B w 2-6. Signs. x 7. Command. x 8. Appointment. w 9-13. Signs fulfilled.
2: When you are departed from me today, then you shall find two men by Rachel's sepulchre (cp. Gen.35:20) in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah (3 signs given [cp. Mark14:3] to indicate the comming change. Prophecy for the moment); and they will say to you, ‘The asses which you went to seek are found: and, lo, your father has left the care of the asses, and sorrows for you, saying, ‘What shall I do for my son?’ ’
3: Then shall you go on forward from that place, and you shall come to the oak of Tabor (or terebinth; growing generally alone, becomes a conspicuous landmark), and there shall meet you three men going up to God (Elohim) to Bethel (= house of El [God]. Evidently a place of worship, in the absence of any "place", according to Deut.12:5, &c. Cp. Ex.20:24), one carrying three kids (probably their firstfruits. Cp. 2 Kings 44:42), and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4: And they will salute you (Heb. ask after your peace), and give you two loaves of bread; which you shall receive of their hands.
5: After that you shall come to the hill of God (Elohim), where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when you are come to that place to the city, that you shall meet a company of prophets (first occ. of this expression. Probably a school established by Samuel [cp. Acts 3:24; 13:20]. The head of such school called "father" [cp. 10:12; 19:20], or "master" [2 Kings 2:3]. Such communities found later at Beth-el, Jericho, Gilgal [2 Kings 2:3,5; 4:38[; and probably here at Gibeah and Ramah [cp. Naioth, 19:18,20]) coming down from the high place with a viol (a stringed instrument, same as lute. Cp. 2 Sam.6:5. 1 Kings 10:12. 1 Chron.16:5. Isa.5:12; 14:11. Amos 5:23; 6:5), and a drum (Heb. toph. Cp. 18:6. 2 Sam.6:5. Isa.5:12; 24:8; 30:32. Jer.31:4. Ezek.28:13. See note on "timbrel" Ex.15:20), and a pipe (= a plain reed, single or double, played like modern flute. Note pl. in the Subsciption of Ps. 5), and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy (not necessarily "foretell", but speak in the name of the Lord (Yehovah)):
6: And the Spirit of the Lord (Yehovah) will come upon you, and you shall prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man. (God chooses whomsoever He wills. He can change minds)
7: And let it be, when these signs are come to you, that you do as your hand shall find; for God (Elohim) is with you.
8: And you shall go down before me to Gilgal (this was the beginning of organized rising against Philistines. All directed by God through Samuel; not Saul); and, behold, I will come down to you, to offer up burnt offerings, and to slay sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shall you tarry, till I come to you, and show you what you shall do.
9: And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, Elohim gave him different heart (= mind): and all those signs came to pass that day.
10: And when they came to that place to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God (Elohim) came upon him, and he prophesied among them. (this is a kind of miracle)
11: And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, “What is this that is come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” (God can give gifts to someones mind)
12: And one from that place answered and said, “But who is their father?” (= elder) Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
13: And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
14: And Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, “To which place went you all?” And he said, “To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.”
15: And Saul's uncle said, “Tell me, I pray you, what Samuel said to you.”
16: And Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the asses were found.” But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spoke, he told him not. (Saul has a problem believing)
W³ y¹ 17. People assembled. En masse. z¹ 18,19-. Samuel's remonstrance. Y² -19. People presented. By tribes. z² 20-24-. Samuel. Lots cast. y³ -24. People. Approbaion. z³ 25-. Samuel. Confirmaton.
17: And Samuel called the People together to the Lord (Yehovah) to Mizpeh (= watchtower);
18: And said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim) of Israel (this rehearsal is to show that they had sinned, although He was giving a king. Their sin was not asking, but in forestalling Yehovah's already expressed purpose to give them a king [see Deut.17:15 and cp. Gen.49:10]), I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
19: And you all have this day rejected your God (Elohim), who Himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and you all have said to Him, ‘No, but set a king over us.’
Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord (Yehovah) by your tribes, and by your thousands.’ ”
20: And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken (i.e. by lot, by the Urim and Thummim. See Ex.28:30).
21: When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and when he had brought near the family of Matri man by man Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. (This whole get together was to make him king)
22: Therefore they inquired of the Lord (Yehovah) further (i.e. by the High Priest. No priest mentioned between chapters 4 and 14, a period of 40 years = probation), if the man should yet come to that place. And the Lord (Yehovah) answered, “Behold, he has hid himself among the stuff.”
23: And they ran and fetched him from that place: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. (Just looks don't cut it. Character is needed! Do you see any in Saul?)
24: And Samuel said to all the people, “See you all him whom the Lord (Yehovah) has chosen, that there is none like him among all the People?”
And all the people shouted, and said, “God save the king”. (Heb. Let the king live. An idiom which includes the desire that might have everything that makes life worth living, including also eternal life)
25: Then Samuel told the People the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book (Heb. the book; viz. the Book kept before Yehovah; even the Scriptures of Truth), and laid it up before the Lord (Yehovah).
And Samuel sent all the People away, every man to his house.
26: And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose minds God (Elohim) had moved. (God controls what He wishes)
27: But the sons of Belial said, “How shall this man save us?” And they despised him, and brought him no presents (this was an insult). But he was as one that was deaf.
S a¹ 1-. Aggression of Nahash. b¹ -1. Men of Jabesh-gilead. Message to Nahash. a² 2. Ultimatum of Nahash. b² 3,4. Men of Jabesh-gilead. Message to Saul. a³ 5-9. Ultimatum of Nahash. b³ 10. Men of Jabesh-gilead. Reply to Nahash. a4 11. Defeat of Nahash.
11)
1: Then Nahash (= serpent) the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead:
and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash (those who had not obeyed the summons of Judg.21:8 were extinqushed, and their daughters given to remnant of Benjamin. This gave them a claim on Saul, who was a Benjamite), “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”
2: And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes (as the shield covered the left eye, the right was necessary for seeing. The loss of it incapacitated men from fighting), and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.”
3: And the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite (a very short respite), that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel: and then, if there be no saviour, we will come out to you.”
4: Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
5: And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, “What ails the people that they weep?” And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
6: And the Spirit of the Lord (Yehovah) came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger (= righteous indignation) was kindled greatly.
7: And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces (always used of dividing what is already dead, and mostly of sacrifices), and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hands of the messengers, saying, “Whosoever comes not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. (He hit them right in heir pocket-books) And the fear (= reverence) of the Lord (Yehovah) fell on the people, and they came out with one consent (Heb. as one man).
8: And when he numbered them in Bezek (= lightning), the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. (Not brought back together until Ezek.39:16-38)
9: And they said to the messengers that came, “Thus shall you all say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot, you all shall have salvation.’ ” (or deliverance) And the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
10: Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you all shall do with us all that seems good to you.” (There is a little covert activity going on here)
11: And it was so on the next day, that Saul put the People in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. (Israel always wins WHEN they have God's blessings. They don't always have it, especially when they don't obey God's command)
12: And the People said to Samuel, “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ bring the men, that we may put them to death.”
13: And Saul said, “There shall not a man be put to death this day: for today the Lord (Yehovah) has wrought salvation in Israel.”
Q D¹ 11:14,15. People assembled. D² 12:1-25. People addressed.
14: Then said Samuel to the People, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal (= wheel), and renew the kingdom there.”
15: And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the Lord (Yehovah) in Gilgal (re-establishing Saul as king); and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord (Yehovah); and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. (1st victory with king)
D² E¹ c¹ 1,2-. The king presented. Desired. d¹ e -2-5. Samuel's past administration. f 6-12. Remonstrance. c² 13. The king presented. Given. E² c³ 14,15. The king presented. Conditions. d² f 16-22. Remonstrance. e 23. Samuel's future action. c4 24,25. The king presented. Conditions.
12)
1: And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you all said to me, and have made a king over you. (This isn't necessarily good! God will be using tough love here)
2: And now, behold, the king walks before you: (Leadership passes to king [conditional, see v.14])
and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.
3: Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord (Yehovah), and before His anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? or whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.”
4: And they said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man's hand.”
5: And he said to them, “The Lord (Yehovah) is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you all have not found anything in my hand.” And they answered, “He is witness.”
6: And Samuel said to the People, “It is the Lord (Yehovah) that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
7: Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord (Yehovah) of all the righteous acts of the Lord (Yehovah), which He did to you and to your fathers.
8: When Jacob was come into Egypt (cp. Gen.46:5,6), and your fathers cried to the Lord (Yehovah), then the Lord (Yehovah) sent Moses and Aaron (cp. Ex.4:16), which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and He caused them dwell in this place.
9: And when they forgot the Lord (Yehovah) their God (Elohim), He sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor (Sept. reads "of Jabin king of"), and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
10: And they cried to the Lord (Yehovah), and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord (Yehovah), and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’
11: And the Lord (Yehovah) sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan (the Sept., Syr., and Arab. read "and Barak" [the words being much alike in Hebrew]), and Jephthah, and Samuel (the Peshito [or Revised Syr.] reads "and Samson". But, if "Samuel, these are not Samuel's words, but Yehovah's in Samuel's mouth), and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you all dwelled safe.
12: And when you all saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, you all said to me, ‘No; but a king shall reign over us:’ when the Lord (Yehovah) your God (Elohim) was your king.
13: Now therefore behold the king whom you all have chosen, and whom you all have desired! and, behold, the Lord (Yehovah) has set a king over you.
14: If (or, as long as. Here's the conditon) you all will revere (or love) the Lord (Yehovah), and serve Him, and obey His voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord (Yehovah), then shall both you all and also the king that reigns over you continue following the Lord (Yehovah) your God (Elohim):
15: But (2nd part of condition started in v.13) if you all will not obey the voice of the Lord (Yehovah), but rebel against the commandment of the Lord (Yehovah), then shall the hand of the Lord (Yehovah) be against you, as it was against your fathers (the Sept. reads "and against your king").
16: Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord (Yehovah) will do before your eyes. (This gives us an example)
17: Is it not wheat harvest today? (= May - June. It hardly ever rains then) I will call to the Lord (Yehovah), and He shall send thunder and rain (it had to be sent, for rain in harvest time was most exceptional; and would be regarded as sent in judgment. Cp. Prov.26:1); that you all may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you all have done in the sight of the Lord (Yehovah), in asking you a king.”
18: So Samuel called to the Lord (Yehovah); and the Lord (Yehovah) sent thunder and rain that day: and all the People greatly revered the Lord (Yehovah) and Samuel.
19: And all the People said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord (Yehovah) your God (Elohim) (Mosses and Samuel specially named as intercessors. Ps.99:6. Jer.15:1), that we die not: for we have added to all our sins this wickedness, to ask us a king.” (They won't change!)
20: And Samuel said to the People, “Fear not: you all have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord (Yehovah) (another condition), but serve the Lord (Yehovah) with all your heart;
21: And turn you all not aside: for then should you all go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
22: For the Lord (Yehovah) will not forsake His People (cp. Gen.28:15. Josh.1:5. Quoted in Rom.11:1,2) for His great name's sake: because it has pleased the Lord (Yehovah) to make you a People for Himself. (This includes every living being that loves/reveres Him)
23: Moreover as for me, God (Elohim) forbid that I should sin against the Lord (Yehovah) in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: (this office was not let go from the priesthood!)
24: Only love the Lord (Yehovah), and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He has done for you.
25: But (another condition. Don't "play" church) if you all shall still do wickedly, you all shall be consumed, both you all and your king.”
P F 13:1,2. The levies of Saul. G 13:3 – 14:46. Waar with Philistines. F 14:47-52. The levies of Saul. G 15:1-35. War with Amalek.
1000 to 998 B.C.
13)
1: Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, (something left out, should be 40 years)
2: Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan (= gift, or grace of God) in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
G H¹ 13:3-22. First aggresion of Jonathan. H² 13:23 – 14:46. Second aggression of Jonathan.
H¹ J¹ g 3,4. Saul's assemblage of Israel. h j 5-. The Philistines. Number. k -5. Encampment at Michmash. i 6,7. Israel Distress. K 8. Delay of Samuel. K 9-15-. Sin of Saul. J² g -15,16-. Saul's assemblage of Israel. h k -16. Encampment at Michmash. j 17,18.The Philistines. Number. i 19-22. Israel. Disarmament.
998 to 974 B.C.
3: And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba (see note on 18:1), and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.”
4: And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines (the camp of Israel stunk in their eyes from the death of the Philistines). And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal (in the plain of Jordan, east of Jericho, good for water, remote from the Philistines, and connected with sacred memories).
5: And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, Three thousand chariots (you always have more horses than chariots), and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude:
and they came up, and pitched in Michmash (= hidden), eastward from Beth-aven (house of nothingness).
6: When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, {for the People were pressed (i.e. into Saul's service),} then the People did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. (Whimps run for the hills)
7: And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. (Israel didn't have swords
then)
8: And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the People were scattered from him.
9: And Saul said, “Bring to this place a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings.” And he offered up the burnt offering. (Saul just couldn't wait. The king playing a priest is a big NO-NO! [except for the King of kings an the Lord of lords, Yehoshua the Messiah])
10: And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might bless him.
11: And Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you came not within the days appointed (Saul acted in haste. The day wasn't over yet), and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
12: Therefore said I, ‘The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord (Yehovah):’ I forced myself therefore, and offered up the burnt offering.”
13: And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly: because you have not kept the commandment of the Lord (Yehovah) your God (Elohim), which He commanded you: for now would the Lord (Yehovah) have established your kingdom upon Israel for ever (this possible only with God as Sovereign).
14: But now your kingdom shall not continue: the Lord (Yehovah) has sought Him a man after His own pleasure (quoted in Acts 13:22), and the Lord (Yehovah) has commanded him to be leader over His People (He's talking about David), because you have not kept that which the Lord (Yehovah) commanded you.”
15: And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal and the rest of the People went up after Saul to meet the army when they arrived from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.
And Saul numbered the people that were found with him, about six hundred men.
16: And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin (probably the Giba of v.3):
but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
17: And the spoilers (= raiding parties) came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual:
18: And another company turned the way to Beth-horon: and another company turned to the way of the border that looks to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
19: Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel (this explains why Ehud had to make his own dagger [Judg.3:16]; why Shamgar had only an ox-goad [Judg.3:31]; why Samson "had nothing in his hand" [Judg.14:5,6]; and why "not a shield or spear among 40,000 in Israel [Judg.5:8]. In other days we read of how many "drew sword"): for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:”
20: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his plough-share, and his axe, and his mattock (= a kind of pick-axe, with broad instead of pointed ends).
21: Yet they had a file (= a purse or money to pay Philistines to sharpen their tools) for the pick-axes, and for the plough-share, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.
22: So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan (the Israelites had to depend on God): but with those who were with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found (a picked force).