1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 13:1 In preparing for battle, Saul disobeys God’s commands given through Samuel. God cannot endure such a king over Israel. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 13:2 In ch. 1 Samuel 9:1 Saul is described as a “young man,” but here he has a son who can command troops, and so a number of years may have passed. MICHMASH is about 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Jerusalem and 3 or 4 miles (4.8 or 6.4 km) south of Bethel. These THREE THOUSA... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 13:5 THIRTY THOUSAND CHARIOTS seems to be a very high number. Some ancient Bible manuscripts have “three thousand.” BETH-AVEN is probably the Beth-aven near Ai (Joshua 7:2). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 13:7 LAND OF GAD AND GILEAD. Or “land of Gad, that is, Gilead.” ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 13:8 Saul knows he has done wrong, for he starts making excuses (vv. 1 Samuel 13:11). Saul is unable to trust and obey the word of the Lord, so instead he responds to circumstances or relies on religious ritual to gain God’s favor (see 1 Samuel 14:24 and the incident in 1 S... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 13:13 Saul fails to acknowledge the prophet’s higher role as God’s messenger (compare 1 Samuel 15:11, 1 Samuel 15:13, 1 Samuel 15:19, 1 Samuel 15:22). He loses the kingship because of his disobedience. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 13:16 GEBA is only a mile or two (1.6–3.2 km) from MICHMASH. The two are separated by a deep ravine, which is an important pass from the Jordan Valley into the Ephraimite hills. The Philistines were stationed at the hilltop that overlooks the ravine from the north, while Sa... [ Continue Reading ]
1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 13:19 NO BLACKSMITH (in) ISRAEL. The Philistines apparently had been able to take over the production of the kind of metal (probably iron) needed for SWORDS and SPEARS. This put the Israelites at a great disadvantage. Thus the Israelite victory at Michmash (ch. 1 Samuel 14:... [ Continue Reading ]