1 Samuel 14: 1 – 52
Unlawful or dumb orders
14 Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men. 3 Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah. 6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.” 7 So his armorbearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.” 8 Then Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. 10 But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the LORD has delivered them into our hand, and this will be a sign to us.” 11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.” 12 Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” 13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them. 14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land. 15 And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling. 16 Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there. 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Now call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there. 18 And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel). 19 Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion. 21 Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven. 24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25 Now all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened. 28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint. 29 But Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?” 31 Now they had driven back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the people were very faint. 32 And the people rushed on the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Look, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood!” So he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day.” 34 Then Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, ‘Bring me here every man’s ox and every man’s sheep, slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.’ ” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slaughtered it there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD. 36 Now Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light; and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 So Saul asked counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But He did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, “Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today. 39 For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not a man among all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, “Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me.” So Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, and said, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now I must die!” 44 Saul answered, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 But the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die. 46 Then Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. 47 So Saul established his sovereignty over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the people of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he harassed them. 48 And he gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them. 49 The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui, and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 Now there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for himself.
A soldier can refuse any order at any time they choose to, for any reason, at their own peril for the full consequences of refusing to obey the order. What does that mean? You had best be not just right, but clearly and unequivocally right regarding the order’s unlawfulness. At trial a judge will determine whether or not said order was lawful (which covers more than just constitutionality). A soldier must first presume orders given are lawful unless they are so clearly unlawful that the average individual would readily see they’re blatantly unlawful.
It is permissible to question an order for clarification if possible under the circumstances, emphasis on clarification, if its lawfulness is suspect, but you had best be ready to comply when given the answer. In the absence of that, it’s best to follow the order and then report it afterward as having been questionable as to its lawfulness. An order to kill unarmed civilians, or to exact retribution to punish unarmed civilians by destroying their property or injuring them as a result of insurgent or unlawful combatant behavior is an example of an order blatantly unlawful, and it should be obvious that it’s unlawful.
Constitutionality of an order is very nearly always way beyond the pay grade of not just rank and file enlisted soldiers but most officers as well until you get into the flag ranks (generals and admirals). You had best be an attorney deeply schooled in US Constitutional law before refusing an order based on constitutional grounds. Your likelihood of prevailing is slim to zero, with heavy emphasis on zero. Every order challenged on constitutional grounds I’ve ever heard about failed to be declared or eventually found unconstitutional at trial or on appeal. Primary culpability rests on the officer issuing the order. If the soldiers carrying it out had every reason believe it was likely a lawful one (i.e. it wasn’t blatantly and clearly unlawful) they are not culpable.
On the other hand what are your options when you are given just a dumb order? Well, obeying rules apply just the same but if you have a superior officer who either is just playing games with you to humiliate you or hasn’t gone through a mental efficiency test lately there are a few ways to distract from obeying them.
Here are a few;
1. Step out of the room and tell your assistant that you are not available and did not leave any contact number to be reached.
2. Do not verify message received
3. Wait and send a note to issuing site after normal hours a ‘UOD –Unless Otherwise Directed’ which is a counter directive re-issued by you. It means that you are going to do something different which makes sense. The sending directive could counter your UOD but unfortunately for him/her they are still not in their office until the next morning so you legally are in the right. Of course they will not like you in the future but they probably didn’t like you to begin with in issuing you the unreasonable order.
4. Keep resending equipment problems please send again message(s)
5. Have another project or issue available that you can always turn to work on. Make sure your phone is off so the person who usually gives you dumb orders can not personally speak with you and tell you that there are giving you a direct order to obey. In most cases people who are trying to harass you will not put anything down in writing so they cannot be held accountable. So, be unavailable.
Today we are going to see some eye opening results of rebellion against our Holy and Majestic God Yahweh. How can we become so blinded and try to fight against our Omnipotent Holy Maker? Amazing!
I do not know about you but in my Christian walk when I succumbed to temptation, just like our Awesome Holy God Yahweh drew away from guiding Saul, I lost not only His presence but I got dumber. I lost common sense to make accurate decisions. The answer of course if you find out that you have sinned is to repent and ask our Holy Master His forgiveness. He Is so Loving He might discipline you but His Glorious Presence will return to you. We will see this happening to Saul yet due to his pride he does not repent but keeps on making stupid decisions.
Jonathan, Saul’s son, and a man of great faith, clearly found it a hard and trying experience to watch the raiders going about their oppressive work, while he, and Saul and his men, moved around the mountains keeping out of the way, and his restless spirit longed to do something more positive. Surely, he thought, Yahweh would want them to act in some way to help His downtrodden people? Thus the sight of the small unit of Philistines who were watching out for them from the crags seems especially to have irked him, and in the end he decided that here at least was something that he could do.
So he called his ‘armor bearer’ and explained to him his purpose. His intention was to attack the detachment of Philistines who were stationed in the hills watching for any sign of Saul’s men. His assistant, who was no doubt unswervingly loyal to him, fell in line with him. He informed him that he was willing to go with him wherever he went, and was willing to follow him in whatever he attempted to do. The final result of Jonathan’s faith would be that the nest of Philistines were rooted out and killed, something which would then result in panic in the Philistine camp.
It should be noted that this chapter presents us with a deliberate contrast between Jonathan, the man whose firm faith in Yahweh brings about the victory, and Saul who, without Samuel’s help, appears to be lost and not sure what to do. First he waits under the pomegranate tree, and then he stays in his camp talking to the Priest. And when he finally does belatedly act he commits a gross mistake.
So Jonathan is seen as positive and unhesitating, firm in his faith and confident in Yahweh, while Saul is seen as equivocating, as attaching to himself the new High Priest from the failed house that had previously caused the glory to depart from Israel, as making foolish oaths, and initially as not feeling that he can go forward without a talisman like the Ark, until he is finally forced to do so by the circumstances. While deeply religious, for he consults the High Priest, makes unthinking oaths and deprecates the eating of blood, his is revealed as a religion tied to traditions rather than to obedience. His lack of closeness to Yahweh, The God of Israel, already reflected at Gilgal, continues to be revealed. It is made very apparent by this that he no longer has Samuel with him, and that he lacks ‘the Spirit of Yahweh’.
14 Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
Jonathan now calls on his armor bearer to accompany him in an assault on the Philistines. Such a man was basically a faithful servant who was also probably a seasoned soldier who was allocated to Jonathan in order to act as his right hand man, and stay with him when danger was around, with a special responsibility to watch his back. They were comrades-in-arms.
That is why Jonathan called on him to join him in a secret foray against the Philistine contingent who was watching out for them from the crags. He did not want his father to know, presumably because he knew that his father would forbid it. And the worst that could happen was that the two of them might die together.
2 And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men. 3 Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
Meanwhile Saul with his men had moved from Geba to a precipice on the borders of the land around Gibeah, where there was a prominent and well known pomegranate tree. With them also was Ahijah, who was presumably the High Priest (he was wearing the ephod, yet as we see was from the lineage of Eli whom the Lord removed with all His descendents as future High Priests.
While all this was going on Jonathan was on his way, and no one knew that he had gone. He had simply slipped away unnoticed. He had not wanted anyone to prevent him from going.
4 Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah.
The actual path that Jonathan took to reach the Philistines is described. As he proceeded along the mountain passes with his companion he saw a rocky crag on each side rising up like a tooth. One was called Bozez which means ‘shining’. This was because the sun shone directly on it causing its white chalk to blaze with light. The other was named Seneh which means ‘acacia’, probably because of its acacia trees, which are still to be found in the associated valley.
6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.”
As they moved forward Jonathan explained his intentions. They would continue to make their way towards the Philistine outpost, trusting in Yahweh to work for them for as he pointed out, Yahweh was able to save by many or by few. Jonathan is thus seen as a man of great faith, which was why he could not see how Yahweh could possibly let the ‘uncircumcised Philistines’ triumph in the end. Jonathan knew that what mattered was not the number in either his army or the enemy’s camp, but that Yahweh was working for them.
7 So his armor bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.”
Jonathan’s faithful attendant was willing to follow wherever he led. So he told him to ‘carry on’. It should be noted that this faithful follower was essential to his plan. We must never forget the importance of a faithful assistant. ‘
8 Then Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9 If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. 10 But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the LORD has delivered them into our hand, and this will be a sign to us.”
Jonathan then laid out his plan of action. They would cross over to the crag where the Philistine outpost was stationed and allow them to see them. Once they had done that their actions would be determined by how the Philistines responded. If they said, ‘wait there until we come to you’, that is what they would do. They could then be ready to defend themselves, however if they said, ‘Come up to us’, then they would go up, and that would be a sign that Yahweh was going to deliver the Philistine garrison into their hands.
The question we need to ask is why this would be a sign that Yahweh would deliver them. In the military you always are taught to take the high ground. It is easier to defend when you do. We can see the strong faith and belief with Jonathan in our Great Holy Father God. For our God Is the one Who succeeds in the impossible.
Let us learn a lesson here that when you have something impossible in your life then remember in The Great God Who Love you.
11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.”
Their next act was to make their presence known to the Philistines, with the result that they were greeted with mockery. To them the cowardly Hebrews had come out of the holes where they had hidden themselves.
12 Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
Then the Philistines jeeringly called on them to come up so that they could ‘learn something from them’, at which Jonathan turned to his companion and declared, “Come up after me, for Yahweh has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” He had received the sign that he wanted. Now he had no doubt that Yahweh was with them. The Philistines may have been uncertain about how many Israelites were with Jonathan, hidden among the rocks, so we can understand their wariness. But what they probably did not expect was that Jonathan would actually do what they asked. They probably thought that he had stumbled on them by accident and would now run away.
13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them.
Instead the two men scrambled up the sides of the hill. And arriving at the summit they attacked the Philistines boldly. In you ever want to see similar amazing counter fighting then look to the Navy Seals. I am amazed at how they can attack a fortified boat in the ocean and succeed just like Jonathan and his assistant did.
14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land.
There were apparently just over twenty men in the outpost of whom most were killed by Jonathan and his assistant. I have witnessed a few soldiers well skilled in the martial arts take down similar numbers of combatants. You can imagine if you were in the large fighting crowd and you had these fierce and skilled opponents you would flee for your life as we see the Philistine reactions.
15 And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling.
This news of an all out assault resulted in a panic with the Philistine army which we are no doubt to see as brought on by Yahweh and the result was that the Philistines dropped everything which will cause some significant noise and ran away which gave off the sound like the ground trembled.
16 Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there.
The result was that Saul and his camp heard the noise and saw the fleeing Philistines.
17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Now call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.
When Saul heard the news of the Philistine panic he recognized something of what must have happened (he had been fighting Philistines for years) and he called for a muster in order to discover which of his men were no longer there. The result of the muster was that they discovered that Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing.
Why would Saul want to know who was missing? I see something important here. When you are the big shot and you micro manage your ministry you do not want anyone to do something unless you are aware and approve. I believe in Saul’s mind when he saw the Philistines fleeing his first thought was as to who might do something on his own without checking with him first. Since it was his son Jonathan missing then it was okay. There is nothing like the stench of nepotism. If someone else acted on his own there would be bear to pay, but since it was his son it was okay.
18 And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel).
Saul then called to Ahijah to bring there the ark of God. His aim was probably in order for it to lead them into battle so as to increase the panic among the Philistines.
There is something very ominous about this call for the Ark, for we have heard it before, when it was by a God-rejected Israel during Eli’s time when his sons took the ark also with them to battle. It is thus being made clear to us that there is in the heart of Saul something of the foolishness of those sinful rebellious people.
19 Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”
In the end, however, he did not proceed with his request, because as he spoke with the priest the noise among the fleeing Philistines grew more apparent and Saul therefore recognized the necessity of seizing the opportunity. The result was that he told Ahijah not to go ahead with what he had requested, and he prepared to mobilize his troops. It is probable that he also sent swift messengers to the Israelites hiding in the hills. Even this hesitation is probably designed to bring out his present inadequacy. Without Yahweh’s help and guidance he was nothing.
20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.
Gathering his troops ready for battle Saul advanced on the enemy and came ‘to the battle’ where it was immediately apparent that the Philistines were busy fighting each other
21 Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
We cannot overlook this important verse. We see here that some Hebrews became mercenaries for the Philistines. However, when the fighting came about they turned on the Philistines and fought with the Israelites.
22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.
The news of the Philistine panic also reached the ears of the general Israelite army which had taken refuge in the hills,. And when they learned that the Philistines were in flight they too joined in and chased hard after any of the Philistines who were still in the hill country.
23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.
The result was that The Loving God of Israel saved His people that day, and the Philistines were driven back in the direction of Beth-aven. From there they would flee down the pass of Beth-horon to Aijalon and thence down to Philistia. So the account which began with the parlous state of a helpless Israel ends with the Philistines in full flight leaving Israel, at least for the time being, a free country.
The contrast between the spiritually dead ritualism and the true man of faith continues. Jonathan the man of faith has enabled Yahweh God to act on behalf of His people. Now we discover that Saul, the spiritually dead ritualistic man, has put a curse on anyone who eats any food before he, Saul, has been avenged on his enemies, thus bringing Jonathan, the man of faith, who has been concerned for Yahweh’s honor and as our Holy God’s instrument in defeating the Philistines, into unconscious error. Not only was this unfair on Jonathan but it was also something which would prevent the victory from being the great success that it should have been, and would even put Jonathan’s life at risk and all because of Saul’s arrogant ways.
24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
Meanwhile the men who should have been rested and invigorated, to say nothing of being exultant, were instead distressed. Again we see how in attempting to do things in the flesh cause significant problems. Many times in the military those caring and smart non-coms will order their underlings to eat. In war you need to sleep and eat whenever you can for sometimes you may go without the opportunity.
We see that Saul is only caring about himself. He wants all the glory which should go to our Holy God. I dislike people who follow this way of Saul. They want all the credit for things that go well while merciless shift the blame on others for failure.
In his stupidity Saul’s purpose in his curse would seem to have been twofold. First I believe that it was because he believed that religious fasting would somehow gain him the extra support of Yahweh. Our Holy God was not dealing with him so he thought that if he did something religiously this would somehow impress our Holy God.
Secondly I believe his action was in order to ensure that his hungry troops concentrated solely on killing the Philistines rather than on turning aside to food to satisfy their hunger. But while it actually made no difference to the most important events of the day, its actual effect would be to render his men inefficient and unable to pursue the enemy to the end, on the long chase back to Philistia. So we discover that Saul had moved from following the living prophetic beliefs of Samuel, to the dead ideas of the religious ascetics who made much of such ritual, and Israel would suffer for it.
All in all his curse was not said to be in order to further Yahweh Honor, Glory and purposes. It is rather so as to enable Saul to get what he wants, personal vengeance on his enemies. It indicates how far he has fallen from his true calling. Here is a man who has lost his way.
25 Now all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
The result of the curse was that when, on passing through the forest while on the chase, his men found energy giving food readily available, they were unable to take advantage of it because of their fear of the oath.
27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened.
Jonathan, however, had not been there when the oath was made, and knew nothing about it, and so he did take advantage of the honey, and was, as a result, physically strengthened. The last point is important.
28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint.
Seeing Jonathan’s action one of Saul’s men pointed out to him that he was breaking his father’s oath. Our Precious Holy Spirit draws out the fact that because of that oath the people were faint. He is stressing Saul’s error, not Jonathan’s.
29 But Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?”
Jonathan also draws out the fact of Saul’s dumb order. He points out how his strength has been restored by eating the honey, while the failure to do so by Saul’s men has resulted in the chase not being as effective as it should have been. Had they only been able to restore themselves by eating the honey, and by taking advantage of provisions that the fleeing Philistines had dropped, they would have been fighting fit. But now they were weak and faint.
31 Now they had driven back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the people were very faint. 32 And the people rushed on the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.
The detail of the battle is again taken up. From Michmash to Aijalon, a journey of over twenty miles, partly down a fairly steep pass, there was a continual slaughtering of the fleeing Philistines. If possible they had to be persuaded not to return. It would at least keep them at bay for a time.
A further consequence of Saul’s rash vow is now seen. Having been deprived of food Saul’s men now sin against Yahweh Who was the One Who gave them the victory by eating animals with their blood. This was something strictly forbidden by the Law (Leviticus 17.10-11), and Saul therefore arranges for a primitive slaughter stone to be set up so that the animals may be slain properly, and the blood be allowed to pour out on the ground as an offering to Yahweh (Deuteronomy 12.15-16). If only he had been so keen on obeying Yahweh’s instructions previously, what a difference it would have made.
Of interest is the fact that is given is that this was the first altar that Saul built to Yahweh, for up to this point Samuel has always been responsible for such activity. We gain a distinct impression here that what Saul does is being presented by the writer in such a way that it depicts him as a parody of Samuel, so that Saul, who is in fact responsible for the fiasco in the first place, is being depicted as playing the great prophet in the place of Samuel. Back when Saul was selected by Samuel to be the commander in chief of the Israelites and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him that people said ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’ Saul had taken Samuel’s place and offered up the burnt offering that was not his right to do so. He had taken a duty and responsibility that was only to be allowed to be done by God’s anointed and selected priest. Here now he is acting like he is also a spiritual leader and advises the people to not just kill the captured animals but to make it all a sham in doing it in honor of Yahweh.
Such was the panic among the Philistines who were in headlong flight, that Saul’s men, in spite of their weakened state, were still able to continue the chase and slaughter the stragglers all the way from Michmash to Aijalon, a distance of nearly twenty miles over rough ground. This is an indication of the quality of Saul’s men. They would by now have been able to arm themselves with proper weapons dropped by the enemy.
But they were naturally very weak after their exertions without food, and thus as soon as the day ended at sunset, (with the result that the curse ceased to be active), they were so hungry that they threw themselves eagerly on the spoils left behind by the Philistines, slew their sheep, oxen and calves, and ate them raw without being concerned about eating the blood. This was, of course, contrary to the strict regulations of the Law which forbade the eating of the blood
33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Look, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood!” So he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day.”
The news of their sins reached Saul’s ears. ‘The people are sinning against Yahweh by eating blood.’ And his response was immediate. Please notice his response which is against all his soldiers, ‘You have dealt treacherously’. This means that they acted in a disloyal and faithless manner against him. Remember, that he said that no one could eat until evening and notice, ‘and until his enemies were all destroyed. It was evening but all the Philistines were not killed many got away. So Saul is blaming the people as all this was their fault.
He declared that a primitive altar must be set up by rolling a large stone into place on which the animals could be properly slain and the blood allowed to pour out on the ground. This was not for the offering of sacrifices, but in order that the beasts might be properly slain.
34 Then Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, ‘Bring me here every man’s ox and every man’s sheep, slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.’ ” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slaughtered it there.
Then Saul commanded that instructions be given to all the people that they bring their animals to the stone and slay them there in the right manner so as to avoid directly eating the blood. The people immediately responded.
35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD.
Here we see the reference hat this was the first ‘altar’ that Saul had built to Yahweh. The implication is that hitherto he had had Samuel to see to such things. Now he was on his own. It was not strictly an ‘altar’ in the fullest sense of the word. The purpose was not in order to offer offerings and sacrifices, but so that the animals could be slaughtered in the right manner before eating. It followed the directions in Deuteronomy 12.15-16.
A key point in this description was thiat it was not Saul’s responsibility to build altars. The major point is to emphasize Samuel’s absence. It is Saul’s first altar because previously he had been able to leave such things to someone else. It is all of a piece with what has gone before. Saul had called for the Ark, and had made use of a religious oath. Now he has erected a kind of altar. This will be followed by a vain consultation of the oracle. They are all acts which mark him as a religious man. But it was a religion that was all on the outside. It was based solely on ritual. In the end there was nothing underneath, for what was lacking was the responsive obedience without which all the rest was useless.
This chapter began with the depiction of Jonathan, the man of faith in the Everlasting Holy God Yahweh in bringing about the defeat of the Philistines and it now ends with Jonathan, the man of faith, almost being executed because of Saul’s foolish oath. The whole section is designed to demonstrate Saul’s downward slide and folly.
36 Now Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light; and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”
We can now see the important fact that Saul had wanted all the Philistines killed He could not prevent the men from eating but now they needed rest but he wants to continue the pursuit.
A great victory having been achieved Saul was now eager to follow it up by a night raid on the fleeing Philistines in order to obtain further spoils and destroy their army. It was, of course, describing an unachievable ideal in the enjoyment of the moment. The obedient people were prepared to do whatever he asked. The Priest, however, was more cautious and suggested rather that they should draw near to God and seek His guidance. Had he been with Saul Samuel would not have needed to have hesitated like this. He would have known the mind of Yahweh. Remember that Saul might be thinking that our Holy Ruler God was pleased with Saul and all his decisions and action but that was not the case.
37 So Saul asked counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But He did not answer him that day.
Saul sought counsel from God, and asked whether they should continue the chase into Philistine territory. The question was, would God deliver them into their hands? This question was probably put to God by means of the Urim and Thummim which could probably give the answers ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘no answer’ (we are not sure precisely how it worked, but there are indications to this end). In this particular case he received the response, ‘no answer’.
Because he received no answer from God Saul did not take his own inventory but thought that it had to be someone else’s fault why God was not answer him.
38 And Saul said, “Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today.
Saul did not consider the possibility that this failure to obtain an answer might lie at his door and immediately assumed that it must be because of sin in the camp. So he called all his chieftains together and demanded of them whether they knew of any reason why God was not answering. What sin had been committed among them that day that had resulted in this situation?
39 For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not a man among all the people answered him.
So we see here that in front of all his people Saul will sin in not fulfilling an oath. He swore that whoever had so sinned would die, even if it should be Jonathan his own son. The problem was that his life did not live up to his words.
40 Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”
Recognizing that the failure of the leadership would be the main thing likely to have an effect on God’s response, Saul decided first of all that he would eliminate himself and his son. So he called on the people (no doubt represented by their leaders) and declared that the first lot would determine whether the guilt lay with himself and Jonathan or whether it lay with the people. The reply of the people was that he must do what seemed right to him. But what follows suggest that this time the words were wrung out of them with reluctance, for in the last analysis they did not let him do what seemed good to him.
41 Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.
Then Saul called on ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel’ (indicating the seriousness of the process) to ‘show the right’. In a way Saul in his arrogance calls on our Holy God to answer. And when the lot was cast, to Saul’s surprise, and no doubt horror, the use of the lot indicated that it was either he or his son. The people were shown to be free from blame.
42 And Saul said, “Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me.” So Jonathan was taken.
Then Saul called for the lot to be cast between him and Jonathan. And the result was that Jonathan was indicated. This was what we have been waiting for, because we have known all along what Jonathan has done. But as we know Jonathan was the hero of the day. And in view of how it had happened (Jonathan had not known about the vow) it is clear that there is something wrong here.
Here is a good thing to think about? Saul has sinned in various and significant ways. Jonathan has not sinned in any way yet the lot fell on Jonathan. Shouldn’t the lot have fallen on Saul?
All this showmanship done by Saul was in relationship to the oath made on all that no one was allowed to eat anything prior to evening and when all the Philistines were destroyed. So, in effect all the people sinned for eating before all the Philistines were killed. The only ones who did not sin were Jonathan and his servant.
So, I believe our Holy Master answered just based on the issue of taking some food. I therefore love our Holy Makers response to the lot. You asked me a question relative to who ate so there is the answer. Sometimes I do likewise in kidding people. Someone asks me if I know the time. I answer, ‘Yes I do.’ They then look at me funny and then say, ‘So, what time is it?’ ‘Oh’, I say back, ‘you want to know the time, well its such and such time.’
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, and said, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now I must die!”
Meanwhile Saul demanded that Jonathan tell him what he had done, and Jonathan, now knowing of the oath, admitted that he had eaten a little honey from the end of the staff that he was carrying, and recognized that as a result he must die. No one seems to have queried the circumstances. A rash oath may have been uttered by the king, but the consequences had to follow. Such was the power and responsibility of kings.
44 Saul answered, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”
At his words Saul confirmed the death sentence. He declared that before God Jonathan must assuredly die. As far as he was concerned there was no alternative. It was the king’s oath. This was the extreme to which his religious activity had taken him.
The Holy Spirit wants us to know that Saul’s arrogance had reached such a stage that the thought of his oath being violated was seen by him as sufficient to warrant a death sentence being passed even on his own son. It was the arrogance of the absolute despot.
45 But the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
Well so much for Saul’s arrogance. The people were not prepared for this to happen. Was it not Jonathan whom Yahweh had used to bring about His great deliverance? How then could he be put to death on the day of that victory? Thus they would not allow it and declared equally strongly in Yahweh’s Name that as God’s champion not a hair of his head would be allowed to fall to the ground. And the consequence was that he was delivered from death.
The Holy Spirit clearly sees the people as in the right and Saul as in the wrong, and sees Yahweh’s response to Saul’s questions as His attempt also to prove Saul in the wrong. The people similarly saw it in the same way. Thus they recognized the heart of God better than Saul. What Saul was proposing therefore was not the God of Israel’s will. His exposure as no longer knowing the mind of God was complete.
The magnanimous Saul has now become the callous Saul. He no longer sees Yahweh’s victory as a cause for forgiveness. His heart has become rigid in its religious inflexibility. It is a further indication of his downward slide.
46 Then Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
The final result was that Saul ceased the pursuit of the Philistines, and they were allowed to return home and reorganize themselves. It was recognized that it was an opportunity lost, and all due to Saul’s wrong decisions.
Having demonstrated both Saul’s partial success, mainly through the faith of Jonathan, and his partial failure as a result of his own distorted religious ideas, the Holy Spirit now looks back and summarizes his reign from when he took over the kingship.
47 So Saul established his sovereignty over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the people of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he harassed them.
What we learn here indicates how little we know about Saul’s genuine early achievements, for it is made quite clear that he had been kept constantly busy, especially in Transjordan against the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Edomites, and against threats from the north from the Aramean kingdom of Zobah. But he had defeated them all. Only against the Philistines had he been unable to achieve victory, and now that too had been accomplished.
48 And he gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
The Amalekites were ferocious, wandering desert tribes (similar to the Bedouin) who would constantly swoop down on any nation that they found to be in a weak condition in order to kill simply for the pleasure of it, and in order to obtain tribute and booty, often in alliance with others. They were unholy predators. That was why in the end they had to be utterly destroyed.
Up to this point then Saul’s reign could be said to have been reasonably successful, for while he had had to wait for success against the Philistines, he had succeeded admirably against others. And now at last even the defeat of the Philistines had been achieved.
However, as that which has already been indicated throughout chapters 13-14, Saul has also begun to go downhill, and this will be brought home in the chapters that follow where it will be demonstrated how the last part of Saul’s reign reveals his continuing disobedience, his consequent rejection by Yahweh, his subsequent mental illness, his sense of absolute monarchy, the murderous nature of his own inclinations, his opposition to David, the man of God’s choice, and his own rapidly deteriorating spiritual state.
Saul’s ancestry was given in chapter 9.1. Now we are given his family details, after which we are also given the details of his commander in chief’s family, partly because they were related to Saul, and partly because of Abner’s loyal support, both in Saul’s own battles, and as preparing the way for what Abner would later seek to do for Saul’s son, Ishbaal (Ishbosheth).
49 The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui, and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
At this stage Saul had at least three sons. Jonathan (gift of Yahweh) was the firstborn. Then came Ishvi. This could be another name for Abinadab, for it was not uncommon for a man to have two names. Alternately Ish-vi is possibly another way of expressing Ish-yah, ‘man of Yahweh’, which could well then have been expressed as Ish-baal/Esh-baal (man of the Lord) We know nothing of Malchi-shua, and the names of the two daughters Merab and Michal.
We now learn that Abner was the commander in chief of Saul’s army. He was on the whole a loyal and good man. His details are recorded here both because he was a relative of the king, and in order to demonstrate that Saul did not achieve what he did on his own. He had solid support from his family.
52 Now there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for himself.
In order to make sure that we are not deceived by what has been said earlier we now learn that the Philistines were the one foe that Saul never finally quelled, for although sometimes defeated they soon came back again and occupied at least part of Israel. As a result Saul had continually to maintain a small standing army, both in readiness to deal with their forays, and in order, when they became something more serious, to prevent them taking over Israel completely. That is why we learn here that, with that in mind, he was always on the lookout for good recruits. Thus whenever he came across a mighty man or a valiant man he attached him to his standing army.
