Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Saul reigned from age thirty until he died at age seventy-two according to I Samuel 13.  The standing army consisted of 3,000 men.  2,000 stayed with Saul and 1,000 were under his son Jonathan.  This would have been later than the first battle of course.

There were 3,000 chariots of the Philistines that gathered to fight them.  Saul was waiting for Samuel to offer a sacrifice.  The king made the offering himself, instead of waiting.    When the prophet arrived, he questioned what had been done.  Saul made an excuse and blamed the people for starting to leave.  He viewed Samuel as being late.  Samuel was following the leadership of Jehovah.  Ministers and other Christians still have problems in this way.  Yahweh sets his own time.

We learn that none of the Israelites have swords or spears, except Jonathan and Saul.  The Philistines have removed all the metal workers and tools from Israel.  This was intentional.  It may explain the Israelite tactic of hiding anywhere they can.

Jonathan’s actions in I Samuel 14 seem unusual.  He and his armor-bearer decide to attack the Philistines.  They have a plan that will tell if God will go with them.  They killed twenty of the enemy in this first battle.

Saul realizes that something is going on and has the troops searched to see who is missing.  When it is discovered that Jonathan and his servant are gone, they determine to join the battle.  Even those who had left, returned to follow and fight the retreating army.

We know that ignorance of the law is no excuse in this country.  Jonathan violates his Father’s order by eating honey.  This causes a mutiny that results in Yahweh withholding an answer from the King.  The lot is cast, and Jonathan is discovered as the sinner.  The pursuit of the Philistines stops because of this.  Who was disobeyed, God or just a man?

This was one of many skirmishes with the different enemies of the Israelites.  Jehovah allows Saul to be victorious despite his impatience to wait for Samuel.  The kingdom will be given to someone else, but until that happens, Saul becomes more convinced that he and his son should continue as the leaders of the kingdom even though Yahweh sees it differently.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger