1 Samuel 13

1 Samuel 13

Wiersbe summarizes chapters 13-15 - These three chapters record three sins of King Saul, sins that ultimately cost him the kingdom. A. Impatience (chap. 13). B. Pride (chap. 14) C. Disobedience (chap. 15). (Borrow Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament) Mattoon - The tables begin to turn on Saul in chapter thirteen. Victory soon turns to defeat. One victory does not make a man a conqueror Saul (asked, desired) was forty years old when he began to reign, and reigned forty two years over Israel - Here is the incredible rendering of the RSV = "Saul was...years old when he began to reign; and he reigned....and two years over Israel!" Almost all scholars agree that the numbers have dropped out in the course of transmitting this verse! The translation of this verse is problematic and the Septuagint even leaves it untranslated. Even the ESV is difficult to understand. The age of Saul at the time he began his reign is not certain, some versions inserting 30 and some 40, which expresses the uncertainty even by the experts! The length of his reign is undoubtedly 40 years (or some versions say "42"), because of the statement by Stephen in Acts 13:21 (see above). The general wording introducing Saul as king is similar to the "formula" used with other kings but only of the southern kings and never the northern kings (one reason is probably the fact that some were illegitimate). Here are some of the southern kings introduced by a similar formula - Rehoboam, 1Ki 14:21; Jehoshaphat, 1Ki 22:42; Jehoram, 2Ki 8:17; Ahaziah, 2Ki 8:26; Joash, 2Ki 11:21-12:1; Amaziah, 2Ki 14:2; Azariah/Uzziah, 2Ki 15:2; Jotham, 2Ki 15:33; Ahaz, 2Ki 16:2; Hezekiah, 2Ki 18:2; Manasseh, 2Ki 21:1; Amon, 2Ki 21:19; Josiah, 2Ki 22:1; Jehoahaz, 2Ki 23:31; Jehoiakim, 2Ki 23:36; Jehoiachin, 2Ki 24:8; and Zedekiah, 2Ki 24:18. Henry