Samuel Rebukes Saul
1 Samuel 13:1-14 NLT
13:1 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years.
2 Saul selected 3,000 special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took 2,000 of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul’s son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin.
3 Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Hebrews, hear this! Rise up in revolt!” 4 All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the Philistine garrison at Geba and that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army was summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
5 The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. 6 The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns. 7 Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul’s Disobedience and Samuel’s Rebuke
Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. 8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. 9 So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.
10 Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, 11 but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?”
Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. 12 So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”
13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
Israel’s Military Disadvantage
15 Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left! 16 Saul and Jonathan and the troops with them were staying at Geba in the land of Benjamin. The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash. 17 Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, 18 another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness.
19 There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews. 20 So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles, they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith. 21 The charges were as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce for sharpening an ax or making the point of an ox goad. 22 So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.
23 The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.
At this point in history, the Ammonites were a constant threat from the east to Israel, while the Philistines were a threat to Israel from the west.
In 1 Samuel 11 Saul defeated the Ammonites.
Brief summary:
1 Samuel 11:10-11 NLT
10 The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you wish.” 11 But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.
In this lesson Saul is dealing with the Philistines.
Examine the Scriptures
1 Samuel 13:1-14 NLT
Saul’s Disobedience and Samuel’s Rebuke
13:1 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years.
A closer look at the numbers used in this verse. (30 and 42)
Problem: If Saul was 30 years old, would his son Jonathan be old enough to lead 1,000 men into battle?
Acts 13:21 NLT
21 Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years.
What numbers are used in other translations?
English Standard Version
Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel,
Common English Bible
Saul was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled over Israel forty-two years.
American Standard Version
Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
New International Version
Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty- two years.
Revised Standard Version
Saul was . . .years old when he began to reign; and he reigned . . . and two years over Israel.
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
King James Version
Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
New King James Version
Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
- It appears that some numbers from the original text are missing.
If we were to use the American Standard Version the verse would look like:
Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
If we were to omit verse one it would not change the narrative that follows.
2 Saul selected 3,000 special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home.
Review:
1 Samuel 11:8 NLT
8 When Saul mobilized them at Bezek, he found that there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.
Saul had a “reserve” of 330,000 troops.
1 Samuel 14:52 NLT
52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
He took 2,000 of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul’s son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin.
Refer to a map.
- Saul established a “standing army” of 3,000 men.
2,000 men served under Saul and were stationed at Micmash.
1,000 men served under Jonathan and were stationed at Gibeah.
This is the first mention of Jonathan
Saul would have been aware of the Philistine outpost located at Geba, which was located between Micmash and Gibeah.
3 Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba.
A deep gorge separated Geba and Micmash.
This outpost was in the “heart” of Israel.
Indicating the fact that the Philistines exercised some control of the area (more about this in our next lesson).
The news spread quickly among the Philistines. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Hebrews, hear this! Rise up in revolt!” 4 All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the Philistine garrison at Geba
It is not unusual for the “commander in chief” to get credit for what his soldiers accomplished.
and that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever.
So the entire Israelite army was summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
- After Jonathan destroyed the Philistine garrison at Geba, the Philistines hated the Israelites more than ever.
5 The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore!
- The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore!
The Israelites did not have chariots at this point in time. (NIV Study Bible)
They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. 6 The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns. 7 Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead.
East of the Jordan River.
Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. 8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come.
Review:
1 Samuel 10:8 NLT
8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.”
Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away.
- Saul’s men were beginning to scatter.
9 So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.
- Saul sacrificed a burnt offering to the Lord.
Saul saw his troops rapidly slipping away.
Saul did not respect Samuel’s authority as a priest.
Saul took on the role of a priest without the authority to do so.
Review:
1 Samuel 7:7-11 NLT
7 When the Philistine rulers heard that Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they mobilized their army and advanced. The Israelites were badly frightened when they learned that the Philistines were approaching. 8 “Don’t stop pleading with the Lord our God to save us from the Philistines!” they begged Samuel. 9 So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the Lord as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the Lord to help Israel, and the Lord answered him.
10 Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them. 11 The men of Israel chased them from Mizpah to a place below Beth-car, slaughtering them all along the way.
Burnt offerings are a good thing, if done properly.
Look at 1 Samuel 15:22 (a verse we will study in a future lesson).
1 Samuel 15:22 NLT
22 But Samuel replied,
“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
10 Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him,
Apparently Saul did not realize that he had done anything wrong.
11 but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?”
This is more a rebuke than a question.
- Samuel rebuked Saul for his actions.
Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. 12 So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”
- Saul made excuses for his behavior.
Clearly, Saul is not trusting in God at this point in time.
Review a passage where Saul had recognized a time when God rescued Israel.
1 Samuel 11:11-13 NLT
11 But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.
12 Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, “Now where are those men who said, ‘Why should Saul rule over us?’ Bring them here, and we will kill them!”
13 But Saul replied, “No one will be executed today, for today the Lord has rescued Israel!”
13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you.
Saul failed to recognize Samuel’s higher role as God’s messenger.
Saul disregarded the instructions of the Lord’s prophet.
As the Lord’s prophet, Samuel had spoken “the command of the Lord”.
Saul had disobeyed the Lord.
Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart.
David
- Saul loses the kingship because of his disobedience. The kingship would not be passed on to Saul’s sons.
Application: Trust and obey.
The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
Israel’s Military Disadvantage
15 Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way,
- Samuel’s departure from the battlefield was symbolic of the separation between Samuel and Saul, the prophet and the king.
but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left!
Saul had over 300,000 men to rescue the people of Jabesh Gilead and then had cut it down to 3,000, but now his forces numbered only 600.
- The seven day delay had greatly depleted Saul’s forces.
16 Saul and Jonathan and the troops with them were staying at Geba in the land of Benjamin.
The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash.
Refer to a map.
Geba and Micmash were only one or two miles apart, but the two cities were separated by a deep ravine.
The pass at Micmash was a strategic passage through the canyon that separated Micmash from Geba, Gibeah, and other towns to the south.
17 Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, 18 another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness. (Zeboim, only mentioned in 1 Samuel 13, was a ravine located to the east of Micmash.)
Saul’s army was dwindling while the Philistine army was able to move around his capital city, Gibeah, freely.
- The Philistines used raiding parties to plunder the land and demoralize the inhabitants.
19 There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days.
- The main physical advantage the Philistines enjoyed was their ability to smelt iron. This advanced technology gave them a strong military edge over the Israelites.
As in the days of Deborah and Barak (Judg. 5:8),
Judges 5:8 NLT
8 When Israel chose new gods,
war erupted at the city gates.
Yet not a shield or spear could be seen
among forty thousand warriors in Israel!
the Philistines still had the advantage of superior weapons and the power to restrict the Israelites’ use of iron implements. “This monopoly continued with some success until the time of David when Israel began to produce iron objects rather freely (cf. 1 Chron. 22:3).”
1 Chronicles 22:3 NLT
3 David provided large amounts of iron for the nails that would be needed for the doors in the gates and for the clamps, and he gave more bronze than could be weighed.
- The Philistines has superior iron and metal-working craftsmen until David’s time.
The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews.
The Philistines were able to monopolize the iron industry.
- The Philistines had a distinct military advantage over the Israelites.
20 So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles, they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith. 21 The charges were as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce for sharpening an ax or making the point of an ox goad.
- The Philistines charged high prices to sharpen instruments that could be used in battle.
22 So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.
They did have bows and arrows, slingshots, picks, axes, and sickles.
23 The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.
