Untitled Sermon
1 Sa 13:1, 2. SAUL’S SELECTED BAND.
1. Saul reigned one year—(see Margin). The transactions recorded in the eleventh and twelfth chapters were the principal incidents comprising the first year of Saul’s reign; and the events about to be described in this happened in the second year.
2. Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel—This band of picked men was a bodyguard, who were kept constantly on duty, while the rest of the people were dismissed till their services might be needed. It seems to have been his tactics to attack the Philistine garrisons in the country by different detachments, rather than by risking a general engagement; and his first operations were directed to rid his native territory of Benjamin of these enemies.
1 Sa 13:3, 4. HE CALLS THE HEBREWS TO GILGAL AGAINST THE PHILISTINES.
3, 4. And Jonathan—that is, “God-given.”
smote the garrison of the Philistines … in Geba—Geba and Gibeah were towns in Benjamin, very close to each other (Jos 18:24, 28). The word rendered “garrison” is different from that of 1 Sa 13:23; 14:1, and signifies, literally, something erected; probably a pillar or flagstaff, indicative of Philistine ascendency. That the secret demolition of this standard, so obnoxious to a young and noble-hearted patriot, was the feat of Jonathan referred to, is evident from the words, “the Philistines heard of it,” which is not the way we should expect an attack on a fortress to be noticed.
Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land—This, a well-known sound, was the usual Hebrew war summons; the first blast was answered by the beacon fire in the neighboring places. A second blast was blown—then answered by a fire in a more distant locality, whence the proclamation was speedily diffused over the whole country. As the Philistines resented what Jonathan had done as an overt attempt to throw off their yoke, a levy, en masse, of the people was immediately ordered, the rendezvous to be the old camping ground at Gilgal.
1 Sa 13:5. THE PHILISTINES’ GREAT HOST.
5. The Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen—Either this number must include chariots of every kind—or the word “chariots” must mean the men fighting in them (2 Sa 10:18; 1 Ki 20:21; 1 Ch 19:18); or, as some eminent critics maintain, Sheloshim (“thirty”), has crept into the text, instead of Shelosh (“three”). The gathering of the chariots and horsemen must be understood to be on the Philistine plain, before they ascended the western passes and pitched in the heart of the Benjamite hills, in “Michmash,” (now Mukmas), a “steep precipitous valley” [ROBINSON], eastward from Beth-aven (Beth-el).
1 Sa 13:6–8. THE ISRAELITES’ DISTRESS.
6. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait—Though Saul’s gallantry was unabated, his subjects displayed no degree of zeal and energy. Instead of venturing an encounter, they fled in all directions. Some, in their panic, left the country (1 Sa 13:7), but most took refuge in the hiding-places which the broken ridges of the neighborhood abundantly afford. The rocks are perforated in every direction with “caves,” and “holes,” and “pits”—crevices and fissures sunk deep in the rocky soil, subterranean granaries or dry wells in the adjoining fields. The name of Michmash (“hidden treasure”) seems to be derived from this natural peculiarity [STANLEY].
8. he—that is, Saul.
tarried seven days—He was still in the eastern borders of his kingdom, in the valley of Jordan. Some bolder spirits had ventured to join the camp at Gilgal; but even the courage of those stout-hearted men gave way in prospect of this terrible visitation; and as many of them were stealing away, he thought some immediate and decided step must be taken.
1 Sa 13:9–16. SAUL, WEARY OF WAITING FOR SAMUEL, SACRIFICES.
9. Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings—Saul, though patriotic enough in his own way, was more ambitious of gaining the glory of a triumph to himself than ascribing it to God. He did not understand his proper position as king of Israel; and although aware of the restrictions under which he held the sovereignty, he wished to rule as an autocrat, who possessed absolute power both in civil and sacred things. This occasion was his first trial. Samuel waited till the last day of the seven, in order to put the constitutional character of the king to the test; and, as Saul, in his impatient and passionate haste knowingly transgressed (1 Sa 13:12) by invading the priest’s office and thus showing his unfitness for his high office (as he showed nothing of the faith of Gideon and other Hebrew generals), he incurred a threat of the rejection which his subsequent waywardness confirmed.
15, 16. Samuel … gat him … unto Gibeah … and Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah—Saul removed his camp thither, either in the hope that, it being his native town, he would gain an increase of followers or that he might enjoy the counsels and influence of the prophet.
17, 18. the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies—ravaging through the three valleys which radiate from the uplands of Michmash to Ophrah on the north, through the pass of Beth-horon on the west, and down the ravines of Zeboim (“the hyaenas”), towards the Ghor or Jordan valley on the east.
19, 20. Now there was no smith found throughout … Israel—The country was in the lowest state of depression and degradation. The Philistines, after the great victory over the sons of Eli, had become the virtual masters of the land. Their policy in disarming the natives has been often followed in the East. For repairing any serious damage to their agricultural implements, they had to apply to the neighboring forts.
21. Yet they had a file—as a kind of privilege, for the purpose of sharpening sundry smaller utensils of husbandry.
13:1 Saul was thirty years old The details of Saul’s age and the length of his reign have been lost, or deliberately omitted, from the Hebrew text. Acts 13:21 indicates that he ruled for 40 years. The Jewish historian Josephus says he reigned 20 years (Antiquities 10.143), but elsewhere he also seems to suggest 40 (Antiquities 6.378).
13:2 Jonathan Saul’s son.
13:3 Geba Possibly refers to Gibeah. Jonathan was stationed at Gibeah (v. 2) and a Philistine garrison has already been mentioned there (10:5). However, the OT also speaks of a city named Geba in the territory of Benjamin (Josh 21:17); the two are probably separate places.
Let the Hebrews hear Saul proclaims their victory over the Philistines. He might have anticipated that the Philistines would respond with their military; this proclamation would allow him to muster a larger army for battle.
13:5 the Philistines assembled to fight They prepare to fight with a full military array.
Battles of Saul and David Table
Philistines
13:6 hid themselves They seek to avoid what they perceive as certain death at the hands of the Philistines. Their fear later becomes a taunt among the Philistine troops (1 Sam 14:11). Compare 14:22, where God turns their taunt into decisive strategy.
13:7 to the land of Gad and Gilead East of the Jordan River. See note on 11:1.
followed him trembling Reflecting the disposition of their leader (compare 10:22 and note).
13:8–23 Saul’s desperation leads him to disobey Samuel’s instructions, as well as the law regarding sacrifices. This passage serves to justify David’s dynasty: God rejects Saul because of his disobedience and anoints David in his place.
13:8 He waited seven days Samuel instructed Saul to wait at Gilgal seven days in 10:8, but the attempt to link that event with this verse results in several inconsistencies. In terms of location, Samuel comes to Gilgal in 11:14–15 after the defeat of the Ammonites; however, he must have left again, because he is not in Gilgal in v. 8. In terms of chronology, the mustering of Israelite forces in 11:7–8 and the subsequent battle with Nahash probably would have taken longer than seven days.
the army started to slip away from him The people were losing confidence in Saul. They observed their king’s apprehension and fear, and they fled.
13:9 Bring here to me the burnt offering Such offerings were made before fighting to atone for the sins of the troops. In addition to disobeying Samuel’s instructions, Saul is not qualified to make this offering. He ignores the law and places himself above God’s priest, showing that he is unfit to lead God’s people.
13:11 the army Rather than take responsibility for his actions, Saul blames three other people or groups: the people, Samuel, and the Philistines. Saul associates himself with the sin only by stating that he offered the sacrifice under duress (v. 12).
13:12 I have not yet implored the face of Yahweh Ironically, he does so through disobedience.
13:14 your kingdom will not endure Saul’s punishment for acting like a king from other nations (8:5, 20) and disobeying God’s commands.
a man according to his own heart This description likely is included to contrast the disobedient Saul with a king who follows Yahweh.
13:19 no skilled craftsman could be found The Philistines were restricting the Israelites’ access to weapons.
13:20 to have his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his iron plowshare sharpened The Israelites have to rely on the Philistines to maintain their farming tools.
13:21 The charge The rates given here are extraordinarily high. In this way, the Philistines could exact additional money from the Israelites, thereby impoverishing them further.
13:22 but Saul and his son Jonathan had them The Philistines’ control was so effective that only the Israelite king and one of his generals had metal weapons.
