1 Samuel 13

1 Samuel 13

Morris - Contrast Acts 13:21+, which indicates that Saul reigned forty years. Actually the Hebrew text in this verse is defective, possibly because of some ancient copyist error. The Septuagint omits it altogether. The Hebrew text as it now stands actually reads: "Saul was--years old when he began to reign, and he reigned--and two years over Israel." Consequently various translators have used various ways of supplying the lost numbers. If it is rendered approximately as follows: "Saul was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and two years over Israel;" then the subsequent narratives, along with Acts 13:21, will be found to fit well together, and it is so interpreted by many modern scholars. The fact is, however, that the actual numbers are unknown, so the best chronological constraint for this period must come from Paul's summary in Acts 13:21v. TECHNICAL NOTE - NET NOTE ON THIRTY - The Masoretic Text does not have "thirty." A number appears to have dropped out of the Hebrew text here, since as it stands the Masoretic Text (literally, "a son of a year") must mean that Saul was only one year old when he began to reign! The KJV, attempting to resolve this, reads "Saul reigned one year," but that is not the normal meaning of the Hebrew text represented by the Masoretic Text. Although most LXX (Septuagint) Manuscripts lack the entire verse, some Greek Manuscripts have "thirty years" here (while others have "one year" like the MT). The Syriac Peshitta has Saul's age as twenty-one. But this seems impossible to harmonize with the implied age of Saul's son Jonathan in the following verse. Taking into account the fact that in v. 2 Jonathan was old enough to be a military leader, some scholars prefer to supply in v. 1 the number forty (cf. ASV, NASB). The present translation ("thirty") is a possible but admittedly uncertain proposal based on a few Greek Manuscripts and followed by a number of English versions (e.g., NIV, NCV, NLT). Other English versions simply supply ellipsis marks for the missing number (e.g., NAB, NRSV). TECHNICAL NOTE - NET NOTE ON FORTY- The Masoretic Text has "two years" here. If this number is to be accepted as correct, the meaning apparently would be that after a lapse of two years at the beginning of Saul's reign, he then went about the task of consolidating an army as described in what follows (cf. KJV, ASV, CEV). But if the statement in 1Sa 13:1 is intended to be a comprehensive report on the length of Saul's reign, the number is too small. According to Acts 13:21+ Saul reigned for forty years. Some English versions (e.g., NIV, NCV, NLT), taking this forty to be a round number, add it to the "two years" of the MT and translate the number in 2 Sam 13:1 as "forty-two years." While this is an acceptable option, the present translation instead replaces the MT's "two" with the figure "forty." Admittedly the textual evidence for this decision is weak, but the same can be said of any attempt to restore sense to this difficult text (note the ellipsis marks at this point in NAB, NRSV). The Syriac Peshitta lacks this part of v. 1. Brian Bell - SAUL’S SLIPPERY SLOPE! A. We’ve all heard the expression “a Slippery Slope”. It is the slide from A to Z via the intermediate steps B through Y that is the "slope", & the smallness of each step that makes it "slippery". C. S. Lewis said, "The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." Others have explained it, “really there is no slippery slope, only a long staircase where each step downward must first be tolerated.” Let’s look at Saul’s 1st 4 steps downward...that eventually ends up at a witch’s house & with suicide on the battlefield. 1st STEP DOWN, SAUL FAILED TO ACT DECISIVELY! (1Sa 13:1-4) 2nd STEP DOWN, SAUL FAILED TO INSPIRE THE PEOPLE! (1Sa 13:5-7) 3rd STEP DOWN, SAUL FAILED TO WAIT! (1Sa 13:8-9) . 4th STEP DOWN, SAUL FAILED TO TELL THE TRUTH! (1Sa 13:10-15) James Smith - SAUL, THE DISOBEDIENT 1 Samuel 13:1–14 “None Could trace God’s will so plain as you, while yours Remained implied in it, but now you fail, And we, who prate about that will, are fools; In short, God’s service is established here As He determines fit, and not your way— And this you cannot brook.”" —BROWNING. Samuel, in the love of his heart, and in faithfulness to the Lord, had just sounded a note of warning to Saul and the people, accompanied with a gracious word of encouragement (chap. 12:20–25). But in the day of prosperity we often fail to consider. “Saul reigned one year.” This might be rendered: Saul was like a child of one year when he began to reign. All that we know of Saul up till this time bears this out. Like Uzziah, he was marvellously helped till he was strong (2 Chron. 26:15–16). The pride that lifteth up the heart into self-confidence will surely end in destruction. God will never fail or forsake those who trust Him and are little in their own eyes. I. His Duty was Plain. To get the explanation of verse 8 we have to go back to chapter 10:8. The word of the prophet was both urgent and explicit. “Seven days shall thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.” Although the time may have been about three years after, still Saul’s way was perfectly plain; he was to do as occasion served him (chap. 10:7) till this present crisis should come, then he was to wait for the ministry and guidance of the man of God. Our responsibility will be according to the light we have. If, like Saul, we are conscious of being chosen of God, and of being made partakers of the holy anointing (chap. 10:1), then surely the revealed will of God must become the absolute and unconditional law of our life. This is the way, walk ye in it. II. His Faith was Tried. The Philistines had gathered in great force to fight with Israel (v. 5). Saul had blown the trumpet thoughout the land, and summoned the Hebrews to meet him at Gilgal. While he tarried there for seven days, according to the set time of Samuel, “the people were scattered from him” (v. 8). His waiting may have appeared to the already distressed army of Israel as a sign of weakness and fear, so many of them took advantage of the delay and hid themselves (v. 6). Day by day, as he waited for the prophet, he saw the strength of Israel melting away. Every hour he tarried seemed to make his case all the more hopeless. What a test to his faith and patience! What a struggle there must have been in his soul; what a conflict between faith and sight! It is always a sore trial to part with the Isaac of our hopes while we are following the bidding of God (1 Peter 1:7). “He must increase, I must decrease.” III. His Failure was Great. “Saul said, Bring hither a burnt-offering to me; and as soon as he had made an end of offering Samuel came” (vv. 9, 10). Saul had waited till almost the close of the seventh day, as Samuel had appointed; but ere the full time had come, through pressure of circumstances, his patience with the will of God had broken down. He had chosen his own way, and stepped out of the purpose and favour of God. Every Spirit-anointed one will have their testing time. As soon as Jesus Christ was baptised of the Spirit He was led into the wilderness to be tried (Mark 1:10–13). If Abraham had failed when the great testing crisis came he never would have become the “Father of the faithful.” But he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief (Rom. 4:20). The way to abiding honour and usefulness in the service of God is by “enduring as seeing Him who is invisible.” To fail when we are brought face to face with the circumstances planned by God for the testing and developing of our faith is to be a life-long cripple in the work of the Lord. Whenever, as Christian workers, we choose our own way rather than wait on the fulfilment of God’s Word, we become as bones out of joint in the body of Christ. Such can only live a painful life. IV. His Excuse was Vain. “Samuel said, What hast thou done? Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me; … I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt-offering” (vv. 11, 12). His army was dwindling away, the Philistine host was increasing, Samuel was long in coming, and his own patience was exhausted. Yet in taking the place of the priestly prophet he acted foolishly, and in direct rebellion against the commandment of the Lord (v. 13). For unbelief and disobedience there can be no excuse. No argument or reasoning can extenuate the guilt of doing what we know to be contrary to the mind of God. He that heareth the sayings of Christ, and believeth them not, is the foolish man that goes on building his life on the ruinous sand (Matt. 7:26). The most melancholy feature of Saul’s attempt to justify himself is that there are no signs of repentance. After Samuel’s solemn warning he proceeds to number the people (v. 15). When we have discovered that we have blundered and failed, and disobeyed, genuine repentance and confession is the only way back to God’s favour and fellowship. V. His Loss was Deplorable. “Now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought Him a man after His own heart, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee” (v. 14). Saul has turned away from the Lord, now the Lord seeks another man after His own heart, as an instrument more willing to abide in His hand, for the working out of His purposes concerning Israel. All Saul’s trumpeting and planning now can no more hinder the kingdom from settling down in David than he could hinder the sun from setting in the west. He may shake himself like Samson, but the power is gone. It is a solemn thought that we may be earnestly keeping up the form of our service for God in the energy of the flesh when the Spirit of power has departed from us. Let us never forget that to choose our own way is to choose loss and defeat. May God work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure! 1 Samuel 13:2 Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent. BGT 1 Samuel 13:2 καὶ ἐκλέγεται Σαουλ ἑαυτῷ τρεῖς χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν ἐκ τῶν ἀνδρῶν Ισραηλ καὶ ἦσαν μετὰ Σαουλ δισχίλιοι ἐν Μαχεμας καὶ ἐν τῷ ὄρει Βαιθηλ χίλιοι ἦσαν μετὰ Ιωναθαν ἐν Γαβεε τοῦ Βενιαμιν καὶ τὸ κατάλοιπον τοῦ λαοῦ ἐξαπέστειλεν ἕκαστον εἰς τὸ σκήνωμα αὐτοῦ LXE 1 Samuel 13:2 And Saul chooses for himself three thousand men of the men of Israel: and there were with Saul two thousand who were in Machmas, and in mount Baethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gabaa of Benjamin: and he sent the rest of the people every man to his tent. KJV 1 Samuel 13:2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. NET 1 Samuel 13:2 Saul selected for himself three thousand men from Israel. Two thousand of these were with Saul at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel; the remaining thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. He sent all the rest of the people back home. CSB 1 Samuel 13:2 He chose 3,000 men from Israel for himself: 2,000 were with Saul at Michmash and in Bethel's hill country, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent. ESV 1 Samuel 13:2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. NIV 1 Samuel 13:2 Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes. NLT 1 Samuel 13:2 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 Michmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul's son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. NRS 1 Samuel 13:2 Saul chose three thousand out of Israel; two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; the rest of the people he sent home to their tents. NJB 1 Samuel 13:2 Saul selected three thousand men of Israel; two thousand of them were with Saul at Michmash and in the highlands of Bethel, and one thousand with Jonathan at Geba of Benjamin; the rest of the people Saul sent home, everyone to his tent. NAB 1 Samuel 13:2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel, of whom two thousand remained with him in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people back to their tents. YLT 1 Samuel 13:2 and Saul chooseth for himself three thousand men out of Israel; and two thousand are with Saul in Michmash, and in the hill-country of Beth-El; and a thousand have been with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; and the remnant of the people he hath sent each to his tents. chose: 1Sa 8:11 14:52 Michmash: Michmash was situated east of Bethaven, or Bethel; and Eusebius says it was in his time a considerable place, about nine miles from Jerusalem, towards Ramah. 1Sa 13:5,23 14:5,31 Isa 10:28 Gibeah: 1Sa 10:26 15:34 Jos 18:28 Jdg 19:12 2Sa 21:6 Isa 10:29 1 Samuel 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Saul at Michmash, Jonathan at Gibeah Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin - Saul is establishing a standing military for his kingdom. The 330,000 troops in 1Sa 11:8 was for a specific conflict with Nahash. These 3000 were apparently select warriors and were divided between King Saul at Michmash, about 4.5 miles NE of Gibeah (Saul's hometown which functioned as the "royal" city - there was no designated capital of Israel) and where his son Jonathan was stationed with his 1000 troops. In between Michmash and Gibeah lay the town of Geba which was controlled by the Philistines (click this map and see the blow up to help you see the relationship of these 3 cities). When you see the geographic proximity of Michmash, Gibeah and Geba, you can better understand why Jonathan attacked the Philistines at Geba (1Sa 13:3).