1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

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50 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 Editionafraid, and some even fled (cf. Judg. 6:2). The enemy must have been strong to threatenIsrael's eastern territory since Philistia was Israel's neighbor to the west."Since 'Hebrew' was commonly used by non-Israelites as a synonym for'Israelite' (cf. 4:5-10), it is understandable that the two terms shouldalternate throughout the narratives of the Philistine wars in chapters 13—14." 151Fearful lest the mass desertion of his soldiers continue, Saul decided to slay the sacrificialanimals before engaging the enemy and to attack rather than to wait for Samuel to comeand offer the sacrifices. This was a violation of the prophet's orders (10:8). 152 Saul couldhave asked for the Lord's help in prayer, of course, as Hannah did. Evidently ritual wasvery important to him, so he offered the sacrifice and disobeyed Samuel. His choicesuggests that he had a rather superficial relationship with Yahweh. Contrast Gideon whoalso faced overwhelming odds fearfully yet trusted and obeyed Yahweh nonetheless(Judg. 6).Saul's punishment may appear excessively severe at first. However the king of Israel wasthe Lord's lieutenant. Any disobedience to his Commander-in-Chief was an act ofinsubordination that threatened the whole administrative organization of God's kingdomon earth. Saul failed to perceive his place and responsibility under God. 153 He assumedmore authority than was his. For this reason God would not establish a dynasty for him(cf. 24:21). Had he obeyed on this occasion God would have placed Saul's descendantson his throne for at least one generation if not more (v. 13; cf. 1 Kings 11:38). PerhapsSaul's descendants would have reigned in a parallel kingdom with the king from Judah. 154Now Saul's son would not succeed him. Eventually God would have raised up a kingfrom the tribe of Judah even if Saul had followed the Lord faithfully (Gen. 49:10). Thatking probably would have been David.Samuel's departure from the battlefield (v. 15) was symbolic of the breach that nowopened up between Samuel and Saul. Saul's presumptuous plan also failed to bring hisdeparting soldiers back to him.2. Saul's struggle against the Philistines 13:16—14:23The results of Saul's disobedience 13:16-23The writer explained the military disaster that resulted from Saul's disobedience in verses16-18. Saul's army dwindled and the enemy continued to move around his capital city,Gibeah, freely.151 Youngblood, p. 654.152 Contrast David's submission to Nathan the prophet (2 Sam. 12:1-15) with Saul's rebellion againstSamuel the prophet.153 Contrast King Hezekiah's appropriate behavior in a similar situation in 2 Chronicles 29:25.154 J. Dwight Pentecost, Thy Kingdom Come, p. 139; Youngblood, p. 657.
2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 51Saul evidently led his troops from Gilgal to Geba where some of the Israelite soldierscamped. Saul himself proceeded back to Gibeah (14:2). The Philistines had posted alarger camp of their soldiers just north of the Wadi Suweinit ravine that ran betweenGeba and Michmash. The Philistines used their camp (garrison, v. 23) at Michmash as abase for raiding parties. From Michmash these raiders went north toward Ophrah, westtoward Beth-horon, and probably southeast toward the wilderness, specifically the valleyof Zeboim (exact site unknown).The main physical advantage the Philistines enjoyed was their ability to smelt iron. Thisadvanced technology gave them a strong military edge over the Israelites. 155 As in thedays of Deborah and Barak (Judg. 5:8), the Philistines still had the advantage of superiorweapons and the power to restrict the Israelites' use of iron implements.Jonathan's success at Michmash 14:1-23Armed with trust in God and courage Jonathan ventured out to destroy Israel's enemy inobedience to God's command to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan (cf. 9:16). He wouldhave made a good king of Israel. Saul remained in Gibeah, evidently on the defensive.His comfortable position under a fruit tree (cf. 22:6; Judg. 4:5) in secure Gibeah,surrounded by his soldiers, contrasts with Jonathan's vulnerable and difficult positionwith only the support of his armor bearer. Jonathan was launching out in faith to obeyGod, but Saul was resting comfortably and failing to do God's will.The reference to priestly activity at Shiloh (v. 3) shows that the nation still regardedShiloh as a cultic site (i.e., a site where the people practiced formal worship)."Saul is accompanied by Ahijah, a member of the rejected priestly houseof Eli (14:3), and this first mention of an Elide after the disasters whichbefell Eli's family in chap. 4 triggers the response 'rejected by Yhwh.' Lestthe point be missed, it is reinforced by the odd and needless genealogicalreference to Ichabod, Ahijah's uncle, picking up on 4:21-22, andreminding the reader that 'the glory has departed.' His own royal glorygone, where else would we expect Saul to be than with a relative of 'Glorygone'? The axes which here intersect, the rejection of Saul and therejection of the Elide priesthood, will do so again in 22:11-19, when Saulwill bloodily fulfill the prophecy of 2:31-33, wreaking Yhwh's will on theElides." 156155 Dothan, p. 20.156 David Jobling, "Saul's Fall and Jonathan's Rise: Tradition and Redaction in 1 Sam 14:1-46," Journal ofBiblical Literature 95:3 (1976):368-69.
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