1 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, 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. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand 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, eastward from Bethaven.
6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
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.
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 hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
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 salute him.
11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, 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 unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present 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: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
18 And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: 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 coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, 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: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.
The book of 1 Samuel is the ninth book of the Old Testament in the Holy Bible, and it is believed to have been written by the prophet Samuel around 930 BC. The book is named after its main character, Samuel, who was a prophet and a judge of Israel. The book is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on the life and reign of Samuel, and the second part focusing on the life and reign of King Saul.
Chapter 13 of 1 Samuel continues the story of King Saul, who was chosen by God to be the first king of Israel. The chapter begins with Saul's son Jonathan defeating the Philistine garrison at Geba, which angers the Philistines and causes them to gather their armies to attack Israel. When Saul hears of this, he assembles his army at Gilgal and waits for Samuel to come and offer sacrifices to God before going to battle.
As Saul and his army wait for Samuel, seven days pass and Samuel does not arrive. This causes Saul to become anxious and impatient, and he decides to take matters into his own hands by offering the burnt offering and peace offerings to God himself. This act goes against the law of God, which states that only priests are allowed to offer sacrifices to God. However, Saul justifies his actions by saying that he did it because he was afraid of the Philistines and did not want his army to scatter.
When Samuel finally arrives, he rebukes Saul for his disobedience and tells him that because of his actions, his kingdom will not endure and that God will choose another man to be king over Israel. This is a significant turning point in Saul's reign, as it marks the beginning of his downfall.
After Samuel's rebuke, the Philistines gather their armies and attack Israel. The Israelites, who were not prepared for battle, become afraid and hide in caves, thickets, rocks, and pits. Some even flee to the other side of the Jordan River. Saul's army, which was initially 3000 men, dwindles down to only 600 men, and they are outnumbered and ill-equipped to fight the Philistines.
As the Philistines continue to oppress the Israelites, Saul's disobedience not only affects him but also his people. The Israelites are left defenseless and are unable to fight back against their enemies. This chapter shows the consequences of disobedience and the importance of following God's laws and commands.
One of the main themes of this chapter is the importance of obedience to God. Saul's impatience and disobedience not only cost him his kingdom, but it also affected the entire nation of Israel. God had given Saul specific instructions on how to handle the situation with the Philistines, but Saul chose to do things his own way. This shows the dangers of pride and self-reliance and the importance of trusting and obeying God's will.
Additionally, this chapter also highlights the role of the priest in offering sacrifices to God. Saul's disobedience to this law shows the importance of following God's laws and the consequences of going against them. It also foreshadows the coming of a new and better High Priest, Jesus Christ, who would offer the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
The chapter also emphasizes the importance of waiting on God's timing. Saul's impatience and fear caused him to take matters into his own hands, instead of waiting for Samuel to arrive and offer sacrifices to God. This impulsive and rash decision led to disastrous consequences. It serves as a reminder that God's timing is perfect, and we should trust in Him and wait for His direction in our lives.
Chapter 13 of 1 Samuel serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of disobedience and the importance of following God's will. It shows the consequences of pride and self-reliance, and the importance of trusting and obeying God's laws and commands. It also highlights the role of the priest and foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ as the ultimate High Priest.
Furthermore, this chapter also serves as a reminder to wait on God's timing and to trust in Him, even in difficult and uncertain situations. It shows that when we take matters into our own hands, the consequences can be severe. It is a reminder that God's plans and timing are perfect, and we should seek His will in all aspects of our lives.
In conclusion, Chapter 13 of 1 Samuel is a significant chapter in the book as it marks the beginning of Saul's downfall and highlights important themes such as obedience to God, the role of the priest, and waiting on God's timing. It serves as a reminder to us to trust in God and to follow His will, even when it may seem difficult or uncertain.
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