1 Saul became king and he ruled over Israel.
2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with him in Michmash and in the hills of Bethel, and a thousand with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul sent the rest of the people away, every man to his home.
3 Jonathan killed the Philistine governor in Geba and the Philistines heard of this. Saul then blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”
4 And the news spread throughout Israel, “Saul has killed the Philistine governor and now Israel is at war with them.” And they called everyone out to join Saul at Gilgal.
The “sin” of Saul
5 The Philistines gathered to fight with Israel—three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as many as the sand on the sea shore. They went up and encamped in Michmash, east of Bethaven.
6 When the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble, they hid themselves in caves, in holes, in rocks, in tombs and in cisterns,
7 or crossed the fords of the Jordan River to the land of Gad and Gilead.
8 Saul was still at Gilgal and all the people with him were afraid. He waited seven days—the time ap pointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not arrive at Gilgal and the people were beginning to disperse.
9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings as well.” Saul then offered the burnt offering.
10 He had just finished offering it when Samuel arrived. Saul went out to greet Samuel
11 who threw him this question, “What have you done?” Saul answered him, “When I saw the people beginning to disperse because of your failure to arrive on time, and considering that the Phi listines have mustered their forces at Michmash,
12 I said to myself, ‘The Philistines will launch their attack against me before I get Yah weh’s blessings and so I decided to offer the burnt offerings.”
13 Samuel told Saul, “You have done a foolish thing by not obeying the command of Yahweh your God who would have established your rule forever.
14 But now your kingship will not last, for Yahweh has chosen someone else more pleasing to him, whom he has appointed to be commander over his people because you have not done what Yahweh commanded you.”
15 Sa muel then left Gilgal and went on his way. Meanwhile the people went up from Gilgal with Saul to join the warriors at Gibeah of Benjamin.
Saul reviewed his men numbering some six hundred.
16 While Saul and his son Jonathan stayed in Gebah of Benjamin with the men, the Philis tines pitched camp in Michmash.
17 Raiders came out of the Philistine camp in three companies—one com pany turned to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;
18 the other, to Betho ron; and the third, to the border overlooking the valley of Zeboim, toward the wilderness.
19 The Israelites had no smith anywhere in their land, for the Philistines did not want the Hebrews to make swords or spears.
20 To have their plowshare, mattock, axe or sickle sharpened, the Israelites had to go down to the Philis tines
21 who would charge them two-thirds of a shekel for plowshares and mattocks, and a third of a she kel for sharpening axes and setting goads.
22 And so, on the day of battle, the Israelites had neither sword nor spear. Only Saul and Jonathan had them.
23 Yet the Philistine raiders had moved on toward the pass of Mich mash.
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Comments 1 Samuel, Chapter 13
• 13.1 Saul did not think of leaving his town of Gibea to construct a capital for the new state of Israel. But, gradually, he created a permanent army, instead of merely depending on volunteers who came forward whenever the people were in danger (see 14:52). For years, he fought unceasingly to repel incursions of the Philistines.
• 5. Not once, but on several occasions, Saul vacillates between obedience to God and Samuel, and doing what appears to him more reasonable (see also chap. 15). Finally, he prefers to act according to his own judgment.
Yahweh would have secured your rule over Israel. Yahweh demands more from him who is the first king of his people, and with whom he wants to establish a lasting covenant. To receive from Yahweh promises which go beyond ordinary destiny, Saul has to show complete loyalty, even when it seems that God delays or is mistaken. In this type of trial, Abraham was victorious.
In recounting the story of the kings and leaders of Israel, the Bible makes us understand that power is too heavy a burden for humans. To rule over others and, even more, to direct the destiny of a nation is somehow to partake in God’s authority. No one can measure up to such responsibilities if he or she cannot obey more than others and listen to God.
However we should note that the verses 8-15 are a later addition to the primitive text. These are most probably the work of priests who at the return from captivity edited the older texts. They make Samuel appear as the reasonable one, the spokesperson for God. We may read this event as proposed, but we can also wonder about the way Samuel attributes to himself the rights of God. What right has he not to keep his word and come within the promised delay? And how can he condemn Saul if Saul has acted according to his conscience? Christian tradition holds that we should always follow our conscience provided we have done all that is possible to have an enlightened conscience, even if in so doing we disobey high authority or very sacred laws.
Without denying Samuel’s great merits we can say it was he who destroyed Saul.