1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 49days for him there. In 13:8, we read that Saul went to Gilgal and waited seven days forSamuel there. Therefore the events of chapter 13 appear to have followed those in chapter10 soon. 147However in 13:3 Jonathan is old enough to lead an invasion against a Philistine garrison.Jonathan must have been at least about 20 to do that. If he was about 20, and this was thebeginning of Saul's reign, we have two problems. First, Saul must have been somewhatolder than 30 when he began ruling. Yet this would make him quite old when he died inbattle, as explained above. I think he was probably about 40 even though this wouldmake him about 80 when he died. Second, if Jonathan was about 20 at the beginning ofSaul's reign, he would have been about 60 when he died with Saul since Saul reignedabout 40 years (Acts 13:21). If David was a contemporary of Jonathan, as 1 Samuelimplies, David began reigning when Jonathan was about 60. Yet 2 Samuel 5:4 says Davidwas 30 when he began to reign. In spite of the disparity in the ages of David andJonathan, it seems that Jonathan was indeed about 30 years older than David.Some of the evidence (10:8 and 13:8) seems to support the view that the events of chapter13 happened early in Saul's reign. Other evidence (the ages of David and Jonathan)suggests that they may have happened much later. I favor the view that the events inchapter 13 follow those in chapter 10 closely. 148Gibeah was Saul's hometown and hiscapital. Michmash was five milesnortheast of Gibeah, and Geba wasfour. Evidently Saul wanted to clearthe area around Gibeah, and thecentral Benjamin plateau on which itstood, of Philistines to make thispopulation center more secure.Jonathan's initial victory at Gebaprovoked the Philistines who massedtheir forces across the steep valleybetween Geba and Michmash. 149Some scholars believe that Saulmustered the Israelite forces in theJordan Valley at Gilgal, about 12miles east of Michmash. 150 In doingso, he was following orders thatSamuel had given him earlier (10:8).TOWNS MENTIONEDIN 1 SAMUEL 13—14Shiloh *Ophrah*Bethel *Beth-horon Michmash* * Gilgal?Geba *Beth- *Gibeah * avenGILEADApparently Saul was to meet Samuel to offer sacrifices of worship before he engaged thePhilistines in battle. Because of the superior Philistine army the Israelite soldiers wereGAD147 Merrill, Kingdom of . . ., p. 193, and Wood, Israel's United . . ., pp. 123, believed Saul's disobedience atGilgal took place in the second year of his reign.148 See again the "Chronology of 1 and 2 Samuel" at the beginning of these notes.149 This is the first mention of Jonathan, whose name means "The Lord has given."150 E.g., Keil and Delitzsch, pp. 127-28. Again, the location of this Gilgal is problematic.