Community Life Church. First Samuel

Transcription

1 Community Life Church

2 BIBLE VERSION Unless otherwise stated all Bible references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ABBREVIATIONS ESV English Standard Version, LXX The Septuagint, MT - Masoretic Text, NKJV New King James Version, OT Old Testament LEB Lexham English Bible MS - Manuscripts NIV New International Version NT New Testament CONTENTS Bible Version... 2 Abbreviations... 2 Introduction... 6 Author... 7 Date Chapter One Elkanah and Hannah Hannah's Vow Samuel is Born and Dedicated Chapter Two Hannah's Prayer The Sons of Eli The Boy Samuel Eli Pleads with His Sons Judgement is Pronounced Chapter Three The Lord Calls Samuel The Word of the Lord against the House of Eli Samuel Grows as a Prophet Chapter The Philistines The Philistines Capture the Ark The Death of Eli Ichabod Chapter Five The Ark of the Covenant Dagon in Vanquished The Hand of the Lord Strikes the Philistines Plagues and Judgment Page 2 of 132

3 6. Chapter Six The Philistines Priests Advice The Ark is Returned to Israel Judgment Breaks Out Chapter Seven Samuel Judges Israel Baal and Ashtoreth The Philistines Attack Israel Samuel Leads Israel Chapter Eight Israel Ask for a King The Cost of a King Chapter Nine Saul the Son of Kish High Places Saul Meets Samuel Chapter Ten Saul is Anointed The Spirit of the Lord Comes upon Saul Saul is Presented to Israel Chapter Eleven Jabesh Gilead is Attacked Jabesh Gilead is Delivered Chapter Twelve Samuel Addresses Israel God s Faithfulness Judgment Chapter Thirteen Years of Saul s Reign Saul Blows the Trumpet The Philistines Invade Saul s Rash Offering Chapter Fourteen Jonathan and Saul Jonathan s Daring Faith The Lord Arises Saul Delays to Act Saul s Rash Oath Eating Blood Saul Threatens Jonathan Saul s Exploits Chapter Fifteen Saul Commanded to Attack Amalek Page 3 of 132

4 15.2. Saul Attacks Amalek Saul is Rejected as King Samuel Confronts Saul Chapter Sixteen David the Son of Jesse is Anointed Saul is Tormented by an Evil Spirit Chapter Seventeen Goliath Challenges Israel David Comes to the Battle David Fights Goliath Chapter Eighteen Jonathan and David s Covenant Saul s Jealousy of David Saul Tries to Kill David David Marries the King s Daughter David Acts Wisely Chapter Nineteen Jonathan Intercedes for David Michal Helps David Escape David Flees to Samuel Chapter Twenty David Speaks to Jonathan Jonathan and David s Covenant Jonathan s Proposed Sign Saul s Intentions are Revealed Jonathan Sends David Away Chapter Twenty One David goes to the High Priest David Goes to the King of Gath Chapter Twenty Two David Goes to the Cave of Adullam Doeg the Edomite tells Saul regarding Abimelech Saul has the Priest Murdered Abiathar flees to David Chapter Twenty Three David Rescues Keilah Saul Plots to Attack Keilah Jonathan Encourages David David Escapes Saul s Grasp Chapter Twenty Four David Spares Saul s Life David Reveals Himself to Saul Saul is Contrite Page 4 of 132

5 25. Chapter Twenty Five Samuel Dies David and Nabal Abigail Intercedes for Her House Nabal Dies Chapter Twenty Six David Again Spares Saul s Life David Reveals Himself to Saul Chapter Twenty Seven David Returns to Philistia David Raids the Land Chapter Twenty Eight Preparations for War Saul Seeks a Medium Samuel Foretells Saul s Death Saul Eats Some Food Chapter Twenty Nine David Readies to Fight With the Philistines The Philistine Lords Reject David Chapter Thirty The Amalekites Raid Ziklag David Pursues the Amalekites Everything is Recovered David Shares the Spoil Israelites Defect to David Chapter Thirty One Saul and Jonathan Die in Battle Men from Jabesh Gilead Recover Saul s Body Appendix 1: The Breastplate of Judgement Appendix 2: The Sling as a Weapon Appendix 3: A Map of Israel at the Time of Saul Page 5 of 132

6 INTRODUCTION Jos 24:31. Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel. Joshua had successfully brought the people of Israel into the Promised Land, but Israel failed to dislodge all the Canaanites that lived there. Following the days of Joshua s generation Israel quickly forgot what the Lord and done for them and they forgot His Law and precepts. They fell into idolatry and worshipped the idols of the people they had displaced. As a result God allowed Israel s enemies to oppress them, but the Lord raised up judges to lead and defend Israel. The following verses describe what was going on: Jdg 2: Nevertheless, the LORD raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. {17} Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do so. {18} And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. {19} And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way. Throughout the Book of Judges Israel keep repeating the sin-judgmentrepentance-restoration-sin cycle. They sinned against God; they reaped a bitter harvest, they cried out to the Lord. The Lord would raise up a deliverer for them and they would gain victory over their enemies. But later they would fall back into idolatry and the cycle would repeat. However Israel s moral and spiritual climate was spiralling downward. Commentators suggest that the events within the Book of Judges cover about a period of about 325 years 1 to a maximum of 410 years. 2 The last verse in the Book of Judges reflects upon the moral and political state of Israel: Jdg 21:25. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. That brings us to First and Second Samuel. In these books Israel transitions from being led by judges to being ruled by kings. The nation moves from being a loose collection of tribal people towards being a unified and organised nation. In the books of Samuel the two last judges of Israel are described; the first a 1 Believer s Bible Commentary. 2 The Expositor s Bible Commentary. Page 6 of 132

7 failure Eli, and the second a good leader Samuel. Then the first two kings of Israel are mentioned; the first a failure Saul, and the second Israel s greatest historic king - David. Originally First and Second Samuel where one book, but the size of the ancient scroll was impractical and so it was split into two in early copies of the Septuagint. It was much later before the Hebrew text followed suit. Author First and Second Samuel bear the name of the one of the major figures of these books. The Babylonian Talmud 3 states that Samuel was the author of the first twenty four chapters of. chapter twenty five records the death of Samuel. There is a Jewish tradition that the rest of the book was written by the prophets Gad and Nathan. This is solely based upon the following verse: 1 Ch 29:29. Now the acts of King David, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer. Although these three prophets wrote books which recorded the acts of David, it is unlikely that they penned First and Second Samuel in the form that we have received. We might presume that their works were used in the compilation of these books. The following verse suggests that the work was compiled or narrated after the separation from the northern tribes from Judah. 1 Sa 27:6. So Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. The narrator may also be responsible for narrating the Book of Joshua, because both books mention a lost book of prose called the Book of Jasher 4. Date Based upon Edwin Thiele s calculation that the division of Israel s monarchy took place in 931/30 BC, it has been estimated that the books of Samuel cover the period 1080 (the birth of Samuel) to 970 BC (the death of David). 5 3 According to The Expositor s Bible Commentary. A Talmud is a collection of books and commentary compiled by Jewish rabbis from A.D The Hebrew word talmud means study or learning 3 4 Josh 10:13 & 2 Sam 1:18. 5 The Expositor s Bible Commentary. Page 7 of 132

8 1. CHAPTER ONE 1.1. Elkanah and Hannah 1 Sa 1:1 7. Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. {2} And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. {3} This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. {4} And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. {5} But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. {6} And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. {7} So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. The story of Samuel starts with the account of his miraculous birth and there are strong parallels with the last judge in the book of Judges - Samson 6. Both were born because of divine intervention in the lives of couples where the wife was barren. Both were dedicated to the Lord as children. Samuel's father, Elkanah was a Levite who was living in the town of Ramathaim Zophim (meaning "Two Heights") which was with the territory of Ephraim. This town is usually referred to as Ramah in Ephraim, although it is not the only Ramah (meaning "Height") mentioned in Scripture. It is associated with the town of Arimathea in the New Testament 7. First Chronicles chapter 6 says that Elkanah was member of the Kohathite branch of the Levites and that Samuel's descendants became musicians in the Tabernacle and Temple worship. The name Elkanah actually means "God has created (a son)". There are at least five other men in the Old Testament who share the name, but there appears to be a prophetic relevance concerning the birth of Samuel. Elkanah had two wives; Peninnah (meaning "Ruby") and Hannah (meaning "Grace"). Although polygamy was not forbidden in the law, those occasions where it is mentioned in Scripture usually contain family discord. Here the two wives are described as rivals, in the same way that Rachel and Leah competed for their husband s affection. Peninnah had born children to Elkanah but Hannah was barren. Perhaps Hannah had been Elkanah's first love, but he later married 6 Jud 13: Matt 27:57; John 19:38 Page 8 of 132

9 Peninnah because of his need for children. Peninnah loved to provoke Hannah and make her life miserable, particularly at feast times. Verse 5 says that the reason Hannah was barren was because "the Lord had closed her womb." This may be a phrase that just recognises God's ultimate authority over all things, or means that the Lord had specifically prevented Hannah from having children for His purpose. Elkanah takes his family each year to the Lord's tabernacle to worship. The Law demanded that all males appeared before the Lord three times a year. Interestingly the narrator introduces us now to the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, who were priests at Shiloh. In verse 3 we have the first mention is Scripture of the phrase "Lord of hosts" (Jehovah-tsebâôth) Hannah's Vow 1 Sa 1:8 18. Then Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons? {9} So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. {10} And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. {11} Then she made a vow and said, O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head. {12} And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. {13} Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. {14} So Eli said to her, How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you! {15} But Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. {16} Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now. {17} Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him. {18} And she said, Let your maidservant find favour in your sight. So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Elkanah was aware of Hannah's distress and showed her lovingkindness. The giving her a double portion indicated that she was a favourite. But nevertheless Hannah's grief turned the feast into a time of tears. Elkanah affirms his love for Hannah and asks why her heart was grieved. The Hebrew phrase here is more literally translated "Why is your heart bad?" The Page 9 of 132

10 same phrase is used in the Law 8 to speak of someone making a sacrifice with a grudging heart 9. This mild challenge causes Hannah to pour out her grief before the Lord in prayer. As Hannah prays, she mouths the words but remains silent. Hannah makes a vow to the Lord and promises that if God gives her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord and ensure that his hair would never be cut. Whether Samuel continued through his life as a Nazirite is not stated. The law of the Nazirite 10 detailed the restrictions a man would have to live by for the period he offered to the Lord. Her actions are mistaken by Eli the priest to indicate that she is drunk and he rebukes her. His words show his lack of discernment and sensitivity. He accuses her of wicked behaviour but later we will see that his sons, who are wicked, are not so severely chastened by Eli. Nevertheless Eli is God's anointed priest and his blessing gives Hannah peace of mind so that she can at last eat the feast in the right frame of mind. Perhaps she really sensed that her prayer had been heard and her burden had been lifted. After Hannah's prayer and vow, Peninnah is not again mentioned. Eli, we are told, was seated by the door posts of the tabernacle. This indicates that there some buildings now associated with the tabernacle which was the tent Moses had made Samuel is Born and Dedicated 1 Sa 1: Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. {20} So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked for him from the LORD. {21} Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. {22} But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever. {23} So Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word. Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. {24} Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. {25} Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to 8 Dt 15:10. You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. 9 The Expositor's Bible Commentary 10 Num 6 Page 10 of 132

11 Eli. {26} And she said, O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. {27} For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. {28} Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD. So they worshiped the LORD there. Elkanah and his family return home and Hannah does indeed become pregnant because the Lord has enabled her. The long awaited son she had prayed for is named Samuel, which means "Name of God". The three constants found in the Hebrew word for ask are found in the same order in the word Samuel and so there is a pun in the name 11. We note that their home town is now referred to by its shorter name, Ramah. Hannah no longer goes on the annual trip to the tabernacle at Shiloh but waits until Samuel is weaned. Her aim is to leave Samuel with the priests once she takes him before the presence of the Lord. The term weaned probably infers that the child was old enough to feed and look after himself. The priests certainly would not want to have to look after a small toddler. Elkanah agrees to Hannah's desire to sanctify their son to the Lord. His words "Let the Lord establish His word" is phrased "Let the Lord establish your word" in the LXX 12, which appears to fit the context better. Most translations however use "His word" in line with the older Hebrew texts. It is worth remembering that Hannah had no promise of further children. She was dedicating her only son back to the Lord. Finally the time comes for Samuel's trip to the tabernacle. As promised Hannah presents the boy to the priests, stating that he was dedicated to God. She reminds Eli of her prayer she had made before him years before. The fact that Hannah brought an offering that included a three year old bull 13 showed that Elkanah was a wealthy man. The age of the bull shows that it is a mature beast and an acceptable sacrifice 14. Commentators have noted that he is the only commoner mentioned in first and second Samuel and first and second kings who had two wives. 11 The Expositor's Bible Commentary 12 Septuagint 13 The Septuagint states a three year old bull whereas the Masoretic Text states three bulls. 14 Gen 15:9 Page 11 of 132

12 2. CHAPTER TWO 2.1. Hannah's Prayer 1 Sa 2:1 11. And Hannah prayed and said: My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn 15 is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. {2} No one is holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock 16 like our God. {3} Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed. {4} The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. {5} Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble. {6} The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. {7} The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. {8} He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD s, and He has set the world upon them. {9} He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail. {10} The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; from heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed. {11} Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest. It appears that this prayer was uttered by Hannah as part of the family's worship at the tabernacle mentioned in the last verse of the previous chapter. How fitting she declares this in the same place where she had previously cried out her complaint. This prayer is a beautiful declaration that is poetic and prophetic. It reminds us of the declaration Mary the mother of Jesus made 17. Both are proclamations of divine reversals - instances of God's intervention on behalf of the oppressed poor that brings justice. 15 Horn signifies strength. 16 Rock Signifies a solid, reliable foundation. 17 Luke 1:46-55 Page 12 of 132

13 Hannah s prayer is recognised as one of the great Old Testament songs. Others include the Songs of Moses and Miriam 18 ; the Song of Moses 19 ; the Song of Deborah 20 ; and the Song of David 21. There are phrases from Hannah's prayer that are repeated is Psalm 113. Ps 113:7 9. He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, {8} That He may seat him with princes with the princes of His people. {9} He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD! No doubt Hannah draws from her own bitter experience and the taunting of Peninnah, but the content is really about deliverance for God's people. The mention of the Lord giving strength to the king is a truly prophetic statement, since there had never been a king in Israel and it would be Samuel who would anointed the first two kings chosen by God. Hannah's prayer is also a declaration of the glory of the Lord and of His sovereign power. Verses 6 and 7 speak of how the sovereign God sends both negative and positive events into people's lives. However the order is always the negative superseded by the positive, suggesting that God brings low in order to lift up. Hannah accepted that her barrenness was from the Lord, but she kept her attitude right before him, and He turned her mourning into joy. Among the reversals mentioned, we read in verse five Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble. This is something relevant to Hannah s situation. In speaking about seven children, Hannah is probably using the number figuratively to mean a full or complete measure. She went on to bear five more children The Sons of Eli 1 Sa 2: Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD. {13} And the priests custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest s servant would come with a three-pronged flesh hook in his hand while the meat was boiling. {14} Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the flesh hook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. {15} Also, before they burned the fat, the priest s servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw. {16} And if the man said to him, They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires, he would then answer him, No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force. {17} Therefore the sin of 18 Exod 15:1 18, Deut 32: Judg Sa 22 Page 13 of 132

14 the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. The sons of Eli work as priests but they did not know the Lord and they were wicked and corrupt, abusing their position. They were not content with the priest's portion as laid down in the Law but they robbed God of His portion of the sacrifices. The fat of the animal always had to be burnt as an offering for the Lord and should never be consumed by any man. The text describes how the priests practised unscriptural practises in taking offerings as their portion. The Law clearly identified which portions belonged to the priests 22. Differing Bibles translate differently the second half of verse 17. The New King James Version indicates that it was normal worshippers who despised the offering of the Lord because of the priest's actions. The New International Version and the New American Standard Bible say that it is the priests who despised the offering. To treat the Lord's portion with contempt is to treat the Lord Himself with contempt The Boy Samuel 1 Sa 2: But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. {19} Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. {20} And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the LORD. Then they would go to their own home. {21} And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD. In contrast to Eli's wicked sons Samuel is seen to be innocently growing before the Lord. At the tabernacle where the Lord's offerings were being polluted, here was Hannah's offering which was acceptable before the Lord. We now see that the story of Hannah's barrenness and wrestling for a child is intertwined with God's desire to purify the priesthood and bring Israel back to Himself. When the household of Elkanah makes its annual visit to the tabernacle, Hannah brings her son a new linen ephod for him to wear as he ministers before the Lord. The blessing of the anointed High Priest was a factor in Hannah becoming fertile. Now his blessing is a factor in Hannah's continued fertility. She offered Samuel up to the Lord when she had no promise of other children, but God did bless her with five more. 22 Deut 18:3 Page 14 of 132

15 2.4. Eli Pleads with His Sons 1 Sa 2: Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. {23} So he said to them, Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. {24} No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD s people transgress. {25} If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him? Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them. {26} And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favour both with the LORD and men. More of the vile behaviour of Hophni and Phinehas is revealed in this passage. They are having sexual intercourse with the female door-keepers of the tabernacle. Their disgrace is causing everyone to talk about the issue, and people are complaining to Eli. Verse 22 states that Eli was very old, as though this explains why he failed to take action against his sons. But he is the man with the God-given authority. He is the man that God and the people are looking to for decisive action. But instead of rebuking his sons and removing them from office, Eli simply pleads with his sons. His failure makes him complicit in their sin. Eli's words in verse 25 are very true, when a man becomes an adversary of the Lord, what hope is there for that man. In verse 13 of chapter 3 it says that Eli's sons had "made themselves vile". The stench of the actions was reaching the highest of heavens, but they were unaware of the coming judgment. We should notice that Eli's sons both have Egyptian names. Hophni means tadpole and Phinehas means the Nubian. It seems unusual that that the high priest would chose foreign names for his sons. Perhaps their mother was Egyptian. In contrast to these wayward priests, Samuel is growing up quietly before the Lord with God's favour resting upon him and attracting the favour of people who came to the tabernacle Judgement is Pronounced 1 Sa 2: Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, Thus says the LORD: Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh s house? {28} Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? {29} Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honour your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people? Page 15 of 132

16 {30} Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD says: Far be it from Me; for those who honour Me I will honour, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. {31} Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. {32} And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. {33} But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age. {34} Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. {35} Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever. {36} And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, Please, put me in one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread. The Lord sends a prophet to pronounce His purpose against the house of Eli. Firstly He states how privileged the priests were to be called and chosen for this role, and to receive a share of the sacrifices. But Eli's house had "kicked against" 23 the Lord's calling and provision and had made themselves fat on choicest portions. Verse 18 of chapter 4 says that Eli was grossly overweight, having eaten the fat of the Lord's offerings that his sons had stolen. Eli had honoured his vile sons more than the Lord. They had despised the Lord and so they will be considered like chaff that is blown away in the wind. God's covenant with the descendants of Aaron would not protect the house of Eli, over whom the Lord pronounced doom. Eli's two worthless sons were to die on the same day and grief would consume Eli. He would see the tabernacle distressed and Eli's descendants would be cut off from serving as priests at the Lord's altar. Also Eli's descendants would die in the prime of their life, failing to reach old age. They would be reduced to begging for employment in order to receive a portion of the priest's bread. The New King James Version translates verse 31 literally as "I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father s house", which is a synonym for breaking their strength. The Lord was going to raise up a faithful priest who would serve Him, and who would walk before the Lord's anointed (the future kings). In the immediate this refers to Samuel, but later this was fulfilled in Zadok son of Ahitub would 23 A phrase that speaks of rebellion. When a young Ox was yoked for the first time it would often resent the burden and kick out. Page 16 of 132

17 replace that of Abiathar, Eli s descendant. Zadok's sons would continue as priests before the Lord 24. Throughout Scripture we read of men's actions having consequences upon the following generations. Either there is the promise of blessing or the pronouncement of judgment. The ultimate expressions of this are seen in firstly all men are counted in Adam to share in his sin and secondly that all those in Christ Jesus and counted to be righteous in Him. 3. CHAPTER THREE 3.1. The Lord Calls Samuel 1 Sa 3:1 9. Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. {2} And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, {3} and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, {4} that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, Here I am! {5} So he ran to Eli and said, Here I am, for you called me. And he said, I did not call; lie down again. And he went and lay down. {6} Then the LORD called yet again, Samuel! So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here I am, for you called me. He answered, I did not call, my son; lie down again. {7} (Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.) {8} And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. {9} Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Verse one declares that the vital word of the Lord was a rare thing in those days. A nation born through prophetic revelation was now left following the rules and practices of previous generations. There was no divine vision, encouragement or direction. How tragic it is today when Christian churches do not know the word of the Lord; when there is no prophetic direction, no use of spiritual gifts, no divine encouragement. How tragic it is that there are Christians who do not know God s still, small voice 25 ; they haven t trained their ear to hear and they haven t spent the time required seeking the Lord. They don t know how to discern the Lord s leading in their life; they are dull to His prompting. Jesus said: Jn 10:27. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me Sa 8:17; 15:24 29; 1 Kings 2: Kings 19:12-13 Page 17 of 132

18 The aged priest Eli has almost totally lost his eye sight, but more telling is that the word of the Lord has become a rarity to him. Then one night hope comes for the nation because the word of the Lord is revealed to the boy Samuel. It happened in the early hours of the morning, before the menorah lamp, which burns through the night, went out. God calls to Samuel, who thinks that Eli must be calling him. So Samuel runs to Eli who sends him back to bed. This happened twice more before Eli realised that it must be the Lord, whose ark was in that place, was calling the boy. So Eli instructs Samuel on what to do The Word of the Lord against the House of Eli 1 Sa 3: Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel answered, Speak, for Your servant hears. {11} Then the LORD said to Samuel: Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. {12} In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. {13} For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. {14} And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever. As Samuel waited the Lord came and stood there and called "Samuel, Samuel". It appears that the Lord appeared to Samuel in some visible form. The boy responds as Eli instructed him, surrendering himself to the word of the Lord. The Lord reveals to Samuel the word of judgement that has already been pronounced against Eli's household, something that perhaps Samuel did not personally know. This judgement was about to be performed and would be so terrible that the news of it would shake everyone in Israel. The phrase at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle means that hearing the news of what has happened will shock people. The phrase is only used concerning two occasions within Scripture; the destruction of the house of Eli and the destruction of Jerusalem 26. The first is at the start of the reign of the kings of Israel and the end is at the end of that period. 1 Sa 3: So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. {16} Then Eli called Samuel and said, Samuel, my son! He answered, Here I am. {17} And he said, What is the word that the LORD spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you. {18} Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him Kings 21:12 & Jer 19:3 Page 18 of 132

19 The next day Samuel tries to get on with his daily tasks, but Eli wants to know everything that has been said to the lad, and even puts Samuel under an oath to tell him everything. So Samuel reveals what the Lord said and Eli recognises that this is indeed the word of the Lord. Eli appears to surrender to the will of God, but there is no mourning and there are no words of repentance recorded. As Eli had passively observed the action of his sons, so now he passively waits for the Lord to act Samuel Grows as a Prophet 1 Sa 3: So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. {20} And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD. {21} Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. From that time the word of the Lord was with Samuel and this was recognisable to everyone in Israel, from the far north (Dan) to the southern borders (Beersheba). The Lord continued to appear to Samuel in Shiloh. Israel's next priest \ leader was being prepared by the Lord and the drought concerning the word of the Lord was over as Samuel brought God's word to all Israel. 4. CHAPTER The Philistines 1 Sa 4:1. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. It appears that the first part of verse 1 would have been better placed at the end of chapter 3. For the first time in 1 Samuel we read about Israel s archenemy, the Philistines. We first read about the Philistines in a note about their family origins: Ge 10: Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, {14} Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim). Archaeologists believe that the ancestors of the Philistines were from the Aegean Sea before settling in Caphtor (Minoan Crete). The Philistines were late arrivals in the land of Canaan, having invaded from Caphtor. This is backed by the words of the prophet: Am 9:7. Are you not like the people of Ethiopia to Me, O children of Israel? says the LORD. Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir? Some Philistines appear to have settled in Canaan by the time of Abraham, and he and Isaac had dealing with them and the ruler Abimelech. 27 However it is 27 Gen 20, 21, 26 Page 19 of 132

20 possible that Genesis uses the name Philistine as anachronism. The major influx came as three groups after the Trojan War in the mid-13th century BC. 28 After Genesis the title Abimelech is no longer used in the Bible concerning the rulers of the Philistines, which might indicate that Genesis applies the term Philistine to the previous occupants of the land they invaded. By the time of Joshua, the Philistines were organised into five city states, each governed by a lord. These city states where Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. Jos 13:1 3. Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed. {2} This is the land that yet remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all that of the Geshurites, {3} from Sihor, which is east of Egypt, as far as the border of Ekron northward (which is counted as Canaanite); the five lords of the Philistines the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites. Joshua and the Israelites had failed to conquer the land of the Philistines and throughout the time of Judges there would be warfare between the two people groups. On a number of occasions the book of Judges states that the Lord raised up the Philistines against Israel, because of the sin of His people. In much of Judges and the early chapters of 1 Samuel, Israel appears to be subservient to the Philistines. For example: Jdg 15:9 11. Now the Philistines went up, encamped in Judah, and deployed themselves against Lehi. {10} And the men of Judah said, Why have you come up against us? So they answered, We have come up to arrest Samson, to do to him as he has done to us. {11} Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? What is this you have done to us? And he said to them, As they did to me, so I have done to them. 1 Sa 13: Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears. {20} But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man s ploughshare, his mattock, his axe, and his sickle; So 1 Samuel chapter four starts with the men of Israel attempting to overthrow their oppressors The Philistines Capture the Ark 1 Sa 4:2 3. Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, 28 Myers, A. L. The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Page 20 of 132

21 who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. {3} And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies. After Israel are defeated by the Philistines, they ask the right question Why has the Lord defeated us? God had promised to bless and protect His people and give them victory over their enemies. The fact that God was using Israel s enemies to chasten them, meant something was wrong. Israel was guilty of sin and needed to seek the Lord and repent, before they could presume upon His protection and blessing. This is what Joshua did when the Israelites were defeated at Ai 29. But now the Israelites do not wait upon God for an answer. Instead they demand that the Ark of the Covenant goes into battle before them. They says that the ark may save us from the hand of our enemies even though they had recognized that the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines. They are putting God s glory on the line, thinking that in protecting His own name, God will have to deliver them. The men of Israel are guilty of putting the Lord to the test. 30 They were trying to manipulate God so that He would serve their purposes, rather than they serve Him. They were about to find out that God cannot be manipulated. He is able to protect the glory of His name in ways they had not considered. 1 Sa 4:4 9. So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. {5} And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook. {6} Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean? Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. {7} So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God has come into the camp! And they said, Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before. {8} Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. {9} Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight! 29 Joshua 7 30 Dt 6:16. You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah. (Luke 4:12). Page 21 of 132

22 The arrival of the ark within the Israeli camp fills the soldiers with renewed confidence and they let out a great shout. When the Philistines heard that the God of Israel had come into their enemy s camp they were afraid. They were aware of what the Lord had done to the Egyptians years before. However they determine to fight on so that they didn t become slaves of the Hebrews. 1 Sa 4: So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. {11} Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. Israel s plan back fired and thirty thousand soldiers are killed. God did not give them certain victory and now the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines. The word of the Lord concerning the two sinful priests, Hophni and Phinehas, is fulfilled. They both die on the same day The Death of Eli 1 Sa 4: Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. {13} Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. {14} When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, What does the sound of this tumult mean? And the man came quickly and told Eli. {15} Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see. {16} Then the man said to Eli, I am he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line. And he said, What happened, my son? {17} So the messenger answered and said, Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured. {18} Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. News of the defeat of Israel s army is brought back to Shiloh and Eli is told of the death of his two sons and also how the Philistines have captured the ark. As Eli had been waiting for news, his heart trembled for the ark of God. Despite his failings as a priest and judge, Eli did love the Lord and His glory. He is seated by the wayside, rather than at the house of God. It appears that now being totally blind, he is no longer serving at the tabernacle. When he heard that the ark had been captured, he is overcome and topples off his stool. The fall causes his neck to be broken and Eli dies. Page 22 of 132

23 The narrator seems to suggest that the old man s great weight was a contributing factor in his death. As we saw earlier, Eli had participated in eating the fat of the offerings; something that brought judgment on his household. So Eli died at the age of 98, having judged Israel for forty years Ichabod 1 Sa 4: Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas wife, was with child, due to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labour pains came upon her. {20} And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, Do not fear, for you have borne a son. But she did not answer, nor did she regard it. {21} Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory has departed from Israel! because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. {22} And she said, The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured. The family tragedy does end with the death of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas. Phinehas wife was expecting a child and the news of the death of her husband and father-in-law causes her to go into labour. Phinehas s wife dies as a result of giving birth, but manages to name her new son Ichabod, which means no glory. She chose this name because The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured. The ark symbolized both God s presence among His people and His covenant with Israel. With the ark gone Israel appeared abandoned by God. A real low point is the nation s history. 5. CHAPTER FIVE 5.1. The Ark of the Covenant This chapter describes the events that surround the Ark of the Covenant whilst it is in the land of the Philistines. Before we look at the text it is worth describing the Ark, and its importance to Israel, especially for readers who are not familiar with the Tabernacle erected by Moses. After the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, the land of slavery, He brought them to Mount Sinai, also known as Horeb, which is in Arabia. 31 God had brought the people of Israel here to make them into a nation, to give them His laws and commandments. The basis of their national identity was the call for them to be the people of God. God's purpose was to dwell amongst His people. To do this Israel had to obey all the commandments of God and a special Tabernacle was required for God s presence. Much of the Book of Exodus is about the building and functionality of 31 Gal 4:25 Page 23 of 132

24 this Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was an assembly of tents, the purpose of which was to approach God through sacrifices and worship. This meant that God could dwell among His people, without His holiness consuming them. There were three areas within the tabernacle. Firstly there was the outer court which was enclosed by a high curtain fence. A bronze altar and a bronze wash basin were situated in the court. Then there has the holy place which was a rectangular tent. This contained three pieces of golden furniture; the menorah lamp, the table for show bread and the altar of incense. Also with in the Holy Place was another room, partitioned from the Holy Place be a veil. This room was called the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies, and was square in design. This was the place where the presence of the Lord was meant to be. The only piece of furniture in this room was the Ark of the Covenant. There was no image of God at all within the Tabernacle, and to attempt to design such a thing was considered blasphemous. 32 The way Israel could approach God was strictly regulated. Nothing was left to man s imagination but everything was described through the revelation that was given to Moses. Only the anointed priests could serve within the Tabernacle. Before the priests could approach the holy place they would have to offer sacrifices for their sins and the sins of Israel. They would then have to wash themselves at the bronze wash basin. They could only enter the Holy Place to perform certain functions and at certain times. Only the High Priest could ever enter the Most Holy Place, and that once a year on the Day of Atonement. Lev 16:2-4. And the LORD said to Moses: "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat. {3} Thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a burnt offering. {4} He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water, and put them on. The blood of the red heifer was sprinkled upon the mercy seat on the Day of Atonement. 33 When anyone attempted to enter God s presence in an unauthorised manner, the result was disastrous. Le 10:1 3. Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before 32 Dt 5:8. You shall not make for yourself a carved image any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 33 Le 16:14. He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. Page 24 of 132

25 the LORD, which He had not commanded them. {2} So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. {3} And Moses said to Aaron, This is what the LORD spoke, saying: By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified. So Aaron held his peace. Events such as this remind us of the awesome holiness of Almighty God, our own sinful nature and our need of a Saviour who could provide a sacrifice for sin and to make a way for us to be made acceptable in God s sight. The student of the Old Testament must appreciate these factors in order to understand why those who ignored God s instructions and Law, where swiftly and harshly judged. The people of Israel would stay at Horeb for approximately 12 months 34, whilst the Tabernacle and other articles were being prepared. The highlight of the events at Horeb was the giving of the Law, written by the finger of God upon stone tablets. This happened, it is believed 35, on the fiftieth day after the Passover - which would become the feast of Pentecost. A description of the design and manufacture of the Ark is given in the Book of Exodus. Ex 25: And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. {11} And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a moulding of gold all around. {12} You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. {13} And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. {14} You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. {15} The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. {16} And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you. {17} You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. {18} And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. {19} Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. {20} And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall 34 Num 10: Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. {12} And the children of Israel set out from the Wilderness of Sinai on their journeys; then the cloud settled down in the Wilderness of Paran. 35 Smith's Bible Dictionary Page 25 of 132

26 face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. {21} You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. {22} And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel. One artist s impression of the ark is as follows. Others portray the carrying poles being connected along the larger sides. However the description of the placing of the ark within Solomon s temple say that the carrying poles protruded out of the Most Holy Place. 36 This would suggest that the poles were indeed along the shorter sides of the ark. So the Ark was a gold covered, wooden box the purpose of which was to contain the testimony that God would give. The two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments were placed within the Ark, as were a pot of manner and Aaron s rod. 37 For this reason the Ark was also called the Ark of the Testimony. It is also referred to the Ark of the Lord and the Ark of God because His 36 2 Ch 5:9. The poles extended so that the ends of the poles of the ark could be seen from the holy place, in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. 37 Heb 9:4. which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; Page 26 of 132

27 presence was between the cherubim on the mercy seat 38. The grandest designation given the Ark is found earlier in. 1 Sa 4:4. So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim... Moses heard the voice of the Lord from between the Cherubim. Nu 7:89. Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him. It is as though the Lord sat upon the mercy seat to bestow His grace upon worshippers. Years later the Tabernacle would be replaced by the Temple. However the design of the Temple was on the same lines and with the same purpose as the Tabernacle. The Ark was placed within the inner sanctuary of the Most Holy Place. The Israelites knew that God dwelt in the highest of the heavens rather than in a man-made structure: Is 66:1. Thus says the LORD: Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 39 But above the Ark was the symbol of the manifest presence of God. So this simple Box, with its ornate lid, symbolized the presence of God and Israel s unique relationship with Him. It was at the very heart of Israel s religious service Dagon in Vanquished 1 Sa 5:1 5. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. {2} When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. {3} And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. {4} And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon s torso was left of it. {5} Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 38 Heb 9:5. And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 39 See also Ps 11:4 and Ps 103:19 Page 27 of 132

28 The Philistines bring the ark to the chief of their cities, Ashdod. They honour chief deity, Dagon, with their victory over Israel and over the God of Israel, concerning whom they had been so afraid. So they place the ark with Dagon s temple, as spoils of war. The Philistines believed that Dagon was a god of grain and the father of the fertility god, Baal. When they enter the temple the next day they find the image of Dagon prostrate before the ark of the Lord; a position of worship and surrender. So the people re-erect the image of Dagon in the temple. The following day, Dagon s image is again on the floor but with the head and hands broken off. Interestingly one the ancient practises in battle was to cut off the head and hands of the defeated foe. This was done apparently to assist in counting the number of the enemy was killed. The message is clear: The God of Israel has conquered and destroyed Dagon. Verse 5 tells how this event was the origin of the superstitious practice of refraining from treading on the threshold of Dagon s temple. It also indicates that Dagon was still being worshipped in Ashdod at the time of writing The Hand of the Lord Strikes the Philistines 1 Sa 5:6 12. But the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumours, both Ashdod and its territory. {7} And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god. {8} Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the lords of the Philistines, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried away to Gath. So they carried the ark of the God of Israel away. {9} So it was, after they had carried it away, that the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction; and He struck the men of the city, both small and great, and tumours broke out on them. {10} Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. So it was, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people! {11} So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people. For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. {12} And the men who did not die were stricken with the tumours, and the cry of the city went up to heaven. Not only was the god Dagon humiliated, but the hand of the Lord was against the Philistine people in whatever city they took the ark. For the presence of the Page 28 of 132

29 God to dwell among the people of Israel there were strict laws that had to be observed. The ark had to be kept disclosed within the holy of holies and the daily sacrifices had to be made at the altar by the priests. Only the priests could ever see or carry the ark. Only then could God dwell in the midst of His own people without them being consumed. But the Philistines had none of this in place. In their ignorance they were constantly breaking the Law of God. The people were struck with tumours and the area s inhabitants are filled with fear. The Hebrew word translated as tumour is opel and is used of boils, abscesses, swellings, and even a hill. Later descriptions of the plagues 40 talk about rats, tumours and a high mortality rate. The conclusion that commentators come to is that this was probably a form of bubonic plague, a disease spread from fleas living on rats. In verse 9 the description of the disease breaking out upon the people of Gath, uses a Hebrew word used nowhere else in the Scriptures. English translations usually render this word as outbreak or break out, but the Septuagint translates it as groin. Some Bibles have a marginal note saying tumours of the groin. Wherever the ark is taken the plague breaks out, filling the people with dread. Eventually the Philistines demand that their rulers return the Ark to Israel Plagues and Judgment Many young Christian read the Old Testament for the first time and are surprised by the accounts of God judging people and punishing them either through sending warfare or through sending disease against them. How different these Bible stories are compared to the gospel narratives! Some of the most well-known Old Testament stories are accounts of judgment: Noah and the Ark, Moses, Pharaoh and the Ten Plagues. We should point out that there are accounts and predictions of judgment in the New Testament. Jesus foretold of how the world would suffer serve judgment: Lk 21:11. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. The Book of Revelation details a period of great judgment upon the earth: Re 15:7 8. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. {8} The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem which would happen because of the Israel s rejection of His message Sa 6:4 Page 29 of 132

30 Lk 19: Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, {42} saying, If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. {43} For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, {44} and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation. We notice that the forthcoming judgment of Jerusalem made Jesus weep. This was not what He wanted, but it was what people s choices had determined. They had rejected God s Son, God s word and God s way of salvation. The prophet Ezekiel confirms God s reluctance to pour out judgment upon people: Eze 33:11. Say to them: As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel? If men refuse God s call to repentance, if they reject God s way of salvation, then the result is judgment. But men should not blame God but understand that they are responsible. All the great seasons of judgment in the Bible serve the purpose of punishing the sin of the wicked but also they bring in a new age, a new beginning for the people of God. Noah s flood washed away the great wickedness of the ancient people, but God s grace made a fresh start. The judgements of Egypt destroyed Egypt s false gods but also delivered the Israelites from slavery. The terrible judgements of Revelation will punish the world for its great sin, but prepare the way for the millennial reign of Christ. These were not vindictive acts of punishment, but these were righteous, measured punishments that prepared the way for the furthering of God s plan of redemption. Scripture also talks about God judging individuals. In Jeremiah we read of God s punishment of a false prophet: Je 28: Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie. {16} Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD. {17} So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. In the Book of Acts we read how Herod was struck down by an angel of God. Ac 12:23. Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. This wicked ruler had persecuted the church, killed the apostle James and finally accepted praise for being like a god. Luke, the author, sees Herod s sudden illness and painful death as an act of God. Page 30 of 132

31 In our modern scientific world, people try and distinguish between what is natural and what is supernatural. If the process can be explained by science then the thing is deemed to be natural and no consideration is taken of divine action. The narrators and authors within Scripture did not try and make such distinctions. In their thinking God is Sovereign and is ultimately responsible for all these happenings. The mechanism by which the judgment came might have a natural explanation, but the timing and purpose demonstrate that the cause was the hand of God. For example Luke has told us that the angel of the Lord struck Herod and he was eaten by worms. I don t believe that Luke was inferring that people saw the angel of the Lord strike Herod, or the angel forced the worms down Herod s throat. Herod ate some contaminated food and died as a result. But this was indeed an act of judgment. When the Lord revealed His name to Moses, He said: Ex 34:6 7. And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, {7} keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children s children to the third and the fourth generation. God is merciful, gracious and patient but He is also just and Holy and righteous. The justice of God is as much a divine perfection as the love of God. Someone might ask if every accident that happens or every case of sickness an act of divine judgement? Many of us would say obviously not, and Scripture would agree with us. Jesus was questioned about the cruelty some Galileans suffered in His day: Lk 13:1 5. There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. {2} And Jesus answered and said to them, Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? {3} I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. {4} Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? {5} I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. These people who had perished had not been chosen out for divine judgement. They were no different than everyone else. But if we repent and walk with God, we can be protected from natural disasters and evil people. The disciples questioned Jesus about a blind man. Jn 9:2 3. And His disciples asked Him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? {3} Jesus answered, Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. Page 31 of 132

32 They asked the question because the Pharisees taught that sickness was the result of sin. Jesus did not seek to apportion blame but saw the situation as an opportunity for the power of God to be manifest. Most philosophies and world religions try to answer the question why? Why is there so much trouble and evil in the world? In contrast the Judo-Christian religions do not do so. The Bible does not tell us why, only that things can be changed and redeemed. E Stanley Jones was a missionary to India. He wrote regarding the presence of problems, disasters and evil in the world: "Hinduism and Buddhism explains everything and leaves them as they were. Christianity explains little yet changes everything." He is right Christianity explains little. It does gives some explanations, some insights, but no definitive calculation that enables us to work out whose fault things are; or even how to be certain nothing can ever happen to us. Dt 29:29. The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. God does not reveal His plan in every event. But He desires to reveal himself. Those who observe suffering are tempted to reject God. Those who experience suffering find they cannot give up on God, their solace and their agony. 6. CHAPTER SIX 6.1. The Philistines Priests Advice 1 Sa 6:1 6. Now the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. {2} And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it to its place. {3} So they said, If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you. {4} Then they said, What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him? They answered, Five golden tumours and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. {5} Therefore you shall make images of your tumours and images of your rats that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. {6} Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart? Page 32 of 132

33 Rather than demeaning the name of the Lord, the capture of the ark by the Philistines had brought glory to the God the Israel. The Philistines held the Lord in awe. They might be able to defeat Israel s armies, but they knew that they could not defeat the God of Israel. After seven months the Philistines enquire of their own priests and diviners how they should return the ark. They realised that it wasn t just a case of physically returning the ark. They sensed that they had to appease the Lord. The priests correctly advise that as well as returning the ark, a trespass offering was required. In the Mosaic Law trespass offerings where always an animal sacrifice the giving of an innocent life for the redeeming of the guilty. The Philistines are ignorant of this and offer instead payment in gold. Five gold tumours and five gold rats are offered, one for each of the five city states. In verse six the advisors warn the Philistines not to be like the Egyptians and harden their heart and keep the ark. How the Lord had judged Egypt and its false god s was well known to the Philistines, even though the events had taken place hundreds of years previously. 1 Sa 6:7 9. Now therefore, make a new cart, take two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them. {8} Then take the ark of the LORD and set it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you are returning to Him as a trespass offering in a chest by its side. Then send it away, and let it go. {9} And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us it happened to us by chance. The advisors suggest that the ark be placed on a new cart and that two cows which had recently given birth should be yoked to the cart. The animals natural instincts would be to go to their calves. But if they were to walk off towards Israel, contrary to nature, then the Philistines would know that the God of Israel was taking the ark back, and that all the diseases they had suffered was the result of their trespass against Him. Beth Shemesh was an Israelite town just over the border with Philistia The Ark is Returned to Israel 1 Sa 6: Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. {11} And they set the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumours. {12} Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh. Page 33 of 132

34 The Philistines do as their advisors suggest and the cows carry the ark and the trespass offering straight down the road to Beth Shemesh. Even though the beast low for their calves, they do not deviate from heading straight back to Israel. The lords of the Philistines follow the ark to the border. Perhaps they told the Israelites all the events that had happened, which explains how the narrator knew the facts. 1 Sa 6: Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. {14} Then the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there; a large stone was there. So they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. {15} The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the chest that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone. Then the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices the same day to the LORD. The cows stop when they reach the field of an Israelite called Joshua. The Israelites rejoice when they see the ark. Beth Shemesh was a town that belonged to the Levites. 41 The people correctly employ Levites to move the ark, but then they offer up the cows as a burnt offering upon a large stone in the field. The offering of sacrifices, particularly on high places, was a common practice during the period of Judges and Kings. It was nevertheless contrary to the Law of Moses and shows how poorly the Law was understood. 1 Sa 6: So when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. {17} These are the golden tumours which the Philistines returned as a trespass offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron; {18} and the golden rats, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large stone of Abel on which they set the ark of the LORD, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. It appears that the Philistine lords stayed to watch the sacrifice before returning home. The gold articles of the Philistines trespass offering are again described. The stone upon which the sacrifice was made is named the stone of Abel. Abel means brook, watercourse or meadow Judgment Breaks Out 1 Sa 6: Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. {20} And the 41 Josh 21:13-16 Page 34 of 132

35 men of Beth Shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall it go up from us? {21} So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up with you. Despite beings a Levitical city, where the men should have known the law of the Tabernacle, some men look into the ark and bring judgment upon the people. There is doubt about how many died in this plague. The most ancient manuscripts do say 50,070 people, but other Hebrew manuscripts say 70. The population of Beth Shemesh would not have been as high as 50,070, and such a loss would have been a great loss for Israel as a nation. When Israel was defeated by the Philistines in the earlier war, we read: 1 Sa 4:10 There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. The people of Beth Shemesh ask Who is able to stand before this Holy Lord God? They would have done better by asking how? Instead of returning to the word of God and obeying the law, they pass the ark on to another place. 7. CHAPTER SEVEN 1 Sa 7:1 2. Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. {2} So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. So the ark is brought to Kirjath Jearim, which is a town about 10 miles north east of Beth Shemesh. This was not listed among the Levitical towns. The fact that no one tried to return the ark to Shiloh has caused commentators to postulate that Shiloh was destroyed in the last Philistine war. Scripture does reveal how God rejected Shiloh as being a place for His name to dwell. Ps 78:60. So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had placed among men, Je 7:12. But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. The sin of the house of Eli meant that the Shiloh would never again be the site for the tabernacle. The ark is brought into the house of Abinadab. Scripture does not record that Abinadab was a Levite. However, Page 35 of 132

36 Josephus says that Abinadab was a Levite who was known for his righteousness and thus deemed an appropriate keeper of the ark (Josephus, Ant. 6.18). 42 Eleazar the son of Abinadab was consecrated to keep the ark safe. It will remain here until David attempts to bring the ark into Jerusalem. 43 It is a testimony to Eleazar that in the twenty years the ark was kept in their home, no one abused the ark and no one died of plague. We conclude therefore that this household did a better job of looking after the ark than the Levites of Beth Shemesh. In the time that the ark was kept in Abinadab s house the sacrifices that should have been offered at the tabernacle have ceased. This was a period of national mourning for Israel. They had broken the Law of the Lord, they had fallen into sin and had worshipped idols. They needed to seek God with a broken and contrite spirit before He would once again reveal Himself to them or protect them from their enemies Samuel Judges Israel 1 Sa 7:3 6. Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines. {4} So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only. {5} And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you. {6} So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah. Finally we read of Samuel coming forward to judge Israel. He may have still been a boy when Eli died, and we have not heard about Samuel over the twenty year period that the ark was at Kirjath Jearim. Although he has been on his own, the word of the Lord has been leading and developing Samuel. Samuel calls for Israel to put away their foreign gods and serve the Lord only. It shows that extent of Israel s degradation that they were worshipping the fertility gods of the Canaanites; Baal and Ashtoreth. Israel does respond to Samuel s instruction and remove their idols before confessing their sin and making a fresh commitment to the Lord at Mizpah Baal and Ashtoreth Baal and Ashtoreth are the principle deities of the Canaanite, Philistine and Phoenician religions and were often worshipped together. Baal was the sun god, 42 The Lexham Bible Dictionary Sa Chapter 6 Page 36 of 132

37 the giver of rain and the sender of storms. He was accredited for maintaining the fertility of crops, animals and people. Ashtoreth, or Astrate, was the moon goddess and also known as the queen of heaven 44. She was the goddess of fertility and love. The Assyrians called her Ishtar and the Greeks and Romans worshipped her as Venus or Aphrodite. Some commentators suggest that Ashtoreth was Baal s consort, whilst others suggest that she was his mother. According to ancient mythology, Asherah, the mother goddess, was the wife of El and mother of 70 gods, of whom Baal was the most famous. 45 Prior to Israel s exile to Babylon, the worship of detestable foreign gods, and in particular Baal and Ashtoreth, was a sin that the Israelites constantly returned to. These false deities were worshipped at household shrines, in gardens and in temples. Wooden images of Ashtoreth, often called Asherah poles were erected throughout Israel. Scripture records that these idols were worshipped on high hills and under trees: 1 Ki 14:23. For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree. 46 The Law 47 forbid the planting of an Asherah Tree, suggesting that a sacred tree could be used as an Asherah. In Scripture Baal and Ashtoreth are often mentioned in the plural, Baalim and Ashtaroth, referring to their images. When Gideon was called to deliver Israel from the hand of their enemies, he was first commanded to destroy the false gods in his own house. These included an image of Baal and an Asherah pole. Jdg 6:25. Now it came to pass the same night that the LORD said to him, Take your father s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it; Worshippers of Baal and Ashtoreth performed sexual acts within their temples; something common in fertility cults. The first occasion that Israel was enticed to worship Baal was when Balaam advised Balak, king of Moab, to send the Moabite women to tempt the Israelites 48. Nu 25:1 3. Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. {2} They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. {3} So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel. 44 Jer 44:17 45 Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. 46 Jer 17:2 47 Dt 16:21. You shall not plant for yourself any tree, as a wooden image, near the altar which you build for yourself to the LORD your God. 48 Num 31:16 Page 37 of 132

38 When Elijah declared to Israel s king, Ahab, that there would be no rain, except at his command 49, it was a direct affront to Baal whom Ahab worshipped as the rain giver. Prior to God sending rain upon Israel after the long drought, it was necessary first for Israel to repent and reject Baal and Ashtoreth at Mount Carmel. In the account of Elijah s confrontation with the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth at Carmel, we read that they desperately cut themselves so that their blood gushed, in an attempt to make their deities answer their prayers The Philistines Attack Israel 1 Sa 7:7 12. Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. {8} So the children of Israel said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines. {9} And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. {10} Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. {11} And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. {12} Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, Thus far the LORD has helped us. The Philistines take advantage of the gathering of Israel together to send their army to attack them. The men of Israel are obviously afraid and are not confident in their own strength. But they look to the Lord to deliver them, and to Samuel as their intercessor. The Lord does answer Samuel s prayer and the Philistine army is routed when God sends thunder against them. After the battle Samuel sets up a memorial stone to remind Israel that the Lord had helped them that day. Ebenezer means Stone of help. Samuel is now established as judge in Israel Samuel Leads Israel 1 Sa 7: So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was 49 1 Ki 17:1. And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word Kings 18:28 Page 38 of 132

39 against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. {14} Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. {15} And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. {16} He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places. {17} But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the LORD. Although Samuel was not a military leader, when he was judging Israel they were no longer oppressed by the Philistines and recovered territories they had lost to their neighbour. This godly man s leadership brought peace to the land. These few verses summarise a lifetime s successful service. 8. CHAPTER EIGHT 8.1. Israel Ask for a King 1 Sa 8:1 5. Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. {2} The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. {3} But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. {4} Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, {5} and said to him, Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. When Samuel is old, history repeats itself and his two sons fail to follow the Lord. Samuel had made Joel and Abijah judges in the land to replace him, but they were corrupt and abused their position. Unlike Hophni and Phineas they were not acting as priests and their crimes were not directly against the Lord. It is sad that we do not read Samuel rebuking his sons. Joel and Abijah s dishonesty causes people to complain and eventually the elders of the people gather to meet with Samuel. Not only do they report Samuel s sons corruption, but they also stipulate the solution they require. This solution indicates that there are other issues upon the people s mind. They wanted to be like other nations. They wanted a physical king to govern them and to lead them into battle. Having a king over them would not guarantee that the nation would be judged impartially and justly, and so this was not a solution to their immediate problem. The people were showing dissatisfaction with the way they were been governed and led by the Lord. Yet when the people obeyed His laws, they were given victory over all their enemies and none oppressed them. But they wanted to put their faith in a king they can see rather than God who they couldn t see. Page 39 of 132

40 1 Sa 8:6 9. But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed to the LORD. {7} And the LORD said to Samuel, Heed 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. {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 are doing to you also. {9} Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behaviour of the king who will reign over them. Samuel had taken this as a rejection of his leadership, but God states that in truth it was a rejection of His leadership of the nation. The root cause of this rejection was the idolatry within Israel s heart. They said they wanted to be like other nations and have a king. But they also wanted to have idols like other nations. So God gives the people over to the desire of their heart and tells Samuel to heed their voice. The Law of Moses had foreseen a time when a king would reign over Israel and gave strict instruction. The Law of the king states that: The Lord should choose who will be king. The king shall not accumulate for himself horses or riches. The king shall not marry many women. The king shall have his own copy of the law and shall read it all the days of his life. Like the regulation given to Joshua, these rules were to give the king success and prosperity 51. In obeying them the king would keep his heart. Dt 17: When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me, {15} you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. {16} But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, You shall not return that way again. {17} Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. {18} Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. {19} And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, {20} that 51 Jos 1:8. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Page 40 of 132

41 his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel. How sad it is when we read the history of the kings of Israel and Judah that these basic laws were never obeyed. How much trouble the nation suffered as a result? 8.2. The Cost of a King 1 Sa 8: So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. {11} And he said, This will be the behaviour of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. {12} He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plough his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. {13} He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. {14} And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. {15} He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. {16} And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. {17} He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. {18} And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day. The people said that having a king was the solution to the nation s problems, but the word of the Lord through Samuel shows them that having a king would be very costly. God was their king and it only cost them their tithes and sacrifices. Under God s leadership everyone had rights, their own land and an inheritance. But under a king many people would be made servants, they all would be taxed and the king would take the best of the land and the best of their sons and daughters. In the end they would cry out to God because of the heavy burden that having a king had produced, but He would not allow them to return to the way things were. 1 Sa 8: 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. {21} And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. {22} So the LORD said to Samuel, Heed their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Every man go to his city. Page 41 of 132

42 The people stubbornly ignore the warnings and insist that they will have a king. So God grants their request and charges Samuel to make a king. So Samuel dismisses the people with the promise that they will be given a king. 9. CHAPTER NINE 9.1. Saul the Son of Kish 1 Sa 9:1 2. 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. {2} And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. Kish was a Benjamite who was noteworthy. Kish s commendation can be translated to say that he was a courageous warrior a man of valour, or that he was a man of standing (successful and wealthy). The same phrase is used of Boaz 52, Jeroboam I 53 and of David 54. The phrase will never be applied to Saul. Kish had a son named Saul who was noted by being tall and handsome. The name Saul means Asked, which is relevant because this is the king Israel asked God for. The Hebrew phrase translated as not a more handsome person is literally none better than he. The translators apply this phrase to his physical appearance because of the context. However we could say that there was none better suited than Saul for the role as king. Although Saul was chosen by God and there was none better than him in Israel, Saul s reign is a tragic tale. His disobedience to God will mean that that the Spirit of the Lord will leave him and then his character quickly deteriorates. God will reject him as king and the kingdom will be given to one better than him. 55 The life of Saul reminds us that being called by God and being qualified are in themselves no guarantee of success. We still need to walk in obedience before the Lord all the days of our life. This chapter describes how the Lord brings Saul to the attention of Samuel, because it is Saul that the Lord has chosen to make Israel s first king. 1 Sa 9:3 5. Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys. {4} So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then 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, 52 Ruth 2: Kings 11: Sa 16: Sa 15:28 Page 42 of 132

43 Come, let us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us. Kish sends Saul on a journey to look for donkeys that have gone astray, but the Lord is directing Saul s steps towards Samuel. 1 Sa 9:6 10. And he said to him, Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go. {7} Then Saul said to his servant, But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have? {8} And the servant answered Saul again and said, Look, 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. {9} (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: Come, let us go to the seer ; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.) {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 and the servants wanderings have brought them to the town where Samuel is resident; presumably this is Ramah. 56 It is the servant who suggests that they ask the prophet which way to take and it is the servant who provides the solution to what gift to take. Saul may not have known this was Samuel s town, but the events do highlight a trait that Saul showed throughout his reign. Saul failed to take the initiative and would need someone else to provide solutions. There was an apparent practise of taking a prophet a gift when enquiring of the Lord. Saul can only see problems, but the servant again shows the initiative and provides one-fourth of a shekel of silver. Since the use of coins did not start until the seventh century BC, this was a weight of silver. The narrator explains that prophets had used to be called seers; a phrase that we would assume was no longer used at the time of writing. This is the first time the word see is used in Scripture. It is used mainly in 1 and 2 Chronicles about the king s seers; Samuel, Gad, Asaph, Heman, Zadok, Iddo and Jehu the son of Hanani. The term is used because of the visions that the prophet would see. 1 Sa 9: As they went up the hill to the city, they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, Is the seer here? {12} And they answered them and said, Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to this city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place. {13} As soon as you come into the city, you will surely find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not 56 1 Sa 7:17 Page 43 of 132

44 eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up, for about this time you will find him. {14} So they went up to the city. As they were coming into the city, there was Samuel, coming out toward them on his way up to the high place. Not only has the men s path led them to the town of Samuel, they also have arrived on a day when there is a feast. Samuel didn t live permanently at Ramah but travelled throughout Israel for his duties as Judge. This was a good day to seek Samuel at Ramah High Places Samuel was to be making a sacrifice on the high place. In the Law of Moses the use of places other than the tabernacle was forbidden. Dt 12:1 7. These are the statutes and judgments which you shall be careful to observe in the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. {2} You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. {3} And you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place. {4} You shall not worship the LORD your God with such things. {5} But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. {6} There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. {7} And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the LORD your God has blessed you. Dt 12: Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; {14} but in the place which the LORD chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you. However the Lord had rejected Shiloh and at this time and the ark was separated from the altar. It appears that the tabernacle was no longer is use, but people sacrificed to the Lord on the high places. The Lord appears to accept the sacrifices that Samuel makes on various high places. But when the general population start sacrificing without the Levitical priesthood, they are further breaking the Mosaic Law. 57 Ramah means height. Page 44 of 132

45 This practise would remain a snare to Israel throughout the years of the monarchy. Only Hezekiah, king of Judah, removed the high places 58 but his son Manasseh re-established them Saul Meets Samuel 1 Sa 9: Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, {16} Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me. {17} So when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people. Samuel had been told by God that a Benjamite was being sent to him on this day, and that this was the man who would be anointed king. This king would be authorised and equipped to delivery Israel from the hand of the Philistines. We can be sure that Samuel would have passed this information on to Saul. This promise from God should have filled him with boldness and confidence. The Lord had said that he would save God s people from the Philistines. Yet later on we see Saul fearful and indecisive on a number of occasions. When Samuel sees Saul, he is told that this is the man. Samuel had been charged with setting a king over Israel, but we see that he did not have to work hard to find God s man. The Lord revealed him. 1 Sa 9: Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Please tell me, where is the seer s house? {19} 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. {20} But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father s house? {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 like this to me? {22} Now Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and had them sit in the place of honour among those who were invited; there were about thirty persons. {23} And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, Set it apart. {24} So the cook took up the thigh with its upper part and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Here it is, what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat; for until this time it has been kept for you, since I said I invited the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day Kings 18:4 Page 45 of 132

46 It becomes immediately obvious to Saul that Samuel had expected him. Samuel reveals that the missing donkeys have been found. This must have impressed Saul seeing he had not yet mentioned the donkeys. Samuel also hints that there is a divine purpose of national significance for Saul. Saul s reaction is a humble one. Like Gideon before him 59, Saul considers that he is a lowly man of humble origins. The tribe of Benjamin was the smallest among Israel. A census taken during the Exodus, records that Benjamin was the smallest of the twelve tribes 60. Later their numbers where devastated in the civil war. 61 Paul says: 1 Co 1:27. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. Saul then finds that he has a place reserved at the feast and a special portion of food has been set aside for him. He now knows that he has been brought here by the hand of God for a specific purpose. 1 Sa 9: When they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the top of the house. {26} They arose early; and it was about the dawning of the day that Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house, saying, Get up, that I may send you on your way. And Saul arose, and both of them went outside, he and Samuel. {27} As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell the servant to go on ahead of us. And he went on. But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God. After the feast Saul gets to spend some time with Samuel. We are not told what was said, but presumably Samuel is laying a foundation in the life of Saul, preparing him to follow the Lord and lead the people. Quality time alone with a mentor is one of the most valuable things for those in ministry. On the following day Saul makes a prophetic declaration to Saul. Saul s servant is not allowed to hear what is said. Presumably Samuel wants to prevent things from becoming public knowledge until he speaks to an assembly of Israel. 10. CHAPTER TEN Saul is Anointed 1 Sa 10:1 8. Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over His inheritance? {2} When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now 59 Jdg 6:15. So he said to Him, O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father s house. 60 Num 1: Jug 20 Page 46 of 132

47 your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, What shall I do about my son? {3} Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. {4} And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands. {5} After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. {6} Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. {7} And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. {8} You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do. As they are departing Ramah, Samuel anoints Saul as commander over Israel. This is a great privilege and a great responsibility. Samuel also kisses Saul. This and subsequent verses 62 suggest that Samuel was at this stage very fond of Saul. There must have been something likeable about Saul as a young man. Samuel then details three events that will happen to Saul on the journey home. Firstly as they enter the territory of Benjamin, they will meet two men who will say that the donkeys had been found. Secondly they will be given two loaves of bread by three men carrying provisions. Thirdly when they come to the hill of God or Gibeah of God 63, they will meet a group of worshipping prophets coming from the high place. Gibeah of God is also known as Geba of Benjamin 64. It was about four miles from Gibeah of Saul. When Saul hears them prophesying, the Spirit of the Lord will come upon him and he will be a changed man. The details that Samuel gives show that the future is a clear to the Lord as the past or present. Saul will be reassured from all these signs that God is with him, and he should not be afraid to do what he sees needs doing. God expects his anointed leaders to show initiative and to step out, believing that God is with them. Saul started well in this regard, but soon showed a fear of taking action. Saul is told to wait at Gilgal until Samuel comes in seven days to offering the necessary offerings. Samuel will further instruct Saul at this stage. This Gilgal 62 1 Sa 15:11, 1 Sa 16:1 63 In Hebrew Gibeath haelohim Sa 13:3 Page 47 of 132

48 was a town near Jericho and was one of the towns Samuel used on his circuit of Israel. It features a lot in the books of Joshua and 1 Samuel. It was the place where Israel encamped when they first crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land The Spirit of the Lord Comes upon Saul 1 Sa 10:9 16. So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. {10} When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. {11} And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? {12} Then a man from there answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets? {13} And when he had finished prophesying, he went to the high place. {14} Then Saul s uncle said to him and his servant, Where did you go? So he said, To look for the donkeys. When we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel. {15} And Saul s uncle said, Tell me, please, what Samuel said to you. {16} So Saul said to his uncle, He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found. But about the matter of the kingdom, he did not tell him what Samuel had said. All the signs are fulfilled as Samuel predicted and Saul s heart is changed by the hand of God. Saul joined the prophets in prophesying before the Lord. We are not told what the narrator means by prophesying. Normally we would consider the foretelling of the future or the giving of divine instruction to be prophesying. But the way a group of men is described as prophesying with musical instruments, suggests that they may be engaged in ecstatic praise and worship of God. The sight of Saul joining in with the prophets causes those who knew Saul to query the change in him. Jesus said that Mk 6:4 A prophet is not without honour except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house. It appears this was the reaction of those who knew Saul: We know the son of Kish. He is not special. He is not different. A man answers that all the prophets have a father and a household where they are known. Finally Saul is quizzed by an uncle as to where he had been. Saul explains that they had sought help from Samuel who had explained that the donkeys had been found. Wisely Saul does not reveal to his uncle what else Samuel said. There was no positive action Saul s family can take at this stage. He is to wait for Samuel. Page 48 of 132

49 This passage has introduced us to a group of unnamed prophets worshipping God. This appears to be an early reference to a movement in this period of Israel's history known as the company of prophets or the sons of the prophets. These were a community or school of men who had fervour for God and devoted themselves to Him. Samuel 65, Elijah 66 and Elisha 67 were all seen as leaders or fathers of these groups. They worshipped God with ecstatic praise accompanied by instruments. Some of their number developed to be men of God who could prophesy Saul is Presented to Israel 1 Sa 10: Then Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah, {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 from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all kingdoms and from those who oppressed you. {19} But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, No, set a king over us! Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans. {20} And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. {21} When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they sought him, he could not be found. {22} Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, Has the man come here yet? And the LORD answered, There he is, hidden among the equipment. {23} So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. {24} And Samuel said to all the people, Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people? So all the people shouted and said, Long live the king! Samuel had promised Saul to meet him after seven days at Gilgal where they would offer sacrifices. This passage states that Samuel assembled all Israel together at Mizpah. Presumably this is a subsequent gathering. We are not told what happened when Samuel went to Gilgal. Once again Samuel tells Israel that their insistence for a king was in fact a rejection of the Lord s leadership and protection. The new king is then to be selected by lot probably by using the Urim and Thummim. See Appendix 1: The Breastplate of Judgement. 65 1Sam 19: Kings 2: Kings Kings 20:35-42 Page 49 of 132

50 Through this process, Israel witnesses the selection of Saul as king. This is preferable to Samuel simply tell them who should be king. Samuel had already anointed Saul. This day is Saul s revealing to Israel. Saul cannot be found however because he has hidden himself among the equipment. Despite all the confirmation and encouragement that he has received, it appears that fear has made him hide. This fear is a character flaw that Saul will need to address if he is going to be successful in leading God s people. When Saul could not be found because he had hidden himself, Samuel must have felt anxious. The equipment that Saul hid among is sometimes translated as baggage 69 or even stuff 70. It is probably all the bags and vessels that the congregation had travelled with. The story lends itself as a warning to believers that they should not be hiding from the call of God, among the baggage of this earthly pilgrimage. Some people fail to seek first the kingdom of God because their life is hidden in the stuff. When the people see Saul they recognise that he looks every inch like a king. His physical appearance have the traits that they want in a leader; handsome and imposing. God had selected Saul as king, but we will realise that He had given them exactly what they wanted - a man after their own hearts. Again we are told that there is none like Saul in all of Israel. 1 Sa 10: Then Samuel explained to the people the behaviour of royalty, 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. {26} And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched. {27} But some rebels said, How can this man save us? So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace. Samuel explains the behaviour of royalty to the people. Presumably this included a reminder of the law of kings in Deuteronomy chapter 17, which we looked at in Section 8.1. Israel Ask for a King. Samuel placed the scroll of the ordinances of the king before the Lord. This could mean that is was being laid before the Lord as a sign the people agreed to the regulations and consequences. But it could also mean that Samuel stored the scroll in the Tabernacle, which may have been at Mizpah now. When Israel disperse some of the warriors whose heart God had stirred, follow Saul back to Gibeah. However there were some trouble makers who spoke against Saul. This was not because they wanted to the Lord to rule over them, but because they despised Saul. They had seen that Saul was chosen by the Urim and Thummim and by Samuel, but they refused to believe. 69 NASB 70 KJV Page 50 of 132

51 It is interesting that God has chosen Israel s first king from the city of Gibeah of Benjamin. This is the town that is famed by the incident of the Levite s concubine and the resulting civil war Judges chapter 19 and 20. Despite the cities awful past it is offered a position of prominence and fame. 11. CHAPTER ELEVEN Jabesh Gilead is Attacked 1 Sa 11:1 3. 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. {2} And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel. {3} Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, Hold off for seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you. Through the years of Samuel s leadership there had been peace between Israel and her neighbours, but now Nahash the Ammonite invades, threatening Jabesh Gilead. He intends upon humiliating Israel. The Ammonites must have been a growing threat in the area, because we read in chapter 12 we read 71 that it was the threat of Nahash that had caused the Israelites to originally ask for a king. The Ammonites lived to the east of the Jordan River and to the South east of Jabesh Gilead, which was also on the east of the Jordan in the territory of Gad. Nahash may have been a proper noun, or may be a dynasty name. The Gadites and the Reubenites had settled in the land east of the Jordan in land that was traditionally claimed by the Ammonites. The Masoretic text found in the caves at Qumran adds a note after the end of chapter ten and prior to the start of chapter eleven. It says: Nahash king of the Ammonites sorely oppressed the Gadites and the Reubenites, and he gouged out all their right eyes and struck terror and dread in Israel. Not a man was left among the Israelites beyond Jordan whose right eye was not gouged out by Nahash king of the Ammonites, except that seven thousand men fled from the Ammonites and entered Jabesh Gilead. About a month later at which point the scroll continues with Nahash the Ammonite went up 72 Commentators disagree about the reliability of this addition. It may be a historic insight but it should not be regarded as Scripture Sa 12:12. And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us, when the LORD your God was your king. 72 The Expositor s Bible Commentary. Page 51 of 132

52 Jabesh Gilead was the last stronghold to resist Nahash. They offer to surrender to the Ammonites in seven days if no help comes from Israel. Nahash agrees to the request. Perhaps he sees this as opportunity to engage with the rest of Israel in war. 1 Sa 11:4 10. So the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices and wept. {5} Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, What troubles the people, that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. {6} Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused. {7} So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. {8} When he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. {9} And they said to the messengers who came, Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help. Then the messengers came and reported it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. {10} Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us whatever seems good to you. The messengers from Jabesh Gilead do go throughout Israel, but there appears to be no response until a messenger comes to Gibeah of Saul. The town s name has been amended by narrators in honour of the king. It is interesting to read that Saul was working in the fields when the messengers arrived. He had been acknowledged as king, but up to now nothing had changed. When Saul hears the predicament of Jabesh Gilead, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him and immediately he is stirred to action. He threatens to destroy the yolk of oxen of any man that does not come to fight. This would have been a major loss to any man. The fear of the Lord comes upon the people and they respond by gathering to Saul at Bezek, a town west of crossing to Jabesh Gilead. Three hundred and thirty thousand men have mustered for war. Why the narrator counts the men from Judah separately is not explained. Is it because of the later divide between the northern and southern kingdoms? Or was Judah showing prominence among the tribes of Israel? Saul sends messengers to Jabesh promising deliverance on the next day. They in turn promise to surrender to Nahash on the next day. This may have caused Nahash to relax in the belief that no help was coming from the west of the Jordan. Page 52 of 132

53 11.2. Jabesh Gilead is Delivered 1 Sa 11: So it was, on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and killed Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. {12} Then 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. {13} But Saul said, Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has accomplished salvation in Israel. {14} Then Samuel said to the people, Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there. {15} So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they made sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. Saul divides his forces into three before attacking the Ammonites who are routed before Israel. Saul had shown clear leadership and quick thinking. The people now recognise him as king and wished to put the earlier dissenters to death. Saul sees the Lord's victory of the Ammonites as a cause of rejoicing and not retribution. So he spares the trouble makers who spoke against him. How different Saul's reaction is later on when he thinks that the priests and Levites have helped David. 73 It appears that despite his great age, Samuel had gone with the army. He now calls them to reaffirm Saul as king before the Lord at Gilgal. This chapter is Saul's finest hour. He shows immediate action, good leadership, humility and benevolence. It has taken three stages for Saul to be crowned king; his private anointing with Samuel, his selection by lot and now his confirmation following his victory over the Ammonites. After Saul's death it was the valiant men from Jabesh Gilead who risked their lives to take Saul's and his sons' remains and bury them. Presumably this is out of loyalty and gratefulness for Saul's deliverance of them. 12. CHAPTER TWELVE Samuel Addresses Israel 1 Sa 12:1 5. Now Samuel said to all Israel: Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. {2} And now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grey-headed, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. {3} Here I am. Witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox 73 1 Sa 22 Page 53 of 132

54 have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you. {4} And they said, You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man s hand. {5} Then 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, He is witness. Samuel confronts the Israel about their sin. He may have done this at the gathering at Gilgal following Saul s first battle, or it may have been on a later date. Samuel reminds them that he had served them from the time he was a child until now when he is old and grey-headed. He asks them to produce any evidence that he has ever taken a bribe or misused his position. The people declare that Samuel has never done anything dishonest. He has judged them and given them victory over their enemies; the very things they want a king to do for them. But Samuel did this at no cost to the people. It is not clear why Samuel mentions his sons. He cannot claim that they are blameless as he is. Is he reminding the people of their (justifiable) refusal to have his sons lead in his place? God s Faithfulness 1 Sa 12:6 12. Then Samuel said to the people, It is the LORD who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. {7} Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did to you and your fathers: {8} When Jacob had gone into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. {9} And when they forgot the LORD their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. {10} Then they cried out to the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You. {11} And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. {12} And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us, when the LORD your God was your king. Samuel then reminds the people of the faithfulness of God who had delivered them from their slavery in Egypt and brought them into the land promised the patriarchs. However their fathers forgot the Lord and served idols and foreign Gods. Therefore God gave them into the hand of foreign oppressors. When the Page 54 of 132

55 people cried out to the Lord he raised up judges for them, Samuel being the last of these. The people dwelled in safety when the judges ruled over them. Gideon is a note-worthy judge in that he refused to begin a dynasty when the Israelites requested it (Jud 8:22). The Israelites had replaced as king, the God they could not see with a king they could see. However Samuel reminds them that are still to fear and serve the Lord. Only then will it be well for them and their king. They should not replace loyalty to the Lord with loyalty to a king. Verse 12 reveals the reason why the people had really asked for a king; they were afraid of Nahash king of the Ammonites who was becoming a force in the east. Their demand showed a total lack of faith in God, despite His continuing faithfulness to them. Later is Hosea we read; Ho 13:11. I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath. 1 Sa 12: Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the LORD has set a king over you. {14} If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God. {15} However, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers. The law allowed for a monarchy in Israel, but the lack of faith that had caused the people to demand a king was a sin. This chapter with Samuel's speech and the demonstration of divine disproval are ominous signs for the future years of a monarchy. However God would use this period to path the way for the Messiah, the true king of Israel. So the king had given them a king as they demanded, but success and blessing would only come if they and their king obeyed the Lord Judgment 1 Sa 12: Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes: {17} Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the LORD, and He will 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 a king for yourselves. {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 orchestrates an act of judgement against Israel as a sign of the seriousness of the sin of demanding a king. God sent a thunder storm and heavy rain on the land when the wheat harvest was standing in the fields. Page 55 of 132

56 Destroying this harvest would produce severe problems for the people for many months. Rain at the time of harvest was contrary to all expectation. All the farmers preparation, hard work and confident waiting were swept away because of God's displeasure at the people's attitude. This was a solemn warning of what would happen if they forsook the Lord; they and their king would be swept away. 1 Sa 12: And all the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to the LORD your God that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves. {20} Then Samuel said to the people, Do not fear. 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; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are 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. {23} Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. {24} Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. {25} But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king. The people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel His prophet and cry out in repentance. But Samuel reassures them of the Lord s faithfulness and of his own continuing commitment to serve them. 13. CHAPTER THIRTEEN Years of Saul s Reign 1 Sa 13:1. Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel. 1 Sa 13:1. 74 Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty two years over Israel. The reader will note that the age and the number of years Saul reigned are in italics. This is because they have been omitted in the Hebrew text and added by translators. This omission may have been done by accident or on purpose. Either way the exact figures are not known and are only estimates. The KJV tries to make sense of the verse and suggests that these following events happened two years after Saul began to reign. In doing so it ignores the first part of the Hebrew verse. Other translations use the verse as a summary of the reign of Saul. This is a common occurrence in Scripture and is used to describe the reigns of the kings 74 NASB Page 56 of 132

57 of the Southern kingdom. Stephan does tell us that Saul reigned for forty years 75. Josephus tells us the Saul reigned 18 years while Samuel was alive and twenty two years after he died. There is a lack of detail about Saul's life. When we first read of him meeting Samuel we are left with the impression that he was a shy young man. Was he married at that time? Was Jonathan born yet? If not the events of this chapter happened years after Saul was made king and he is failing to deliver the people of the Lord. He never demonstrates faith in the Lord who has called him. He seems weighed down with the sense that it all rests upon him, rather than upon God. Today church leaders who think that it all rests upon them and have no expectation for the miraculous intervention off God, cause their churches to stagnate Saul Blows the Trumpet 1 Sa 13:2 4. Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, every man to his tent. {3} And Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear! {4} Now all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal. Saul's army is seen to be 3000 men, split into two forces. Jonathan Saul's son has charge over the smaller force. Saul has been anointed as king of Israel and is to deliver them from the Philistines. However after the previous chapter we do not read of Saul taking the initiative and attacking the enemy. From now on his leadership is poor. He only reacts to events and he dithers. In contrast his on Jonathan is a man of faith and action. In this section Jonathan takes the initiative and attacks the Philistine garrison at Geba. This was the catalyst of a major confrontation between the Philistines and Israel. Saul calls all of Israel to arms, telling them that Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison The Philistines Invade 1 Sa 13:5 7. Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven. {6} When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, 75 Acts 13:21 Page 57 of 132

58 in holes, and in pits. {7} And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. The Philistines respond to the attack on their garrison by sending a great army to subdue Israel. Archaeologists believe that it was the Philistines who introduced the manufacture of iron tools and weapons into Canaan. The mastery of this technology gave them a great military advantage, making them the super-power of the region. They used their mastery of iron smelting and manufacture to produce iron fittings for their wooden chariots. This along with their cavalry meant their army was unmatched on the coastal plains. Their advantage wasn't so great in the hill country of Ephraim and Benjamin. Instead of rallying to Saul, the Israelites hide away or escape to Transjordan region. They are obviously not confident in Saul's leadership. The men with him are afraid. He has failed to inspire faith and trust in the Lord Saul s Rash Offering 1 Sa 13:8 15. Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. {9} So Saul said, Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me. And he offered the burnt offering. {10} Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. {11} And Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, {12} then I said, The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD. Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering. {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 the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. {14} But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you. {15} Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, about six hundred men. Saul has been instructed for the second time to wait at Gilgal by Samuel. While he is waiting his army is melting away. Does he rally the troops by reminding them of the great victories that the Lord has given them in the past through men like Gideon? Does he remind them that the battle is the Lord's and it is nothing for God to save with few as with many? Does he remind them of what the Lord did to Egypt? Does he remind Israel of the victory over the Philistines Page 58 of 132

59 God gave them at Ebenezer? No, he does none of these things. He demonstrates no faith and allows fear fill the hearts of his men. What has happened to the anointing he experienced when he heard about the threat of the Ammonites? Saul is exasperated when Samuel is late. Finally the king takes action, but it s the wrong action. He offers the sacrifices that Samuel was to offer. We later read of other kings making sacrifices without being rebuked. Saul was not worshipping with faith and trust. He was performing a religious exercise through fear. As soon as he is finished Samuel arrives. When Samuel challenges Saul, the king blames Samuel for being late, such that people were scattering. He says that he forced himself! In truth he acted out of fear. He failed to lead and he blamed Samuel for not being there. Samuel rebukes Saul stating that he has acted foolishly. His disobedience to the word of the Lord means that his dynasty will not be established. This has been a test to see what was in Saul's heart. Would he faithfully obey the word of the Lord, or would he act foolishly and turn to self-reliance. If he had passed the test his dynasty would have been established before the Lord. Instead now he would be replaced by a neighbour of his who was a man after God's own heart. David will be revealed as the neighbour who would reign in Saul's stead. This indicates that God had already sought for a replacement for Saul, because He knew that Saul had forsaken the way of faith. Once there had been no one better than Saul, but that was no longer the case. With this rebuke Samuel leaves the king without offering any advice or help. In the meantime the army has reduced to 600 men. Two other kings are accused by Scripture as acting foolishly; David when he counted the fighting men 76 and Asa when he failed to trust in the Lord but paid off the enemy 77. In all three occurrences the respective king acts in self-reliance without faith. 1 Sa 13: Saul, Jonathan his son, and the people present with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin. But the Philistines encamped in Michmash. {17} Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned onto the road to Ophrah, to the land of Shual, {18} another company turned to the road to Beth Horon, and another company turned to the road of the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. Whilst the two armies encamped in their respective places, the Philistine ravaged the land by sending out troops that acted as raiding parties to strip Israel of supplies Sa 24: Chron 16:9 Page 59 of 132

60 1 Sa 13: Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears. {20} But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man s ploughshare, his mattock, his axe, and his sickle; {21} and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the ploughshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads. {22} So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son. {23} And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash. The narrator explains the dire circumstance that Israel faced. They only had two weapons in the whole land and there was no blacksmiths at all in Israel. This was a successful tactic of the Philistines that kept Israel subservient. The Philistine blacksmiths charged exorbitant rates for the Israelites to sharpen their tools. The reference to a ploughshare is a poor translation as these were not yet invented. It should be called a plough-point, examples of which from Saul's period have been discovered by archaeologists. It raises the question what happened to the weapons that the Israelites used against the Ammonites? How had Saul allowed the Philistines to take them all? The Philistines are preparing for action and station a guard at the pass of Michmash. Presumably this restricts the movement of the Israelites. This pass may be what Josephus later called the Valley of Thorns. 14. CHAPTER FOURTEEN Jonathan and Saul 1 Sa 14:1 3. Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armour, Come, let us go over to the Philistines garrison that is on the other side. But he did not tell his father. {2} And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men. {3} Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD s priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. We have previously read of Jonathan taking the initiative and attacking the Philistines. Once again Jonathan is seen to be a man of faith and action. He is a leader who inspires his armour bearer to equal faith and valour. The text tells us that he did not tell his father what he was doing. The inclusion of this suggests that this was a deliberate decision rather than an oversight. Was he fed-up of his father's negative, faithless attitude? In contrast to Jonathan's stepping out, we read of Saul sitting under a tree waiting for something to happen. He has all the official authority, all the pomp Page 60 of 132

61 of office and all the officers of religion and state. All eyes are upon him, but he does nothing. Is he waiting for swords to be supplied from heaven? Saul is waiting for God, but God is waiting for Saul. The Lord has anointed Saul to deliver Israel specifically from the Philistines, but instead of seeing that as a guarantee of divine presence and favour, Saul does nothing. Is he blaming God for the lack of weapons? Is he blaming Samuel for being late? He is blaming his men for deserting? He has forgotten that God has called him to take the initiative, to make things happen, to step out in faith, to proclaim the word of the Lord. Many church leaders blame others for the state of their church: If I had a better building! If I had better leaders! If I had more money! If the people didn't keep leaving! But leaders build, leaders raise money, leaders train people. Leaders believe in a God who takes the weak and foolish things and raises a mighty army of Spirit energised people of faith. The text notes that the priest with Saul is Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli. Ahijah is wearing the Ephod, but Saul is not communicating with God. Ahijah is serving God whilst living under a divine curse, because of the sins of Eli. The deliberate and un-necessary mention of Ichabod, as well as Phinehas and Eli, reminds us of the terrible low time when the Philistines captured the ark and there was no glory in Israel. Even though the ark is present with Saul, there is no glory visible as Israel s army cowers Jonathan s Daring Faith 1 Sa 14:4 10. Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. {5} The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah. {6} Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armour, Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few. {7} So his armour bearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart. {8} Then Jonathan said, Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them. {9} If they say thus to us, Wait until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and 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 will be a sign to us. In the previous chapter Saul felt the need to offer sacrifices before doing anything. Jonathan has no such religious compulsions. He steps out in faith. His plan appears based on a "perhaps God will" rather than a definite word from the Page 61 of 132

62 Lord. Jonathan calls the Philistines uncircumcised meaning that they had no covenant with God whereas Israel did have. The geography of their position conspires against Jonathan and his armour bearer and gives the Philistines the advantage. But they do not let that deter them. The crag named Bozez is south facing and its name means "shinning", probably because it caught the sun. The north facing crag is named "Thorn Bush". God is attracted to the two men's faith and movement. They are a catalyst He can employ. Their faith-filled efforts are a mustard seed that God can use to uproot mountains The Lord Arises 1 Sa 14: So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden. {12} Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armour bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you something. Jonathan said to his armour bearer, Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel. {13} And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armour bearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armour bearer killed them. {14} That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armour bearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land. {15} And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling. {16} Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there. On revealing themselves to the Philistines, they hear the taunts of the soldiers which they interpret as a sign that God has given them the garrison. So they climb up the crag using their hands and feet and then the two of them slay the twenty troops stationed there. As well as giving Jonathan and the armour bearer victory, God sends a quaking in the hearts of all the Philistine forces through the land. He also sends an earthquake. Confusion, panic and fear fill the hearts of the Philistines and they begin to scatter. This is part of the covenant promise the Lord gave Israel. 78 The scattering the Philistines is reported to Saul. 78 Dt 7: But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed. {24} And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will destroy their name from under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. Dt 28:7. The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. Page 62 of 132

63 14.4. Saul Delays to Act 1 Sa 14: Then Saul said to the people who were with him, Now call the roll and see who has gone from us. And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armour bearer were not there. {18} And Saul said to Ahijah, Bring the ark of God here (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel). {19} Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, Withdraw your hand. {20} Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man s sword was against his neighbour, and there was very great confusion. Even though the Philistines are melting away, Saul delays acting. First he orders a census to be taken to find out if any Israelites have engaged the enemy. When he finds out that only Jonathan and his armour bearer were missing, Saul doesn't spring to Jonathan's aid. Instead he delays a second time and gets all religious and wants to enquire before the Lord - something he should have already done! He calls the ark to be brought to Him. Some commentators have argued over the years that the text should actually say ephod rather than the ark. This is because the Septuagint states ephod rather than ark. However the Masoretic Text twice states that it was the ark that Saul called for. The use of the ark here shows the poor state of Israel's religion at this time. The fact that Saul asks for the ark to be brought to him suggests that it is separated from the Tabernacle with its altar of burnt offerings and altar of incense. The ark was supposed to be hidden from sight; it could only be approached once a year by only the High Priest. The Israelites were using the ark in a way that was not prescribed in the Law. It may be that since the presence of the ark overwhelmed the Philistines that the Israelites have a superstitious view of the ark. Finally as the Philistines are fighting each other Saul stops delaying and joins the battle. 1 Sa 14: Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. {22} Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle. {23} So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven. The Israelites who had been hiding from the Philistines come out of their caves and join the fight. There had been Israelites within the Philistine army, these now change allegiance and fight for Israel. Page 63 of 132

64 The result is a route that spreads Saul s Rash Oath 1 Sa 14: And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies. So none of the people tasted food. {25} Now all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground. {26} And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. {27} But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out 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 countenance brightened. {28} Then one of the people said, Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed is the man who eats food this day. And the people were faint. {29} But Jonathan said, My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. {30} How much better 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? {31} Now they had driven back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the people were very faint. Not only does Saul fail to offer proper leadership, but in an apparent need to stamp his authority on the day, he causes great distress for the Israelites by acting all religiously. He demands that none of the Israelites eat until the Philistines are destroyed. His grand sounding but rash and pointless command only hinders the men because they become physically weary. Jonathan, who has been in the battle before Saul started giving commands, had not heard of the command or the curse. But nevertheless Saul is the anointed king and his word has authority and his curse had power Eating Blood 1 Sa 14: And the people rushed on the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. {33} Then they told Saul, saying, Look, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood! So he said, You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day. {34} Then Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, Bring me here every man s ox and every man s sheep, slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood. So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slaughtered it there. {35} Page 64 of 132

65 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD. Finally when evening comes, and Saul's command is fulfilled the troops are so hungry that they begin to break the commandment of the Lord by eating meat with blood in it. Saul stops the practice and brings order in the slaying of the animals and the draining of their blood. Saul also builds an altar to the Lord - the first time he had done this. Scripture records many godly leaders building altars for the Lord (e.g. Samuel, David, Solomon, Elijah), but this is the first time Saul has done it. Perhaps the narrator intends us to see that although very religious, Saul was not a spiritual man Saul Threatens Jonathan 1 Sa 14: Now 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 to God here. {37} So 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. {38} And Saul said, Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today. {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. {40} Then he said to all Israel, You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I 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. So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. {42} And Saul said, Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me. So Jonathan was taken. {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 that was in my hand. So now I must die! {44} Saul answered, God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan. {45} But the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die. {46} Then Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. Saul has been playing catch-up all day and his only input has hindered the battle. He now wants his weary men to continue fighting all night. His men are willing to obey the king, but the priest has the sense to suggest that they first seek God. Page 65 of 132

66 So Saul enquires of Lord, but the Lord does not answer Saul. The king assumes therefore that there must be sin in the Israelite camp and makes a bold religious speech of how the sinner will be killed - even if it is Jonathan his own son. Presumably using the ephod they ask the Lord to show where the problem lies. Quickly Jonathan is selected. Some of the English translation offer Jonathan's report in a way that does not appear in the Masoretic Text. They have Jonathan question whether he had to die because he had tasted honey. In the MT Jonathan states he had tasted honey and then confesses he had to die. After finding out what Jonathan has done, the self-righteous king reaffirms that Jonathan shall indeed be put to death and uses an even stronger curse than before: May God do this to me and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan. Saul displays no distress that his own son is going to die because of his stupid curse. He displays no compassion or humility, but only insists that his word is carried out. Jonathan hadn't sinned against God, but Saul's curse was upon him. Thankfully Saul's own men speak up for Jonathan, recognising that God had given them victory that day because of Jonathan's actions and daring faith. So all of Saul's blustering words come to nothing and the Philistines escape. However there is still a curse on Jonathan and now also upon Saul! Also Saul, who had only been grandstanding throughout this chapter, has been over-ruled by the leaders of his army. Perhaps this explains why Saul was afraid of the people in the next chapter Saul s Exploits 1 Sa 14: So Saul established his sovereignty over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the people of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he harassed them. {48} And he gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them. These verses appear to provide a summary of Saul's achievements prior to chapter 15 that describes his rejection by God. Whether the narrator means to suggest that following the battle in this chapter, Saul now led the armies of Israel well and defeated all their enemies on every side, is not sure. But Saul did deliver Israel from her enemies, although the warfare, especially with the Philistines, never ceased. Ammon, Moab and Edom were nations on the East of Israel's borders. Zobah was the Aramian kingdom situated north of Damascus. The Philistines were embedded on the coast of the Mediterranean, to the west. The Amalekites were from the south west of Israel. Page 66 of 132

67 The statement in verse 47 that Saul had taken the kingdom is ambiguous and could mean that Saul had now begun to rule rather than cower away. 1 Sa 14: The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui, and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. {50} The name of Saul s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul s uncle. {51} Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. The narrator tells us that Saul had three sons and two daughters. His second son Ishvi is also known as Ish-Bosheth 79. The author of Chronicles tells us that Saul had four sons: 1 Ch 8:33. Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal. The fourth son, Abinadab, is mentioned in 1 Samuel 31, as one of the three sons that died in battle along with Saul. Saul's wife is named Ahinoam. In 2 Samuel 3:7 we read that Saul also had a concubine - Rizpah. Saul s cousin, Abner, was his army commander. 15. CHAPTER FIFTEEN Saul Commanded to Attack Amalek 1 Sa 15:1 3. Samuel also said to Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD. {2} Thus says the LORD of hosts: I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. {3} Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. Samuel comes to Saul and reminds the king that it was he who recognised and anointed Saul as king. In the same manner Samuel now delivers the word of the Lord to Saul. It is worthy of note that verse 1 is the first time we read that Saul was anointed as king. Previous occasions have spoken about him being anointed as leader or commander of God's people. In fulfilment of the prophecies given centuries before, the Lord was now going to repay the Amalekites for the unprovoked attack they made upon Israel during the Exodus. Dt 25: Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, {18} how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you 79 2 Sam 2:8 Page 67 of 132

68 were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. {19} Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget. The Amalekites attacked the weak stragglers in Israel, but they regretted the resulting battle. Ex 17:8 16. Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. {9} And Moses said to Joshua, Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand. {10} So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. {11} And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. {12} But Moses hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. {13} So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. {14} Then the LORD said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. {15} And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner; {16} for he said, Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Now the Lord commands Saul to utterly destroy all the Amalekites in a command that is similar to the instructions given to Joshua to destroy Jericho. Jos 6: Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. {18} And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. {19} But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD. Saul in commanded that every living person and animal was to be put to death. They were to be given over to utter destruction, as though the people and all their possessions where totally cursed. Page 68 of 132

69 In light of Israel's defeat at Ai because the sin of Achan at Jericho 80, we would think that all the Israelites would have been very careful to totally fulfil the world of the Lord. Perhaps they were ignorant of the details of the story? Saul would have done well to remind the troops of their history, prior to going on this crusade. Modern thinking may consider it unjust that all these Amalekites, including the infants and cattle are slaughtered for the sins of their ancestors. Some might even say that this was a contradiction of what God says in Ezekiel 18. Eze 18:20. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. Modern thought is very individualistic. The Bible treats people as part of communities and states that there are consequences for people's actions upon the whole community. The whole of Israel suffered because of the sin of Achan. The whole of mankind is counted as being guilty of the sin of Adam. All those who are in Christ are counted as being righteous. We might ask why God has waited until now to punish the Amalekites. It may be that, as God described to Abraham concerning the Canaanites, that only now the sin of the Amalekites has reached its full measure. Whatever the divine reasoning behind the command to Saul we should be convinced that God is good and the judge of the all the earth does what is right. God is love and God is gracious and merciful, but He is also just and He punishes the wicked. Ex 34:6 7. And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, {7} keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children s children to the third and the fourth generation Saul Attacks Amalek 1 Sa 15:4 9. So Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah. {5} And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and lay in wait in the valley. {6} Then Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. {7} And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. {8} He also took Agag 80 Jos 7:1. But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel. Page 69 of 132

70 king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. {9} But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. Saul gathers a large, impressive army which shows that they have come a long way from the days when he only had sin hundred troops. For an unstated reason, the men of Judah are numbered separately. The Kenites where living among the Amalekites, but Saul tells them to leave, sparing them because their ancestors showed kindness to Israel. The battle goes well for Israel, but they fail to obey the commandment of God. Instead of destroying everything, Saul and the troops save the best and only destroy the inferior. For some inexplicable reason, Saul even keeps Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive. They have shown selective obedience to the word of God. In Numbers Balaam prophesies about Agag. Nu 24:7. He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. It may be that Agag was a dynasty name like Abimelech or Pharaoh, rather than being a specific person. Although Israel has totally destroyed all the Amalekites in the territories invaded, the Amalekites are not totally destroyed and will occur again in Scripture. It appears that they had left some Amalekite communities untouched. 1 Sa 27:8. And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. For those nations were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as you go to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt. 1 Sa 30:1. Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, It will be an Amalekite who strips Saul's body of his royal ornaments, and claims to have killed the king: 2 Sa 1:6 10. Then the young man who told him said, As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. {7} Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, Here I am. {8} And he said to me, Who are you? So I answered him, I am an Amalekite. {9} He said to me again, Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me. {10} So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the Page 70 of 132

71 bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord. Centuries later the great enemy of the Jews, Haman the Agagite, will seek to annihilate the Jews because he is an Amalekite 81. Es 3:8 11. Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people s, and they do not keep the king s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. {9} If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king s treasuries. {10} So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. {11} And the king said to Haman, The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you Saul is Rejected as King 1 Sa 15: Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, {11} I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments. And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. {12} So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul went to Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal. Samuel is not present with Israel's army when Saul attacks Amalek. The Lord tells him that Saul has turned back from following the Lord and disobeyed His command. In this passage we read a remarkable phrase; the Lord's regrets making Saul king. The Omniscient God who knows the end from the beginning expresses regret for a decision, even though He had known what the outcome would be. We understand that the Lord is describing His reaction to Saul's disobedience using human terms. He is not saying that He made the wrong choice, only that the outcome now saddened His heart. Saul had been the right choice at the time; there was no one like him in all Israel. But whatever his potential had been, Saul had failed to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. Israel had wanted a man to be king over them, and the failings of Saul reflect the weakness of human nature and the flaws ability of all human leaders. We will later read in the prophets: Ho 13:11. I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath. 81 According to Josephus Page 71 of 132

72 Samuel is not told explicitly that God has rejected Saul. Samuel is distressed and spends the night praying. Perhaps he is praying for forgiveness for Saul. He certainly would be praying for Israel. When Samuel goes to meet Saul, he is told that he has gone to set up a monument for himself. This action shows the degenerate nature of Saul's heart. It appears he is accrediting the victory to himself and not to the Lord. Absalom is another rebellious person who will set up a monument in his own honour. In Saul's own mind he is at the pinnacle of his reign. He does not yet know that he has started along the path of his demise. The Carmel mentioned here is not the famous Mount Carmel near the sea, but a place in the wilderness of Judah Samuel Confronts Saul 1 Sa 15: Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD. {14} But Samuel said, What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? {15} And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. {16} Then Samuel said to Saul, Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night. And he said to him, Speak on. {17} So Samuel said, When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? {18} Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed. {19} Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD? {20} And Saul said to Samuel, But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. {21} But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal. {22} So Samuel said: Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. {23} For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king. {24} Then Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. {25} Now Page 72 of 132

73 therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD. {26} But Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel. {27} And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. {28} So Samuel said to him, The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbour of yours, who is better than you. {29} And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent. {30} Then he said, I have sinned; yet honour me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God. {31} So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD. Upon meeting Samuel, Saul greets the prophet and states that he has obeyed the word of the Lord. Samuel words show that he has come to talk about what Saul has failed to do, rather than rejoice in what he has done. When challenged about the sheep and cattle Saul states that "they", his men, brought them back to offer as a sacrifice, but "we" destroyed everything else. These animals had been spared because they were fine beasts. It is likely that the men had expected to keep some of the animals. Saul is insistent that he has obeyed the word of the Lord but Samuel informs him what the Lord has said to him. Samuel shows no fear of Saul and commands him to "be still" or shut up. Saul had once walked humbly before God, but now he had done evil in God's sight by rushing upon the spoil. Saul continues to argue that he has obeyed the word of the Lord. He admits that the animals were devoted to destruction, but states that he was going to kill them as a sacrifice before the Lord at Gilgal. Samuel's reply is a classic section of Scripture. Religious acts devoid of faith and obedience are worthless and are not respected by God. Furthermore to wilfully disregard the command of God was to stand guilty before the Lord, as equally as those who practise divination or idolatry. No sacrifice can mask rebellion. We may consider it ironical that at the end of his days Saul will fill his measure of sin and actually practise divination! 82 Samuel finally declares that God has rejected Saul as king. Whether this had been revealed to Samuel prior to this we are not told. We knew God was grieved with Saul, but now the proclamation of his rejection is made. Finally Saul confesses the truth. He failed to restrain his men from the spoil because he was afraid of him. Proverbs says; Pr 29:25. The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. Saul confesses his sin and asks for forgiveness, but the rejection of Saul as king is complete and unchangeable. As Samuel said God is not a man that he should 82 1 Sa 28 Page 73 of 132

74 change his mind. Saul's repentance does not alter the fact that he has been rejected as ruler of God's people. Verse 29 is a key theological statement. 1 Sa 15:29. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent. God does not lie or change his mind. He is not human. Unlike us He knows exactly what the future holds, He does not have to reconsider His decisions or adjust a course of action. Unlike human beings, there is no inner conflict in the divine mind. His yes means yes and His no means no. Why then do we read on a few occasions of God relenting? When the Lord chose Saul as king it was in answer to the demands of Israel and Saul was the best person for the job. But when the Lord rejected Saul as king it was because Saul had stopped following the Lord. Samuel had warned Israel and Saul that if they turned away from the Lord, He would reject them. Interestingly Samuel refers to the Lord as "the glory of Israel". Phinehas s wife may have thought that the glory had departed, but Samuel knew that the Lord remained the glory of Israel. Once again Saul's failure hadn't been an incorrectly executed religious practise but a fear motivated disobedience to the Lord. When Saul grabs Samuel s cloak and tares it, he unwittingly enacts his own future. God was going to take the kingdom from Saul and give it to one better than him. For the second time Saul asks Samuel to be with celebrations. He sounds worried what people would think if Samuel did not go with him. Samuel does return with Saul. 1 Sa 15: Then Samuel said, Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me. So Agag came to him cautiously. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. {33} But Samuel said, As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women. And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. Samuel finishes off some unfinished business - he hacks Agag to death, punishment for the atrocities he had committed. 1 Sa 15: Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. {35} And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel. Samuel and Saul depart company and never again will Samuel advise or instruct the king. The aged prophet is daily grieved over Saul. Page 74 of 132

75 16. CHAPTER SIXTEEN David the Son of Jesse is Anointed 1 Sa 16:1 3. Now the LORD said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons. {2} And Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me. But the LORD said, Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. {3} Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you. The Lord tells Samuel to stop grieving for Saul and the missed opportunities, but to fill his flask with fresh oil and look to the future. The Lord has chosen the man to replace Saul, the son of a Bethlehemite called Jesse. The question "how long" suggests that a period of time had passed since the events of chapter 15. Despite his previous boldness towards Saul, Samuel now believes that Saul would kill him to prevent his successor being anointed. Had Saul changed so much already? 1 Sa 16:4 13. So Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Do you come peaceably? {5} And he said, Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. {6} So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, Surely the LORD s anointed is before Him! {7} But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. {8} So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither has the LORD chosen this one. {9} Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, Neither has the LORD chosen this one. {10} Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, The LORD has not chosen these. {11} And Samuel said to Jesse, Are all the young men here? Then he said, There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here. {12} So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him; for this is the one! {13} Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. Page 75 of 132

76 Samuel goes to Bethlehem to make a sacrifice, but will meet the sons of Jesse whilst there. Interestingly the elders of the town appear fearful of Samuel. When Jesse presents his sons, Samuel is impressed by the appearance of Eliab, the first born. He looks every inch a king. But the Lord states that He does not look at the image of a man but at his heart. Jesse has brought his first seven sons to the sacrifice as ordered, but neglected to bring the youngest, who is looking after the sheep. After God rejects the first seven, they wait while David is brought from the field. In this chapter David is the eighth of Jesse's sons, but in 1 Chronicles chapter 2, David is said to be the seventh son of Jesse. Perhaps an older brother of David died young without leaving any offspring. The Lord announces that David is His chosen one and Samuel anoints him in the presence of his family. From that time the Spirit of the Lord comes upon David. This private event is kept secret for some considerable time. Although Samuel knows that this man is the one God has selected to be the next king of Israel, when he anoints him he does not give him any title. David is king designate, but he is not actually king yet. We previously read how with regard to Saul, God gave Israel a king in his anger. Saul was the best of men and the most suitable for the task. But in David God has selected a man after His own heart and for His eternal purpose. Above all we shall see that David is a man of faith, a worshipper who is sensitive to God's leading. David is the foundation for a dynasty that will bring forth the Messiah, the ultimate and eternal king of Israel. David will be the measure of all the kings that follow. Those who do well will be described as being like David their father Saul is Tormented by an Evil Spirit 1 Sa 16: But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. {15} And Saul s servants said to him, Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. {16} Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well. {17} So Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me. {18} Then one of the servants answered and said, Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skilful in playing, a mighty man of valour, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him. {19} Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me your son David, who is with the sheep. {20} And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and Page 76 of 132

77 sent them by his son David to Saul. {21} So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armour bearer. {22} Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Please let David stand before me, for he has found favour in my sight. {23} And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. It is no coincidence that as David is anointed by God, that we are told the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul. He may have the title of the Lord's Anointed, but he no longer had the enabling, guiding presence of God in his life. As the spirit of the Lord departs from Saul, an evil spirit comes into Saul's life to torment him. The narrator and Saul's men state that this evil spirit has been sent by God. In the New Testament we are more comfortable in describing this torment as allowed by God in consequence to Saul's sin. However even the gospels speak of tormentors being used to punish people: Mt 18: Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. {33} Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? {34} And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. {35} So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses. Later in the Old Testament we read a story where God sends an evil spirit to deceive Ahab: 1 Ki 22: And the LORD said, Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead? So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. {21} Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. {22} The LORD said to him, In what way? So he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so. {23} Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you. Jesus told the following parable, which appears to describe Saul s fate since he turned back from following the Lord: Lk 11: When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, I will return to my house from which I came. {25} And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. {26} Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Page 77 of 132

78 Saul's officials seek after a skilful musician who can play before Saul when he is tormented. One man advises that David the son of Jesse is a suitable candidate for the job. David is called for and pleases Saul and becomes one of the king's armour bearers. The Lord is positioning his man in readiness. God has not called for Saul to resign through the prophet; the transition from one dynasty to another is not going to be neat and tidy. Through this transition period David will undergo many trials, but will come forth proven. The people of Israel had been quick to accept Saul when Samuel presented him; however they will not be so quick to recognise David. 17. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Goliath Challenges Israel 1 Sa 17:1 11. Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. {2} And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. {3} The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. {4} And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. {5} He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. {6} And he had bronze armour on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. {7} Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. {8} Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. {9} If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us. {10} And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. {11} When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Although David has been brought before Saul as a musician and has been made an armour-bearer, this chapter shows that he is not yet known well by the king. His status as armour bearer appears to have been a ceremonial, suited for the palace. When war comes David is sent home. Thanks to Samuel and Saul's earlier battles, the Israelites were no longer slaves to the Philistines and there were no longer any Philistine garrisons in Israel. But Page 78 of 132

79 their war-like neighbours were once again on the ascendency and invaded Israel. No description is given about the number of their troops or chariots, but they have a new strategy; they have a giant among their number. There had been a race of giant people living in Canaan when Israel invaded the land, the Anakim or the sons of Anak. It was because the 10 Israeli spies saw themselves as grasshoppers when compared against the Anakim, that they stated they were unable to possess the Promised Land. Dt 1:28. Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there. Nu 13:33. There we saw the giants the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight. However Joshua s generation did dispossess the Anakim, but some remained in the Philistine territory: Jos 11: And at that time Joshua came and cut off the Anakim from the mountains: from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. {22} None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. Unlike Joshua, Saul s generation were not faced with groups of Anakim, only a single man. It shows what a different attitude these Israelites possessed. Truly Goliath is physically impressive. He is about nine feet nine inches tall and the reach of his sword arm was greater than any other man. His body's vulnerabilities were protected by armour that weighed about 175 pounds. This armour is believed to have been overlapping bronze plates that acted like fish scales. His spear had an armour-piercing, iron head that weighed about 15 pounds and his great physical strength could effectively employ the weapon. When the two armies oppose each other in battle arrangement, Goliath steps forth and makes a challenge to Israel. Why fight a big battle were thousands would die? Let two champions fight and determine the outcome. The losing side would become subservient to the winning side. No man from Israel volunteered to fight with Goliath. We will later hear that Goliath makes this challenge to Israel's troops twice a day for forty days, totally demoralising them. King Saul had been anointed to deliver Israel from the Philistines, but he had turn back from the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord and left him. In attempt to entice a champion Saul has offered various rewards for any man who will fight Goliath: riches, the king's daughter for his wife and exempt of taxation. But such rewards are only any good if you kill Goliath. Page 79 of 132

80 Saul had allowed himself and Israel become subject to Goliath's conditions and as a result they were being worn down by the enemy s speech. But the Lord had allowed the whole affair to reveal the new man who was anointed to deliver Israel David Comes to the Battle 1 Sa 17: Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. {13} The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. {14} David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. {15} But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father s sheep at Bethlehem. {16} And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. {17} Then Jesse said to his son David, Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. {18} And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them. {19} Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. The narrator again introduces us to David the son of Jesse. David, the anointed one, is back with the sheep, but his three eldest brothers are in Saul' army in the valley of Elah. Jesse chooses David out of the five remaining sons and send him to the Israelite camp with provisions (probably some form of taxation that people gave to support the army) and to see how his brothers are doing. Divine providence is working. 1 Sa 17: So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. {21} For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. {22} And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. {23} Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. {24} And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. {25} So the men of Israel said, Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father s house exemption from taxes in Israel. {26} Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, What shall be done for the man Page 80 of 132

81 who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? {27} And the people answered him in this manner, saying, So shall it be done for the man who kills him. {28} Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab s anger was aroused against David, and he said, Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle. {29} And David said, What have I done now? Is there not a cause? {30} Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did. David arrives just as Israel's troops are forming in their battle lines and singing their battle songs. David hastens to see his brothers and at that time Goliath appears and issues his challenge. Israel's soldiers flee from the giant, and some report to David what reward would be given to the man who overcomes the Philistine. Immediately David shows a different spirit. He knows no fear and neither does he see a giant. David sees an uncircumcised Philistine who has taunted the armies of the living God. David's expression of faith brings the immediate condemnation of his eldest brother, Eliab, who accuses David of wicked insolence and taunts his brother about his sheep. Is Eliab jealous that Samuel rejected him and anointed David? Is he angry because he feels afraid and David's word reminds him of him powerlessness? 1 Sa 17: Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. {32} Then David said to Saul, Let no man s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine. {33} And Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. {34} But David said to Saul, Your servant used to keep his father s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, {35} I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. {36} Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. {37} Moreover David said, The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the LORD be with you! {38} So Saul clothed David with his armour, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. {39} David fastened his sword to his armour and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, I cannot walk Page 81 of 132

82 with these, for I have not tested them. So David took them off. {40} Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. David's confident words and reported to Saul who sends for David. But on seeing David, Saul states that David cannot fight because he is only a youth and Goliath is an experienced warrior. But David has qualifications, he has fought and killed a lion and a bear, and he knew that this Philistine would fall as they did. Ironical that the very thing that Eliab taunts David about, tending sheep in the wilderness, is the very thing that has trained David to face this challenge. Something of David's different spirit is seen in that he had risked his life for the sake of a couple of lambs. When had these challenges been faced? I suspect they were following David's anointing. As the spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, in the same way David arose with spiritual energy, strength and faith. So Saul allows David to face the giant and dresses him in his own armour for protection. But David felt encumbered by the unusual weight and restrictions and so goes as dressed as a shepherd. We might wonder what Eliab felt at this stage? Did he pronounce that David would surely die? Were Saul and Israel feeling confident when they saw their champion running forward without a sword or armour? David weapon was his shepherd's sling. He chose five smooth stones from a stream bed in preparation. Some have preached the prophetic significance of five stones concerning the number of Philistine champions David's future men would kill David Fights Goliath 1 Sa 17: So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. {42} And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. {43} So the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. {44} And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field! {45} Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. {46} This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. {47} Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD s, Page 82 of 132

83 and He will give you into our hands. {48} So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. {49} Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. {50} So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. {51} Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. {52} Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. {53} Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. {54} And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armour in his tent. {55} When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As your soul lives, O king, I do not know. {56} So the king said, Inquire whose son this young man is. {57} Then, as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. {58} And Saul said to him, Whose son are you, young man? So David answered, I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite. Goliath threatens and curses David, but David pronounces his faith in the Lord. The living God would deliver Goliath into David's hand and show to the armies gathered that the battle isn't won through weaponry or physical strength but the battle is the Lord's. For information concerning the effectiveness of the sling as a weapon see Appendix 2: The Sling as a Weapon. So after 40 days of his taunting Israel, Goliath is dispatched by a faith-filled, spirit anointed youth. The Lord's new anointed is revealed. Saul and Abner cannot remember who David is, but they will never forget him again. 18. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Jonathan and David s Covenant 1 Sa 18:1 4. Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. {2} Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father s house anymore. {3} Then Jonathan and David Page 83 of 132

84 made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. {4} And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armour, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. Jonathan, Saul s courageous and faith-filled son, is present when David returns with Goliath s head. There is an instant knitting together of the hearts of these two young men of God, and Jonathan honours David with his own armour, sword and robe. David had refused Saul s armour, but now he accepts Jonathan s. The reason David had rejected Saul s armour had been solely practical he was not used to moving in armour and was restricted and uncomfortable. Now as a full time commander, armour was to be David s uniform. Some have seen a prophetic statement in David receiving Jonathan s armour, referring to the giving of the kingdom to David. It is unimaginable that this was Jonathan s intent or understanding at this first meeting. He just wishes to greatly honour this young man who has such daring faith. We might wonder why Jonathan was among those paralysed with fear by Goliath s taunts, when he had shown outstanding faith when he attached the Philistine outpost. We should recognise that this was God s chosen opportunity to reveal David to Israel, and therefore Jonathan would not have been given any special grace to stand before Goliath. Verse 3 states that Jonathan and David make a covenant together. It should not be assumed that this was done on this first time of their meeting. This passage is summarizes David s new position in the king s army and covers events that happened over a period of time. There are two later occasions when we told of a covenant between David and Jonathan. 83 This passage and others talk about the love that Jonathan and David shared. Later, when speaking after Jonathan s death, we read David say: 2 Sa 1:26. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. Some liberal commentators have suggested that this strong love that David and Jonathan shared must have been a homosexual relationship. The Hebrew text does not support such a claim 84. The word for love here is aheb and is never used within Scripture concerning homosexual desire. The Hebrew word yada is used, which means to know. Aheb is used of a covenantal love, something more than emotional affection. It is used of king Hiram concerning his relationship with David: 1 Ki 5:1. Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always loved David Sa 20:16, 1 Sa 23:18 84 The Expositor s Bible Commentary Page 84 of 132

85 Those of us who fully believe in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures would find it contradictory to see the favour of God resting heavily upon David, if David was actively breaking God s law. The God who supernaturally exposed and judged the heterosexual sins of David 85, would surely have acted if David had violated other commandments. Those who do not believe in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures would surely recognise a glaring inconsistency on the part of authors and editors of the Old Testament, if David was an active homosexual. 1 Sa 18:5. So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul s servants. Saul gave David a command in the army and he was accepted by all the people. David distinguished himself by acting wisely. Verse 5 may be the promotion spoken about in verse 13, which took place after the armies return from the Goliath episode Saul s Jealousy of David 1 Sa 18:6 9. Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. {7} So the women sang as they danced, and said: Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. {8} Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom? {9} So Saul eyed David from that day forward. The Spirit of the Lord has left Saul and an evil spirit often torments his mind. Now we read how Saul soon becomes jealous of David s popularity. Saul believes that David is accredited the larger share of the victory over the Philistine army, because he was the only one who was willing to face up to Goliath. This may not have been the intention of the song-writer who was using Hebrew poetic parallelism. For example: Ps 91:7. Mic 6:7. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? The song writer also placed Saul before David, giving him pride of place. David has won the heart of Jonathan and all the people. Saul is feeling pushed out and sees David as a rival for the throne. Perhaps Saul realises that David was the man after God s own heart Samuel had spoken about. 85 The transgression with Bathsheba. Page 85 of 132

86 18.3. Saul Tries to Kill David 1 Sa 18: And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul s hand. {11} And Saul cast the spear, for he said, I will pin David to the wall! But David escaped his presence twice. {12} Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul. {13} Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. {14} And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. {15} Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. {16} But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. Once David s playing had brought comfort to Saul when he was distressed by an evil spirit. But now Saul s jealousy and suspicion bring forth a murderous rage. Saul tries to kill David with a spear, but David escapes. Verse 10 appears to emphasise the use of the two men s hands. David played music with his but Saul had a spear in his. David is promoted out of Saul s way. This may be the promotion spoke of earlier in the chapter. Again David distinguishes himself through behaving wisely and he wins the hearts of all the people. It is evident that the Lord is with David, and this further aggravates Saul David Marries the King s Daughter 1 Sa 18: Then Saul said to David, Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the LORD s battles. For Saul thought, Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him. {18} So David said to Saul, Who am I, and what is my life or my father s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king? {19} But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife. {20} Now Michal, Saul s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. {21} So Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, You shall be my son-in-law today. {22} And Saul commanded his servants, Communicate with David secretly, and say, Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king s son-in-law. {23} So Saul s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king s son-in- Page 86 of 132

87 law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man? {24} And the servants of Saul told him, saying, In this manner David spoke. Marriage to Saul s daughter had been part of the reward promised to whoever did slay Goliath. Saul now offers Merab, his oldest daughter, to David. But David sees that he and his family are too humble to marry into the royal family. Merab is given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife, to whom she bears five sons 86. David is later offered another of Saul s daughters, Michal, who was attracted to David. But David states to the officials that he considers himself too poor to provide a dowry. Saul s real intention is to have David killed in battle. 1 Sa 18: Then Saul said, Thus you shall say to David: The king does not desire any dowry but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. {26} So when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to become the king s son-in-law. Now the days had not expired; {27} therefore David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men 87 of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full count to the king, that he might become the king s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife. {28} Thus Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul s daughter, loved him; {29} and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David s enemy continually. When Saul learns that David is concerned about the dowry price he sees an opportunity to have David killed. The dowry Saul sets is 100 foreskins from Philistine soldiers, a gruesome proof of the death. It is unimaginable to us that David and his soldiers might mutilate the corpses of fallen Philistines to acquire such a prize. The thing that distinguished the Israelites from the neighbours was their covenant with the Lord. This covenant was symbolised in the circumcision of all Israelite males. David had declared that Goliath was an uncircumcised Philistine. David responds to Saul s request by producing the foreskins from two hundred fallen Philistines, and he is married to Michal. Although it was an arranged marriage, Michal does love David. Unfortunately she is not going to have a happy life. We are not told that David loved Michal. Saul is made even more jealous by David success. It is obvious that the Lord is with David and now his own daughter loves him Sa 21:8. So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 87 The LXX says 100. Page 87 of 132

88 We may think it strange that Saul never considers stepping down as King. It was the Lord who made him king and the Lord had said that Saul was to be replaced. Saul does not inquire with Samuel how or when he might step down, he seems determined to hang on to the kingdom David Acts Wisely 1 Sa 18:30. Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war. And so it was, whenever they went out, that David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed. David is seen to be a wise and successful commander in Saul s army. Wisdom is the recurring description of David in this chapter. This wisdom is doubtlessly produced from fearing the Lord. Pr 9:10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Saul has lacked wisdom because of his fear of man. 19. CHAPTER NINETEEN Jonathan Intercedes for David 1 Sa 19:1 8. Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul s son, delighted greatly in David. {2} So Jonathan told David, saying, My father Saul seeks to kill you. Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide. {3} And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you. Then what I observe, I will tell you. {4} Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you. {5} For he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause? {6} So Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed. {7} Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these things. So Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as in times past. {8} And there was war again; and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and struck them with a mighty blow, and they fled from him. Saul demands that his servants kill David. Jonathan warns David and questions his father about his intentions. After listening to Jonathan Saul sees reason and now takes an oath in the name of the Lord that David shall not be killed. The problem has been temporarily averted and David is again presented to Saul. Page 88 of 132

89 In the next round of war with the Philistines David s leadership was responsible for Israel s victory Michal Helps David Escape 1 Sa 19:9 17. Now the distressing spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. {10} Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night. {11} Saul also sent messengers to David s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David s wife, told him, saying, If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed. {12} So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped. {13} And Michal took an image and laid it in the bed, put a cover of goats hair for his head, and covered it with clothes. {14} So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. {15} Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him. {16} And when the messengers had come in, there was the image in the bed, with a cover of goats hair for his head. {17} Then Saul said to Michal, Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away, so that he has escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said to me, Let me go! Why should I kill you? Saul s goodwill towards David does not last. The evil spirit again distresses the king and he attempts to kill David with a spear. David manages to escape from Saul, but the king sends men to watch David s house and to kill him in the morning. Perhaps Saul didn t want David taken at night in front of Michal his daughter. Michal helps David slip out of the house and covers up his absence to give him time to escape. Like Rachel of old, Michal loves husband and defies her father. Rachel had stolen her father, Laban s, household idols. Strangely there is an idol (Hebrew terapim) in David s house. The title of psalm 50 says: To the Chief Musician. Set to Do Not Destroy. a Michtam of David When Saul Sent Men, and They Watched the House in Order to Kill Him David Flees to Samuel 1 Sa 19: So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth 88. {19} Now it was told Saul, saying, 88 Naioth means habitations. Rather than being the name of a town it might refer to the dwelling of the school of prophets at Ramah. Page 89 of 132

90 Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah! {20} Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. {21} And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. David now flees to Samuel at Ramah, doubtless to seek the old prophet s council. But Saul learns where David had fled to and sends messengers to arrest him. But when the messengers approach Samuel and the prophets, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon them and they join in the ecstatic praise. It appears that the messengers stay at Ramah. Saul responds by sending a second and a third group of messengers, but the same thing happens to these men. 1 Sa 19: Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, Where are Samuel and David? And someone said, Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah. {23} So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. {24} And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? Finally Saul goes along to Ramah himself but when he comes to Naioth the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him and he prophecies as he travels all the way to Ramah. Once there Saul also strips off his cloths and lay down there a day and a night. It seems unlikely that Saul was totally naked as such a thing was so against ancient Israeli culture. Most likely he stripped down to his undergarments. Whilst Saul is thus incapacitated, David escapes. 1 Sa 20:1. Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah The Spirit of the Lord protected David by incapacitating Saul and his men by this religious experience. Saul however was not transformed by this anointing. This story has some similarities with that in 2 Kings 89, when king Ahaziah sends groups of men to arrest Elijah. Verse 24 ends with the rhetorical question is Saul among the prophets? The same question was asked when Saul first visited Samuel 90, now it is asked when Saul visits Samuel for the last time Kings 1: Sa 10:11-12 Page 90 of 132

91 20. CHAPTER TWENTY David Speaks to Jonathan 1 Sa 20:1 10. Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and went and said to Jonathan, What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life? {2} So Jonathan said to him, By no means! You shall not die! Indeed, my father will do nothing either great or small without first telling me. And why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so! {3} Then David took an oath again, and said, Your father certainly knows that I have found favour in your eyes, and he has said, Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved. But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death. {4} So Jonathan said to David, Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you. {5} And David said to Jonathan, Indeed tomorrow is the New Moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat. But let me go, that I may hide in the field until the third day at evening. {6} If your father misses me at all, then say, David earnestly asked permission of me that he might run over to Bethlehem, his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. {7} If he says thus: It is well, your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, be sure that evil is determined by him. {8} Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. Nevertheless, if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father? {9} But Jonathan said, Far be it from you! For if I knew certainly that evil was determined by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you? {10} Then David said to Jonathan, Who will tell me, or what if your father answers you roughly? David returns to Gibeah of Saul in order to speak to Jonathan. In doing so he is running the risk of being seen and Saul being told. Jonathan finds it hard to believe that Saul is intending to kill David, so David devises a plan to expose Saul s motives. David will be absent from the New Moon feast. Saul s reaction to David s absence will reveal his motive. David already knew that Saul wanted to kill him. Perhaps the plan to expose Saul s motives was for the sake of Jonathan more than David. The Law demanded that there was a sacrifice made at each new moon to thank God for His goodness and blessing. 91. This sacrifice consisted of two bulls, one ram and seven lambs. An addition goat was offered as a sin offering. It was also a time of celebration and worship. The priests would blow the silver 91 Nu 28: Page 91 of 132

92 trumpets during the celebration. Afterward everyone would participate in a feast. 92 Despite plotting murder in his heart, Saul goes through the ritual of the feast Jonathan and David s Covenant 1 Sa 20: And Jonathan said to David, Come, let us go out into the field. So both of them went out into the field. {12} Then Jonathan said to David: The LORD God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you, {13} may the LORD do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And the LORD be with you as He has been with my father. {14} And you shall not only show me the kindness of the LORD while I still live, that I may not die; {15} but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth. {16} So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD require it at the hand of David s enemies. {17} Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul. Jonathan promises to inform David of Saul reaction. If the king does intent evil against David, then must flee. Jonathan then reveals his insight into David s future. Although at this time David is in danger a time will come when the Lord has cut off all of David s enemies. Jonathan sees that David will eventually have pre-eminence and requests that David makes a covenant towards Jonathan and his descendants Jonathan s Proposed Sign 1 Sa 20: Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. {19} And when you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid on the day of the deed; and remain by the stone Ezel. {20} Then I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target; {21} and there I will send a lad, saying, Go, find the arrows. If I expressly say to the lad, Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them and come then, as the LORD lives, there is safety for you and no harm. {22} But if I say thus to the young man, Look, the arrows are beyond you go your way, for the LORD has sent you away. {23} And as for the matter which you and I have spoken of, indeed the LORD be between you and me forever. 92 Nu 10:10 Page 92 of 132

93 Jonathan now describes how he will relay the news of Saul s reaction to David Saul s Intentions are Revealed 1 Sa 20: Then David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast. {25} Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul s side, but David s place was empty. {26} Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, Something has happened to him; he is unclean, surely he is unclean. {27} And it happened the next day, the second day of the month, that David s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why has the son of Jesse not come to eat, either yesterday or today? {28} So Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem. {29} And he said, Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. And now, if I have found favour in your eyes, please let me get away and see my brothers. Therefore he has not come to the king s table. {30} Then Saul s anger was aroused against Jonathan, and he said to him, You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! 93 Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother s nakedness? {31} For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die. {32} And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, Why should he be killed? What has he done? {33} Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David. {34} So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully. Saul notes that David is missing on the first day of the feast, but assumes that he must be ceremonially unclean and unable to participate at the feast. When David is missing on the second day, Saul enquires why David is not there. It surprises me that Saul expected David to be sitting at the table during the feast, seeing as Saul had previously tried to have him arrested and executed. When Jonathan explains that he had given David permission to go to Bethlehem, Saul goes into a rage and even throws a spear at Jonathan. Saul plainly states that David is a threat to his dynasty and that he must die. The truth had already been revealed to Saul by Samuel. The reason his dynasty would not be established was his own rash sacrifice The Hebrew phrase is vulgar, calling Jonathan the son of a slut Sa 13:1-14 Page 93 of 132

94 Jonathan s story that David s brother had commanded him to return home, suggests that Eliab was acting head of the household, perhaps because of the age of Jesse Jonathan Sends David Away 1 Sa 20: And so it was, in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad was with him. {36} Then he said to his lad, Now run, find the arrows which I shoot. As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. {37} When the lad had come to the place where the arrow was which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried out after the lad and said, Is not the arrow beyond you? {38} And Jonathan cried out after the lad, Make haste, hurry, do not delay! So Jonathan s lad gathered up the arrows and came back to his master. {39} But the lad did not know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew of the matter. {40} Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, Go, carry them to the city. {41} As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so. {42} Then Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, May the LORD be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever. So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city. At the appointed time Jonathan gives David the signal of Saul s intentions. When they are alone the two friends say their goodbyes and David departs. So the next phase of David s life starts. No longer is he the nation s hero, loved by all. Now he is a fugitive, treated like a criminal although he has done no wrong. 21. CHAPTER TWENTY ONE David goes to the High Priest 1 Sa 21:1 9. Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, Why are you alone, and no one is with you? {2} So David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you. And I have directed my young men to such and such a place. {3} Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found. {4} And the priest answered David and said, There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women. {5} Then David answered the priest, and said to him, Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are Page 94 of 132

95 holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day. {6} So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away. {7} Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul. {8} And David said to Ahimelech, Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king s business required haste. {9} So the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here. And David said, There is none like it; give it to me. David flees to Ahimelech the High Priest. We are not told why David chooses to go there, perhaps it is simply for the provisions he asked for. I suggest that David was looking for some spiritual encouragement and was reaching out to the Lord. This passage does not record David asking Ahimelech to enquire of the Lord for him, but in chapter 22 Doeg reports to Saul that Ahimelech did do so. Ahimelech seems to sense that something is wrong when he sees that David is alone and he is afraid. David lies about why he is there and his story is pretty unbelievable. Perhaps he was trying to prevent getting the priests in trouble with Saul. Lying is something that we will read David doing again. People might describe what David did as a white lie. It is nevertheless a falsehood and is against the command and wisdom of Scripture. David s lie also fails to achieve anything because his movements are seen and Saul punishes the priests anyway. There are circumstances in life when a lie might appear to be the best way to proceed, but Jesus reminds us that the devil is the father of lies. 95 Jesus was placed in some very difficult situations by the religious leaders, but never had to resort to a lie to escape their traps. If we were to pray for wisdom we too could avoid using lies. David appears alone before Ahimelech but states that his young men are waiting for him in such and such a place. Ahimelech gives the old showbread to David and his young men, even though it is only legal for the priests to eat it. He does seek a guarantee that the men are ceremonially clean. Ahimelech appears to conclude that in this instance human need is more important than the ceremonial law. 95 Jn 8:44. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. Page 95 of 132

96 Jesus referred to this event when He was accused of breaking the Sabbath by the Pharisees. 96 Mt 12:1 4. At that time Jesus went through the grain-fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. {2} And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath! {3} But He said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: {4} how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Jesus words indicate that the David did in deed have men with him. Commentators suggest that because David had some men with him, the visit to Ahimelech took place sometime after his departure from Jonathan, and that he had begun to gather some followers around him. However the fact that David did not yet have a sword would indicate that he had left in haste and that these events took place immediately after the last chapter. David takes Goliath s sword from Ahimelech and exclaims there is none like it. He seems to be forgetting that it did not do Goliath any good. The fact that there is showbread indicates that the Tabernacle was at Nob. The fact that there is showbread indicates that the Tabernacle was at Nob. A servant of Saul is present at Nob when David arrives Doeg the Edomite David Goes to the King of Gath 1 Sa 21: Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. {11} And the servants of Achish said to him, Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands? {12} Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. {13} So he changed his behaviour before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. {14} Then Achish said to his servants, Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? {15} Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house? David now seeks refuge amongst the Philistines and goes to Gath, the city of Goliath, whilst carrying Goliath s sword! As David stands before king Achish, he overhears the advisers reminding Achish of David s military victories over their own armies. The advisers seem to have misunderstood the words of the song of 96 Mt 12:1 4. Page 96 of 132

97 the Hebrew women and suggest that David was the people s choice as king of Israel. Realising the great danger that he is in, David resorts to another lie and feigns madness in the court of Achish. The deception does work and David escapes. David wrote psalm 34 following his experience before Achish. The introduction to that psalm states: A Psalm of David. When He Pretended Madness before Abimelech, Who Drove Him Away, and He Departed. 97 Achish may have been the king s name but Abimelech was a title. In the psalm David praises God for delivering him from all his troubles. He also claims to have sought the Lord. Psalm 56 was also written after David s events in Gath. Its superscription states: To the Chief Musician. Set to The Silent Dove in Distant Lands. a Michtam of David When the Philistines Captured Him in Gath. In this chapter David seems to have lost his spiritual poise and has been motivated by fear rather than faith. As a result he has resorted to lying to escape trouble. However his God has remained faithful and had delivered his anointed. We shall soon see that David will manage to settle down and display faith in this new season of his life. 22. CHAPTER TWENTY TWO David Goes to the Cave of Adullam 1 Sa 22:1 5. David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father s house heard it, they went down there to him. {2} And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him. {3} Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me. {4} So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. {5} Now the prophet Gad said to David, Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah. So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth. Fleeing Gath, David escapes to the cave of Adullam, which became one of David s favourite strongholds. It was situated about 12 miles southwest from Bethlehem, in the region of Judah. The introduction to psalm 142, a prayer for help when in trouble, states David composed it while living in the cave. 97 The New King James Version. Page 97 of 132

98 At this point all of David s father s household join David at the cave. They must have been afraid of king Saul. We might wonder whether Eliab resented David for the trouble that had befallen them all. David arranges for his elderly parents to stay in Moab, safe from Saul s madness. While David was hiding in the cave, 400 discontented men gathered to him there. This is a sizeable force and their number would produce logistic problems. Presumably they were discontent with Saul s leadership and the state of the country. They want a new leader, and man of faith and action. Verse 2 describes these men as being in distress, in debt or discontent. They do not sound like an ideal group for David to work with. It is therefore noteworthy that David will raise these people up and they will become David s mighty men who achieve so many great Spirit-filled exploits. 98 Among those who have gathered to David is the prophet Gad. After being at the cave for some time, Gad tells David that he should leave the cave and dwell in Judah. As a result David and his band relocate in the forest of Hereth Doeg the Edomite tells Saul regarding Abimelech 1 Sa 22:6 10. When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered now Saul was staying in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about him {7} then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds? {8} All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day. {9} Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. {10} And he inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. The self-pitying king Saul tells his Benjamite officials that they will all lose their positions if David, a Judean, became king instead of Him. He also reveals how deep his paranoia has become in that he believes Jonathan is plotting with David against him. It is at this point that Doeg reveals that David went to Ahimelech at Nob and received provisions. He also states that Ahimelech inquired of the Lord on behalf of David. That was not recorded in chapter 21. Are we being given detail that was overlooked last time, or is Doeg embellishing what went on? 98 2 Sa 8: Location unknown except it was in Judah. Page 98 of 132

99 22.3. Saul has the Priest Murdered 1 Sa 22: So the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father s house, the priests who were in Nob. And they all came to the king. {12} And Saul said, Hear now, son of Ahitub! He answered, Here I am, my lord. {13} Then Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day? {14} So Ahimelech answered the king and said, And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the king s son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honourable in your house? {15} Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much. {16} And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father s house! {17} Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me. But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the LORD. {18} And the king said to Doeg, You turn and kill the priests! So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. {19} Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword 100, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep with the edge of the sword. Saul s depravity and rebellion against the Lord reaches new heights in this section. He had previously turned back from following God and now he throws aside all pretence of religion. There is absolutely no fear of God in Saul s mind. Ahimelech and all the priests are summoned before Saul. He charges Ahimelech of conspiring with David against him. Ahimelech states that he acted in all innocence in giving provisions to David. Why would helping the king s honourable servant and son-in-law be considered a treacherous act? He also states that he did not enquire of the Lord for David against the king. There is no reasoning with Saul and the king orders that all the priests are killed. However his guard fear to strike the priests of God and so Doeg the Edomite kills eighty five priests and all their families. We are reminded of the judgement that was spoken against the house of Eli in chapter 2. Although the slaughter of the priests was an evil deed performed by evil men, the fact that it could happen was the fault of Eli and his sons. 100 Literally the mouth of the sword, perhaps a reference to the curved blades used in the Old Testament period. Page 99 of 132

100 22.4. Abiathar flees to David 1 Sa 22: Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. {21} And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the LORD s priests. {22} So David said to Abiathar, I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father s house. {23} Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe. One priest, Abiathar escaped the slaughter and goes to David who promises him protection. David realises that it is a consequence of his actions that have brought about the death of the priests. David, in contrast to Saul, embraces the priest of the Lord. Abiathar will serve with David for all of David s days. He will however be removed from office by Solomon for siding against him in a rebellion. 1 Ki 2: And to Abiathar the priest the king said, Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted. {27} So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfil the word of the LORD which He spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh. The deposing of Abiathar will be the final act in the judgement of Eli house. No longer will anyone from Eli s linage serve before the Lord. Solomon replaced Abiathar with Zadok CHAPTER TWENTY THREE David Rescues Keilah 1 Sa 23:1 6. Then they told David, saying, Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors. {2} Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and attack these Philistines? And the LORD said to David, Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah. {3} But David s men said to him, Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? {4} Then David inquired of the LORD once again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand. {5} And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. {6} Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he went down with an ephod in his hand Kings 2:35 Page 100 of 132

101 While David is hiding in Judah, the Philistines raid Keilah 102 in the western foothills of Judah. They were coming to rob Israel of their harvest and grain stores. The Philistine threat had been contained when Saul and David were fighting together against their aggressive neighbours. But now the threat is back. When David hears the news of the invasion he enquires of the Lord whether he should go and fight the Philistines. This enquiry is performed through the ministry of Abiathar who had brought an ephod with him when he fled Saul s murderous rage. We may presume that Urim and Thummim were contained within the ephod. See Appendix 1: The Breastplate of Judgement. When David s men express fear and doubt about the expedition, David questions his own understanding of God s will and again enquires of the Lord. Having being reassured by the Lord, David and his men attack and defeat the Philistines at Keilah. We have noted some things about David s leadership. Firstly he took the initiative. He could have said that delivering Israel from the Philistines was Saul s responsibility and not his concern. Secondly he sought guidance from the Lord. Thirdly was not made to feel insecure by others questioning his decisions. Next he was humble enough to double-check his plans. Finally when reassured, David acted decisively Saul Plots to Attack Keilah 1 Sa 23:7 13. And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars. {8} Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. {9} When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring the ephod here. {10} Then David said, O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. {11} Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant. And the LORD said, He will come down. {12} Then David said, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver you. {13} So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition. When Saul hears that David is in Keilah, he is stirred into action and calls the army to assemble. The people of Keilah might have questioned why king Saul did not come to their aid against the Philistines? David had enquired of the Lord as to what action to take, Saul makes no such enquiry and as ever his plans 102 Situated eighteen miles south west of Jerusalem and three miles south east from Adullam. Page 101 of 132

102 end in frustration. We noted in 9.1. Saul the Son of Kish that the kings name means asked. Ironical therefore that asking God was something he did not do. Upon hearing that David is in Keilah, Saul exclaims God has delivered him into my hand, even though he had murdered the priests of the Lord. This carnal man concludes that David s capture is inevitable and that this was a sign of God s help. He was totally wrong. Today too many Christians are quick to look at circumstances and declare It s the Lord without seeking the Lord. David hears what Saul is planning and enquires of the Lord concerning what to do. As a result he leaves Keilah. By this time the number of David s men has risen to six hundred. We might consider the people of Keilah ungrateful for being willing to hand David over to Saul. But is Saul had laid siege to the city they would all have expected to be killed Jonathan Encourages David 1 Sa 23: And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. {15} So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest. {16} Then Jonathan, Saul s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. {17} And he said to him, Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that. {18} So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house. David now retreated to the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph, west of the Dead Sea. It is difficult to hide a band of six hundred men, but the Lord hid them from Saul. Jonathan however was able to find David, and in the last meeting of their lives, he encouraged his friend s faith. He explains to David that it was now obvious to everyone, even Saul, that David was to be the next king of Israel. Jonathan has assumed that he will serve alongside David, a position he is glad to take. Sadly Jonathan s fate is tied up with his father David Escapes Saul s Grasp 1 Sa 23: Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? {20} Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king s hand. {21} And Saul said, Blessed are you of the LORD, for you have compassion on me. {22} Please go and find out for sure, and see the place where his hideout is, and who has seen him there. For I am told he is very crafty. {23} See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides; and come back to me with Page 102 of 132

103 certainty, and I will go with you. And it shall be, if he is in the land, that I will search for him throughout all the clans of Judah. {24} So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. {25} When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David. Therefore he went down to the rock, and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon. {26} Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them. {27} But a messenger came to Saul, saying, Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land! {28} Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape. {29} Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi. The Ziphites were from Judah, but nevertheless they inform Saul of David s whereabouts. Whether they feared the king s reprisals or they were seeking a reward, they acted out of self-interest. David wrote psalm 54 after this event. The title of the psalm says: Chief Musician. With Contemplation of David When the Ziphites Went and Said to Saul, Is David Not Hiding with Us? Given reliable information about David s position Saul is able to pursue his quarry. He is gaining on David, chasing him around a mountain, when he is recalled because the Philistines have again invaded the land. So David escapes are moves to En Gedi 103. En Gedi was on the western shores of the Dead Sea and there was a spring here. It is also known as Hazazon Tamar in Scripture CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR David Spares Saul s Life 1 Sa 24:1 7. Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi. {2} Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. {3} So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) {4} Then the men of David said to him, This is the day of which the LORD said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into 103 En Gedi means Spring of the young goat. 104 Gen 14:7, 2 Chron 20:2 Page 103 of 132

104 your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you. And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul s robe. {5} Now it happened afterward that David s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul s robe. {6} And he said to his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. {7} So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. As soon as Saul ceases fighting the Philistines, he returns to his obsession about David. Having been given information concerning their location, Saul takes 3,000 soldiers to attack David and his men. David is hiding deep within a cave with at least some of his men when king Saul enters the cave to relieve himself. David s men see this as providence providing an opportunity for David to kill the king. He silently creeps up behind Saul and cuts off the corner or border of Saul s kingly garment. But such is the sensitivity of his conscience that he is immediately guilt stricken. David is aware of God s will and refuses to harm Saul. He recognises that to do so would be to lift his hand against the Lord s anointed. Saul belongs to the Lord. It is the Lord who gave him the crown and it is the Lord s responsibility to remove the king from the throne. Any individual that would lift their hand against Saul, would be sinning against the Lord. In this refusal to harm Saul, David shows the quality of his character and why he is considered a man after God s own heart. Saul has treated David shamefully and has constantly sought to kill him. But David trusts in the Lord and refuses to take things in his own hands. Many in political leadership take a pragmatic view of things. They will take moral short-cuts when they consider the outcome is for the greater good. David sees through such worldly thinking David Reveals Himself to Saul 1 Sa 24:8 15. David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. {9} And David said to Saul: Why do you listen to the words of men who say, Indeed David seeks your harm? {10} Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD s anointed. {11} Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. {12} Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. {13} As the proverb of the Page 104 of 132

105 ancients says, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked. But my hand shall not be against you. {14} After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? {15} Therefore let the LORD be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand. After Saul leaves the cave, David follows him outside; presumably keeping a distance between himself and the ruler. David humbly bows before the monarch and asks why Saul considers that David seeks his harm. He then explains how easily he could have killed the king and shows the piece of garment as proof. But he reassures Saul that he will never lift his hand against the anointed ruler of Israel. David refers to Saul as father, perhaps a reminder to the king that he is David s father-in-law. David is no fool. He knows that Saul cannot be trusted. So David says to the king the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. He also uses a proverb to the king, wickedness proceeds from the wicked indicating that Saul s behaviour revealed the state of his soul Saul is Contrite 1 Sa 24: So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. {17} Then he said to David: You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. {18} And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. {19} For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. {20} And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. {21} Therefore swear now to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father s house. {22} So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. After David has finished speaking Saul is lucid and confesses that David has done the king no harm, even though Saul has sought his life. Saul recognises the quality of David and understands that he will indeed be established as king over Israel. He asks that David will not kill Saul descendants when he becomes king. The killing of potential rival claimants to the throne has been a common practise throughout history. David does make the promise and Saul ceases from the chase. Page 105 of 132

106 25. CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE Samuel Dies 1 Sa 25:1. Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran. Finally the old prophet Samuel dies and is buried in Ramah. The last of the judges of Israel has died. The Israelites gathered together to lament the man of God who led them and delivered them from their enemies. This was the equivalent of a state funeral. There is no mention of Saul participating in this public event. We assume that David would not have felt he could come out of his strongholds for such a public event. Whether it is because Samuel has died, David chooses this time to relocate in the Wilderness of Paran, which is in the southern part of Judah. Samuel had served the Lord and Israel from his days as a child in the tabernacle. He is among greatest and most important Old Testament leaders among Israel s history. He was the last of the judges and Israel new rest from war with the Philistines when he judged the nation. He was a prophet / seer who anointed the first two kings of Israel. He was the first in a line of prophets who had great influence in years of Israel s monarchies. Perhaps the greatest of the accolades given about Samuel is the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah. In the following verse Moses and Samuel are put forth as the great leaders and intercessors of Israel: Je 15: David and Nabal Then the LORD said to me, Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favourable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth. 1 Sa 25:2 22. Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel 105, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. {3} The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb. {4} When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep, {5} David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. {6} And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! {7} Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything 105 Carmel can be translated as vineyard land or garden. Page 106 of 132

107 missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. {8} Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favour in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David. {9} So when David s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited. {10} Then Nabal answered David s servants, and said, Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. {11} Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from? {12} So David s young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words. {13} Then David said to his men, Every man gird on his sword. So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies. {14} Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal s wife, saying, Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them. {15} But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields. {16} They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep. {17} Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him. {18} Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys. {19} And she said to her servants, Go on before me; see, I am coming after you. But she did not tell her husband Nabal. {20} So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them. {21} Now David had said, Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. {22} May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light. We are introduced to a man named Nabal who was extremely wealthy and whose flocks were kept at Carmel. This is not the famous Mount Carmel near the sea, but a place in the wilderness of Judah. It is the same place where Saul erected a monument in his own honour. Page 107 of 132

108 When David and his men were hiding in the wilderness they refrained from taking any of the Nabal s flocks, and in fact their presence served as a protection for Nabal s shepherds from thieves. When sheep-shearing time comes round David sends messengers to Nabal to request provisions at this feast time. Sheep-shearing was the time when traditionally the profits from the wool industry were shared out. David appears to consider that he is entitled to some payment. The name Nabal actually means fool, and the man lives up to his name. Even his wife and servants recognise him to be a scoundrel. The narrator describes him as being harsh and evil in his doings. Perhaps his great wealth has been him arrogant and haughty. It seems strange that a man s parents would name their child fool, but the passage does suggest that this was his name rather than a derogatory title that people used about him. Nabal sends the messengers away empty handed and even makes derogatory remarks about David. He asks who is David? knowing that it was this David who killed Goliath and who had led Israel s armies to victory. He intimates that David was nothing more than a rebellious servant of Saul. There may have been some aligning of Nabal with king Saul, who had built a memorial at Carmel 106. As a result of the insult, David determines to attack Nabal s household and to kill every male. He seems to be forgetting that the Lord says: vengeance in mine, and recompense. 107 While David is planning revenge, one of the servants of Nabal realises the likely outcome of what his master has done and reports the affair to Nabal s wife, Abigail 108. This lady is described as being of good understanding and beautiful appearance. Upon hearing what has happened Abigail acts with great wisdom and takes provisions to David to seek to pacify Him Abigail Intercedes for Her House 1 Sa 25: Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. {24} So she fell at his feet and said: On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. {25} Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. {26} Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, since the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. {27} And now this present which your maidservant has Sa 15: Deut 32: Abigail means My father s joy or My (divine) Father is joy. Page 108 of 132

109 brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. {28} Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. {29} Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. {30} And it shall come to pass, when the LORD has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, {31} that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant. {32} Then David said to Abigail: Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! {33} And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. {34} For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal! {35} So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person. Upon meeting David, Abigail shows her great wisdom and her understanding of spiritual things. Firstly she humbles herself and then asks that David would blame her for the offence, although it is clear that she is innocent. Her willingness to bear her husband s fault, delivers him from the sword. Whereas Nabal had been mean, Abigail presents generous supplies which she calls a gift. Nabal referred to David as a servant, but Abigail calls David master or lord. In all things she demonstrates that she is the total opposite of her husband. Furthermore Abigail foretells that the Lord will not only keep David safe but will also raise David up as ruler of His people. This is because David fights the battles of the Lord and keeps himself from evil. Not only does this lady have practical wisdom, she has spiritual wisdom. She then suggests that it is best that David refrains from vengeance against Nabal, so that his conscience is not stricken when the Lord brings David into his rest. She refers to king Saul simply as a man risen against you and foretells his destruction. Finally Abigail asks David to remember her when he comes into his exalted position as ruler over Israel. She is not requesting that David simply think about Page 109 of 132

110 her, but that he acts for her well-being when it is in his power to do so. She almost appears to be offering herself to be David s servant. David praises Abigail and thanks God that she has kept him from killing the members of Nabal s household. It appears that the lesson that David has learned was passed on to his son, Solomon; Pr 20: Nabal Dies Do not say, I will recompense evil ; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. 1 Sa 25: Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light. {37} So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. {38} Then it happened, after about ten days, that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died. {39} So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head. And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife. {40} When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife. {41} Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. {42} So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife. {43} David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives. {44} But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim. When Abigail returns home, she finds Nabal feasting and drunk. The lavishness of the feast is emphasised. We are reminded of the banquet of Belshazzar 109 were again drunkenness and excess lead to folly followed by judgement. The next day Abigail tells her husband of how she had stopped a small army from killing him and destroying his household. Upon hearing the news Nabal appears to suffer a heart-attack. About ten days later he dies. There is no mention of Nabal having children. Upon hearing about Nabal s death, David praises God and sees it as judgement. Indeed the narrator states that the Lord struck Nabal and he died. Here we see God quickly striking Nabal but leaving rebellious Saul in position for a long time. We assume that it was not only the offense against David, the Lord s anointed, 109 Daniel chapter 5. Page 110 of 132

111 but that wicked Nabal s sin had reached its full amount, causing divine judgment. If this was an act of judgment against Nabal, we might see it also as an act of providence for Abigail, who had proven herself to be an equal to David in wisdom and spiritual understanding. Perhaps is response to Abigail s request for him to remember her, David sends to ask Abigail to become his wife; an offer she accepts. It appears that the marriage of David and Abigail is the conclusion and purpose for the chapter. We might consider it strange that she marries so soon after Nabal s death, without a period of mourning. But perhaps there was no affection between them. David had previously but probably recently married Ahinoam of Jezreel 110. In contrast to Abigail, we are not told nothing about Ahinoam. Was she perhaps among those people who had joined David s community in the wilderness? Scripture records the names of eight wives of David, there were more wives and concubines. Ahinoam would bare David s first born son, Amnon and Abigail would bare him Daniel. 111 Nine sons of David born to him whilst reigning in Jerusalem are named without reference to their mothers. 112 David s first wife, Saul s daughter Michal, had been given to Palti the son of Laish after David fled from Saul. This was probably an act by Saul to severe his relationship by marriage to his rival. 26. CHAPTER TWENTY SIX David Again Spares Saul s Life 1 Sa 26:1 12. Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon? {2} Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph. {3} And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon, by the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. {4} David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come. {5} So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Now Saul lay within the camp, with the people encamped all around him. {6} Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with you. 110 A town located in the foothills of Judah near Carmel Ch 3:1. Now these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelitess; Chron 3:6-9. Page 111 of 132

112 {7} So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. {8} Then Abishai said to David, God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time! {9} But David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD s anointed, and be guiltless? {10} David said furthermore, As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. {11} The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go. {12} So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them. Saul s doublemindedness is seen in that he is again hunting for David despite his remorse in chapter twenty four. Having received information about David s whereabouts, Saul takes three thousand men into the Wilderness of Ziph. However David is tracking Saul s movements. During the night David, accompanied with Abishai the son of Zeruiah, slips into the sleeping camp of Saul s army. The whole army were in a deep sleep from the Lord and the two raiders were able to slip into Saul s tent at the centre of the camp. Abishai wishes to kill Saul for David s sake, but again David refuses to strike the Lord s anointed. He does believe that Saul s life will end, but he will not be responsible for the king s death. The Lord had anointed Saul and it was the Lord s responsibility to remove him. Abishai reaction is similar to David s men when Saul came into the cave 113 and shows how unspiritual men misinterpret God s will be looking solely at circumstances. Taking Saul s spear and jar of water, they leave the camp. We have often read of this spear in Saul s hand and it is a symbol of his kingship. 1 Sa 22:6. now Saul was staying in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about him. Saul has previously tried to kill David with his spear 1 Sa 18:11. And Saul cast the spear, for he said, I will pin David to the wall! But David escaped his presence twice. The Lord was with David and He had ensured that no one in the camp would hear or see them, by sending a deep sleep upon them all. 113 Chapter 24 Page 112 of 132

113 This is the first time we are introduced to any of David s men. We read the sole mention of Ahimelech who was a Hittite rather than an Israelite. Then there is Abishai, the son of David s sister Zeruiah 114. The narrator also mentions Abishai s brother Joab, who will later become David s army commander. There is a third brother who will be in David s army, Asahel. These sons of Zeruiah were among some of David s fiercest warriors but they were also wild men, and Joab was prone to murder. David will often exclaim What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? 115 It is unusual for these three brothers to be always identified by their mother s name. Their father is never mentioned. Zeruiah may have been David s halfsister, the daughter of Jesse and Nahash. 2 Sa 17:25. And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab s mother David Reveals Himself to Saul 1 Sa 26: Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them. {14} And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Do you not answer, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who are you, calling out to the king? {15} So David said to Abner, Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king. {16} This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the LORD s anointed. And now see where the king s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head. {17} Then Saul knew David s voice, and said, Is that your voice, my son David? David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. {18} And he said, Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand? {19} Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods. {20} So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains Ch 2:16. Now their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel three Sa 19:22 Page 113 of 132

114 {21} Then Saul said, I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly. {22} And David answered and said, Here is the king s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it. {23} May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD s anointed. {24} And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation. {25} Then Saul said to David, May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place. Once there is a safe distance between himself and Saul s camp, David calls out to Abner, the head of Saul s army. He accuses the commander of failing to protect the life of the Lord s anointed. This dereliction of duty was worthy of death. By showing that he has the king s spear and water jug, David demonstrates how the life of the king had been in his hands. Saul recognises David voice and in a repeat of chapter twenty four, the ruler is contrite for his behaviour. In his very last words to David, Saul blesses him and predicts that he will do great things. Saul confesses that he has indeed acted like a fool. He repeatedly refers to David as his son, but on this occasion David does not refer to Saul as his father. As in chapter twenty four, Saul s contrition may be real, but that does not ensure that it will last. He is after all tormented by an evil spirit. David offers to return Saul s spear, an offer that probably includes the invaluable vessel of water. Some commentators suggest that David returns the spear, symbolising Saul s death, but not the water, symbolising Saul s life. But I think that is reading too much into the text. 27. CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN David Returns to Philistia 1 Sa 27:1 7. And David said in his heart, Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand. {2} Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. {3} So David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal s widow. {4} And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath; so he sought him no more. Page 114 of 132

115 {5} Then David said to Achish, If I have now found favour in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you? {6} So Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. {7} Now the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was one full year and four months. Despite the fact that David has been divinely protected by the Lord, he now concludes that Saul will one day be successful in killing him. The man of God is growing tired of the running around the wilderness being treated like a villain. He rightly concludes that Saul would not pursue his life if he dwelt among the Philistines. However in choosing to ally himself with Israel s enemies, David faces other dangers. David thought these things in his own heart, rather than prayerfully considering them. There is no mention of David seeking guidance from the Lord by using the ministry of Abiathar the priest with the ephod 116. There is no word of the Lord brought through the prophet Gad. 117 In verse nineteen of the previous chapter David cursed men who sought to drive him out of the Lord s inheritance to serve other gods. But now he elects to leave Israel and return to Philistia and even to Achish, king of Gath. Previously David had lied to Achish by pretending to be mad 118. It might seem strange that Achish welcomes David so readily, especially when David has a small army with him. Presumably knowledge of Saul s hatred of David had even reached the Philistines. Achish may have been a dynasty name and so it may have been a successor who was now king of Gath. But nevertheless David s previous appearance at Gath would surely have been remembered at the court. Is Achish the son of Maoch the same person as Achish the son of Maachah, king of Gath, mentioned in 1 Kings 2:39? This second reference is during the reign of Solomon, approximately forty years later. Achish gives David and his men the town of Ziklag. This is not simply a gift to refugees. David and his men are now in the employ of Achish and are expected to go out on raids, in the same way that Philistine raiders plundered Israel. Ziklag had originally been given by lot to Simeon 119, but Judah will retain ownership of the town following these events. The narrator tells us that David sojourned with the Philistines for sixteen months David Raids the Land 1 Sa 27:8 12. And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. For those nations were the Sa 23:2, 4, 9 & Sa 22: Sa 21: Josh 19:1-5 Page 115 of 132

116 inhabitants of the land from of old, as you go to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt. {9} Whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the apparel, and returned and came to Achish. {10} Then Achish would say, Where have you made a raid today? And David would say, Against the southern area of Judah, or against the southern area of the Jerahmeelites, or against the southern area of the Kenites. {11} David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, Lest they should inform on us, saying, Thus David did. And thus was his behaviour all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines. {12} So Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; therefore he will be my servant forever. While dwelling at Ziklag, David and his men wage war against the Canaanite inhabitants of the land south of Philistia towards Egypt. These people were Israel s enemies but may have been allied with the Philistines. So David ensures that there are no survivors to inform Achish of his activities. The plunder from these raids was given to Achish. When Achish questions David about where he has been raiding, David again lies and tells the king that he has been raiding against towns in Israel. Achish readily believes David and rejoices that David is Israel s enemy. The king foolishly concludes that David will therefore always be his servant. For the time being David s lies appear to be working. 28. CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT Preparations for War 1 Sa 28:1 2. Now it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for war, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, You assuredly know that you will go out with me to battle, you and your men. {2} So David said to Achish, Surely you know what your servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever. Achish trust in David is such that he makes him a commander among his own guard as the Philistines prepare to attach Israel. David and his men are now in a very precarious position. How can they fight against Israel when David has been anointed by the Lord to defend and lead his people? For the time being, David goes along with the king s instructions. We can only assume that he is praying for the Lord to deliver him from the predicament; a predicament that he has made. 1 Sa 28:3 6. Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land. {4} Then the Philistines Page 116 of 132

117 gathered together, and came and encamped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gilboa. {5} When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. {6} And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets. The narrator reminds us that Samuel has died. The inference is that Saul is utterly alone and he cannot get an answer from the Lord. Strange that Saul even sought the Lord, seeing that he had slain the Lord s priests. The second half of verse three tells us of one of the religious reforms Saul had performed earlier in his reign. He had banned mediums and spiritists out of the land. The importance of this in the narrative will soon become apparent. Throughout his reign Saul had performed some grand religious gestures, some of which had been foolish. Although Saul prepares his army, he is overcome with great fear. Does the Lord s refusal to speak to Saul cause him to realise that he is facing his own doom Saul Seeks a Medium 1 Sa 28:7 14. Then Saul said to his servants, Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor. {8} So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you. {9} Then the woman said to him, Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die? {10} And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing. {11} Then the woman said, Whom shall I bring up for you? And he said, Bring up Samuel for me. {12} When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul! {13} And the king said to her, Do not be afraid. What did you see? And the woman said to Saul, I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth. {14} So he said to her, What is his form? And she said, An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down. Being in a state of desperation, Saul breaks his own laws and seeks a spiritist. The king disguised himself and asks the medium to call Samuel up from the dead. As the séance continues, the woman realises that her customer is king Page 117 of 132

118 Saul and is afraid he will kill her. Saul assures her she will not be harmed, and does so taking an oath in the Lord s name - what an irony. Some preachers have suggested that the women shouted because she actually saw Samuel s spirit rather than her own demon familiar spirit. This they do to suggest that normally in a séance it is a deceiving spirit that appears, masquerading as the deceased. The spirit of Samuel does communicate to Saul through the medium, however his message does not bring comfort to the king. The woman mentions that Samuel is an old man who was wearing a mantle. Whether the mantle was a reflection of Samuel s previous prophet s robe, or whether this signified some current status, is not clear. Today spiritists and mediums quote this passage as justification for their practises. What they fail to consider is that although this séance appears to have technically worked, it is a practise strictly forbidden by Scripture. 120 We might ask how this medium was able to disturb the spirit of a departed righteous man. There are many who have put forth answers to that question. The things we can be certain of are: God is the God of the living and the dead 121. Jesus has the keys of death and Hades. 122 Therefore we are assured that satanic or mediumistic powers cannot summon the spirits of the dead. We conclude that mediums communicate with demon spirits who are masquerading as dead people. So then how then did Saul communicate with Samuel? In this particular case God allowed the real spirit of Samuel to communicate with Saul; hence the woman s surprise. By seeking a medium, Saul s sin had reached its full measure and Samuel prophesied God s judgment on the wayward king. 120 Le 19:31. Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Le 20:6. And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people. Dt 18: There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, {11} or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. {12} For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. Is 8:19. And when they say to you, Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter, should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? 121 Mt 22:32. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 122 Re 1:18. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Page 118 of 132

119 28.3. Samuel Foretells Saul s Death 1 Sa 28: Now Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? And Saul answered, I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do. {16} Then Samuel said: So why do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy? {17} And the LORD has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbour, David. {18} Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. {19} Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. {20} Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, and was dreadfully afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day or all night. What is spoken through the medium says is consistent with what Samuel has said before and accurate in relaying the will of the Lord. We can conclude that in this instance, it was Samuel that was speaking. Samuel demands to know why Saul has disturbed him. Saul states he wants Samuel to tell him what to do, since the Lord does not reveal His word to the king. Samuel s answer shows the prophet is still knowledgeable about the will and purposes of God. The Lord does not answer Saul because He is now Saul s enemy, and that is because of Saul s disobedience. The battle that Saul faced was the Lord s doing and through this the kingdom would be taken away from Saul and given to David. Samuel finishes by saying that tomorrow Israel would lose in the battle against the Philistines and that Saul and his sons would be joining Samuel in the grave. Saul had sought guidance from Samuel because he had been afraid and did not know what to do. Samuel s words leave the king powerless and paralysed with fear. Saul s rejection of the word of the Lord and his rebellion against God, have brought him to this final point where there is no hope. Not only will he be fighting the Philistines on the next day, he knows that God will be against him and his household Saul Eats Some Food 1 Sa 28: And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was severely troubled, and said to him, Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hands and heeded the words which you spoke to me. {22} Now therefore, please, heed also the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread Page 119 of 132

120 before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way. {23} But he refused and said, I will not eat. So his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he heeded their voice. Then he arose from the ground and sat on the bed. {24} Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she hastened to kill it. And she took flour and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread from it. {25} So she brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night. After much urging the king finally agrees to eat a meal the medium prepares. This may have been Saul s last meal. The woman displays great hospitality in that she slaughtered a fatted calf for her royal customer. The fact that the woman was nice and kind does not mean that what she did was not evil. 29. CHAPTER TWENTY NINE David Readies to Fight With the Philistines 1 Sa 29:1 5. Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel. {2} And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish. {3} Then the princes of the Philistines said, What are these Hebrews doing here? And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me. {4} But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; so the princes of the Philistines said to him, Make this fellow return, that he may go back to the place which you have appointed for him, and do not let him go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become our adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to his master, if not with the heads of these men? {5} Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying: Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? For a long time David had been very careful not to lift his hand up against Saul, because the king was the Lord s anointed. But now his choice of living among the Philistines meant he was obliged to make war against Saul and the army of Israel. Previously David had referred to the armies of Israel as the armies of the living God! 123 If he was to attack Israel with the Philistines, how could he ever hope to be accepted as Israel s king? We presume that David is in great inner turmoil and is calling upon the Lord for a way out Sa 17:26 Page 120 of 132

121 Thankfully for David a way out does arise. When the other Philistine rulers see this large army of Hebrew s among Achish s men, they ask what they are doing there. The naïve king of Gath states that this is David, Saul s servant and that he had proved himself to be totally faithful to Achish for over a year. But the other rulers see the danger of having this Hebrew army among their own lines. In the midst of the battle they could again switch allegiance to gain the favour of the king of Israel. They therefore insist that Achish sends them back to Ziklag. David, who had always sought to deliver Israel from the Philistines, may have been considering switching sides in the battle and fighting against the Philistines. The Philistine princes remind Achish of the song that the Israeli women had sung about David. This song has caused David a lot of trouble and he must regret it was ever sung The Philistine Lords Reject David 1 Sa 29:6 11. Then Achish called David and said to him, Surely, as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. For to this day I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favour you. {7} Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines. {8} So David said to Achish, But what have I done? And to this day what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king? {9} Then Achish answered and said to David, I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle. {10} Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master s servants who have come with you. And as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart. {11} So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel. When Achish relays the Philistine ruler s instruction, David feigns disappointment and indignation. He claims to have been a faithful servant to Achish, whereas in truth he had been continually lying to his Philistine master. He also says that he wants to go and fight the Achish s enemies, even though they are the people of the Lord. Achish states how highly he considers David s service over the past sixteen months, and he even uses the phrase as the Lord lives. This is an interesting phrase for the Philistine ruler to use because he is asserting that the God of Israel is alive. He is showing respect and reverence to the Lord. Perhaps his association with David and the stories of what happened in the previous Page 121 of 132

122 generation when the ark of the Lord went to Gath, have turned Achish s heart towards the Lord. So David and his men return from the battle lines. Presumably they are relieved that they are not going to have to fight against Israel. The Lord has rescued them, despite David s foolishness. We can t help but feel that this deliverance has more to do with the purposes of God than David s righteousness. He has been rescued from his own folly. 30. CHAPTER THIRTY The Amalekites Raid Ziklag 1 Sa 30:1 6. Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, {2} and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. {3} So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. {4} Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. {5} And David s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. {6} Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. {7} Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech s son, Please bring the ephod here to me. And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. {8} So David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? And He answered him, Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all. By the time they David and his men return to Ziklag, a journey of about fifty miles, they had been away for three days. In that time Amalekite raiders had attacked and destroyed the town, and had taken everyone captive. It must be by God s grace that no one had been killed, especially when we remember that when David had raided Amalekite towns, he ensured that everyone had been killed. 124 David s men are furious with their leader and they blame him for the loss of their wives and children. Their pain and anger is such that they are talking about stoning David to death. Perhaps they felt that they should not have been away from home, planning to fight against Israel Sa 27:8 Page 122 of 132

123 David now does two things to turn the situation around. Firstly he strengthens himself in the Lord, which considering his own recent mistakes shows how well David understood God s grace and goodness. Secondly he provides positive leadership which gives his men hope. We read again of David enquiring of the Lord, something which has not been mentioned since he left Israel. Importantly David did not try to justify or excuse himself before his men. Also he did not allow his own grief and pain paralyse him. When David enquired of the Lord through the ministry of Abiathar the priest with the ephod, David and his men are given an absolute insurance that they would overtake the raiders and recover all. Thoughts of stoning David are discarded. It is worth noting that these raiders were Amalekites, the same people that Saul had been commanded to utterly destroy. 125 Saul had boasted that he had performed what the Lord had commanded, but not only did he keep back the best of the animals and Agag the king, he also failed to engage with all the Amalekites David Pursues the Amalekites 1 Sa 30:9 15. So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. {10} But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor. {11} Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water. {12} And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights. {13} Then David said to him, To whom do you belong, and where are you from? And he said, I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick. {14} We made an invasion of the southern area of the Cherethites, in the territory which belongs to Judah, and of the southern area of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire. {15} And David said to him, Can you take me down to this troop? So he said, Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop. As they pursued the Amalekites, a third of David men s are overcome with exhaustion. Perhaps they are despairing of finding their families alive. So David continues the pursuit with four hundred men. Then we read of God s providence for David and his men. An Amalekite has left behind an Egyptian slave to die simply because he was sick. After providing the man some food and water, David uses him as a guide to the Amalekite camp Sa 15:1 3 Page 123 of 132

124 30.3. Everything is Recovered 1 Sa 30: And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. {17} Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. {18} So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. {19} And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. {20} Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, This is David s spoil. When the Israelites find the Amalekite camp, they find them celebrating and unprepared for battle. David and his men are totally outnumbered, but the Lord is with them. In a fight that lasts a day, they destroy the Amalekites and rescue all their family and possessions. Four hundred Amalekites escape on swift camels. In addition they have gained a great deal of spoil that the Amalekites have taken from other towns in Philistia and Judah. When Saul was commanded to attack Amalek, he was instructed to kill everything and take no spoil. A command he failed to obey because he feared his own men. David has not been given any such instruction, but he understands that everything they have is from the Lord. He will not be afraid to argue with his men about what is the righteous think to do with the spoil. He will also be willing to share his spoil with others. 1 Sa 30: Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. {22} Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart. {23} But David said, My brethren, you shall not do so with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. {24} For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike. {25} So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day. As they return towards Ziklag, they meet the two hundred men who stayed behind at the Brook Besor. Some of the four hundred men who fought against Page 124 of 132

125 the Amalekites stated they would not share the spoil with these two hundred men. They would only return their wives and children, but none of their possessions. The narrator calls these agitators wicked and worthless men but David generously addresses the same men as brothers. These men were carnal minded who could justify their position because they considered that everything had been restored because of their effort. David calmly reminds all the men that they had the Lord to thank for the safe return of all their family and property and for the defeat of the Amalekite raiders. There would therefore be an equal share for all the men, even those who did not fight. This ruling became a statute and ordinance for Israel David Shares the Spoil 1 Sa 30: Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD {27} to those who were in Bethel, those who were in Ramoth of the South, those who were in Jattir, {28} those who were in Aroer, those who were in Siphmoth, those who were in Eshtemoa, {29} those who were in Rachal, those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, those who were in the cities of the Kenites, {30} those who were in Hormah, those who were in Chorashan, those who were in Athach, {31} those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to rove. After they return to rebuild Ziklag, David shows that he does not intend on keeping the spoil for himself. He generously sends the spoil, to towns in Judah where he and his men have been welcomed. By doing this he is thanking his supporters and reminding them that he is still close by. He is also ingratiating himself with the elders and leaders of Judah. David s gifts may have arrived at a similar time to when news of Saul s defeat was received. The bitter blow of hearing that Israel s king was dead and her armies defeated, was the background for being reminded that there is another anointed leader of Israel Israelites Defect to David 1 Ch 12:1. Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war. does not record that at this time a very large number of Israelites from the various tribes came to join David and his troops at Ziklag. First Chronicles 12 states that the result was: 1 Ch 12:22. For at that time they came to David day by day to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God. Page 125 of 132

126 It is hard to know the exact time of this increase in David s troops. In the chase of the Amalekite raiders the narrator in states that it was David and his six hundred troops who pursued the invaders. 31. CHAPTER THIRTY ONE Saul and Jonathan Die in Battle 1 Sa 31:1 7. Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. {2} Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul s sons. {3} The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers. {4} Then Saul said to his armour-bearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me. But his armour-bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. {5} And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him. {6} So Saul, his three sons, his armour-bearer, and all his men died together that same day. {7} And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. The same story is repeated in First Chronicles chapter 10. After focusing on David for a couple of chapters, the story returns to Saul and the day of the fateful battle at Mount Gilboa is recorded. These events would have been happening at the same time as the Lord was assisting David to retrieve his and his men s families. But the Lord is not with Saul, in fact the Lord is not mentioned in this chapter. Whereas David was given success in battle, Saul and Israel are defeated at Mount Gilboa. Saul s rebellion and disobedience brought death to countless Israelite soldiers and to three of his four sons. Jonathan had been Israel s hero and a great man of faith and integrity, but he too is killed. In the battle Saul is wounded by the archers and commands his armour-bearer to kill him before he is tortured by the Philistines. His armour-bearer refuses to kill the king and so Saul falls on his own sword. In Second Samuel a soldier will boast to David that he killed Saul when the king requested it. This appears to be a lie designed to win David s favour, although the outcome was not what he expected Sam 1:1-16 Page 126 of 132

127 Samuel s prediction is proven correct and Saul and his sons have joined him in the grave. With their army defeated, Israel loses a great deal of territory to the Philistines. The writer of First Chronicles records why the Lord judged and removed Saul: 1 Ch 10: So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. {14} But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. Saul had turned away from seeking the Lord, he had disobeyed the Lord s commands and he had consulted a medium. As a result the Lord killed Saul. So rather than encouraging people to consult with mediums, the story of Saul serves as a warning against it. The death of Jonathan is a great tragedy. He was a great man of faith and of fine character. His faith-filled and daring exploits brought great deliverance to Israel. He recognised and rejoiced in the calling on David s life. Scripture records no wrong doing on Jonathan s part. Yet this fine man was cursed by his father and eventually dies with Saul. Jonathan did what was right, but circumstances outside his control determined his fate. We can only presume that thus man received his reward in glory. Two other sons of Saul are killed in the battle, Abinadab and Malchishua Men from Jabesh Gilead Recover Saul s Body 1 Sa 31:8 13. So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. {9} And they cut off his head and stripped off his armour, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people. {10} Then they put his armour in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. {11} Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, {12} all the valiant men arose and travelled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. {13} Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. This story is repeated in First Chronicles chapter 10 verses 11 and 12. The Philistines glory in the death of Israel s king and his sons. Under the time of Saul s reign Israel had one many victories against the Philistines; so now the Philistines rejoice in the death of their enemy. They attach the bodies of Saul and his sons to the wall and Beth Shan. It is not clear whether the heads are with the bodies. Perhaps Saul s head has been displayed in the temple of the Philistines idols along with his armour. Page 127 of 132

128 The men of Jabesh Gilead, who had been rescued by Saul early in his reign 127, valiantly broke through the Philistine lines and remove the bodies. This was a demonstration of their thankfulness to the king for their own deliverance. They even fast for Saul for seven days, a length of time beyond the norm. The royal bodies are cremated and the bones buried under a tamarisk tree in Jabesh. There is a little irony here because we have often read of Saul sitting under a tree during his reign. This act of loyal service and gratitude demonstrates the complex character that Saul became. He was loved and loathed. He delivered God s people but he let them down. He served the Lord but then turned back from following him. It may seem strange that ends so abruptly and without any summary of Saul s life. But the ending of this book is only the point at which later scribes split the original work into two books. The author will use David to pronounce a summary of Saul s life in Second Samuel chapter one. One Samuel began with the story of Eli and sons, who died on the same day when Israel was defeated by the Philistines. The book ends with Saul and his sons perishing on the same day, again when the Philistines defeat Israel Sam 11 Page 128 of 132

129 APPENDIX 1: THE BREASTPLATE OF JUDGEMENT One function of the High Priest s breastplate was to hold the Urim and Thummim over his heart. Ex 28:30. And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually. Urim means light and Thummim means perfection. These articles were used to provide guidance to Israel, revealing to them the will of God and could only be used by the High Priest. They were useful in matters of judgement and direction. Scripture and history do not say exactly what they were or how they worked. One speculation is that they were both precious stones. Other sources believed that the Urim and Thummim was a piece of parchment that had the mysterious name of YAHEW written upon it. Joshua was instructed to work with the High Priest who would enquire for him using the Urim and Thummim. Nu 27:21. He [Joshua] shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD for him by the judgment of the Urim " In Joshua s selection of Achan, we can therefore expect that various selections made were done using the Urim. Josh 7: So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken. {17} He brought the clan of Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites; and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. {18} Then he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. It appears from this text that the Urim and Thummim simply gave a True / False, Yes / No type of answer. The selection of Achan sounds similar to the selection of Saul. 1 Sa 10: Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans. {20} And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. {21} When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen Jewish and Christian commentators have speculated that if they were stones then one of the stones would vibrate. Others have suggested that one stone would go cloudy or shine with a light. Another speculation is that various letters on the twelve stones on the breastplate would be illuminated. King David, although a prophet himself, enquired of the Lord using these devices. Page 129 of 132

130 1 Sa 23:9-12. When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." {10} Then David said, "O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. {11} Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant." And the LORD said, "He will come down." Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will deliver you." 1 Sa 30:7-8. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. {8} So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." The answers given here are more complex than a simple yes or no. APPENDIX 2: THE SLING AS A WEAPON There have been a number of studies about the use or slings in ancient and historic times. 128 In addition there have a number of experimental trials performed to measure the effectiveness of the sling. In well trained hands the sling was a very effective and accurate weapon. It has been used from ancient times for hunting small game but also has a long history as a weapon of warfare. A 4th century AD Roman military author, Vegetius, writes that oval shaped missiles were more deadly than arrows to a man in leather armour. Even if the missile could not penetrate the armour of their targets, Vegetius writes that the blunt force trauma caused by the missile from a sling was capable of inflicting fatal internal injuries. The Romans knew that a sling was as accurate and had a similar distance to a bow and arrow. Stones were hurled for about 400 m 129. Korfmann discusses the use of slings against Conquistadors in Peru. "Their chief weapon," wrote one Spanish observer, "is the sling. With it they throw a large stone with such force that it could kill a horse. Its effect is indeed only slightly less than that of a Spanish firearm. I have seen how a stone flung from a sling over a distance of 30 paces broke in two a sword that a man was holding in his hand." Projectiles from slings could penetrate the skin. The Roman medical text, De Medicina, contains instructions for extracting stone and lead projectiles from the bodies of soldiers. Oval shaped projectiles have been shown to be more effective than round ones. Stones from a stream bed, such as selected by David, would therefore be better 128 Skov 2003, Dohrenwend 2002, Harrison 2006, Korfmann Approximately a quarter of a mile. Page 130 of 132

131 than stones from a field. However sling-stones found in archaeology sites in Israel have normally been round and about the size of a tennis ball. To be accurate the sling-stone needed to be regular in shape since the flightpath of an irregular stone is unpredictable. Stones were not the only projectile used from slings. Baked clay and lead projectiles were also used by Greek and Roman armies. These could be made to the desired size and shape so as to maximise accuracy. Lead projectiles were much smaller, about the size of a golf ball although rugby ball shaped. Also lead projectiles had a longer range than arrows. There are accounts of clay projectiles being first heated in a fire in order to set fire to thatch on buildings. 130 Tests have shown that missiles could reach speeds of 100 kmph (28 mps) if they weighed 25 grams or more. The impact energy of an oval clay projectile weighing grams decreases from to Joules at its maximum range. When divided by the impact area these equates to to Joules / cm 2. This compares with the 18.9 Joules / cm 2 required to fracture a man s frontal bone Caesar s Gallic Wars 131 Eric T Skov Experimentation in Sling Weaponry Page 131 of 132

132 APPENDIX 3: A MAP OF ISRAEL AT THE TIME OF SAUL Atlas of the Historic Geography of the Holy Land: George Adam Smith Page 132 of 132