1 Samuel 11-15
11:1-11
Constable’s Notes with the Net Bible here (under the heading The Ammonite Siege of Jabesh-Gilead 11:1-5) give helpful historical and geographical context for this incident. Commentators think that it was either arrogance or awareness of the weakness of Israel or both on the part of Nahash, that he agreed to the request of the elders of Jabesh-Gilead for seven days to find a deliverer, that is, military support to resist his invasion.
11:12-14
Saul's Kingship is renewed and wisely gives amnesty to the dissenters to his reign.
12:1-25
ESV titles 1 Samuel 12 as Samuel’s Farewell Address, and after the choosing and anointing of David as Saul’s successor in chapter 16, he only appears once in the narrative of 1 Samuel until 25:1, which records his death. The anointing of Saul and the beginning of the Israelite monarchy marked the end of the period of the Judges, of which Samuel was the last. The people repent of the ‘evil’ (19) of asking for a King, and Samuel commits to pray for them and says he will continue to instruct [you] in the good and the right way (23). In fact 20-24 reads like a covenant renewal as Samuel affirms Israel as the Lord’s people.
13:1
It is clear that there is another textual problem in verse 1 and different translations have used different approaches to what seems to be a missing number for Saul’s age in the earliest texts (ESV is particularly puzzling). The fact that in verse 2 we read that he has a Son who commands troops, gives a broad indication of his likely age, which some later Greek manuscripts state to be 30 years at this time. The Apostle Paul speaking in Acts 13 refers to Saul’s reign lasting 40 years.
13:2-7
The maps at https://ibiblemaps.com/saul-campaigns/ are useful for clarifying what takes place here.
13:8-15
War with the Philistines continues following Jonathan’s successful attack on the Philistine outpost at Geba, as the Philistines mass their forces across the valley that separated Geba and Michmash. 1 Samuel 10:8 is thought (although not by all scholars - the chronology is problematic) to be the background to what happens next.
Samuel has instructed Saul to go to Gilgal where burnt offerings and sacrifices will be made: Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do. But Samuel is apparently delayed, and after seven days Saul can’t wait any longer and takes matters into his own hands, leading to Samuel’s rebuke and delivery of a judgement on his Kingship (13:13), which is to be replaced, as The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you. (13:14)
14:1-15
After more details on military manoeuvres and an explanation of why Israel lacks weaponry for the next battle (13:16-22) outstanding faith and bravery by Jonathan and his armour-bearer leads to a victory of 2 men over 20 in the Philistine garrison, which (along with an earthquake) precipitates a panic among the Philistines who start to flee their positions.
14:16-23
Defeat of the Philistines follows the chaos initiated by Jonathan’s overthrow of their garrison and pursuit by Israel’s army. In 17-19 we read that Saul plans to repeat the earlier mistake of taking the Ark of the Covenant into battle (chapters 4-6) but refrains when he sees that the rout of the Philistines is gaining momentum. It’s worth noting here that the priest Ahijah following Saul’s orders at this point, is the grandson of Eli (14:3). This section concludes So the Lord saved Israel that day… (23a) and this was evidently more through the initiative of Jonathan than anything done by Saul.
14:24-35
This is followed by the strange episode which is recorded in the passage up to verse 46. It starts with an injudicious vow made by Saul which requires his army to fast while in action. Jonathan hasn’t heard Saul’s command and eats while the vow is still in force, and when told of the vow and associated curse, laments his father’s unwise action (28-30). Following its victory, and when Saul’s vow had expired, the Israelite army’s hunger resulted in their breaking the Mosaic covenant (Lev 17:10-14) by eating meat with its blood from the livestock that was part of the spoil from the battle. After condemning the people for their sin (33) Saul acts to absolve them of guilt, through proper slaughter of animals for food and building an altar to the Lord (35).
14:36-42
Saul then plans to complete the victory against the Philistines by an attack at night but Ahijah the priest says that God’s approval should be sought first. We’re not told the exact procedure used at this point, but we read that the inquiring of God yields no result. Saul concludes that this failure is a result of some unknown sin among them (38) and when none of the ‘leaders of the people’ admit to the sin which led to the unsuccessful attempt to get God’s approval for further military action, Urim and Thummim are used (an authorised method of divination for Israel) to show whether the people, or Saul/Jonathan were responsible. When the people are cleared of responsibility and the procedure is repeated for Saul and Jonathan, the latter is identified as the guilty party.
14:43-46
Jonathan then confesses what he had done in ignorance when Saul’s vow was in force: “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” Saul pronounces that Jonathan will die, but he is saved by popular demand, as the people rebel against the absurdity of his execution, given that he had …worked this great salvation in Israel (45a).
Exodus 17:8-16 records how the people of Amalek attacked Israel in a place called Rephidim, not long after their escape from Egypt. Moses commissions Joshua to lead the defence of Israel, which was successful when Moses (with help) keeps his hands raised on the top of a nearby hill ‘until the sun went down’ (17:12). The event clearly carries some significance which is not clear from the narrative in Exodus until in 17:14-16 the Lord instructs Moses to memorialise the event by writing in a book, and resolves to …utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven (14).
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