Saul’s Disobedience

In context

The Philistines allowed no blacksmiths in Israel, so that on the day of battle only Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear (1 Samuel 13:19–22). At Gilgal Saul waited the seven days Samuel had set, but when Samuel did not come and the army was slipping away, he offered the burnt offering himself. Samuel told him his kingdom would not continue: “Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart” (13:8–14). Paul later recalled God’s words about David, “a man after my heart” (Acts 13:22).

Jonathan and his armor bearer climbed alone to a Philistine outpost at the pass of Michmash, saying, “there is no restraint on Yahweh to save by many or by few” (14:6). Panic spread through the Philistine camp. Afterward the lot fell on Jonathan for tasting honey against his father’s oath, which he hadn’t heard, and the people saved his life (14:24–45).

Then Samuel sent Saul to destroy the Amalekites, who had attacked Israel on the way up from Egypt (15:1–3; Exodus 17:8–14). The command included women and children, a hard passage the Story tells as written. Saul spared King Agag and the best of the animals, and Samuel answered, “to obey is better than sacrifice” (15:9–22). The Lord rejected Saul as king, and Samuel mourned for him (15:23–35).