Saul Rebels Against God. I Samuel 13

 

I Samuel 13, Saul Rebels Against God

 

Jonathan “smote the garrison of the Philistines.” Jonathan did the fighting, and Saul blew the trumpet. Saul took the credit for winning. The army knew that Saul’s report was not true and so did the followers of Jonathan.

Apparently, the Philistines recovered from their losses and came with force against the Israelites.

Saul presumed that because of his position as King he could offer a burnt offering. Saul ignored God’s explicit instructions that only a priest from the tribe of Levi could offer a burnt offering. He was not willing to wait for Samuel. He thought he had three good reasons for not waiting for Samuel to appear: 1. The people were scattered, 2. The Philistines were coming against him, and 3.  Samuel was late in arriving. He was blaming everything and everyone else.  He was told in the beginning that if he obeyed God, he would be blessed, but if he disobeyed, there would be judgment. Saul had disobeyed, so God had another man to be king. Even Samuel, at that time, did not know who he was.

The Philistines had disarmed the Israelites but were permitted some farm implements. To sharpen them, they had to go down to the Philistines.  In this way the enemy was able to keep an accurate count of what the Israelites had in the way of weapons.

Only two men, Saul, and Jonathan, had swords.  The other men in the army probably carried mattocks, axes, clubs, and similar instruments. This was the way Saul’s army was equipped to fight.

 

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J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.