1 Samuel 11-13 Saul’s Kingship

Thoughts

Samuel 11

Nahash the Ammonite lays siege against Jabesh-Gilead. The men of Jabesh request a treaty, but Nahash demands gouging out everyone’s right eye to disgrace Israel.

The elders ask for seven days to seek help from Israel. Messengers deliver the news to Gibeah, and the people weep.

Saul is filled with God’s Spirit and anger.He cuts up oxen and sends the pieces throughout Israel as a call to arms.

Fear of the Lord falls on the people, and 330,000 men gather to follow Saul. The messengers assure Jabesh-Gilead that help will arrive by the next day.

Saul divides the army into three groups and launches a surprise morning attack. The Ammonites are struck down until the heat of the day and survivors scatter 

After the victory, the people want to punish those who doubted Saul’s kingship.Saul spares them, attributing the victory to the Lord.

Samuel leads the people to Gilgal, where they officially renew Saul’s kingship with sacrifices and rejoicing.

Samuel 12

Samuel addresses Israel, reminding them he is old and has appointed Saul as king.

He asks the people to testify if he has wronged, cheated, or oppressed anyone. The people affirm that Samuel has been righteous and just.

Samuel recounts how the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt.

He reminds them of God’s faithfulness in raising judges (Jerubbaal, Jephthah, Samuel himself) when they cried out in distress.

He highlights how Israel repeatedly turned away, suffered oppression, and was then delivered when they repented.

Samuel confronts them for asking for a king when the Lord was their true King. Samuel warns them: if they and their king obey God, they will prosper; if not, God’s hand will be against them.

To prove his warning, Samuel calls upon the Lord, who sends thunder and rain during the wheat harvest (an unusual and destructive event).

• Proverbs 26:1 As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

The people ask Samuel to intercede so they will not die for their sin of asking for a king. Samuel reassures them: do not turn away from God, but serve Him faithfully.

Samuel 13

Saul is one year into his reign and gathers 3,000 men. He keeps 2,000 with himself and 1,000 with Jonathan (his son) at Gibeah.

Verse 1 is interesting: the text itself is confusing and we are missing words. ““Saul was … [and one] years old when he began to reign, and he reigned … two years over Israel.””

• KJV: “Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel…”
• NIV: “Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.”
• ESV: “Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel…”

• By the time Jonathan is leading armies in ch. 13, Saul must have been at least in his late 20s or 30s.
• Paul in Acts 13 gives the clearest chronological anchor: Saul ruled around 40 years, which matches the length of reigns of David and Solomon.
• Some scholars think the original Hebrew likely said something like: “Saul was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned 42 years over Israel.”

Jonathan strikes the Philistine garrison at Geba. News spreads, and the Philistines view it as an offense by Israel.

The Philistines assemble a massive force: 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and countless soldiers. Israel, seeing they are badly outnumbered, hides in caves, thickets, and cisterns; some even flee across the Jordan.

Saul waits seven days for Samuel, as instructed.When Samuel does not arrive on time and the people scatter, Saul offers the burnt offering himself.

Immediately after, Samuel arrives and asks what Saul has done.

Saul defends himself: people were leaving, Samuel was late, and the Philistines were gathering.Samuel declares that Saul has acted foolishly by disobeying God’s command.

As a result, Saul’s kingdom will not endure and God will seek a man after His own heart to lead Israel.

• However Saul leads for another 20 years. 

Samuel departs for Gibeah; Saul counts about 600 men left.The Philistines raid Israel from three directions.

Israel has no blacksmiths and only the Philistines can sharpen their tools, leaving Israel without swords or spears (except Saul and Jonathan).

Questions

Where did Saul get idea to cut up oxen?

Was Samuel’s delay a test?

Application

What stands out to me is Saul trying to do things his own way instead of being patient and waiting for God’s way. I can imagine the anxiety Saul felt when Samuel was late and the temptation to just do the sacrifice himself. How many times do we have situations in our lives where we know God is calling us to do something, but we think we can handle it in our own way?