Elkanah, who was a Levite (1 Chron 6:16–28), had two wives; one was named Hannah and the other Peninnanh. Peninnanh had children, but Hannah had none. (1 Sam 1:1–2).
This is an example of polygamy, something that was never God's intention to allow, see the 7th commandment in The Ten Commandments. Elkanah most likely took a second wife to carry out his family line, only because his first wife was unable to bear children. Something that was very important in Israel at the time. God doesn't approve something just because it's applied in the Bible. Elkanah's correct behavior would have been to pray for his wife Hannah, instead of taking a second wife. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was barren, and she became pregnant (Gen 25:21). Isaac was a man of prayer.
Hannah prayed to the Lord in her deep anguish and wept bitterly. And she made a vow that if she had a son, she would give him to the Lord for all his life, and no razor would ever be used on his head. (1 Sam 1:10–18).
Hannah was a woman of prayer. She prayed until it made a difference. She asked for a child that she could give to God. Her life belonged to God as his servant. Samuel, like Samson, was probably consecrated to be a Nazirite.
Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she had asked the Lord for him. She said to her husband that after the boy was weaned, she would take him and present him before the Lord, and he would live there when he grew up. The woman stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Then she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a
three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. When the bull was sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli the High Priest, and she told him that she had prayed for this child, and the Lord had given her what she asked of him. So now she would give him to the Lord. Throughout his life he was to be given over to the Lord. Samuel ministered before the Lord under the priest Eli. (1 Sam 1:19–28, 2:11).
Eli’s sons were corrupt; they had no regard for the Lord. This sin of the young men was very great in the eyes of the Lord, for they treated the sacrifice of the Lord with contempt. But Samuel served before the Lord and wore a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a small robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. The Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord. (1 Sam 2:12–21).
Hannah who was barren had six children including Samuel. God increased her blessings when she gave Samuel to the Lord.
Eli who was very old, was told about all that his sons did to all Israel and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle. So he asked them why they were doing such things. His sons didn't listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to kill them. (1 Sam 2:22–25).
God doesn't delight in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live (Eze 18:23, 33:11), see The Book of Ezekiel. Eli's sons did evil things when they represented God. They did evil in the name of the Lord. The eternal line of men was at stake and God couldn't allow this misrepresentation to continue.
Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.
A man of God came to Eli and told him that they despised God's sacrifices and offerings. Eli honored his sons more than God by fattening themselves on the choice parts of every sacrifice the people of Israel gave. The Lord declared that no one in his family line would live to a great age. What happened to his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, would be a sign to Eli, they would both die on the same day. The Lord would raise up a faithful priest serving God, who would do according to what is in God's heart and mind. The Lord would firmly establish his priestly house, and he would always serve before his anointed. Then all who were left in Eli's family line would come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead for some priestly office so that they could have food to eat. (1 Sam 2:26–36).
Eli rebuked his sons, but took no action to stop his sons' behavior as they continued in their iniquities. Eli also took of the meat that his sons demanded from the people.
Eli as a parent lacked strong determination to do what is right and the ability to take corrective actions, which must not be done in anger.
The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. At that time the word of the Lord was rare; there weren't many visions. (1 Sam 3:1).
It was during a time when prophecies and visions were rare. Probably because of the disobedience of the nation of Israel. It was a time when the priesthood had fallen badly under the High Priest Eli and his sons.
One night the Lord called Samuel who thought that it was Eli who said that it wasn't him. The same thing happened once more. Samuel didn't yet know the Lord: the word of the Lord hadn't yet been revealed to him. A third time the Lord called for him. When Samuel went to Eli, he realized that the Lord was calling the boy. Eli
told Samuel to answer: 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening', if God called him again. The Lord called Samuel who answered as Eli had said. The Lord told him that he would fulfill all that he had spoken against the family of Eli, from beginning to end. God had told Eli that he would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, God swore to Eli's house that his house's debt would never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering. Samuel told Eli everything. Eli then said that he is the Lord and would do what is good in his eyes. The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he didn't let any of Samuel's words fall to the ground. And all Israel realized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel by his word. (1 Sam 3:2–21).
God didn't allow any of the prophetic words of Samuel to be untrue. Everything that he ever prophesied came to pass. See Prophecy in Spiritual Gifts.
The Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. Israel was defeated by them, who killed about 4000 of the Israelites. (1 Sam 4:1–2).
God had told the Israelites that if they walked in obedience they would never suffer defeat. It was obvious that they weren't obeying God.
They then brought the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh, so that God could save them from their enemies. Eli’s two sons were there with the Ark of the Covenant. But the Israelites were defeated by the Philistines. Israel lost 30,000 foot soldiers. The Ark of the Covenant was captured and Eli’s two sons died. (1 Sam 4:3–11).
They sought to gain victory in addition to confessing their sins and getting right with God. They didn't repent. Instead, they came up with their own solution to bring the ark to the camp.
That same day, an Israelite ran from the battle line and rushed over to Eli, who was 98 years old. The man told Eli that Israel was fleeing from the Philistines and that the army had suffered great losses. His two sons were also dead and the ark had been captured. When he mentioned the Ark of the Covenant, Eli fell backwards from his chair and died. He had led Israel for 40 years. One of his daughters-in-laws was pregnant and close to giving birth. When she heard the news that the ark had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. As she was dying, she gave birth to a son whom she named Ichabod, saying that the glory had departed from Israel because of the taking of the ark, and because of the deaths of her father-in-law
and her husband. (1 Sam 4:12–22).
Ark of the Covenant, they carried it into
Dagon’s temple in Ashdod and placed it next to Dagon. The next day had Dagon
fallen on his face on the ground in front of the ark. They put Dagon back in his place. But the next morning Dagon had again fallen on his face on the ground in front of the ark. His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. The Lord brought devastation on the people of Ashdod and afflicted them with tumors. The Philistines
then moved the ark to Gath. But then the Lord was against that city and threw it into great panic. He afflicted the people in
Gath, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. They then sent the ark to Ekron. But the people of Ekron cried out to return the ark to its place, or it would kill them. Those who didn't die were afflicted with tumors, and the cries of the city went up to Heaven. (1 Sam 5:1–12).
God revealed himself for the Philistines by doing this, but they couldn't take it in. They should have seen this as a sign and power from the Lord, that he was God over all the Earth, over all the people of the Earth which included the Philistines.
The Philistines then believed that the only way to get rid of the plague was to return the ark to the Israelites. Their priests believed that they had to bring gifts to not further offend the God of Israel. They should therefore take with them five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the rulers of the Philistine, and give glory to the God of Israel. They would get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. They would put the ark on the cart and put the gold objects in a chest next to it. If it went up against Beit Shemesh in Israel, it would be a sign that the Lord had brought this disaster on them. But if it didn't, then they would know it happened by chance. So they did this. Then the cows went straight up towards Beit Shemesh, kept on the road and lowered themselves all the way; they did not turn right or left. (1 Sam 6:1–12).
It would have been more natural for these cows that had never been yoked to try
to find their calves than to go with the cart to Israel, but they did. This was a supernatural sign that God revealed to the Philistines to give them faith in him.
Their answer should have been that the God of Israel is also the only God on Earth, and therefore also the God of the Gentiles. They should have turned to him and worshipped him but they didn't, see The Parable of the Sower. This shows God's mercy towards the Gentiles in the Old Testament, God wants all people to be saved.
The cart came to Joshua's field of Beit Shemesh and there it stopped next to a large rock. The people there sacrificed the cows as a Burnt Offering to the Lord. The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to
Ekron. But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beit Shemesh and killed 70 of them for looking into the ark. The people mourned because of this. They sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim to come and bring the ark to their city, which they did. It stood there for 20 years. Then all the people of Israel lamented to the Lord. (1 Sam 6:13–7:2).
The only person allowed to look at the ark was the High Priest, see
Moses; Part 15: The Day of Atonement. The people of Israel knew this.
Samuel told all the Israelites to get rid of their foreign gods and surrender to the Lord and serve only him. Then God would deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. The Israelites did that and served only the Lord. Then Samuel said to them to gather together and he would intercede with the Lord for them. When they had gathered, they confessed that they had sinned against the Lord. Samuel served as the leader of Israel. The Philistines came forward to attack them. Samuel cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him. That day the Lord thundered with a loud roar against the Philistines
and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel pursued the Philistines and slaughtered them. The Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s life, the Lord's hand was against the Philistines. The cities from Ekron to Gath, that the Philistines had captured from Israel, were returned to Israel, and Israel rescued the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites. Samuel continued as Israel’s leader throughout his life. Samuel judged Israel in several places in Israel. (1 Sam 7:3–17).
The battle belonged to the Lord. Similarly, God can help us when we are in trouble. We can turn to him in prayer for help, see Ask, and it will be given to you in
The Sermon on the Mount.
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons Joel and Abijahas as Israel’s leaders. But his sons didn't follow his ways, they turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. All the elders of Israel came to Samuel and asked him to appoint a king to lead them, such as all the other nations had. The Lord told Samuel to listen to the people; they had rejected God as their king. But he should warn them that the king who would reign over them would claim his rights. He would take their sons and make them serve the king. He would take their daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He would take the best of their fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He would take a tenth of their grain and vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. When that day comes, the people would cry out for relief from their king, but the Lord would then not answer them. But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They wanted to be like the nations around them, have a king to judge them, go out before them, and fight their battles. (1 Sam 8:1–22).
Israel was a Theocracy (ruled by God), but the people wanted it to be a Monarchy (ruled by a king), see The Book of Judges. The people didn't want God to be in charge of their lives, they wanted a human leader. They were looking for security and didn't trust in the Lord. Samuel was a man of prayer. When he was concerned about something he brought it to God, he had a close relation with him. God told Samuel to listen to the people but warn them for the consequences of having a king. The vast majority of the kings they got would be bad.
Saul was a handsome young man of Benjamin. He was taller than any of the people. Now the donkeys of Saul’s father were lost, so Saul went to look for them. When they couldn't find them, his servant said that there was a man of God in the city close to where they were; and that all that this man said came true. Perhaps he could tell them the way they should go. They should give him a quarter of a shekel
of silver to tell them their way. A prophet was formerly called a seer at that time. They went to the city where the man of God was. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out towards them on his way up to the high place. The day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel that the next day God would send to him a man from the land of Benjamin, and he should anoint him to be prince over the people Israel. He should save the people from the
Philistines. God had seen his people, because their cry had come to him. When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him that he was the man who should restrain his people. (1 Sam 9:1–17).
God used the situation with the lost donkeys to bring Saul and Samuel together.
To want a king was an act of disobedience and rebellion, but God used it because of his mercy to save the people from the Philistines. There was a humility in Saul in his early days when he met Samuel. Unfortunately it went away and a pride grew up in his life, connected to his position as king.
Samuel told Saul that he would go up before him to the high place, for that day he would eat with him, and in the morning Samuel would tell him all that was on his mind. As for his donkeys that disappeared three days ago, they had been found. Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of the guests, who were about 30 persons. Saul ate with Samuel that day. And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down. So at dawn Samuel called Saul, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. When they were on their way down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel told Saul that he wanted to proclaim the word of God to him. (1 Sam 9:18–27).
Then Samuel took a bottle of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying that the Lord had anointed him to be ruler over his inheritance. Saul would meet two men who would tell him that the donkeys had been found and that his father was worried about him. Later, three men would meet him. One was to carry three young goats, another three loaves, and another a skin of wine. They would greet him and offer him two loaves, which he would accept from them. After that he would meet a procession of prophets, and they would prophesy. The Spirit of the Lord would come upon him, and he would prophesy with them; and he would become a changed person. (1 Sam 10:1–6).
Anointing a person for inauguration by pouring oil on him is a picture of the
Holy Spirit coming upon a person, see Jesus the Light of the World. Saul became a changed person when the Holy Spirit came upon him. But in the years that followed, Saul derailed as a king and person because of his pride, arrogance, jealousy, and Fear of Man. Eventually he got so far away from the Lord that God took away the
Holy Spirit from him. When king David did adulatory, he prayed to God to forgive him and to not to take the Holy Spirit from him (Psalm 51:11 (13 in some translations), see Psalm 51: Coming to God when we fail). Saul didn't, he never repented.
Once these signs were fulfilled, Saul would do whatever his hand found to do, for God was with him. (1 Sam 10:7).
Saul should do whatever needed to be done because God was with him. Similarly, as Christians, we can do what is needed without having a specific calling to do so. If we get a calling, that would be our priority.
Samuel then told Saul to go to Gilgal. Samuel would come down to him to offer
Burnt Offerings and Peace Offerings, but Saul must wait seven days for Samuel to come to him to tell him what to do. (1 Sam 10:8).
When Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Holy Spirit came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophecies. When all those who had previously known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked one another if Saul was also among the prophets. After Saul finished prophesying, he went to the high place. Saul didn't tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship when his uncle asked him. Samuel called the people to him and told them that they had rejected their God who saves them from all their disasters, when they asked him to appoint a king over them. When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. Then Matri’s clan was taken, and finally Saul was taken. The Lord said that Saul had hid among the supplies. They ran and brought him out. Samuel told all the people that Saul was the man the Lord had chosen to be king. There was none like him among the people. Saul then went to his home in Gibeah. (1 Sam 10:9–26).
Nahash of Ammon went up and besieged Jabesh-Gilead. The men of Jabesh asked Nahash to make a treaty with them, and they would submit to him. But Nahash
replied that he would do so only if he could put out the right eye of each one of them and so bring shame upon all Israel. The elders of Jabesh asked for seven days so they could send messengers throughout Israel; if no one came to rescue them, they would surrender to him. When the messengers came to Saul's Gibeah and told the people these words, they all wept loudly. When Saul heard this, the Holy Spirit
came upon him, and he burned with anger. He took a couple of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces throughout Israel, asking them to follow him and Samuel. The men of Israel were numbered 300,000 and Judah 30,000. They told the messengers who had come that they would be rescued. The men of Jabesh then told the Ammonites that they would surrender the next day. The next day, Saul divided his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were dispersed, so that not two of them remained together. Then Samuel told the people that they should go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there. All the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king before the Lord. (1 Sam 11:1–15).
The Holy Spirit came upon Saul again. The wrath he received was a righteous wrath from the Lord. So far Saul understood that the victory came from the Lord and not because of him. He was just an instrument used by God.
Samuel told all Israel that when they saw that Nahash of Ammon was coming
against them, they said that they wanted a king to rule over them, even though the Lord was their king. Now the Lord had made Saul king over them. If they feared the Lord, served and obeyed him, didn't rebel against his commandments, and if both they and their king followed the Lord, then it would be well with them. But if they didn't, the Lord's hand would be against them, as it was against their ancestors. Samuel would now call on the Lord to send thunder and rain and they would realize what an evil thing they did in the eyes of the Lord when they asked for a king. When he did, that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. All the people told Samuel to pray to the Lord for them so that they wouldn't die, for they had added to all their other sins the evil of asking for a king. Samuel answered them not to be afraid. The people had done all this evil; but they shouldn't turn away from the Lord, but serve him with all their heart. They shouldn't turn to worthless idols. For his great name's sake the Lord wouldn't forsake his people. Samuel would continue to pray for them and would teach them the way that is good and right. But they must fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all their heart. If they persist in doing evil, both they and their king would perish.
(1 Sam 12:1–25).
The people were sorrow, but it wasn't a godly sorrow, they didn't repent.
When Saul had reigned two years over Israel, Saul selected 3000 men of Israel, 2000 with Saul and 1000 with Jonathan. Jonathan defeated a garrison of the
Philistines, and the Philistines heard it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, and all in Israel who heard it said that Saul had defeated this garrison of the Philistines, and the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal. (1 Sam 13:1–4).
Saul couldn't let others take the credit for anything, not even his son. Saul started out so humble, but after becoming king he became more and more proud. When Saul become a king, he became an important person that many people looked up to. It was then difficult for him to accept that people began to look up to others more than to him. It became unbearable for Saul and made him jealous.
The Philistines gathered to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and troops like the sand on the beach in abundance. When the men of Israel saw that they were in distress, the people hid in caves, dens, rocks, tombs, and cisterns, and some Hebrews crossed the Jordan fords. Saul remained in Gilgal, and all the people who followed him trembled. (1 Sam 13:5–7).
Saul waited seven days, the time Samuel had set. But Samuel didn't come to Gilgal, and the people scattered from him. Saul then sent for Burnt Offering and
Peace Offering, and he offered the Burnt Offering. As soon as he had finished that, Samuel came and asked Saul what he had done. Saul answered that when he saw that the people were scattered from him, that Samuel didn't come within appointed days, and that the Philistines had gathered, he thought that the Philistines would come down against him at Gilgal, and he hadn't sought the favor of the Lord. So he forced himself and offered the Burnt Offering. Samuel told Saul that he had done foolishly. He hadn't kept the Lord's commandment. If he had done so, the Lord would have established his kingdom over Israel forever. But now his kingdom wouldn't continue. The Lord had sought a man after his own heart and had commanded him to be prince over his people, because Saul hadn't kept what the Lord commanded him. (1 Sam 13:8–14).
There was a system of seeking the Lord established between Saul and Samuel. Before going to war, they should wait for Samuel to seek the Lord's blessings.
As a priest, Samuel should offer certain sacrifices, pray, and bless the army. But
fear ruled the camp. It was wrong for Saul to take the sacrifice into his own hands. Saul wasn't a priest and only the priest was allowed to sacrifice.
Saul was disobedient when he didn't wait the whole seven days.
Saul's actions showed that fear can trump God's voice. It can make us obey the fear over the Lord's voice. Saul no longer had a heart for God. Saul didn't repent when Samuel asked him what he had done. He didn't really care. He admitted none of his misdeeds, but instead gave excuses for his actions. God removed Saul as king, not only because he sinned (David sinned too), but because he no longer had a heart after God. It never broke from pride and that was the main reason. David had a heart after God, and that's why his kingdom continued even when he sinned (1 John 1:8–10). God cares more about how we respond to sin in our lives; that we repent, something that David did. God forgave David, even though he was punished when he sinned.
Saul didn't accept that another person from another family would be king instead of him, and would continue to be king for another 20 years.
Saul counted the people who were present with him, about 600 men. There was no blacksmith in all the land of Israel. So on the day of battle there was neither sword nor spear in the hand of any of the people of Israel, except Saul and Jonathan.
Raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines. (1 Sam 13:15–23).
There was no real battle at that time, just some raiders from the Philistines.
Jonathan told the young man who wore his armor that they should go over to the
Philistine garrison on the other side. It may be that the Lord would work for them, for nothing could hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.
They should cross over to the men and show themselves to them. If they told them to wait until they came to them, they would stand still in their place. But if they said that they should come up to them, they would go up, for the Lord had then given them into their hand. And that should be a sign to them. So they both appeared to the Philistine garrison who then told them to go up to them. Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet with his armor bearer after him. They fell before Jonathan
and his armor bearer killed them after him. The first attack that Jonathan and his armor bearer made killed about 20 men. And there was panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth shook, and there was a very great panic. Jonathan hadn't told this to his father. Those who were with Saul were about 600 men. When Saul heard this,
he and all the people who were with him gathered together and went out to battle. Every Philistine’s sword was against his fellow, and there was great confusion. When all the men of Israel who had been hiding heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also followed hard after them in battle.
The Lord saved Israel that day. (1 Sam 14:1–23).
Jonathan had a different heart than his father. Faith activates God's promises.
Jonathan had that faith and acted on it (Rom 8:31). Jonathan was willing to put his life on the line to test God's promises. Gideon asked for signs even though he had received a clear word from the Lord about what to do. Gideon needed confirmation and reassurance. Jonathan only had this general promise, but didn't have a word from the Lord to do what he did. He therefore wanted a sign from the Lord. Faith is trusting God to step out when you don't know what the outcome would be, see
Peter walking on the water in Jesus Walks on Water. Peter was willing to step out in faith. Note that just because you have faith, it doesn't mean that God will always act on it. The principle here is that God gave the victory but Jonathan had to fight for it.
The men of Israel had been pressed that day. Saul had sworn an oath to the people, saying that the man who ate food until the evening before Saul had taken revenge on his enemies would be cursed. So none of the people tasted food. When all the people found honey they couldn't eat it because the people feared the oath. But Jonathan hadn't heard the oath, so he ate of the honey, and his eyes became bright. (1 Sam 14:24–30).
Saul had foolishly put the people under an oath. When an army uses up energy, they must replace it, but they weren't allowed to because of this oath. We shouldn't take an oath at all (Mat 5:33–37, James 5:12).
They beat the Philistines. The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep, oxen, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground and ate them with the blood. Saul told them not to sin against the Lord by eating the blood. (1 Sam 14:31–35).
It was against the Mosaic Laws to eat an animal with its blood. They did it because they were so hungry and couldn't wait to drain the blood from the meat. God's mercy triumphs over rules and regulations. Instead of admitting that it was his fault by taking the oath that prevented them from eating, Saul blamed the people.
Saul inquired God whether they should go down after the Philistines and if God would give them into Israel's hand. But God didn't answer him that day. Saul said that whoever had sinned would die, even if it was his son Jonathan. By using the
Urim and Thummim it was found that the sin was on Jonathan. Jonathan told him that he had tasted some honey with the tip of the staff which he had in his hand. Saul told him that he would surely die. But the people ransomed Jonathan so he didn't have to die. Then Saul arose from pursuing the Philistines, and the
Philistines went to their place. (1 Sam 14:36–46).
Saul was willing to kill his own son rather than humble himself and admit it was his fault. Saul had become a hardened and proud character who couldn't admit that he was wrong. It was not Saul but the people of Israel who saved Jonathan.
When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies
on every side; Moab, Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them. He smote the Amalekites valiantly and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them. (1 Sam 14:47–48).
Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. The names of his two daughters were Merab and Michal. Saul's wife's name was Ahinoam. The commander of his army was Abner. There were fierce battles against Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw a strong man or a valiant man, he attached him to himself.
(1 Sam 14:49–52).
Samuel told Saul that the Lord wanted to punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they attacked all the Israelites who were lagging behind when they were tired and exhausted when they came up from Egypt. Saul would attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belonged to them. He shouldn't spare them; kill men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys. (1 Sam 15:1–3).
See 3.2 Israel Defeats Amalek in Moses; Part 9: Provision from God.
God had given the Amalekites hundred of years to repent, but they didn't.
Saul called the men: 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 from Judah. Saul went to the city of Amalek and laid an ambush in the ravine. Then he told the Kenites to leave the Amalekites so that he wouldn't destroy them also, for they showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. The Kenites moved away from the Amalekites. Then Saul attacked the Amalekites and took Agag, the king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he utterly destroyed with the sword. Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, all that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy, but all that was despised and weak they destroyed. Then the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king, because he had turned away from him and didn't follow his instructions. Saul had erected a monument in his own honor. Samuel asked Saul why he had let the animal live. Saul answered that the soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord, but they totally destroyed the rest. (1 Sam 15:4–15).
This was disobedience on Saul's part and reveals his attitude toward the Lord.
When Saul was confronted, he made excuses instead of repenting. Saul also erected a monument to honor himself because of the victory despite his disobedience.
Samuel told Samuel what the Lord had told him: Though Saul was once small in his own eyes, he became the head of Israel. The Lord anointed him king over Israel. The Lord gave him a mission to completely destroy these wicked people, the Amalekites. Saul disobeyed the Lord. The Lord doesn't delight in Burnt Offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying him. To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because Saul had rejected the word of the Lord, God had rejected Saul as king. Then Saul told Samuel that he had sinned, he had broken the Lord’s command and instructions. He was afraid of the men and gave in to them. Saul wanted to be forgiven. But Samuel told Saul that
the Lord had torn the kingdom of Israel from him that day and had given
it to one of his neighbors, to someone better than him. The Lord doesn't lie or change his mind; for he isn't a human being that he should change his mind. Samuel asked for Agag, king of the Amalekites. Agag came to him in chains. Samuel told him that just as his sword had made women childless, so his mother would be childless among women. And Samuel killed Agag. He didn't go to see Saul again until the day Samuel died, although he mourned for Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. (1 Sam 15:16–35).
Saul's disobedience to God later resulted in Haman the Agagite later appearing in The Book of Esther, attempting to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews in
a single day, young and old, women and children, and to plunder their goods in
all provinces in Persia. And in doing so preventing Messiah from being born to
Jews in Bethlehem.
"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord." (Proverbs 15:8a). "To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." (Pro 21:3).
The Holy Spirit departed from Saul, and an harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. Saul sent for David to play the lyre so that he would feel better when the harmful spirit from the Lord came upon him. David was a brave man,
a warrior, spoke well, was handsome, and the Lord was with him. Saul liked David
much, and he became one of his armor-bearers. When David played on his lyre,
Saul was relieved; he felt better, and the harmful spirit left him. (1 Sam 16:14–23).
Because God is sovereign, see God's Attributes, he can send this spirit upon Saul.
It would have been better for Saul to confess his sins, repent and get right with God.
When Samuel was dead and Saul had driven the mediums and spiritists out of the land, the Philistines rallied against Israel. Saul was afraid when he saw their army; terror filled his heart. He inquired the Lord, but he didn't answer him with dreams, Urim, or prophets. Saul then asked for a medium, so he could inquire her. He disguised himself and at night he and two men went to the woman. Saul ordered the medium to consult Samuel for him. When the woman saw Samuel, she called out in a loud voice. The woman said that she saw a god come out of the earth. It was an old man dressed in a robe coming up. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and fell with his face to the ground. Samuel asked Saul why he had disturbed him by bringing him up. Saul said that the Philistines fought against him, God had departed from him and no longer answered him, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore, he had called him to tell him what to do. Samuel said that the Lord had torn the kingdom from his hands and given it to David, because he didn't obey the Lord or carried out his wrath against the Amalekites. The Lord would deliver both Israel and Saul into the hands of the Philistines, and the next day he and his sons would be with Samuel.
The Lord would also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines. Saul immediately fell to the ground at full length, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all night.
(1 Sam 28:3–25).
The Bible doesn't support communication with the dead (Lev 19:31, 20:27,
Deu 18:10–11, Isaiah 8:19). Just because something is in the narrative doesn't mean that it's taught as something that's allowed to be done. God has always forbidden his children to do this kind of thing. However, the message given came from the Lord, meaning that it was indeed Samuel that came up from "Abraham’s bosom", see The Rich Man and Lazarus. This is a situation when God went beyond the norm and let Samuel speak to Saul, see it explained at time 20:25–23:49 in Bible Q&A with Pastor Paul │ November 2023. This is something that we must never do (Acts 19:18–19) although God can use it. God gave Saul the opportunity to get his life right before God by telling him when he was going to die. Saul didn't take it.
Saul always points to something else or someone else causing his problems.
It would have been better for him to confess that he had gone away from God.
For the remainder of the lives of Samuel and Saul, see King David.
See also The Old Testament of the Bible.
