1 Samuel 13

1 Samuel 13:1

C. Disobedience and Rejection (Chaps. 1315)1. Saul’s Sinful Sacrifice (Chap. 13)13:1 There are obvious difficulties with verse 1, as can readily be seen by reading the verse in different versions. The KJV and NKJV read: “Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel . . .” The ERV says: “Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years over Israel . . .” The RSV states: “Saul was . . . years old when he began to reign, and he reigned . . . two years over Israel.” The NASB: “Saul was forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-two years over Israel.” Some manuscripts of the Septuagint simply omit the problem verse altogether! The most likely explanation for this confusion is that some letters were dropped out of the Hebrew text by careless copyists in later centuries. We do know that Saul was a mature man when he came to power because his son Jonathan was old enough to go to war. 13:2-5 Saul had established a standing army of three thousand men. Jonathan took his detachment and successfully attacked the Philistine garrison . . . in Geba, north of Jerusalem. This incited the Philistines to prepare a huge army for all-out war. (Some translations, following the Syriac and some manuscripts of the Septuagint, read 3,000 chariots in verse 5, a more likely number to accommodate the six thousand horsemen.) 13:6-9 The Hebrews responded to the challenge with great cowardice; some even fled across the Jordan. They had been under the yoke for so long that breaking free seemed almost impossible; the Philistines possessed every advantage. As Saul waited for Samuel at Gilgal (see 1Sa_10:8), more and more men were missing at each roll call. The seventh day began, but still Samuel failed to appear. With his forces diminishing and with war impending, Saul was moved by expediency to offer the burnt offering himself, even though he had no authority to do so, not being a Levite. Even if Samuel was late, that did not justify Saul’s intruding into the priestly office. 13:10-14 Arriving immediately afterward, Samuel realized what Saul had done. What appeared to be valid excuses did not change the fact that Saul had disobeyed God. For this he would lose the kingdom. God had already found another man, one after His own heart. This was the first of several sins in Saul’s life which resulted in his losing the throne of Israel. The others were: his rash vow (chap. 14); sparing Agag and the best of the spoil in the battle with the Amalekites (chap. 15); the murder of Ahimelech and eighty-four other priests (chap. 22); his repeated attempts on David’s life (chaps. 18-26); and consulting the witch at En Dor (chap. 28). 13:15-23 Saul took his six hundred men and joined Jonathan at Gibeah. The Philistines, encamped a short distance away at Michmash, began sending out raiders to the north, west, and east, and Israel seemed helpless to halt them. The Philistines had been in such complete control for so long that they had removed every blacksmith from Israel. The Hebrews had to come to them to get their farm implements sharpened. Only a few men had swords. Things looked grim indeed.