“…holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philippians 2:15-18 ESV)
I Samuel 13
Saul's (Im)Patience
•The army that Saul summons in this chapter is much different than the emergency force that he had gathered in chapter 11.
•In this chapter, there aren’t 330,000 troops that gather to defend their brethren because of an outside threat, now there are only 3,000 in which it could be assumed that these troops are more specialized.
•Saul keeps a larger force with him while his son Jonathan commands a unit of 1,000.
•Jonathan’s unit defeats a Philistine garrison. Although the text doesn’t say how many men were stationed in the garrison we do know from the text that 1,000 Israelites defeat this force and the Philistines are ready to retaliate.
•Apparently the Israelites must have known that this garrison was an important one to take out because after Jonathan’s victory they make sure that everyone in the land hears about the victory.
•The Philistines use this garrison defeat as a “Remember the Alamo” rallying cry and muster quite the force to meet the Israelites on the battlefield with. 30,000 chariots and 6,000 infantry troops.
•Many Israelites begin to panic and decide to hide from the coming Philistines in caves, rock holes, tombs, and cisterns while some crossed over the Jordan River and began fleeing east.
•The army that Saul summons in this chapter is much different than the emergency force that he had gathered in chapter 11.
•In this chapter, there aren’t 330,000 troops that gather to defend their brethren because of an outside threat, now there are only 3,000 in which it could be assumed that these troops are more specialized.
•Saul keeps a larger force with him while his son Jonathan commands a unit of 1,000.
•Jonathan’s unit defeats a Philistine garrison. Although the text doesn’t say how many men were stationed in the garrison we do know from the text that 1,000 Israelites defeat this force and the Philistines are ready to retaliate.
•Apparently the Israelites must have known that this garrison was an important one to take out because after Jonathan’s victory they make sure that everyone in the land hears about the victory.
•The Philistines use this garrison defeat as a “Remember the Alamo” rallying cry and muster quite the force to meet the Israelites on the battlefield with. 30,000 chariots and 6,000 infantry troops.
•Many Israelites begin to panic and decide to hide from the coming Philistines in caves, rock holes, tombs, and cisterns while some crossed over the Jordan River and began fleeing east.
Saul's (Im)Patience Continued
•Saul calls all the people to Gilgal and waits for Samuel.
•Previously in chapter 10 Saul had been told by Samuel that before he made important decisions that Saul was to summon Samuel to Gilgal and wait for seven days.
•This time Saul seems to think that Samuel isn’t going to make it in time so when the people start to get antsy and scatter Saul starts to get antsy as well. Saul goes ahead and makes the offerings to Yahweh and right when the offerings are complete, Samuel shows up. Saul tries to justify his actions instead of admitting guilt.
•Saul is told that his dynasty would not rule over Israel forever for this disobedience. Disobeying Yahweh’s command can disqualify one from service in the Kingdom.
•Saul calls all the people to Gilgal and waits for Samuel.
•Previously in chapter 10 Saul had been told by Samuel that before he made important decisions that Saul was to summon Samuel to Gilgal and wait for seven days.
•This time Saul seems to think that Samuel isn’t going to make it in time so when the people start to get antsy and scatter Saul starts to get antsy as well. Saul goes ahead and makes the offerings to Yahweh and right when the offerings are complete, Samuel shows up. Saul tries to justify his actions instead of admitting guilt.
•Saul is told that his dynasty would not rule over Israel forever for this disobedience. Disobeying Yahweh’s command can disqualify one from service in the Kingdom.
I Samuel 14:1-24
Jonathan's Victory
•We do not know the outcome of the Philistine’s retaliatory battle from the last chapter as the text leaves that out. It is not important how the army did that day because the purpose of these chapters is to show Saul’s disobedience.
•Saul had a force with him of six hundred in a cave. His son Jonathan sneaks off with his armor bearer and decides that he is going to attack the Philistines. The high priest is with Saul and he is wearing an ephod which would have carried the urim and the thummim so that the high priest would be able to consult with the Lord on Saul’s behalf.
•As Jonathan and his armor bearer cross the rocks he states the condition of how they will know to go forward into the attack.
•The Philistines do not perceive Jonathan as a threat which leads to his successful attack.
•After Jonathan starts his attack the Philistines become panicked because they don’t know what is happening. On top of Jonathan’s attack there is an earthquake which panics them even more.
•We do not know the outcome of the Philistine’s retaliatory battle from the last chapter as the text leaves that out. It is not important how the army did that day because the purpose of these chapters is to show Saul’s disobedience.
•Saul had a force with him of six hundred in a cave. His son Jonathan sneaks off with his armor bearer and decides that he is going to attack the Philistines. The high priest is with Saul and he is wearing an ephod which would have carried the urim and the thummim so that the high priest would be able to consult with the Lord on Saul’s behalf.
•As Jonathan and his armor bearer cross the rocks he states the condition of how they will know to go forward into the attack.
•The Philistines do not perceive Jonathan as a threat which leads to his successful attack.
•After Jonathan starts his attack the Philistines become panicked because they don’t know what is happening. On top of Jonathan’s attack there is an earthquake which panics them even more.
Jonathan's Victory Continued
•Saul takes count to find out which one of the men are missing and could have started the attack. The priest tries to consult with the Lord but Saul tells him they don’t have time- “Withdraw your hand.”
•Even the Israelites who ran and hid before or had joined the Philistines came out to join in on the attack. Saul ends the passage with a vow that no one is to eat food until Saul wins the battle.
•Saul takes count to find out which one of the men are missing and could have started the attack. The priest tries to consult with the Lord but Saul tells him they don’t have time- “Withdraw your hand.”
•Even the Israelites who ran and hid before or had joined the Philistines came out to join in on the attack. Saul ends the passage with a vow that no one is to eat food until Saul wins the battle.
I Samuel 14: 25-52
Saul's Vow
•It has been suggested that Saul’s vow that no one should eat until the enemy is defeated is really a religious vow in keeping with the Law. This is not true as there were provisions against sexual relations before battle but no restrictions on eating before battle.
•Since Canaan was a land “flowing with milk and honey” it would be expected that honey would be easy to find, and it was. Ground bees were plentiful and so was honey. Jonathan, not present when Saul pronounced the curse, tastes some honey and gains energy.
•When Jonathan said that his father had “troubled” the land it is the same Hebrew word used of another Israelite who was stoned and burned for not listening to the Lord’s commands in the time of Joshua. Jonathan using this word is not a coincidence.
•The Philistines are pushed back 15 miles but the Israelites famished from hunger (now why would they be hungry?) can’t pursue any further.
•It has been suggested that Saul’s vow that no one should eat until the enemy is defeated is really a religious vow in keeping with the Law. This is not true as there were provisions against sexual relations before battle but no restrictions on eating before battle.
•Since Canaan was a land “flowing with milk and honey” it would be expected that honey would be easy to find, and it was. Ground bees were plentiful and so was honey. Jonathan, not present when Saul pronounced the curse, tastes some honey and gains energy.
•When Jonathan said that his father had “troubled” the land it is the same Hebrew word used of another Israelite who was stoned and burned for not listening to the Lord’s commands in the time of Joshua. Jonathan using this word is not a coincidence.
•The Philistines are pushed back 15 miles but the Israelites famished from hunger (now why would they be hungry?) can’t pursue any further.
Saul's Vow Continued
•They ravage the Philistine camp and are so hungry that when they slaughter the animals to eat they eat the blood along with the meat.
•Saul gets a stone so that the animals can be slaughtered on top of it and the blood can drain properly and then Saul plans to make a nighttime raid.
•When he gets no answer either yay or nay regarding the attack Saul assumes it is because of some sort of sin so he tries to find it by casting lots.
•The first distinction Saul wants is whether it’s the royal family or the regular people. The lot falls with the royals.
•Next Saul wants it either him or Jonathan and it falls to Jonathan. Notice that Jonathan doesn’t say that he broke the vow because he was not there to take the vow. Jonathan said that he tasted honey but that he was ready to die.
•Jonathan living highlights an important new development. When Yahweh pronounces a curse it cannot be reversed, but although Saul could pronounce the curse he did not have the power to enforce it. No earthly ruler is as powerful as the Almighty.
•Finally we get an account of Saul’s military record. His reign as king was not over but he is no longer favored by Yahweh.
•They ravage the Philistine camp and are so hungry that when they slaughter the animals to eat they eat the blood along with the meat.
•Saul gets a stone so that the animals can be slaughtered on top of it and the blood can drain properly and then Saul plans to make a nighttime raid.
•When he gets no answer either yay or nay regarding the attack Saul assumes it is because of some sort of sin so he tries to find it by casting lots.
•The first distinction Saul wants is whether it’s the royal family or the regular people. The lot falls with the royals.
•Next Saul wants it either him or Jonathan and it falls to Jonathan. Notice that Jonathan doesn’t say that he broke the vow because he was not there to take the vow. Jonathan said that he tasted honey but that he was ready to die.
•Jonathan living highlights an important new development. When Yahweh pronounces a curse it cannot be reversed, but although Saul could pronounce the curse he did not have the power to enforce it. No earthly ruler is as powerful as the Almighty.
•Finally we get an account of Saul’s military record. His reign as king was not over but he is no longer favored by Yahweh.