January 10, 2026
1st Samuel 13:1 follows the Biblical formula for a kings age when he began to rule and the length of his reign (see examples in 2 Sam 2:10; 1 Kings 14:21; 22:42).
However, in the original, the verse is incomplete because the 1st number was inadvertently left out – so we don’t really know how old Saul was when he became king (most Bibles say 30 - some say 40).
So, Saul was ____ years old when he became king and reigned for ____ years (There is also a debate as to the length of his reign, however, Acts 13:21 states he reigned for 40 years and that is what is generally accepted).
Verse 2 starts a new section – telling us that Saul’s standing army consisted of 3000 fighting men.
Jonathan, Saul’s oldest son and heir, is mentioned here for the 1st time. He was old enough by this time (at least 20) to be a commander in the army.
Israel’s standing army was divided into 2 groups - 2000 men were with Saul at Micmash near Bethel and 1000 men were with Jonathan at Gibeah in the tribe of Benjamin.
The Philistines
Jonathan attacked and defeated the Philistine garrison at Geba and when the Philistines were told the news they assembled their army:
• ____ Chariots (some manuscripts say 3,000 and some say 30,000. It is argued that 30,000 is a scribal error since there is only a small difference between the #3 "????" (shalosh) and the #30 ?????????? (sheloshim) in Hebrew. Regardless, Israel was still out numbered.
• 6,000 horsemen
• An army like the sand on the seashore.
The Philistines camped at Micmash…..
The Israelites were so afraid that they hid in caves, thickets, cliffs, cellars and pits. Some even crossed the Jordan River and sought refuge with the “east-siders.”
You can understand their fear when you realize that only Saul and Jonathan had weapons.
Why? Because the Philistines did not allow Israel to have blacksmiths. As a matter of fact, the Israelites had to go to Philistia and pay to have their farm equipment - plowshares, axes, sickles, etc. - sharpened.
Samuel had instructed Saul, who was now at Gilgal, to wait for 7 days at which time he would come and sacrifice to Yahweh and seek his instructions. Saul got tired of waiting and as his army continued to slip away, he decided that he could no longer wait and sacrificed the burnt offering himself – a duty reserved exclusively for the priest. Just as Saul was finishing the ceremony, Samuel arrived and was not amused.
Saul’s response to Samuel’s displeasure is telling: “What was I supposed to do? The people are scattering and you had not arrived - as promised. The Philistines have assembled at Michmash, so, I forced myself to seek Yahweh’s favor and offer the burnt offering.”
Before leaving, Samuel informed Saul that because of his disobedience, his dynasty would come to an end and that Yahweh was looking for a man, “according to his own heart, and has appointed him as leader over his people.”
The day came when Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come, let us go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps Yahweh will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder Him from saving, whether by many or by few."
His armor-bearer agreed whole heartedly and they snuck out of camp, heading toward the Philistine garrison which sat on top of a butte ---- No one knew that Jonathan was gone.
They climbed the cliff that was said to be unclimbable and worked their way toward the Philistine camp.
When the Philistines saw Jonathan and his companion, they were amused, “Hey! Come over here we have something to tell you.”
This was the sign Jonathan was looking for – Yahweh would give the Philistines into Israel’s hand.
Jonathan and his armor bearer killed 20 Philistines. There was a great earthquake and confusion broke out amongst the Philistines causing them to start killing each other.
Meanwhile, Saul was staying at the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree at Migron. He had about 600 hundred men with him, including Ahijah, the son of Ahitub - the brother of Ichabod - the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of Yahweh at Shiloh, who was wearing an ephod.
As Saul prepared for battle, he said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God." – which, apparently, was with the Israelites - but when he saw that the Philistines confusion was increasing, he said to Ahijah, "never mind."
Saul rallied his soldiers and went into battle.
Some Hebrews, who had joined the Philistines, turned on them and joined Israel.
Even the men of Israel, who had gone into hiding in the hill country of Ephraim, pursued the Philistines.
Yahweh delivered Israel that day.
It had been a hard day for the soldiers of Israel. Earlier in the day Saul had put his army under an oath – forbidding them to eat anything “until I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” As a result the army did not eat all day.
Jonathan, unaware of his father’s, found a bee hive in a tree and ate some of the honey. He immediately felt better.
The soldiers who were with Jonathan expressed their concern and told him about the oath and accompanying curse.
Jonathan responded, "That was short-sighted… Maybe if the men had been allowed to eat, the victory over the Philistines would have been greater than it was."
After the battle the men were so hungry that they slaughtered some animals and ate the meat with the blood still in it - which Levitical law prohibited. Saul accused the men of acting wickedly before God, and now, because of what THEY had done, a guilt offering would be required.
Saul built an altar and inquired of Yahweh, "Shall I chase the Philistines and will you hand them over to Israel?"
Crickets….. Yahweh was not answering. Why?
Lots were cast ? Jonathan was chosen.
When Saul found out that Jonathan had eaten some honey, he declared that Jonathan would die. Saul failed to realize that the sin was his and to save face as king he was willing to sacrifice his own son. If it had not been for the army’s intervention, Jonathan would have died that day.
Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.
1 Samuel 14:47-52 - After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them. He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them. Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal. His wife's name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul's army was Abner (Saul’s cousin)…. All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.
The Amalekites
Yahweh commanded that now was the time for Israel to execute His judgment on the Amalekites, which had been prophesied in Exodus 17.
The entire nation was to be destroyed – nothing was to be spared.
Saul defeated the Amalekites, but he spared king Agag and took the best of all the animals.
God came to Samuel: “I regret having made Saul king. He has turned his back on me and has not carried out my instructions.”
Samuel cried before Yahweh all night and then went to see Saul.
Saul: “Look! I have obeyed God’s instructions!”
Samuel: “Then why do I hear the bleating of sheep and the lowing of cattle?”
Saul: “Well….. the people brought the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord, but the rest were destroyed.”
Samuel: “Let me tell you what Yahweh says concerning you….. Is it not true that though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel, and He sent you on a mission, to ‘Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.' Why then did you not obey the voice of Yahweh, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in His sight?”
Saul: “I did obey! I did what God told me to do! Look, I have king Agag, but everyone else has been killed. Now the people, well, they did take some of the spoils - sheep and oxen - the best stuff, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal.”
Samuel: “Does Yahweh like burnt offerings as much as he likes obedience? To obey is better than sacrifice! For rebellion is the same as the sin of divination, and insubordination is the same as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, He has rejected you from being king.”
And with that, Samuel left. Saul chased after him.
Saul: “I have sinned; I have indeed disobeyed the command of Yahweh and your words. I feared the people and listened to their voice. Please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship Yahweh.”
Samuel: “I will not return with you. You have been rejected as king over Israel.”
As Samuel turned to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.
Samuel: “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.”
Saul: “I have sinned; but please honor me now before all Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.”
Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped Yahweh.
Samuel called for Agag to be brought before him and he did what Saul should have done.
Samuel returned to Ramah and Saul went home to Gibeah.
1 Samuel 15:35 - Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Saul would reign in Israel for many more years, but they would not be good years. His decline into madness would have far-reaching consequences both personally and nationally.
Meanwhile, a new star was about to rise in Judah.
Until Next Time….
