1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 53God caused the Philistines to fight one another (v. 20; cf. Judg. 7:22; 2 Chron. 20:23).Some Israelite deserters or mercenaries who were fighting for the Philistines evenchanged their allegiance and took sides with Jonathan. The tide of battle had turned.Beth-aven stood near Michmash, but the exact site is uncertain.3. Saul's cursing of Jonathan 14:24-46Jonathan, a man of faith, initiated a great victory, but in this section we see that Saul, aman of pride, limited the extent of that victory while trying to extend it. Saul's failure tosubmit to Yahweh's authority resulted in his behaving foolishly more than wickedly (atthis time).Saul's selfishness 14:24-35Saul's improper view of his role as Israel's king comes through clearly in verse 24. ThePhilistines were not Saul's enemies as much as God's enemies. This was holy war (cf.Judg. 16:28), but Saul viewed the battle too personally. His selfish desire to win for hisown glory led him to issue a foolish command.An oath was an extremely serious matter in the ancient Near East (v. 26; cf. Judg. 14:8-9). One did not violate a king's oath without suffering severe consequences. Jonathan sawthe folly of Saul's oath clearly because he wanted God's glory (vv. 29-30). The Hebrewword translated "troubled" (v. 29, 'akar) is the same one from which "Achan" and"Achor" (Josh. 7:25-26) come. Saul, not Jonathan, had troubled Israel, as Achan had, byhis foolish command (v. 24).Aijalon (v. 31) stood about 17 miles west of Michmash. Verses 32-34 illustrate theconfusion that resulted from Saul's misguided oath. The Mosaic Law forbade eating meatwith the blood not drained from it (Lev. 17:10-14). The great stone (v. 33) served as aslaughtering table where the priests carefully prepared the meat for eating.Saul was not entirely insensitive to Yahweh and His will. We can see this in his concernto observe the ritual dietary law (v. 33) and his desire to honor God for the victory (v. 35;cf. Exod. 17:14-16). 159 There are many examples of spiritually sensitive Israelitesbuilding altars to God (e.g., 7: 17; Gen. 12:8; Judg. 6:24; 2 Sam. 24:25; 1 Chron. 21:18).The writer's note that this was the first altar that Saul built reflects the king's general lackof commitment to Yahweh.Saul's blindness to his guilt 14:36-46Evidently Saul would not have inquired of God if Ahijah (cf. v. 18) had not suggestedthat he do so (v. 36). Probably God did not answer his prayer immediately because Saulwanted this information to vindicate himself rather than God (v. 37). Saul thought Goddid not answer him because someone had violated his rule (v. 24), which he confusedwith God's law, calling violation of it sin (v. 38; cf. Josh. 7:14). Really, God did not159 Gordon, p. 140, believed Saul built this altar simply to make amends for his legal infringement, not toexpress gratitude for the day's victory.