1 Samuel 11-14

1.

First Samuel, chapters 11-14.

Nihash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh Gilead.

All the men of Jabesh said to him,

�Make a treaty with us and we will serve you.�

Nihash the Ammonite replied, �I'll make one with you on this condition,

that I gouge out everyone's right eye and humiliate all Israel.�

�Don't do anything to us for seven days� the elders of Jabesh said to him,

�And let us send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one saves us,

we will surrender to you.�

�When the messengers came to Gibbia, Saul's hometown, and told the terms to the people,

all wept aloud. Just then, Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen.

�What's the matter with you people? Why are they weeping�

Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh.

When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly came powerfully on him,

and his anger burned furiously. He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces,

and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by messengers who said,

�This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn't march behind Saul and Samuel.

�As a result, the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out united.�

Saul counted them at Bezek. There were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men from Judah.

He told the messengers who had come. Tell this to the men of Jabesh Giliad,

�Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.�

So the messengers told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.

Then the men of Jabesh said to Nayesh, �Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do whatever you want to us.�

The next day, Saul organized the troops into three divisions. During the morning watch,

they invaded the Ammonite camp and slaughtered them until the heat of the day.

There were survivors, but they were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

Afterward, the people said to Samuel, �Who said that Saul should not rain over us? Give us those

men so we can kill them.� But Saul ordered, �No one will be executed this day.

For today, the Lord has provided deliverance in Israel.�

Then Samuel said to the people, �Come, let�s go to Gilgal, so we can renew the kingship there.�

So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in the Lord�s presence they made Saul king.

There they sacrificed fellowship offerings in the Lord�s presence, and Saul and all the men of

Israel rejoiced greatly. Then Samuel said to all Israel, �I have carefully listened to everything

you said to me and placed a king over you. Now you can see that the king is leading you.

As for me, I�m old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until now.

Here I am. Bring charges against me before the Lord and His anointed.

Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Who have I wronged or mistreated?

Who gave me a bribe to overlook something? I will return it to you.

You haven�t wronged us. You haven�t mistreated us, and you haven�t taken anything from anyone.�

They responded. He said to them, �The Lord is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness

today that you haven�t found anything in my hand. He is a witness, they said. Then Samuel said to

the people, �The Lord, who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your ancestors up from

the land of Egypt, is a witness.� Now present yourselves so I may confront you before the Lord

about all the righteous acts he has done for you and your ancestors.� When Jacob went to Egypt,

your ancestors cried out to the Lord, and he sent them Moses and Aaron who led your ancestors out

of Egypt and settled them in this place. But they forgot the Lord, their God. So he handed them over

to Cicero Commander of the Army of Hezor to the Philistines and to the King of Moab. These enemies

fought against them. Then they cried out to the Lord and said, �We have sinned, for we abandoned

the Lord and worshipped the Bales and the Astorists. Now rescue us from the power of your enemies,

and we will serve you.� So the Lord sent Jerubell, Berek, Jeff the and Samuel. He rescued you from

the power of the enemies around you and you lived securely. But when you saw that Nahash King

of the Ammonites was coming against you, you said to me, �No, we must have a king over us,

even though the Lord your God is your king.� Now, here is the king you've chosen, the one you

requested. Look, this is the king. The Lord has placed over you. If you fear the Lord, worship him

and obey him, and if you don't rebel against the Lord's command, then both you and the king who

reigns over you will follow the Lord your God. However, if you disobey the Lord and rebel against

his command, the Lord's hand will be against you as it was against your ancestors. Now, therefore,

present yourselves and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes.

Isn't the wheat harvest today? I will call on the Lord and He will send thunder and rain so

that you will recognize what an immense evil you committed in the Lord's sight by requesting a

king for yourselves. Samuel called on the Lord and on that day, the Lord sent thunder and rain.

As a result, all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. They pleaded with Samuel.

Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so we won't die,

for we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.

Samuel replied, �Don't be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil,

don't turn away from following the Lord. Instead, worship the Lord with all your heart.

Don't turn away to follow worthless things that can't profit or rescue you. They are worthless.

The Lord will not abandon His people because of His great name and because He has determined

to make you His own people. As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by

ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way. Above all fear the Lord

and worship Him faithfully with all your heart. Consider the great things He has done for you.

However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.

Saul was 30 years old when he became king and he reigned 42 years over Israel.

He chose 3,000 men from Israel for himself, 2,000 were with Saul at McMash and in Bethel's Hill

Country, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Ghibbia of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away

each to his own tent. Jonathan attacked the Philistine Garrison in Ghibbia and the Philistines

heard about it. So Saul blew the rams horn throughout the land, saying,

let the Hebrews hear and all Israel heard the news. Saul has attacked the Philistine Garrison and

Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines. Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel, 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and troops

as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at McMash east of Bethaven.

The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation.

They hid in caves, in thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.

Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Giliad.

Saul, however, was still at Gilgal and all his troops were gripped with fear.

He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set.

But Samuel didn't come to Gilgal and the troops were deserting him.

So Saul said, bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.

Then he offered the burnt offering. Just as he finished offering the burnt offering,

Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him and Samuel asked,

what have you done? Saul answered.

When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn't come within the appointed days,

and the Philistines were gathering at McMash, I thought,

the Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal and I haven't sought the Lord's favor.

So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.

Samuel said to Saul,

you have been foolish. You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you.

It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel.

But now your reign will not endure. The Lord has found a man after his own heart,

and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over his people because you have not done what the Lord

commanded. Then Samuel went from Gilgal to Givia in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were

with him about 600 men. Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with him were staying in

Giba of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at McMash. Rating parties went out from the Philistine

camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophor road leading to the land of Shul.

The next division headed toward the Bethoran road, and the last division headed toward the border

road that looks out over the Zeboim Valley toward the wilderness. No blacksmith could be found in

all the land of Israel because the Philistines had said otherwise the Hebrews will make swords and

spears. So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows,

Maddox, axes, and sickles. The price was two thirds of a shekel for plows and Maddox and one

third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on a cattle prod.

So, on the day of battle, not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops

who were with Saul and Jonathan. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

Now, a Philistine garrison took control of the Pass at McMash. That same day, Saul's son Jonathan

said to the attendant who carried his weapons. Come on, let's cross over to the Philistine garrison

on the other side. However, he did not tell his father. Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree

in Migron on the outskirts of Ghibbia. The troops with him numbered about 600.

Ahesia, who was wearing an effort, was also there. He was the son of Ahatub, the brother of

Ikabad son of Phineas, son of Eli the Lord's priest at Shiloh. But the troops did not know that

Jonathan had left. There were sharp columns of rock on both sides of the Pass that Jonathan

intended to cross to reach the Philistine garrison. One was named Bozez and the other Sinah.

One stood to the north in front of McMash and the other to the south in front of Ghibbia.

Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons. Come on, let's cross over to the garrison

of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving

whether by many or by few. His armor bearer responded. Do it as in your heart. Go ahead.

I'm completely with you. All right, Jonathan replied. We'll cross over to the men and then let

them see us. If they say, wait until we reach you, then we will stay where we are and not go up to

them. But if they say, come on up, then we'll go up because the Lord has handed them over to us.

That will be our sign. They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison and the Philistines

said, look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they've been hiding.

The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor bearer.

Come on up and we'll teach you a lesson. They said,

follow me. Jonathan told his armor bearer for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.

Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet with his armor bearer behind him.

Jonathan cut them down and his armor bearer followed and finished them off.

In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about 20 men in a half acre field.

Terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops,

even the garrison and the raiding parties were terrified.

The earth shook and terror spread from God. When Saul's watchmen in Ghibbia of Benjamin looked,

they saw the panicking troops scattering in every direction.

So Saul said to the troops with him, call the role and determine who has left us.

They called the role and saw that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone.

Saul told Ahija, bring the Ark of God for it was with the Israelites at that time.

While Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity.

So Saul said to the priest, stop what you're doing.

Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle and there the Philistines were

fighting against each other in great confusion.

There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines,

but even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

When all the Israelite men who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the

Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle.

So the Lord saved Israel that day.

The battle extended beyond Beth Aven and the men of Israel were worn out that day.

For Saul had placed the troops under an oath.

The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.

So none of the troops tasted any food.

Everyone went into the forest and there was honey on the ground.

When the troops entered the forest, they saw the flow of honey,

but none of them ate any of it because they feared the oath.

However, Jonathan had not heard his father make the troops swear the oath.

He reached out with the end of the staff he was carrying and dipped it in the honeycomb.

When he ate the honey, he had renewed energy.

Then one of the troops said,

Your father made the troops solemnly swear the man who eats food today is cursed and the troops

are exhausted. Jonathan replied,

My father has brought trouble to the land.

Just look at how I have renewed energy because I tasted a little of this honey.

How much better if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies?

Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been much greater.

The Israelites struck down the Philistines that day from Mikmash all the way to Isolane.

Since the Israelites were completely exhausted, they rushed to the plunder,

took sheep, goats, cattle and calves, slaughtered them on the ground,

and ate meat with the blood still in it.

Some reported to Saul,

Look, the troops are sitting against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.

Saul said,

You have been unfaithful.

Roll a large stone over here at once. He then said,

Go among the troops and say to them,

Let each man bring me his ox or sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat.

Don't sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood in it.

So every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.

Then Saul built an altar to the Lord. It was the first time he had built an altar to the Lord.

Saul said,

Let's go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning.

Don't let even one remain. Do whatever you want. The troops replied,

But the priest said,

Let's approach God here. So Saul inquired of God.

Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?

But God did not answer him that day.

Saul said,

All you leaders of the troops come here. Let's investigate how this sin has occurred today,

As surely as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan,

he must die. Not one of the troops answered him. So he said to all Israel,

You will be on one side and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side and the troops replied,

Do whatever you want. So Saul said to the Lord,

God of Israel. Why have you not answered your servant today?

If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, Lord God of Israel give

Um, but if the fault is in your people, Israel give thumem.

Jonathan and Saul were selected and the troops were cleared of the charge.

Then Saul said, cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan and Jonathan was selected.

And Saul commanded him,

Tell me what you did. Jonathan told him,

I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff I was carrying.

I am ready to die.

Saul declared to him,

May God punish me and do so severely if you do not die Jonathan.

But the people said to Saul,

Must Jonathan die? He accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel.

No, as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground for he worked with God's

help today. So the people redeemed Jonathan and he did not die.

Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines and the Philistines returned to their own territory.

When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction.

Against Moab, the Ammonites, Eden, the kings of Zoba and the Philistines.

Wherever he turned, he caused havoc. He fought bravely, defeated the Amalakites

and rescued Israel from those who plundered them.

Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malkeshua.

The names of his two daughters were Merub, his firstborn and Michael the Younger.

The name of Saul's wife was a Hinawum daughter of Ahamese.

The name of the commander of his army was Abner, son of Saul's uncle Nur.

Saul's father was Kish. Abner's father was Nur, son of Abiel.

The conflict with the Philistines was fierce all of Saul's days.

So whenever Saul noticed any strong or valiant man, he enlisted him.