them at Michmash and at Mount Bethel, with probably one thousand in each place.  A thousand men were with Jonathan, who we will learn was Saul's son, and they were at Gibeah.  Saul sent the rest of the people back to their tents.  This map borrowed from Precept Austin shows the three posts occupied by the three thousand men across from Philistia:

(3) And Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines in Geba, and the Philistines heard. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"

Jonathan and his men struck a garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, which was between Gibeah and Michmash, seen in the inset of the map above.  The Philistines heard about it, which led Saul to blow the trumpet, or order it to be blown throughout the land to let the people know that the Philistines were preparing to attack.

(4) And all Israel heard it said Saul had struck a garrison of the Philistines, and Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

All Israel heard that Saul had struck a garrison of the Philistines.  Although it had actually been Jonathan and his men, they were undoubtedly directed by Saul.  That had made the Philistines filled with hate for the Israelites which might lead to severe retribution.  Therefore the people were called to Saul at Gilgal east of where their posts were.

(5) And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand on the seashore in multitude, and they came up and pitched in Michmash eastward from Beth Aven.

The Philistines gathered themselves together to fight against Israel, with thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and people as numerous as sand on the seashore.  They pitched at Michmash which is where Saul had had his men until he went to Gilgal.  Michmash was to the east of Beth Aven which was said to be east of Bethel.

(6) When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in high places, and in pits.

The men of Israel saw that they were in danger.  The probable interpretation of the parenthetical part is that the Philistine people were distressing the Israelites, and they saw they were in danger and hid themselves in various places.

(7) And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people following him, trembling.

Some of the Israelites went as far as east of the Jordan River to Gad and Gilead.  Saul stayed in Gilgal, which appears to be one of those times he was supposed to stay there until Samuel came to him to give him advice and counsel (1 Samuel 10:8).  The people following him, probably his army of two thousand (verse 2) stayed with him, but with trembling hearts.

(8) And he tarried seven days, according to the time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him.

Saul indeed waited for seven days as he had been directed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come.  Saul's people were scattering and deserting him.

(9) And Saul said, "Bring here a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering.

Saul ordered animals be brought to him for a burnt offering and for peace offerings, and he offered the burnt offering, which would not have been his place to do.  He had been instructed to wait for Samuel to make the offerings (1 Samuel 10:8).

(10) And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him that he might salute him.

As soon as Saul had finished his burnt offering, he saw Samuel coming, and he went out to meet and greet him.  The fact that Samuel appeared so soon after Saul quit waiting tells me that Saul was a bit too impatient and rushed the time.  If this was the seventh day, he should have waited until the end of that day, as Samuel did indeed show up that day.

(11) And Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and you did not come within the days appointed, and the Philistines gathered themselves together at MichMash; (12) Therefore I said, 'The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.' I forced myself therefore and offered a burnt offering."

Samuel asked Saul what he had done as he obviously saw that Saul had sacrificed without him.  Saul said that because he saw his men deserting him, and Samuel had not come in the appointed time, and the Philistines were gathering themselves against him, he felt he would soon be overtaken by the Philistines, so he "forced" himself to offer a burnt offering.  

Lots to unpack there.  First of all, as it was the same day, Samuel had come in the appointed time.  Saul had been either impatient or fearful or both.  If he was impatient, then he showed himself to be disrespectful and even arrogant.  He knew he had done wrong or he wouldn't have made so many excuses, and one of his excuses was to blame Samuel for not coming on time.  The fact that he said he "forced" himself sounds like while he tried to knock Samuel down a notch, he was trying to raise himself up a notch, insinuating that he knew what he was supposed to do, but because of Samuel's delay, he had to force himself to go against what Samuel had told him.  If he was just plain afraid of the Philistines, then he lacked faith in God that He would protect him if he did what God had asked of him through Samuel.  There are many Bible verses that speak of patience and waiting on the Lord and His timing, but these seem to sum up Saul and his situation perfectly:

(Psalm 27:14) Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD.

(Proverbs 20:22) Do not say, “I will recompense evil;" wait on the LORD, and He shall save you. 

(Psalm 37:34) Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see.

Saul said he had not made supplication (verse 12), so he offered the burnt offering.  He could have made supplication to the Lord without the offering.  Had he prayed to the Lord, the Lord would have strengthened his heart to enable him to wait longer.  Had he not rushed to do something about the Philistines and had waited as he was supposed to, the Lord would save him.  Had he waited on the Lord and did as he had been instructed, the Lord would exalt him and his kingdom.  Impatience and lack of faith in God were not good qualities in a king.

(13) And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God which He commanded you, for now would the Lord have established your kingdom on Israel forever."

Indeed, Samuel told Saul that he had acted foolishly.  If he had kept the commandment of the Lord which Samuel had told him, the Lord would have established his kingdom forever.  Had he waited as he was supposed to, the Lord would have exalted him (Psalm 37:34 above).

(14) "But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought Him a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be captain over his people because you have not kept that which the Lord commanded you."

Samuel told Saul that because he had not done what the Lord through Samuel told him to do, his kingdom would not continue.  The Lord had sought another to reign over His people.  According to this wonderful timeline found at Biblical Archeology, David wasn't even born yet when Samuel uttered this prophecy about the Lord choosing David, a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22):

(15) And Samuel arose and got himself up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, about six hundred men.

Samuel rose up and went from there at Gilgal (verse 7) to Gibeah.  Note that he didn't tell Saul what he should do about his predicament.  That had been the reason Saul was supposed to go to Gilgal and wait on Samuel to show him what he should do (1 Samuel 10:8).  Saul took the opportunity to number the people who were still with him, and they numbered six hundred men.

(16) And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

Saul, his son Jonathan, and the six hundred men present with them, also went to Gibeah where they abode while the Philistines were encamped at Michmash.

(17) And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies; one company turned to the way to Ophrah, to the land of Shual, (18) And another company turned the way to Beth Horon, and another turned to the way of the border that looks to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

The Philistines sent out three companies of soldiers to ravage and spoil the land, demonstrating how useless the Israelite king that the people had so wanted, really was.  God allowed this to convince the people of their vain confidence in a king when their trust should have been in their Lord God.  Never was their country more exposed to violence and plunder than it was at that time under their king.

(19) Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears." (20) But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his share, and his hoe, and his axe, and his pickaxe. (21) Yet they had a file for the pickaxes, and for the hoes, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.

Because the Philistines ruled over the Israelites at that time, they did not allow Israel to have a blacksmith because they were afraid they would make weapons.  The Israelites were forced to go to the Philistines to have their tools sharpened.  However, the Israelites were permitted to have files or some blunt instrument, as that is what the original word suggests, "bluntness."

(22) So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but with Saul and with Jonathan his son, there was found.

Because the Philistines did not allow the Israelites to have a blacksmith, none of the men with Saul had a sword or a spear.  However, Saul and Jonathan did, but they were the only ones.

(23) And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

I believe the sense is that the Philistine post was moving outward from Michmash to the way leading to it, which meant they were also moving closer to Saul and his small army.

It's not looking too well for King Saul and the people who had depended on him.  This chapter ends with a cliffhanger that will conclude in the next chapter.

Samuel's Farewell Address as Judge

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Samuel 12:1) And Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that you said to me and have made a king over you."

Samuel had done what the people asked and what God told him to do, and he anointed Saul as the Israelites' king.  In the last chapter, Saul led Israel to a great victory over the Ammonites, and he gained the admiration and support of the people.  Now the prophet Samuel began an address to the people, telling them how he had listened to them and had done what they wanted and found them a king.

(2) "And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray headed, and behold, my sons are with you, and I have walked before you from my childhood to this day."

Samuel told the people that they now had a king, and he was old and gray, indicating his plan to step aside and let the king rule the people.  He told them he had walked before them since his childhood, and now his sons were with them, too.  His point was that they had observed him since his childhood, and they could observe his sons, as well, so they knew him well.

(3) "Behold, here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or of whose hand have I received a bribe with which to blind my eyes? And I will restore it to you."

Samuel stood before the people encouraging them to tell him where he had wronged them.  Had he ever taken anything of theirs?  Had he defrauded or oppressed anyone?  If he had ever wronged anyone, he wanted them to tell him before God and His anointed king, and he would restore whatever he owed to them.

(4) And they said, "You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man's hand." (5) And he said to them, "The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they answered, "Witness!"

The people said Samuel had never done any of those things to wrong anyone.  Then Samuel told the people that God and His king were witnesses to the fact they had said that, should anyone later try to accuse him of something.  He had been fully cleared before God and the king of any misdeeds.

(6) And Samuel said to the people, "It is the Lord who advanced Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. (7) Now therefore stand still that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which He did to you and to your fathers."

Samuel reminded the people that it was the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron to lead the people, and it was the Lord who brought their forefathers out of the land of Egypt.  He asked them to stand there while he reviewed all the great and righteous things the Lord had done for His people.

(8) "When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place."

Samuel reminded the people about when Jacob and his family had gone to Egypt and stayed there.  The posterity of Jacob became greatly oppressed by Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and the people cried out to the Lord.  In response to their cries, the Lord sent Moses and Aaron to deliver them out of Egypt and into their promised land flowing with milk and honey and all good things.

(9) "And when they forgot the Lord their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them."

When their fathers had forgotten their Lord God and turned away from Him and toward idolatry, the Lord put them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor (Judges 4:2).  Other times the Lord sold them into the hand of the king of Moab (Judges 3:14), and into the hand of the Philistines (Judges 13:1).  Sisera, and the king of Moab, and the Philistines all fought against the Israelites and overcame them so that they fell into their hands.  It was a merciful thing when the Lord allowed His people to become oppressed by an enemy.  When they chose to turn away from Him, He allowed them to have what they wanted and turned away from them.  Then they would see their need for Him, which He knew to be the best for their welfare, and they would willingly come back to Him.

(10) "And they cried to the Lord, and said, 'We have sinned because we have forsaken the Lord and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth, but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.'"

Each time they were oppressed by their enemy, the people would cry out to the Lord, repenting of their sins, praying that He deliver them from their enemy, and promising to serve Him only.

(11) "And the Lord sent Jerub-Baal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you dwelled safe."

Samuel reminded the people how each time they cried out to the Lord and repented, He sent the people a deliverer, one in Jerub-Baal who was Gideon.  The Lord also sent "Bedan."  There was no judge named Bedan in the history of the judges.  Biblical scholars have different ideas about who this might be.  Some say it might refer to Samson, as it could be interpreted "of Dan" rather than as a name.  However, in 1 Chronicles 7:17, there was a Bedan who was the son of Ulam, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it was the same Bedan.  Other scholars think that the name was meant to be Barak, and others say that Bedan could be a textual corruption or a scribal error arising from the similarity of Hebrew letters. This theory suggests that the original text may have intended to refer to a different deliverer entirely.  Whoever was meant, the people would have understood who Samuel meant.  Samuel told the people that the Lord had also sent Jephthah and Samuel himself to deliver the people out of the hands of their enemies, and they had dwelt in safety.

(12) And when you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, "No, but a king shall reign over us when the Lord your God was your king."

Even though the Lord had always saved them from their enemies, raising up judges to deliver them, when Nahash king of the Ammonites came against them, they decided they would rather have a king, when the Lord had always been their king.

(13) "Now therefore, behold the king whom you have chosen, whom you have desired! And behold, the Lord has set a king over you. (14) If you will fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both you and also the king who reigns over you continue following the Lord your God."

Samuel told the people to observe the king whom they had desired.  Even though the Lord and Samuel saw it as a rejection of the Lord, still the Lord gave them the king they desired.  And He even told them through Samuel that if they would fear the Lord, serve Him, and obey Him, and not rebel against His commandments, then both the people and their king could continue in the Lord's guidance and protection, as always.

(15) "But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord and rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you as against your fathers."

However, Samuel continued, if the people did not obey the Lord and rebelled against His commandments, then the Lord would be against them with His righteous judgments, just as He had done with their fathers.

(16) "Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes. (17) Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call to the Lord and He shall send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for a king."

Samuel instructed the people to stand there and observe the great thing the Lord was about to do.  He pointed out that it was wheat harvest time.  He was going to call on the Lord to send thunder and rain, which was very unusual for that time of year.  Proverbs 26:1 speaks of things extremely rare and unheard of, like "snow in summer" and "rain in harvest."  Therefore, the people would know that it was the Lord sending the thunder and rain as judgment against them, that they would understand their wickedness in rejecting the Lord as their king.

(18) So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

Samuel indeed called to the Lord, and He sent thunder and rain that day.  The historian Josephus said that He sent a terrible storm with thunder, lightning, and hail.  No wonder the people feared God and His power and Samuel who had such favor and therefore power from God.

(19) And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we do not die, for we have added to all our sins evil, to ask for a king." 

In their fear, they asked Samuel to pray for the people that they not die, for they could perceive and understand that they had added to their sins by asking for a king.  Note that the people had rejected Samuel as their judge in desiring a king, but they now called themselves his servants.

(20) And Samuel said to the people, "Fear not; you have done all this wickedness, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart, (21) And do not turn aside after vanity which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are nothing."

Samuel told the people not to fear, for even though they had done all that wickedness, God was not going to destroy them as they feared, provided they follow Him and serve Him with all their hearts and did not turn aside to vain idols that could do nothing for them because they were nothing.

(22) "For the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people."

Samuel assured the people that God would not forsake them, not because of anything they had done, but for His great name because it had pleased Him to make them His people, again not because of their merit.  If God had given the people what they deserved, there would have been no more Israelite people and therefore no Christian church.  God's purpose in preserving His people was not yet accomplished, so He would always save at least a remnant of His people no matter how wicked they were.  

It pleased the Lord to make Israel His people, and it pleased Him to graft us Gentiles into the vine of Israel.  God first made us only for His pleasure and fellowship.  He did not need us for any fulfillment.  God is already all perfect.  It pleased Him to make us in His own image and after His own likeness (Genesis 1:26).  Micah 6:8 said that the Lord had shown us what was good, and all He required from us was that we "do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."  Be righteous, love, and walk with God.  That gives Him pleasure.  However, we let sin come between us and God.  God is all-good and all-perfect and cannot abide in sin.  But because God's nature is love, He provided a way for us to remain in communion with Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ whose shed blood covers our sins.  Why would He do that?  Why not destroy us all because we did not live up to the purpose for which He created us in the first place?  Because He is love, and because it pleased Him to have us in fellowship with Him.

(23) "Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you, but I will teach you the good and the right way."

I believe Samuel's point was that he would also forgive them for rejecting him as their judge.  He would not sin against the Lord by being arrogant and self-centered when the Lord Himself forgave His people.  He would not cease to pray for them as he always had, and he would teach them the good and right way of the Lord.

(24) "Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great He has done for you. (25) But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king."

In contrast to the fear Samuel spoke of in verse 20, this fear he spoke of was a reverential fear out of love for the Lord and the knowledge of how great and awesome He was.  He told the people to serve God in truth with all their hearts, considering all the great things He had done for them.  However, if they rebelled against their Lord and chose to depart from Him, they would be consumed.  Without God, they would be destroyed and die, and their king would not be able to save them, as he would perish with them.

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Samuel 11:1) Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you."

In the last chapter, Saul had just been made king of the Israelites.  Nahash, king of the Ammonites, came and encamped across from Jabesh in Gilead in the half tribe of Manasseh on the eastern side of the Jordan River.  The men of Jabesh, desiring peace and not war, asked to make a covenant with Nahash and they would serve as tributaries paying tax to him.

(2) And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, "On this I will make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes and lay it a reproach on all Israel."

Nahash told the men of Jabesh that the only way he would make a covenant with them was if he was able to put out the right eye of every man.  In this way, he would disable them for war, but they would still be able to do menial jobs for him.  Soldiers fought with shields in their left hands which covered their left eye, so that a soldier without his right eye was in effect blind.  However, they would still be able to do labor.  It would be a reproach on all Israel that they were weak and cowardly to allow such misery on some of their own and not do anything about it.

(3) And the elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers to all the coasts of Israel, and then if there is no man to save us, we will come out to you."

The elders of Jabesh actually asked for a seven days' respite before they would agree to Nahash's condition.  I suppose if they had not had time to ask their brethren to help them and be refused, it would not be the reproach Nahash was looking for, so it seems he granted it.

(4) Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the ears of the people, and all the people lifted up their voices and wept. (5) And behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field, and Saul said, "What ails the people that they weep?" And they told him the news of the men of Jabesh.

The messengers from Jabesh went to Gibeah where Saul was.  They told the people of Gibeah the news of Nahash's threat, and the people wept aloud.  Saul came out of the field after his herd and heard the people.  He asked what the problem was, and he was told about the predicament of the people of Jabesh.

(6) And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. (7) And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen." And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

The Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard the news, and his anger was hot against Nahash for his cruel threats against the inhabitants of Jabesh.  He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent the pieces throughout Israel with messengers telling the people that whoever did not come forth with Saul and Samuel, the same thing would be done to their oxen.  The fear of the Lord fell on the people making them fear what the Lord might do to them if they did not obey Saul, and they all came out in one accord.

(8) And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah, thirty thousand.

When Saul numbered the men at a place called Bezek, there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 from Judah.  Some Biblical scholars suggest that Judah was mentioned separately because they were usually the first to go to battle.  However, Albert Barnes, in his Notes on the Bible, makes more sense to me when he wrote that "This looks like the language of later times, times perhaps subsequent to the establishment of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah."  Since Samuel surely wrote his accounts later in his life, it is reasonable to expect he might have written it that way.

(9) And they said to the messengers who came, "Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help.'" And the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.

"They" were probably Saul and Samuel, after counting the men in their army, who told the messengers to go back to the men of Jabesh in Gilead and tell them that the next day, by the time the sun was hot in the sky, they would have help.  The messengers carried that message to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad to hear it.

(10) Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you."

Upon hearing that news, the men of Jabesh told Nahash that they would come out to him the next day, and he could do to them whatever he wanted to do.  They did not tell him that they indeed had help but let him believe that he would be ridiculing Israel and plucking out the eyes of the men of Jabesh.

(11) And it was on the next day that Saul put the people in three companies, and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day, and it came to pass that they who remained were scattered so that two of them were not left together.

The next morning Saul put the people into three companies, and they went into the midst of the Ammonites before daybreak, as the morning watch was the last watch of the night before daybreak.  They began killing the Ammonites and continued killing them until the heat of the day, probably around noon.  Those who were left of the Ammonites were scattered and fled alone, no two being left together.

(12) And the people said to Samuel, "Who is he who said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death."

The Israelites then asked Samuel who the men were who had derided Saul (1 Samuel 10:27).  They wanted him to bring them forward so that they be put to death.

(13) And Saul said, "There shall not a man be put to death this day, for today the Lord has wrought salvation in Israel."

However, it was Saul who spoke out and said that they would not kill any one of them for the Lord had brought them victory and saved them from the Ammonites.  He still had that forgiving spirit he had had when those men rejected him in 1 Samuel 10:27.  I'm sure they had participated in the battle when Saul had called them, begrudgingly or not, and the Lord had saved them, so there was no need to kill anybody.

(14) Then said Samuel to the people, "Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there."

Saul then called for the people to gather at Gilgal where the tabernacle and ark first were when they had first camped when they had crossed over the Jordan.  He called for them to renew the kingdom there.  Saul had shown himself worthy to command the people and while the people's hearts were eagerly toward him, he took the opportunity to very publicly anoint Saul as king a second time.

(15) And all the people went to Gilgal and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal, and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

All the people did go to Gilgal and unanimously declared Saul to be their king before the Lord.  They made sacrifices of peace offerings to the Lord for the victory and probably for their king they had so desired.  Saul and all the people rejoiced together greatly, the people in their king, Saul in the good will of his people, and all of them in the victory God had given them.

Thus Saul had proved himself worthy to be called the king of Israel.  God had shown the people in the last chapter His choice for their king, but some people had doubted that Saul was worthy.  Samuel had very much been against the people having an earthly king, but how graciously and unselfishly he directed the people to renew the kingdom and rejoice in their king.  He felt no jealousy toward Saul for taking over as head of the people.  When Saul had correctly given the glory to God for their victory (verse 13) and had shown mercy to those who had opposed him, he had proven himself to be a Godly choice for a king.  The good old prophet Samuel would have accepted Saul as king anyway because the Lord had chosen him, but at this point, he felt satisfaction in the choice of Saul as king and wanted the people to confirm their feelings and rejoice in their king, as this was the way it was to be now.

Saul is Chosen as King

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Samuel 9:1) Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

In the last chapter, the Israelites decided they wanted a king to rule over them instead of God and His judges.  God told Samuel to go ahead and find the people a king even though He did not approve.  Meanwhile, we learn of a Benjamite named Kish who came from a long line of Benjamites.  He was a man of great strength.

(2) And he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice young man and goodly, and not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he, from his shoulders and upward higher than any of the people.    

Kish had a son named Saul who was a fine man probably in stature and looks, and a good man, as good a man to be found among the Israelites.  He was a very tall man, as well, taller than any other.

(3) And the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys."

Kish's donkeys were lost, and he told his son Saul to take a servant and to go look for them.

(4) And he passed through Mount Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and not there, and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them. (5) When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come and let us return lest my father cease caring for the donkeys and take thought for us."

Saul and his servant passed through Mount Ephraim, Shalisha, Shaalim, and all through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find the donkeys.  When they came to the land of Zuph (where Ramah was), Saul told his servant that they should go back before his father started worrying about them.

(6) And he said to him, "Behold now, in this city there is a man of God, and an honorable man; all that he says comes surely to pass. Now let us go there; perhaps he can show us our way that we should go."

Saul's servant told him that there was a man of God there in that city in Zuph.  He was an honorable man and a prophet whose words always came to pass.  He suggested that they go to him and see if he could tell them which way they should go.  With that city being Ramah, the honorable prophet was, of course, Samuel.

(7) Then Saul said to his servant, "But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels, and no present to bring to the man of God. What have we?" (8) And the servant answered Saul again, and said, "Behold, I have here at hand one fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give that to the man of God to tell us our way."

However, Saul told his servant that they had nothing to give the man.  It was a custom that if one asked a great man for a favor, he should bring a gift for him.  Or perhaps, as a prophet, he expected the man to charge for his prophecy.  But they had no bread nor any money nor anything of value to give such a man.  However, his servant said that he did have a quarter of a shekel of silver, and he would give that to the man of God in exchange for telling them how they should go.

(9) (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, he spoke thus, "Come and let us go to the seer," for he now called a prophet was beforetime called a seer.)

As this is a parenthetical statement, I believe it is made to explain how people might seek seers and perhaps it was customary to pay them.  It also explains why Saul and his servant ask for a seer in verse 11.

(10) Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said, come let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

Saul agreed with his servant that that was a good plan, and they went to the city, Ramah, where the man of God, Samuel, was.

(11) As they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?" (12) And they answered them, and said, "He is, behold, he is before you. Make haste now for he came today to the city for a sacrifice of the people today in the high place."

As they went up the hill to the city, they saw some young maidens going down the hill to fetch some water, and they asked them if the seer was there.  They answered that indeed he was, and he was ahead of them also going up to the city for a sacrifice of the people that day in the high place at the top of the hill.

(13) "As soon as you come into the city, you shall straightway find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes because he blesses the sacrifice; afterwards, they eat who are invited. Now therefore, get up, for about this time you shall find him."

The maidens went on to tell Saul and his servant that the seer had gone up to the high place to eat, but they would find him before he went to the feast to bless the sacrifice, if they hurried and went straight there.

(14) And they went up into the city. When they were coming into the city, behold, Samuel came out opposite them to go up to the high place.

Indeed, when Saul and his servant went up into the city, they saw Samuel coming toward them from his place into the high place in the city.

(15) Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, (16) "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin and you shall anoint him captain over My people Israel that he may save My people out of the hand of the Philistines, because their cry has come to Me."

The Lord had told Samuel the day before that He would send to him the next day a man out of Benjamin whom He wanted Samuel to anoint as captain over His people Israel.  He had heard the cries of His people, and He wanted that man to save His people out of the hand of the Philistines.

(17) And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, "Behold the man of whom I spoke to you. This same shall reign over My people."

When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord spoke to him again and told him that Saul was the one He had spoken of the day before, the one He chose to reign over His people Israel.

(18) Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me, I pray you, where is the seer's house?" (19) And Samuel answered Saul, and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart."

Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate and asked him where he might find the seer.  Samuel told him that he was the seer he sought.  He told him to go on up to the high place and participate in the feast, for Samuel would have Saul eat with him that day.  Then he could depart the next day when and after Samuel would answer all his questions for which he had sought the seer in the first place.

(20) "And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and all your father's house?"

Samuel went on to tell Saul not to worry about his donkeys, for they had been found.  He also rhetorically asked on whom was the desire of all Israel, meaning the king they wanted.  Was it not on him and his father's house, indicating Saul was the one to be king.

(21) And Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me so?"

Saul answered Samuel, pointing out he was from the smallest tribe in Israel, and from a family that was least among the families in that tribe.  Therefore, he asked why Samuel would talk to him in that manner.

(22) And Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the parlor and made them sit in the chiefest place among them who were invited, which were about thirty persons.

Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the parlor which was the dining room of the house of the high place.  He placed them in the most honored places at the table among the thirty people who had been invited.

(23) And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, 'Set it by you.'"

Samuel told the cook to bring the portion which he had given the cook earlier, instructing him to set it aside by him, not serving it to anyone else.

(24) And the cook took up the shoulder and what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, "Behold that which is left, set before you, eat! For until this time has it been kept for you since I said, 'I have invited the people.'" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

The cook took up the shoulder and the meat attached to it, which some Biblical scholars think meant the breast, and he set it before Saul.  The right shoulder and breast in peace offerings were given to the priest.  In this case, it was Samuel's portion, and he gave it to Saul as a token of the highest honor.  Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, wrote that "it was an emblem of the government to which he was now called."  He referred to prophecy in Isaiah 9:6, which said a child would be born, and the government would be upon His shoulder.  That of course, referred to Jesus Christ.  However, the government would now be upon the shoulder of Israel's king.  Samuel told Saul that he had set back that portion ever since he had invited the people to the feast.  So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

(25) And when they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul on the top of the house. (26) And they arose early, and it came to pass about the spring of the day that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, "Up, that I may send you away." And Saul arose, and they went out, both of them, he and Samuel, outside.

After the feast at the high place, Samuel and Saul went back to Samuel's house where they communed on the roof of Samuel's house.  The houses back then were all flat allowing people to sit, commune, and sometimes even sleep in the fresh air.  The next morning about daybreak, Samuel called Saul again to the roof from where he apparently wanted to send Saul on his way.  They both went outside on the roof.

(27) As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to pass on before us" (and he passed on), "but stand here awhile that I may show you the word of God."

It seems going out on the roof took them outside where they walked together to the end of the city.  Samuel told Saul to send his servant on ahead, which he did, but asked him to stay behind while Samuel shared with him the word of God.

(1 Samuel 10:1) Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it upon his head and kissed him, and said, "Is it not because the Lord has anointed you captain over His inheritance?"

Then Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on Saul's head.  He kissed him in reverence and respect to him, asking him rhetorically if that was not because the Lord Himself had anointed Saul captain over His inheritance, His people Israel.

(2) "When you have departed from me today, then you shall find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, 'The donkeys which you went to seek are found, and lo, your father has left the care of the donkeys and sorrows for you, saying, "What shall I do for my son?"'"

Samuel, the seer, the prophet of God, told Saul when he had departed from him, he would come to two men at the tomb of Rachel which was on the border of Benjamin and Judah, at a place called Zelzah.  They would tell him that his donkeys had been found, but now his father had ceased worrying about the donkeys, and was worried and sorrowful for him, Saul, wondering what had happened to his son.

(3) "Then shall you go on forward from there and you shall come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet you three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine. (4) And they will salute you and give you two loaves of bread which you shall receive of their hands."

Samuel continued prophesying, telling Saul that after he left Zelzah, he would come to the plain of Tabor (not the foot of Mount Tabor, but a different place).  There he would meet three men going up to Bethel to worship God, probably at Jacob's altar (Genesis 28:19).  One man would be carrying three kid goats, another three loaves of bread, and the other a bottle of wine.  The men would greet Saul and give him two loaves of bread which Saul was to accept.  

(5) "After that you shall come to the hill of God where the garrison of the Philistines is, and it shall come to pass, when you have come there to the city, that you shall meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them, and they shall prophesy; (6) And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you shall prophesy with them and shall be turned into another man."

After leaving the three men, Saul would come to "the hill of God."  The word translated as "hill" is "gibah" and is the same word as Gibeah, the place.  There was a high place in Gibeah, probably hence the name, and this was closer to Saul's home, and it makes good sense he would have reached there by that time.  Apparently, there was a garrison of the Philistines there.  It being a hill, the Philistines probably kept a watch on the top of the hill, with a company of soldiers to keep the Israelites in check.  When he came into the city, Saul would meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with several musical instruments, and they would prophesy.  The Spirit of the Lord would come upon Saul, and he would prophesy with them.  And he would be turned into another man.  Perhaps a "new man" as one becomes after accepting Christ, "renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created him" (Colossians 3:10).

(7) "And let it be, when these signs are come to you, you do as occasion serves you, for God is with you."

When those signs had all come to Saul, he was to do as the occasion required, for he would then be furnished with the wisdom to undertake what was necessary for his office, and God would be with him.  How incredibly detailed was Samuel's prophecy!  There could be no doubt he was a true prophet of God, and Saul could have great confidence to trust everything Samuel had said.

(8) "And you shall go down before me to Gilgal, and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings, to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings; seven days shall you tarry till I come to you and show you what you shall do."

Samuel then told Saul that he was to go before him to Gilgal, wait there seven days, and Samuel would come to him and offer burnt offerings and sacrifices and then show Saul what to do, surely as shown him by inspiration of God.  However, this was not to be immediately, as we will see in the forthcoming scriptures.  Most Biblical scholars agree that "it may be this was a general rule to be observed by Saul, that whenever anything turned up of importance to the children of Israel, and was a difficulty with him, he should go to Gilgal, and there wait seven days for Samuel, from the time he gave him notice of it, who would come at the appointed time, and would give him what advice and instructions were necessary" (Dr. John Gill); thus he would be guided by God through Samuel.

(9) And it was so that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart, and all those signs came to pass that day.

Interestingly, the Biblical scholars whom I study who chose to comment on this, made it a point to say that this new heart was not the new heart and new spirit as in conversion, but rather another heart and wisdom fit for government.  This was probably due to the fact we may later discover by his actions, that Saul was not a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), or I should say in His Holy Spirit, as the person of Christ was not available to Saul at that time.  All of Samuel's prophesies for that day came to pass.

(10) And when they came there to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

"They" came to the hill or Gibeah.  I'm not sure if Samuel had rejoined Saul at this point, or if this was Saul and his servant, but when they came to that place, indeed a company of prophets met Saul, and the Spirit of God came upon him so that he prophesied among the prophets.

(11) And it came to pass, when all who knew him beforetime saw that behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, "What is this come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?"

When the people who knew Saul before then saw him prophesying, they wondered among themselves how the son of Kish had come to be among the prophets.  They had known Saul to be a herdsman who took care of his father's farm and flock, and now he was among the prophets performing as well as any of them.

(12) And one of the same place answered and said, "But who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

Some other people asked rhetorically who the father of the prophets was.  It was God who inspired them and instructed them; their gift did not come from their parents.  God inspired and used whom He wished so He could just as easily have inspired Saul as anyone else.  Therefore it became a saying among the people, "Isn't Saul also among the prophets?"  That saying could be used as encouragement that even Saul was among the prophets, so anyone could be.  However, it could also be used to diminish the father or leader who would admit such a person as Saul into his company.  I can't help but relate this to the people during Jesus's time who were offended by Him because they knew Him only as the carpenter's son (Matthew 13:54-57).  Jesus had said then that a prophet did not have honor in his own home among his own people, and that is because they did know him so well as an ordinary person that they could not comprehend that he had become a prophet of God.

(13) And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

Saul made an end of prophesying.  His place was not to be a prophet of God.  One can only truly prophesy when inspired by God's Holy Spirit.  Saul was given the gift for a short time to make him respectable among the people because God had honored him with a special gift, and when he was chosen as king, the people would more readily receive him.  When he had stopped prophesying, Saul went to the high place where the prophets had come from (verse 5), probably to thank and praise God for the honor He had bestowed on him.

(14) And Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the donkeys and when we saw they were nowhere, we went to Samuel."

It would seem that Saul's uncle was at the high place, as well.  He asked Saul where he and his servant had gone as they had been gone for so long.  Saul told him that they had gone to look for his father's donkeys, but when they could find them nowhere, they went to Samuel.

(15) And Saul's uncle said, "Tell me, I pray you, what Samuel said to you." (16) And Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys were found." But of the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he did not tell him.

Saul's uncle asked Saul to tell him what Samuel had said to him.  He told him that he had told them that the donkeys had been found.  However, he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about his being made king.

(17) And Samuel called the people together to the Lord to Mizpeh, (18) And said to the children of Israel, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'I brought up Israel out of Egypt and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all kingdoms, of them who oppressed you.' (19) And you have this day rejected your God, who Himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations, and you have said to Him, 'No, but set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands."

Samuel called all the people together at Mizpeh, the one in the tribe of Benjamin, where he had called the people to pray for them in 1 Samuel 7:5.  He told all the people the words of the Lord, that He had brought them out of Egypt and delivered them from the Egyptians and had continued to deliver them out of the hands of all kingdoms that had oppressed them.  Yet they had rejected their Lord who had always saved them from their adversities and had decided they now needed a king to save them.  Samuel told the people to present themselves before the Lord in groups by their tribes and by the rulers of the thousands into which their tribes were divided.

(20) And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

When Samuel had brought all the tribes together before him, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by Urim and Thummim, or by casting lots to reveal the will of God.

(21) When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken, and when they sought him, he could not be found.

The tribe of Benjamin came forward by their families, and the family of Matri was chosen.  Nowhere else in the Bible is the name Matri mentioned, but he was undoubtedly head of a family within the tribe of Benjamin, of which Kish and his son Saul were a part.  The lot eventually came down to Saul, but when the people looked for him, they could not find him.

(22) Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come there. And the Lord answered, "Behold, he has hidden himself among the stuff."

The people inquired of the Lord again, probably through the same means He had been showing them who their king should be.  They wondered if their king was there or if they should expect him to come.  The Lord answered that he was hiding behind some stuff, household tools, equipment, arms, baggage the people may have brought, whatever stuff was there.  I don't know if Saul felt unworthy, unwilling, or embarrassed, but I can't help but think about the people's rejection of their Lord as their king to have this man in hiding be their king.

(23) And they ran and fetched him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

The people ran to him and brought him among them.  He was a very tall man, head and shoulders above the rest of the people.  The people probably thought him very majestic.  I still can't rid myself of the image of their tall majestic king in hiding.  They wanted that instead of their Lord God who was greater than all (Exodus 18:11, John 10:29).

(24) And Samuel said to all the people, "See him whom the Lord has chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?" And all the people shouted and said, "God save the king!"

Samuel pointed out to the people that the Lord had chosen Saul, and they could see that there was none like him among all the people.  In stature and appearance, that was true, but I wonder if there wasn't a part of Samuel that thought, "See what you have chosen above the Lord?"  After all, he had been most displeased that the people wanted a king.  Whether he was thinking it or not, I believe it is a perfect illustration of what people get when they choose anyone or anything over God.  Even though he was the best among men, their desired king was a sniveling coward compared to Almighty God.

(25) Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom and wrote it in a book and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

Samuel told the people the laws and rules by which the kingly government was to operate, and he wrote it down in a book and laid it before the Lord, which probably meant before the ark of the covenant.  Then Samuel sent the people back to their homes.

(26) And Saul also went home to Gibeah, and there went with him a band of men whose hearts God had touched.

Saul also went back to his home in Gibeah, not yet to any grand palace.  A group of men went with him, men whose hearts God had touched and made them inclined to show honor and respect to their king.

(27) But the children of Belial said, "How shall this man save us?" And they despised him and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

The children of wickedness, which is what Belial means, despised Saul and did not think him able to save them.  Without God, he would not be able to, that is true, but we are told these were wicked men, so their reasoning was not because they preferred God to man, but they had no faith in God's choice.  They brought him no presents as others did, but Saul took no notice, or at least he acted as if it did not matter to him.

The Israelites wanted to be as the other nations and have a king to rule over them, and God provided one, although He saw it as a rejection of Him.  How patient and good is our Lord!  This shows how people do not know what is best for them.  I think about this with regard to prayer all the time.  I don't know what is best; only God does.  I may think I know what is best, but my desire may just get in the way of a more perfect plan of God.  If only we could just trust in God's will, that it be done, and let go, and let God.  However, God still acts in love for us, sometimes giving us what we want, and letting us learn for ourselves why it is not always best.  Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, pointed out that those who knew the scriptures back then would be able to foresee that the family of Saul would not succeed for long.  It was the tribe of Judah that would rule as a lion, and "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes" (Genesis 49:10); Benjamin was just a ravenous wolf (Genesis 49:27).

Israel Demands a King

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Samuel 8:1) And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

In the last chapter we were told that Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, so now that he was old and making his sons judges, they must have been under him, with him still judging as well.  He was used to doing circuits throughout Israel, so perhaps he stayed at his home base and let them do the traveling to other places.

(2) Now the name of the firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abiah, judges in Beersheba.

Samuel's firstborn son was Joel, and his second son was Abiah.  They were judges in Beersheba in the southern part of the land, whereas Samuel's home was in Ramah more to the north, so that is how they worked things out, with Samuel judging the north and his sons judging the south.

(3) And his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after lucre and took bribes and perverted judgment.

Samuel's sons did not walk in his righteous ways but went after monetary gain.  They took bribes and perverted justice.

(4) Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah, (5) And said to him, "Behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."

The elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel.  Because he was old and his sons did not walk in his ways, they said they wanted to have a king to rule over them like all the other nations had.  It's interesting that it doesn't occur to them that they might as easily have a corrupt king as they had corrupt judges in Joel and Abiah.

(6) But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

The people wanting a king to rule over them greatly displeased Samuel because the people were not content to be governed by God and the order He had set up, but wanted to be governed like the Gentiles were.  That meant they wanted a king to judge them rather than him.  Samuel prayed to the Lord.  Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Bible, wrote that Josephus the historian noted that "he could neither eat nor sleep, but watched all night, and spent it in prayer."

(7) And the Lord said to Samuel, "Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me that I should not reign over them."

The Lord told Samuel to listen to the people and do all they wanted him to do.  He acknowledged that the people had rejected Him that He should not reign over them, but they wanted a king instead to be like all the cool kids.  He assured Samuel that it was not about him personally as judge, but God's system of government and God Himself they rejected.

(8) "According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day, with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods, so they also do to you."

This was no new thing for the Lord.  Ever since He had brought His people out of Egypt even to that very day, they were constantly forsaking Him and serving other gods.  So they now did to Samuel after he had served them his entire life since childhood.  As Jesus said in Matthew 10:24, the servant was not above his lord, meaning that if such things had been done to the Lord, Samuel could not expect to be treated better than the Lord.

(9) "Now therefore hearken to their voice. However, protest solemnly to them and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them."

The Lord told Samuel to go ahead and listen to the people.  However, He wanted him to warn them about what they were asking for, how a king would rule over them.

(10) And Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king. (11) And he said, "This will be the manner of the king who shall reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and his horsemen, and to run before his chariots."

Samuel told the people who had asked for a king all that the Lord had said.  Then he went on to tell them what to expect from a king.  He would take their sons and appoint them for his own use and service.  He would have them take care of his chariots and his horses and to be his running footmen.  Their sons would be unable to choose their own employment or have estates of their own.

(12) "And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots."

A king would appoint their sons to jobs in military service whether they wanted them or not.  He would make them plow his ground and reap his harvest.  He would make them make his instruments of war and instruments for his chariots, again whether they wanted that type of work or not.

(13) "And he will take your daughters as confectionaries, and cooks, and bakers."

A king would likewise take their daughters and make them serve him as perfumers, which is the meaning of the original word "raqqachah" that was translated as confectionaries, and as cooks and bakers. 

(14) "And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best of them, and give them to his servants. (15) And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants."

A king would take the best of their fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his servants.  He would impose a tax of one tenth of their seed, grapes, and olives, to give to his officers and servants.  That would be in addition to tithes to the Lord.

(16) "And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. (17) He will take the tenth of your sheep, and you will be his servants."

A king would take their menservants and maidservants, their finest young men, and their donkeys, and put them into his employ.  He would take a tenth of their livestock and make them work for him.  A king could take anyone or anything of the people's and use it for his service.

(18) "And you shall cry out in that day because of your king which you shall have chosen for you, and the Lord will not hear you in that day."

Samuel warned the people that they would eventually cry out to the Lord because of their king whom they had wanted, because of his power and oppression.  They would cry to the Lord, but He would not listen to them because He had given them what they wanted.

(19) Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, (20) That we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles."

The people didn't care about the warnings Samuel gave them and told him they wanted a king anyway so they could be like all the other nations.  They wanted one king to judge them and to lead them and to fight their battles.  The last thing was one that Samuel could not do; he was not a military leader, but God had never failed to fight their battles for them or raise someone up who could lead them.

(21) And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. (22) And the Lord said to Samuel, "Hearken to their voice and make them a king." And Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."

Samuel listened to the words of the people and then relayed them to the Lord.  The Lord told Samuel to listen to the people and give them a king.  Let them have what they wanted and let them deal with the consequences.  We serve a most patient God!  Even though He did not approve of the people having a king and knew it was not the best thing for them, He allowed them to make their own choice and would go on to help them find the best possible king.  Then Samuel sent the men back to their homes.