1 Samuel 13

God Rejected Saul As King

Almost as soon as we are told about Saul’s acceptance as king by the people, we are told about his rejection as king by God.  The author does not speculate on Saul’s motives.  We know only that he was a natural leader of men who struggled to become a follower of God. 

Saul Became King

Vs. 1 - Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty-two years over Israel.

Commentators and bible translators disagree on both of the numbers in this verse as well as the exact placement of these events in the life of Saul.  Whether early or late in his reign, this particular account was pivotal in the trajectory of Saul’s story. 

Jonathan Attacked The Philistines 

Old Enemy

Vs. 2 - one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah

Commentators speculate on the reasoning for this offensive: The presence of a Philistine garrison less than 3 miles from Gibea posed a significant threat to Israel's heartland and to Saul's kingdom.                   - Bryan E. Beyer

New Character

This is the first place in which this brave and excellent man appears; a man who bears one of the most amiable characters in the Bible.      - Clarke

Samuel Didn’t Come

Gripped with Fear

Vs. 6-7 - The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, in thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns…Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear.

Saul’s situation was dire. The enemy was gathering around him.  His soldiers were “gripped with fear.”  And Samuel was nowhere to be found.  Even the bravest of men would be susceptible to panic in this scenario.  

Seven Days

Vs. 8 - He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him.

We are not told why Samuel asked for seven days or what delayed his coming during an intense military standoff.  We only know that Saul was tasked with waiting for God’s instructions, but he struggled in the face of fear. 

Burnt Offering

Vs. 11-12 - Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, I thought, ‘The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”

Saul’s decision to offer sacrifice could have been motivated partly from impatience and partly from the desire to have complete power, religious as well as political. Samuel saw that Saul’s action was really a rebellion against the authority of God.        - Don Fleming

Was Saul simply scared and impatient, feeling the pressure to act as a leader? Or was he hungry for more power? Priestly as well as political?  Frequent in the account of Saul are examples of his inability to distinguish religious ritual from sincere repentance.  He was described as a capable leader who was tragically disconnected from genuine faith. 

Samuel Rebuked Saul

Rejection

Vs. 14 - your reign will not endure

Saul’s punishment may appear excessively severe at first. However, the king of Israel was the Lord’s lieutenant. Any disobedience to his Commander-in-Chief was an act of insubordination that threatened the whole administrative organization of God’s kingdom on earth. Saul failed to perceive his place and responsibility under God. Contrast King Hezekiah’s appropriate behavior in a similar situation in 2 Chronicles 29:25. Saul assumed more authority than was his. For this reason God would not establish a dynasty for him.             - Thomas Constable

Replacement

Vs. 14 - The Lord has found a man after his own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over his people

It seems possible from Samuel’s statement that he had already anointed David as the next king when these events took place.  Regardless of the timing, God was already preparing the king He had chosen. 

Israel Lacked Weapons

Vs. 22 - only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

The presence of Philistine-imposed restrictions on metalworking, which limited weapons to those made of wood or stone, shows the extent of their domination in Israel's heartland.              - Bryan E. Beyer

The Philistines were confident of victory, partly because for many years they had so controlled metal-working activities in the area that the Israelites owned hardly any weapons. This enabled the Philistines to raid throughout Israel without fear of strong resistance.          - Don Fleming