The Bible Books of Samuel

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Samuel’s Family Visits Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:1-3) 

The opening of the Book of 1 Samuel places us in the worship center of Shiloh about 20 miles south of Jerusalem between 1100 and 1000 BC. The Tabernacle was there and Solomon’s Temple would not be built in Jerusalem until about 957 BC. We are in the family of a man named Elkanah who lived in the hill country of Ephraim. Elkanah had two wives, Peninnah and Hannah, whom he would take with him to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice at least annually. Pininnah was blessed with several sons and daughters but Hannah had none. Peninnah would secretly provoke Hannah to tears as Hannah would continue to pray at Shiloh for children from the Lord. Elkanah evidentlty knew nothing of Hannah’s suffering under Peninnah as seen in verse 8, “Then her husband, Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” Nevertheless, a barran women in 1100 BC was considered a failure and Hannah was deeply troubled by it regardless of Elkanah’s kind words and expressions of his love for her. 

Verse 3 introduces us to the priests of the Tabernacle, Eli and his two sons Hophni and Phinehas. As we traverse Chapters 1 and the first half of Chapter 2, we take an automatic stand of honor, trust and respect for these three. But as soon as wee get past this first study, we will learn that Eli’s two sons are guilty of heinous sin against those offering sacrifices to the Lord and to the women who serve at the doors of the Tabernacle (1 Sam 2:12-17 & 22-25). These two open and obvious sinful behaviors reveal the hearts of Eli’s sons as men who do not know the Lord (vs. 12). Rest assured, however, God will deal with that situation very early in this book, and He will announce that plan to Samuel as a part of His plan for him. There will also be a stern warning to Eli, and through him, fathers and mothers across the world that parents who do not hold their children responsible for evil acts will be held accountable for their lack of action as well. When the Lord issues his call to young Samuel, he will tell him what His plan is for issuing stern corrections to all three of these priests in capital punishment, nor is there atonement available. 

Hannah Makes a Vow (1 Samuel 1:9-11, 17) 

The encouragement Hannah received from Elkanah was sufficient to get her to eat and drink.  The Scripture tells us she arose after eating and drinking (vs. 9). We also see that Eli the priest was sitting near the doorposts of the Temple. Hannah entered and was greatly distressed, so as she was earnestly praying and bitterly weeping, she made a vow to the Lord (vs. 9b). She said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.” 

Hannah’s vow sets the stage for her son (who will be coming very soon) to be turned over to the Tabernacle leadership as a life-long resource to serve the Lord. This is how Samuel (the name Hannah will give her son) ends up serving the Lord as Israel’s last Judge and His first Prophet.

Now, as Hannah continued to pray, she allowed her lips to move, but no sound was spoken (vs. 13). As Eli happened to see her praying in this way, he thought she might be intoxicated. In verse 14, he asked how long she might cause herself to be publicly drunk, and said she should put her wine away from her. Hannah assured him that she was not drinking either wine or strong drink as he supposed, but rather, she was a woman deeply distressed by her situation in life and oppressed in the Spirit (vs. 15). She asked that Eli would not consider her a worthless woman but understand her situation. 

So, Eli reassesses his initial impression and responds to her with a sincere blessing, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him” (vs. 17). Hannah responded kindly as well saying, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.”  So, after she got up from her praying position, she went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

Notice how a little encouragement from God’s representative can make a great deal of difference. Sometimes people who hold these positions for God forget it is not them, it is the God they serve.

Hannah Dedicates Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20-22, 26-27) 

As advertised, the good news for Hannah was finally on the way. Now, when I first read that statement, I wondered whether it would be a boy or a girl. There were at least two reasons why I should have known that answer. First, Hannah did not pray for a girl, she prayed for a boy (vs. 11). Second, the title of the study is “Samuel” not “Sandra.” Samuel is a combination of two Hebrew words meaning “God hears attentively.” Hannah says it was “Because I have asked of the Lord.” Point made. Verse 21 says that Elkanah was ready to go to the Tabernacle and make his offering the very next opportunity. But verse 22 says that Hannah did not go. She remembered what she vowed to the Lord, so she was not going to the Tabernacle until it was time to deliver Samuel for fulltime service to the Lord. Instead, she said, “I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and stay there forever.” Hannah’s purpose for returning to the Tabernacle was to keep the promise she made to God. 

Now, the customary way of doing the weaning process meant the child would be at least two years old but often even older before he was weaned, so Hannah is not talking of just a couple weeks, rather, it was a couple years at the soonest. We already know that holding the baby in her arms and nursing him, formed a bond she was not anxious to end. Nevertheless, she made a vow to God, and she was intent on keeping it.

Verse 26 jumps to that day. She goes to the Tabernacle and reports to Eli. She reminds him of that day saying, “Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord.” She wants to make sure he remembered. She was probably praying that he would tell her that God said it was okay for her to finish raising the boy. But not so. She finishes the hardest sentence she would ever speak, It “was for this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my partition which I asked” (vs. 27). I can imagine the tears hurt, but I can also imagine they were tears of joy. It was not a short trip to get to Shiloh, but she knew Elkanah would be coming at least once a year. She would see Samuel again; she would see her little boy serve God.

The Song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-2, 8-9)   

Oh, how Hannah praised the Lord! Her song begins in 1 Samuel 2:1 with the feeling that was running over her, “My heart exalts in the Lord” (vs. 2:1). Her horn, the peak of everything, is made a hundred times bigger because of what the Lord has done for her. Part of the depth of her prayer for a son was because of the persecution of Elkanah’s other wife, but now she can say she has had mighty victory over any and all of them. She can look any enemy in the eyes and state that she has won a victory greater than any they won. Hannah spoke to the Creator of the Universe, He heard and He made her request live in the form of a beautiful little man. Further, she promised he would be dedicated to the Lord and His work forever. Samuel is already there, he is serving God, he is serving right next to the priest of the Tabernacle. 

She continues to exalt the Lord and yells out against her enemies, knowing that whatever they might want to say, she has experienced more. Her gratitude drives the thought that there is no one like the Lord. What He has done for her was nothing short of a miracle. He saved her from a life of shame and emptiness. He is truly her salvation, and she rejoices in it. There is no one who is holy like the Lord; in truth, there is no one holy! No one is like Him. He had personally raised her up from the dust, dirt and ashes to give her life meaning and completion.  

So, up from the dust and dirt and ash heap He brought her. And, she knows that awesome help has not left or abandoned her. What has taken place in her is beyond her wildest imagination. He keeps the feet of His holy ones. Hannah knows firsthand that there is no other help available. He is the author and finisher of her soul. There is truly no other name given among men whereby they must be saved, and He just dealt with her personally and directly. There is no other source of strength like the Lord provides. 

I wonder if Mother Mary ever read the Song of Hannah when she was pregnant with Jesus? Can anyone imagine what those words would sound like in the ears of another blessed human being just like herself? She finishes, “But the wicked ones are silenced!” Oh, what peace! 

Eli’s Sons Sin (1 Samuel 2:11-12, 15-17)  

Verse 11 tells us that Ramah is the home of Elkanah and his family. It stands about halfway between Jerusalem to the South and Shiloh to the North. That is halfway between the current place of the Tabernacle and the future home of Solomon’s Temple. Samuel (called “the boy” here) remained behind to begin his lifelong service to the Lord at His Tabernacle. 

I should have mentioned earlier that the standard Bible protocol for referring to God is that all caps are used when the Hebrew language is speaking of the LORD as Jehovah God, or God the Father. I changed all of them from LORD to Lord for appearance sake, but the fact remains, the writer was referring to Jehovah. Tradition holds that Judges and 1 & 2 Samuel were written by Samuel with some parts written by the prophets Nathan and Gad. 

We also learned that Eli’s sons are worthless and did not know the Lord in verse 12. This is one of the many problems with leaders appointed through heritage – the offspring seldom holds the same emotions or commitment to God as the father did. The standard practice for the priest taking a share of the offering is for the fat (the best) of the offering to be burned off as “a sweet-smelling savor for the Lord.” Eli’s sons were requiring their share before the fat was burned. Notice the priests making to offering protested, but Hophni and Phinehas threatened force (vs. 16). This shows contempt for the offering process and contempt for the Lord who was to receive the fat of this offering. It proves the statement made in verse 12 that these were worthless men who did not know the Lord. Verse 17 drives the seriousness of this sin even farther to its total disregard for the Lord’s offering by saying the sin was “very great before the Lord.” Samuel explains the reason it was so great was because it showed how the young men “despised the offering of the Lord.” While we will see additional sin against the Lord’s House and His workers, the contempt for the Lord shown here would easily justify any action the Lord would take against them. And we will also learn that they had equal disregard for their father (Eli) when he attempted to correct them.

Samuel’s Family Prospers (1 Samuel 2:18-21)

Samuel shows great contrast compared with Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, as he describes himself as the young boy serving in the Tabernacle.  He wore a linen ephod which was usually a dark blue worn over a white robe with full sleeves. He wore clothes that were typical of those wore by the High Priests. Verse 19 says that Hannah made little robes for him each year when Elkanah came to sacrifice before the Lord. Those robes became the foundational garments for the rest of his outfits. The sleeveless ephod was worn over the white robe creating a contrast in color.  The shoulders of the ephod would have epaulets designed to fasten a gold chain from which a square tablet with the twelve stones of the tribes of Israel were fastened. Samuel looked very much like the High Priest even as a young boy ministering before the Lord. 

At Elkanah’s annual visits, Eli would bless him and Hannah, his wife by praying, “May the Lord give you children from this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the Lord.” As they returned home, the Lord blessed Eli’s prayer for Hannah and began giving her children to replace Samuel. She not only conceived once but had three sons and two daughters. In addition to the blessings of having all those children, Hannah was filled with pride and gratitude as she watched Samuel serve the Lord and grow before God’s presence. 

The biblical account does not mention the changes in the atmosphere in Elkanah’s home, but the persecution from his other wife against Hannah must have decreased steadily as Hannah continued to produce more and more children of her own. While Peninnah likely continued having more children, the fact that Hannah had five of her own plus the greater blessing of seeing her firstborn, Samuel serving the Lord tipped the balance in her favor. 

In contrast, the life of Eli was getting worse every day. While young Samuel was bringing blessings to his parents, Hophni and Phinehas were bringing sorrow and gloom into Eli’s life. As High Priest, Eli was expected to maintain a reasonable decorum within the Tabernacle complex. Eli’s sons were making sure Eli was filled with shame and sorrow at their behaviors.

Eli’s Rebuke Fails (1 Samuel 2:22-26)

The fact that Eli’s sons were bringing complete dishonor to the Lord’s offerings by stealing them before the fat was offered up was just one of their gross behaviors to blaspheme Eli’s office. He also received word that they were laying with the women who were serving at the doorways to the Tabernacle tent of meeting (vs. 22). He knew he had to put an end to that behavior and approached Hophni and Phinehas to end it. He began by asking them why they did such evil things as were being reported to him by all the people (vs. 23).  In verse 24, he declared that these reports were far from being good. Rather, those making these reports were circulating them beyond themselves to the rest of the people living in the Tabernacle complex and the adjoining towns. Not only was this behavior embarrassing, but it was also illegal and gross sin against God and His Tabernacle. To make the gross level of their sin clearer in their eyes, Eli explained that when a man sins against another man, God will mediate for him to bring them back together. But in these cases, it is man who is sinning against God, and there is no one left to mediate for him. He puts the events back in their courts by asking the question, “Who can intercede for him?”  

We conclude reading in verse 25 by hearing the words, “But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the Lord desired to put them to death.” The language of that verse might be difficult to put together in today’s frame of reference, so let us go back a few years to the period of time when Moses was trying convince Egypt’s Pharaoh to “let my people go” (Ex 7:14- 12:30). The 10 Plagues He brought against Egypt were, in order: the Nile turning to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally, the death of all firstborn children. After each of the first 9 plagues, Pharaoh relented to get Moses to stop the plague but then “the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.” Pharaoh’s heart was hardened just like the hearts of these two sons of Eli’s hearts were hardened.  God had made the decision He was going to do all 10 plagues against Pharaoh just like God had decided He was going to require the lives of Hophni and Phinehas. They were beyond repentance. But one more contrast: “Samuel was growing in stature and favor with the Lord and with men” (vs. 26).

Judgment on Eli’s House (1 Samuel 2:29, 34-36)

God is watching Eli address his sons and sees him reluctant to accept God’s punishment against them. God’s question is righteous, “Why do you kick at My sacrifice and at My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling, and honor your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?’ (vs. 29). God says to Eli that it looks like he prefers his sons to God’s commandments. Worse, God says Eli is party to the sins because he is eating the sacrifices intended for His people and even before the fat (the choicest part) is offered. Therefore, God says, “This will be the sign to you which will come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them will die” (vs. 34). A half century ago I received instructions on how a military officer must issue orders, “They must be clear, unambiguous and unequivocal.” God just told Eli what His legal order was for his boys. They would die, and they would die in one day.  

“But,” the Lord adds to His discussion, “I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always. Everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and say, ‘Please assign me to one of the priest’s offices so that I may eat a piece of bread’” (vss. 35-36). 

Eli receives two harsh messages here from the voice of God. First, God lets him know he was not a good steward for the trust God placed in him to raise two male children. The sins they committed were sins of the father because he did not “raise up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Eli failed as a father. Second, Eli would be replaced as High Priest by a man God could trust to keep His word Holy and Righteous. That priest would walk with God’s anointed ones to execute God’s will on this earth. In other words, Eli’s sons would be taken from him because he failed them. They would be executed. And, Eli would be terminated from the position of High Priest and be replaced by someone God could trust to do His will. 

Samuel Serves in Temple (1 Samuel 3:1-5 & 8-9)

First Samuel 3:1 has a lot of information for introducing this pieace of history. To begin, it still called Samuel “the boy Samuel” in the beginning of the verse. But, in contrast, it informs us that Samuel was ministering to the LORD (upper case indicating Jehovah) before Eli. This indicates that Samuel was active in the ministry along with the High Priest. Further,  our Hebrew dictionary lists the word “boy” as Hebrew na’ ar which speaks of a child (KJV) between infancy and adolescence. We know “infancy” was out of the question because Hannah did not surrender the boy to Eli until after he was weaned; i.e., somewhere between two and four years old. Samuel also writes that this period of time in Israel was a time when a Word from the LORD was scarce, indeed, and visions were even more scarce. In short, the period of Judges left the land spiritually weakened. And the word “judges” here did not indicate leaders of jurisprudence, rather, they were military leaders with charisma and power. But also note that during this period of twelve judges, in a heavily paternalistic society, that there were so few leaders that 1 of the 12 judges was female (Deborah, 1107 – 1067 BC).  So, Samuel correctly described the time as spiritually lacking. 

The setting presented is that Eli was in his bed and had developed weak eyesight by now (vs. 2). But notice that Samuel is in the Temple, and recall that there was no Temple until King Solomon, about 952 BC, so Samuel was in the Tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenants was. That means that Samuel was sleeping in the Holy of Holies.  This was the place where “only the High Priest could enter once a year and not without blood” (Heb 9:7). This was more evidence of the spiritual condition of the times. We see that Samuel was called of God three times and each time he dutifully reported to Eli for instructions. On the first two times, Eli merely sent the boy back to bed after telling him that he did not call him (vss. 4-6). On the third time, however, Eli realized it was God who was calling Samuel and gave him instructions on how to properly reply. He told young Samuel to say to the LORD, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” So, Samuel (the author) tells us, that the boy went back to his resting place where the Ark of God was.

God Judges Eli’s House (1 Samuel 3:10-14)

Verse 10 shows us that Samuel remembered Eli’s instructions for how to respond when the LORD calls him the next time. This first part of verse 10, “Then the LORD came and stood,” sounds more like a vision than just a verbal “Word from the LORD”. The fact that God spoke Samuel’s name twice may indicate a touch of frustration in Samuel running over to Eli’s bed every time the LORD calls to speak with him. Verse 1 also includes Samuel’s response, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” Samuel wants nothing to prevent his full hearing of this “Word from God” as soon as He says it (vs. 10). So, the message to Samuel is that the LORD is “about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.” He continues in verses 12 and 13 saying, “In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.” So, the judgment that Eli is under is because he, as the father of these boys, did not take action to cause them to stop what they were doing. This is information all of us who raise children or grandchildren need to hear, that is, that if we do not “bring up a child in the way he should go” we may very well bring their curse upon ourselves as well (Prov 22:6). Notice that God says he did not rebuke them, but we just read last week that Eli did rebuke them. What God is saying is that rebuke that is spoken without enforcing compliance is no rebuke at all. 

Now, in the last sentence of God’s words, He announces that there will be no turning back, reaction to repentance or sufficient sacrifice to atone for these gross deeds by Eli or his sons. The terminology we have learned is that God has made the sins of the boys and the reaction of their father “unpardonable sins.” God said, “therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” In other words, there is not now, nor will there ever be a way to eliminate the guilt of what Eli’s house has done: by the acts of the two sons, nor for the failure of Eli to correct them. This is God’s curse on Eli’s house forever and ever. 

Samuel Shares God’s Message (1 Samuel 3:15-18)  

Recall that all the prophetic information God gave to Samuel, was given by God to Samuel, alone. It would not take much imagination to understand why Samuel might fear sharing this information with Eli.  He had become Samuel’s father figure, too. So, verse 15 tells us that Samuel decided to lay in his bed after he received God’s words as long as he could. He anticipated that Eli was going to ask him to reveal every word that God gave him. Further, God did not forbid Samuel from sharing His prophecy with anyone else. So, Samuel got up in the morning and set about opening the Tabernacle for its standard business (vs. 16). But Eli saw him and called him to come to him using endearing words. He said, “Samuel, my son” to which Samuel replied, “Here am I.” 

Here is the question Eli asked which Samuel really hoped he would never have to answer. “What is the word that He spoke to you?” That question alone is sufficiently direct and concise to force the harsh truth, but Eli continued, “Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you” (vs. 17). 

Eli was no fool. He heard at least twice that God had serious difficulty with what Hophni and Phinehas were doing. The knowledge that every meal of meat the family ate, while appropriately taken as a part of the offerings, it was inappropriately taken before the fat of the offering was sacrificed was a great sin before the Lord. The words of the boys laying with the women who ministered to the doors of the Tabernacle was more gross sin. Eli reasoned with his sons revealing the anger of God over these sins, but the boys refused to repent. They took no thought of the fact that they were condemning their father along with themselves when they refused to hear and respond to their father. But is that not always true? When we refuse to hear God or those He sends to us, we properly condemn ourselves, but there are so many more that we drag into the sin with us. Eve certainly drew Adam into her failure and all humankind still pays the price. Ananias conspired with Sapphira to lie about the price they received for their house – it costed both of the their lives.

Samuel Becomes a Prophet (1 Samuel 3:19-4:1a)  

The LORD overheard the cries of Elkanah’s wife Hannah for a son.  Her cries to the LORD were also overheard by Eli, the High Priest, and he stated the vow that resulted in the birth of Samuel. During those early years before Hannah weaned Samuel, I can imagine the conversations of love she had with the little boy. She had no way of knowing that this little boy would be Israel’s last Judge and the nation’s first Prophet. I have no knowledge of Hannah’s awareness of the sin of the house of Eli nor God’s wrath associated with it. But I do know that Eli’s blessing upon her, her prayer and her resulting vow caused a powerful blessing on the little boy she named Samuel. The name means God hears, and God certainly heard her prayer and blessed her so mightily that she had five additional children with Elkanah and erased her shame of being barren. But that was not all, she would also have the massive blessing of watching her son rise to serve as the High Priest alongside Eli and stand alone as Judge and Prophet as Israel moved forward. 

She watched Samuel grow to be tested as a Prophet. Verse 19 says his words never failed, after all, the only test of a true prophet is whether their prophecies come true (Deut 18:20-22). Verse 20 says that all of Israel from the tip of Dan in the North to the bottom of Beersheba in the South knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.  

Verse 21 closes chapter 3 by announcing that the LORD appeared again to Samuel in Shiloh just as He had appeared to him before by His Word. So, God chose to reveal Himself to Samuel in Shiloh just as He had when He first called Samuel to serve with Eli in those early days. Recall that God revealed the future fate of Eli and his sons to Samuel, and Eli pressured Samuel to tell him every detail of what the Lord told him. Samuel told him that Hophni and Phinehas would be killed in the same day and that he (Eli) would also die because he knew the evil his sons but did nothing to stop it. This prophecy was fulfilled as Hophni and Phinehas were killed as the Philistines took the Ark of God and Eli died as he received the word of his sons’ death (1 Sam 4:10-18. Here, we see that the word (prophecies) of Samuel came to all of Israel.

The Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-22)

Moses received the direction from God to build the Ark of the covenant, or as it is sometimes called, The Ark of the Testimony. We will see from this Scripture and Hebrews 8-10 that it has two primary purposes. First, it will be a storage chest for three items of great importance to the history of Israel and, second, it will become the center of Israel’s sacrificial system, especially on the Day of Atonement. The three elements stored in the Ark are the second set of Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded and a pot of manna. These elements represent Israel’s rejection of God’s Law, God’s Leadership and God’s Logistics (Heb 9:4). 

On the Day of Atonement (the first day of the seventh month), only the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies where the Ark was placed and only with a basin of blood from a perfect lamb or goat (Lev 23). God would be looking down on the top of the Ark where the two cheribum, with out-sretched wings would block the sight of the Mercy Seat from the front, back and each side. But God could look down on the Mercy Seat and see man’s rejection of everything He provided as represented by those three elemets. But when the High Priest would sprinkle the blood of the unblemished lamb on that Mercy Seat, God could no longer see the sin of man.  In that holiness, God would speak to His subjects the messages for the coming years. 

Exodus 25:10-22 provided the detailed instructions for building the Ark. It was to be built of shittim wood, 2.5 cubits long, 1.5 cubits wide and 1.5 cubits deep (45” x 27” x 27”). The gold cherubim are placed on the mercy seat facing each other with their wings stretched forward. When the High Priest sprinkles the blood of the lamb or goat on the mercy seat, it is between the cherubim and God promised to hover there to deliver annual instructions and blessings for Israel. 

The writers of Hebrews correctly point out that throughout history the dozens High Priests have had to stand by the Ark to offer for sin repetitively. They observed that Jesus Christ is unique because He offered one sacrifice for atonement and sat down at the Father’s right hand (Heb 9:27). 

The Ark is Captured (1 Samuel 4:1b-22)

Israel was used to winning battles because of the strength of their God. They routinely entered wars or battles where they were significantly outnumbered. Nevertheless, God would make the difference for them and provide the victory. Here, Israel has chosen to do battel with its frequent enemy, the Philistines. Israel was camped at Ebenezer while the Philistines were camped at Aphek. In this case, the Philistines killed over 4,000 Israelis resulting in a decisive defeat of Israel. Israel was expecting to win this battle but were left questioning why they did not (vs. 3). They were asking questions like, “Why has the Lord defeated us before the Philistines?” They decided it was likely due to the lack of God’s physical presence with them on the front and sent to Shiloh to have the Ark of the Covenant relocated. The text informs that both of Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas accompany the Ark on its move to the front. 

Israel was jubilant at the Ark’s arrival and gave out a loud shout which was heard by their enemy (vs. 6). The Philistines knew the history of Israel’s victories when the Ark was present with them and feared they had made a great error for war at this time. Despite their feelings of insufficiency and defeat, the Philistines were once again victorious to the point of massive Israeli casualties including both of Eli’s sons. (Recall the prophecy was that both sons would die at nearly the same time.) Worse, the Philistines also took the Ark of the Covenants, and when this was briefed to Eli, he lost his balance and flipped backwards, breaking his neck. (More prophecy fulfilled, Eli would die because of not rebuking his sons from their evil at the Tabernacle.)

Phinehas’ wife was pregnant and when she heard of her husband being killed and the Ark being taken by the Philistines, she went into labor and delivered a son. She named the little boy I-chabod, the combination of two Hebrew words, the first was “I” meaning the opposite of what the second word was, and the second meaning “glory” saying the glory of the Lord has departed Israel, because her father-in-law and her husband was taken from her, and the Ark of the Covenant has been taken away from Israel. The pain of all that loss seemed very personal to her.  

The Ark Troubles the Philistines (1 Samuel 5:1-12)

The Philistines moved the recently captured Ark of the Covenants from Ebenezer to Ashdod where the worship place for their god, Dagon was. They thought it wise to put the Ark in the same enclosure with Dagon, their deity (vs. 2). The next morning, they had to reassess because they found Dagon face-down in front of the Ark. Thinking that was surely an accident, they put Dagon back in place, but next day, not only had he put his face in the dirt, but his head and both palms were broken off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon remained. The people of Ashdod remember that day by abstaining from stepping on the threshold of entering that worship center to this day (vs. 5). After this. The people were very much aware of the presence of the Ark as God widened the attack of tumors across the entire city. The people gathered all their leaders together and insisted they send the Ark back to its own home to cease His attacks against Ashdod (vs. 11).

The people of Ashdod were enraged against their leaders and nothing but confusion across their land. They felt the heavy hand of God throughout and demanded relief. Those who did not die from God’s activity were subject to the plague tumors and only wanted an end to the Ark’s presence among them. The prayer of the people went up as a cry into the heavens, but there is no help coming from the heavens for them. They are seeing a demonstration of power from the Creator of the Universe, and they are asking for relief from Him. Oh, if they only understood!

It reminds me of the shouts of the lost during the Tribulation Period, “And said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb’” (Rev 6:16). If only they understood that He from Whom they were begging protection was the only source of protection. The Ashdodites were pleading for relief from the plagues of the God of the Ark of the Covenants and the people of the Tribulation Period were praying for relief from seeing the face of the Lamb. Both were asking for relief from God’s primary activity of “seeking to save that which was lost.” Was that not the primary work of Jesus when God sent His only Son “to seek and to save that which was lost” from Him (Luke 19:10)?

The Ark is Returned to Israel (1 Samuel 6:1-7:2)  

It has now been seven months since the Ark of the Covenant was stolen by the Philistines (vs. 6.1). Having the Ark in their country had not been a pleasant time. It seemed that wherever the leaders chose to place the Ark, the people paid a severe price for having It. Now, the question finally comes, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us “How we shall send it to its place” (vs. 2). So, they began the discussion of what kind of offering they should send to accompany the Ark’s return. The decision was almost as hilarious as the idea to take it from the beginning. Verses 5 and 6 document that the Guilt Offering ought to be “Five golden tumors and five golden mice” (vss. 4-5). (I laughed when I read that the leaders of the Philistia were modeling hemorrhoids and mice to send to Israel as a Guilt Offering with the Ark.) Those delivering the Ark were tasked to watch to make sure It went to Bethshemite and not return to Philistia. It was interesting that their advisers referenced the plagues of Egypt as an example of what could happen to them for stealing the Ark (vss. 5-6).

So, they made a new cart and put the Ark on it pulled by two cows that had recently given birth and kept their calves behind. The plan was that the cows would be released and return to their calves. They had evidently forgotten Israel’s propensity for sacrificing to the Lord. The Levites receiving the cart did just that. When the five lords of the Philistines delivering the Ark saw this, they returned to Akron believing their mission was completed (vs. 16). Samuel wrote that the large stone upon which they placed the Ark is a witness to this day of the return of the Ark to the field of Joshua the Bethshemite (vs. 18). 

Some of the men of Bethshemesh made the mistake of looking into the Ark. God struck down 50,070 men, and the people mourned such a large loss (vss. 19-20). The leaders sent word to Kirjath-jearim to come for the Ark. The men came and took the Ark to the house of Abinadab the Levite in the hillside. He commissioned his son, Eleazar to watch over the Ark, and it remained in his house for 20 years (vss. 7:1-2). 

Repentance Required (1 Samuel 7:3-5)

Just a very quick reminder of the context of Samuel’s assuming leadership over the entire nation, Israel was a back-slid, disobedient, God-dishonoring people. The period preceding Samuel was that of the 12 judges of Israel and that entire period was categorized as a dark period in Israel’s history. Samuel begins his service as a Judge of Israel by calling on the nation to return to God and turn away from idolatry (vs. 3). He generally mentions turning away from all foreign gods but specifically mentions turning away from the Baals and Ashtaroth. The names of each of these gods are plurals and could represent many idols. Ashtaroth can be seen as the female counterpart for Baal. Both are fertility gods whose worship includes sensual aspects such as temporal prostitutes, drugs and alcohol, and infant sacrifice. All of these negatives are added to the fact that worshiping any god other than Jehovah/Yahweh is strictly forbidden by the Lord’s very first of His Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1). This is the nation Samuel is taking over after the deaths of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the High Priest/Judge and his two sons.

Samuel begins by telling Israel if they truly wish to be delivered from the hands of the Philistinians, they must return to the LORD (Heb, Jehovah) with all their hearts, remove all the idols from among them and direct their hearts to Jehovah and serve Him alone (vs. 3).  Israel agrees and removes all the statues of Baals and Ashtaroth from across the whole nation.

Then Samuel called for a national prayer meeting at the city of Mizpah (vs. 5). “There,” he said, “I will pray for you to the only true God of the Universe.” The absolute fear and desperation of the times were instrumental in Israel’s response to Samuel. The Philistinian enemies were literally, knocking at their door. Whatever they were getting from their idolatry was not working against the real foe at hand. The Philistinians were not only beating them in battle, but they also stole the Ark of the Covenants, so for the idolator’s mindset, they have stolen their God. Recall that the Ark was returned because of all the trouble God caused while with them, but it is hidden away.

Israel Hears Samuel (1 Samuel 7:6-7)

Israel backed up their actions of disposing of the idols by travelling to Mizpah for the prayer meeting suggested by Samuel. They demonstrated their sincerity by adding fasting to their commitment to prayer. They symbolically drew water from the well and poured it out without consuming any of it to show they were fasting even water (vs. 6a). They added to the prayer and fasting an open confession to the Lord with the words, “We have sinned against the LORD” (vs. 6b). It was at this meeting that Samuel formally took the position of Judge of Israel. 

It seems that the praying, fasting and confessing of sin was well-intended, but not personally inspiring for Israel. Look at what happens when the Philistinians learn of their prayer meeting at Mizpah (vs. 7). Their spies first reported the meeting to the leaders of the land. The leaders (lords) of the Philistinians went up against Israel at that very place. When the sons of Israel heard that was happening, they were afraid of the Philistines (vs. 7).

How can Israel experience so much fear after Samuel’s prayer and the nation’s fasting and confession of sin? Recall that Israel just returned to the Lord after decades of religion based primarily on works. Fertility rights were experienced with the help of the temple prostitutes. The worship experience was aided by drugs and alcohol. Every experience was based on what the worshipper wanted to experience and was willing to “contribute” to. True religion is not works-based; it is faith-based. Paul says in Romans 10:10-11, “10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Israel was afraid because they had not yet transitioned back to the power of God through faith. They repeated their lessons learned through idolatry and did things in order to get things. In reality, the power of prayer, fasting and confession comes from the power of faith in the heart of the believer. It is a matter of the heart; not of the mind. Very soon we will see that they get the victory over the Philistines through the great power of their faith in Jehovah and not because of what they did. They needed a heart revival.

Victory Won at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:8-11)  

We see that Israel caught on right away. They knew there was more available from God than they had received so far. Further, they recognized that Samuel was more closely attuned to God than they were. They approached him saying, “Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines” (vs. 8). (Note: “The LORD our God” is Hebrew Jehovah our Elohym.) They had no trouble seeing the power for salvation was there, but they could not transition from the “finding the right thing to do” in favor of the “believe with thine heart and confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Rom 10:9). Samuel was raised in the home of the High Priest (Eli) and lived in the Tabernacle for decades. He had intimate knowledge of God’s sacrificial system, so Samuel offered a young lamb to the Lord as he cried to Him for Israel’s protection. The word “cry” requested by Israel and the word “cried” used by Samuel as he offered the suckling lamb were the same Hebrew word zowak which means to yell out like a herald calling for emergency assembly. 

Verse 10 tells us that at the very moment that Samuel was offering the lamb, the Philistines “drew near to battle against Israel.”  But wait! “The LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so they were routed before Israel.” God caused a noise in the heavens that frustrated the plan of the Philistines. The noise was surprising, impossible to ignore, required the heads and eyes to point in that direction. It took away their focus on destroying Israel; they were too busy trying to figure out what the noise was and how they could survive it. The men of Israel saw the Philistines break formation and become disorderly as they approached battle. “Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them down as far as below Beth-car” (vs. 11). So, Israel was striking down the Philistines as they chased them west, nearly into the Mediterranean Sea. The word nearly overlooked in verse 10 was that the Philistines were “routed.” They were not just defeated; they were embarrassed before Israel. Some might be tempted to shrug their shoulders and ask what was happening. “By faith they were saved…”

Samuel’s Ministry Summarized (1 Samuel 7:12-17) 

God instructed Samuel to write down the turning point of his Judging of Israel. This was the point where God used Hannah’s baby boy to intercede for Israel and cause the defeat of the Philistines by Israeli armies. Samuel marked the spot with a stone he called Ebenezer saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us” (vs. 12). As the Lord summarizes the ministry of Samuel, He says that the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel.  And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel (vs. 13). So, God caused peace to exist for the total length of Samuel’s life as a Judge for Israel. Further, all the cities of Israel previously taken by the Philistines, from Ekron to Gath, were returned to Israel.  And Israel gladly received them back from the Philistines (vs. 14).  

Verse 14 summarizes, “So, there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life (vs. 15). He traveled on circuit between Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpah. He judged Israel from each of these places. He continued to judge Isreal from each of these places for the remainder of his life. Samuel returned to his childhood home in Ramah because it was still available to him after his period of judging Israel was completed. He built an altar in honor of the Lord at Ramah.

The summary of Samuel’s ministry is a little out of place here considering that he will anoint Saul as King of Israel in Chapter 10 and David as King of Israel in Chapter 16. Samuel plays a very large role in the history of Israel until Chapter 25. The anointing of King Saul comes about after Israel rejected Samual’s sons as leaders just as they did Eli’s sons (Chap. 8). Israel selected Saul because of physical attributes rather than relationship with God. He failed shortly thereafter but not before trying to assassinate David who had already been anointed as king to replace Saul. 

Saul persecutes David from his youth, when he killed Goliath, throughout the many years David hid in caves to avoid being murdered by Saul. Finally, in 2 Samuel 2, David becomes king. 

Samuel’s Sons Pervert Justice (1 Samuel 8:1-3)  

1 Samuel 8 finds Samuel as an elderly man. He had appointed his sons as judges over Israel, but as in the case of Eli and his two sons, Samuel’s sons did evil in the sight of the LORD. Joel was the name of the firstborn while Abijah was the name of the second. Samuel had assigned them to judge out of the city of Beersheba in Southern Israel, but they were perverting justice by taking bribes and turning aside after dishonest gain. While Eli and Samuel were men who were called directly by the Lord and dedicated to Him for all the days of their lives, they were not capable of passing that calling and dedication on to their offspring. It is a true saying that God has no grandchildren. When our children accept Him and follow after Him, they are children just as we are (John 1:12). In Christ, they become brothers and sisters with us under God. 

It is difficult for the children of church leaders to live a normal life in the church. The expectations that other church members, including their own parents, lay on them is far more than they should have to deal with. Nevertheless, the pressure is there, and somehow, they are expected to live the born-again life from the time they are in diapers when everyone knows that is ridiculous. Human nature somehow drives us to think that the children of church leaders are given some special place in God’s kingdom because of their parents, but it is just not true. If anything, they struggle even more than the children of church members who are not church leaders. They are held up for evaluation to see if what the pastors, deacons and other leaders teach in church is what their children believe. Many members seem to get some kind of personal vindication out of finding out the young children of their leaders were not physically born with a spiritual rebirth. Many of those children know so much about what they are supposed to say, that they say the words just to get others off their cases. This often results in false security for the parents who believe their children have confessed Christ when they did not. But it also sets up personal situations where the false profession of faith could make it difficult to correct in later life. It is like the facade of Christianity prevents the follow-up which might detect the need for actual conversion. This is dangerous. 

Israel Asks for a King (1 Samuel 8:4-9)  

As a result of Samuel installing his sons as judges and their resulting behavior, the elders (or leaders) of Israel gathered together and presented themselves to Samuel in Ramah where he lived in his elder years. Their message to Samuel was simple. They started by reminding Samuel that he was no longer young, and that his sons, whom he appointed to judge Israel, were not following their father in the ways of God. This was a very gentle way of saying that Samuel’s sons were committing evil in the sight of the Lord. Then, the people proposed a solution: they suggested that Samuel should appoint a king to rule their land rather than his sons (vss. 4-5). Samuel’s response was predictable. Hopefully, he would not have installed his sons as judges if he did not believe they were more than qualified to serve. But Samuel, being a godly man, went into prayer to ask God what He thought about the recommendation.

The text seems to suggest the Lord responded quickly; that is, His response is reported immediately. God said, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them” (vs. 7). The Lord continued in verse 8 saying, “Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day – in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods – so they are doing to you also. Now then, listen to their voice, however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedures of the king who will reign over them (vss. 8-9) 

So, God told Samuel to listen to the people but be sure to warm them about what having a king will entail. In other words, God is very much aware that the people are not rejecting Samuel as a judge but are rejecting Him as King. He says this behavior has been consistent from the time He first took them out of slavery in Egypt. So, God is willing to hear and permit them to have a king rather than a judge to lead them. They may not have understood what they were asking, but it was to reject the theocracy (rule by God) for a monarchy (rule by a king) for their land. God only asks of Samuel that he educate them in how a king will behave and what he will require of them.

Ways of a King Described (1 Samuel 8:10-18)

Verse 10 appropriately bridges the gap between what God said to Samuel and what Samuel would say to the people who requested God appoint a king to rule over them (vs. 10). Samuel prefaces his comments with the words, “This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you” and he began listing the things the king would require of them in a monarchy rather than under a theocracy. The first thing he says is that the king will immediately conscript your sons to military service in and around his chariots and run before them (vs. 11). He also warns them that the king will conscript their sons to serve or lead in groups of thousands, hundreds and fifties not only for the military reorganization, but also use those same people to do his personal work of plowing his fields, harvest his crops and also make his weapons for war and equipment for his chariots (vs. 12). Verse 13 tells us that the king would take some men, women and young people as performers, cooks and bakers. So, the sons and daughters of the people insisting on this action would be the first to be used by the king in military service and in personal services for the him. 

Samuel then moves from their sons and daughters to their properties. He says the king will take the best of their properties (fields, vineyards and olive groves) and give them to those who serve him directly (vs. 14). Then, in verse 15 he says he will require a tenth (or tithe) of your seed and of your vineyards and give it/them to his officers and servants because they work directly for him.  Verse 16 says he will also take your male and female servants and your best young men and donkeys for doing his personal work. Verse 17 adds that he will take a tenth of your flocks and you, yourselves will become his servants. 

The last thing Samuel warns a king will do is, as you see and experience all these things, you will cry out for relief from all that is happening because of the demands of a king. But as you cry out with all the strength you have, you will find out that the king will have no response to you. Further, the Lord says that He will not respond either. He says specifically that as you recognize the pain of having a king, your crying out for God’s help will not be heard by Him at all. 

Israel Remains Resolute (1 Samuel 8:19-22)  

God did His best to give Samuel advanced warning regarding the penalties for Israel deciding to have a king rather than having God as her king. But, as verse 19 begins, “Nevertheless, the people refused to listen.” A little bit of reasoning might have helped them; or was the primary issue with the here and now, and the fact of having Samuel’s sons as judges? The thing they hated most about Eli and Samuel after they began to age, was that their sons were corrupt and had none of the talents or righteousness of their parents. When a nation has a king, the succession to the throne is defined by the birth order of the offspring of that king. That was precisely what their issue was with Eli and now is with Samuel. The sons of both those judges were worthless, corrupt and evil. Had Eli and Samuel been Kings, the eldest son of each would have been the next king and nothing would have changed from what they already had. What were they thinking in demanding a king? 

The people came back after all the warnings from God through Samuel and said, “No, but there shall be a king over us , that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles” (vss. 19-20). The Book of Judges tells us that judges fought?

Verse 21 closes the information loop between the Lord and Samuel. Samuel heard all the words of the people in response to the numerous warnings he repeated to them, and he had to repeat them back to the Lord. Surely, there are a few reading this who are wondering why Samuel had to repeat the words of the people to God? If He is omniscient and omnipresent, has He not already heard the words of the people? Frequently, God asks us to do things for our advantage; not His. It was very important that Samuel and his readers understand what the people did here, even if it had no logical, long-term advantage. The people believed they were escaping the perils of repeating life under Eli’s sons with life under Samuel’s sons and that had no attraction for them. If they insisted on a king, it would end the service of Samuel’s sons as judges. So, Samuel told God what the people said. In verse 22, God tells Samuel to prepare the people.  Samuel seems to start the process of getting a king for Israel by sending the people to their own cities as if to vote! Certainly not.

Saul Chosen; Seeks Lost Donkeys (1 Samuel 9:1-14)  

Last week we saw Israel hit the limit of their frustration with having judges appoint their unruly children to high positions only to have them sin against Israel and commit crimes against her people. Just like Eli’s sons, early in 1 Samuel, now Samuel’s sons are guilty of crimes against Israel while serving in offices to which their fathers appointed them. Israel’s demand for a king resulted in God identifying Saul, the son of Kish, to be their first king. Verses 9:1-2 give Saul’s qualifications as Benjaminite, son of Kish, a mighty man of valor, handsome and standing head and shoulders above all other men. So, God selected a first king for Israel who’s qualification were nothing other than tall and handsome. Very disappointing.

So, our story of Saul opens with him going after his father’s lost donkeys (1 Sam 9:3-14). He selects a servant to accompany him in the search which included Ephraim, Shalishah, the land of Shaalim and the whole land of the Benjaminites. They continued searching through Zuph where Saul told his servant they should return home without the donkeys, concerned that his father might become more worried about them than the donkeys (vs. 5). The servant responded that there was a man of God in the city and they should visit him quickly before they returned. Some said he was a seer and might be able to tell them where the donkeys were. 

After some concern about what they could pay the seer (vss. 7-10), they inquired of some young ladies for directions to his location (vs. 11). They agreed that Samuel was in their city but that he was scheduled to attend a sacrifice soon which may tie him up for a while. They suggested Saul and his servant should hurry to catch him before he left for the high place to do the sacrifice. They advised that Samuel would have to ask the blessing over the sacrifice and then attend a meal hosted by the people asking for the sacrifice (vss. 12-13). This might tie the seer up for quite a while so, Saul and his servant departed for the city immediately. Just as they were coming into the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way to do the sacrifice at the high place (vs. 14).  

Saul Meets Samuel (1 Samuel 9:15-27)

Verse 15 backs up to the day before and says that God revealed Saul’s coming to Samuel about the same time the next day. Further, God revealed to Samuel that he should anoint Saul as prince over the entire land of God’s people, and that he would deliver His people from the hand of the Philistines (vs. 16). God said that He heard the cries of His people coming to Him. Verse 17 says that when Samuel finally saw Saul, God said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over my people.” So, Samuel saw Saul and told him that he was the seer for whom he sought, and he should go up before him to the high place where they would enjoy a meal together. “I will talk with you in the morning,” he continued, “and tell you all that is on your mind” (vss. 18-19). Samuel also told Saul not to worry about his father’s donkeys because they were found and returned. Then Samuel asked, “For whom is all that desirable in Israel” (vs. 20)? 

His saying shocked Saul and he replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way” (vs. 21)? Samuel left the question unanswered but took Saul and his servant into the hall and gave them a place at the head of the table of about 30 people invited. Samuel also told the cook to bring the portion he told him to set aside (vss. 22-23).  Samuel set the leg he had set aside for him the day before, and Saul ate with him that day (vs. 24).

Verses 25-26 say that when the sacrificial event was over, and the attendees came down from the high place, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. The next morning, they arose at daybreak and Samuel called Saul and his servant to send them on their way. Shortly thereafter, Saul joined Samuel on the street, and they walked to the edge of the city. Samuel asked Saul to send his servant ahead, so they might have a private discussion. Samuel told Saul he wanted to share the word of the Lord with him. Recall that God had already communicated with Samuel regarding the anointing of Saul as the first king of Israel. Samuel had to look for the best and most private time to share that communication with Saul. The news was so overwhelming, timing was key. 

Samuel Anoints Saul (1 Samuel 10:1-16)  

So, Samuel did quite a bit more than share the word of God with him; he took the action of anointing Saul just as he was leaving the city (vs. 10:1). He took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over His inheritance? When you go from me today, then you will find two men close to Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. Now behold, your father has ceased to be concerned about the donkeys and is anxious for you, saying, ‘What shall I do about my son’” (vss. 1-2)? 

Then Samuel told Saul he must go on from there until he comes to the oak of Tabor where he will meet three men going up to God at Bethel. They will be carrying three young goats, three loaves of bread and a jug of wine. Samuel said, as they meet you, they will offer two loaves of bread to you which you will take from them. Next, you will come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is, and you will meet a group of prophets there carrying a harp, tambourine, flute and lyre. They will be prophesizing, and you will join them, and the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will be changed into another man (vss. 5-6). After doing what that occasion requires, you will go to Gilgal where you will meet Samuel. We will offer burnt offerings there, and you will wait for seven days until I (Samuel) return to show you what you should do (vss. 7-8).

So, verse 9 says, as Saul began to leave Samuel, God changed his heart and all the things Samuel told to him began happening immediately, all on the same day. When he saw the group of prophets, the Spirit of God came upon him, and he began prophesying among the others (vss. 10-11). The people around him started asking, “What has happened to the Son of Kish? Is Saul now a part of the prophets?” When Saul finished prophesying, he came to the high place (vs. 13).

When he returned, Saul’s uncle asked, “Where did you go” (vs. 14)? Saul said he had gone to look for the donkeys. When we saw they could not be found, we went to the seer, Samuel, for help. Saul’s uncle asked, “Tell all Samuel said.” Saul said he told us the donkey’s had been found.

Saul Publicly Designated King (1 Samuel 10:17-27)  

So, Samuel called all the people together to the Lord at Mizpah (vs. 10:17). He said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up rom Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’  But you have today rejected your God, who delivers you from all your calamities and your distresses; yet you have said, ‘No, but set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.” 

So, Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. Then he brought the families of Benjamin together and the family of Matrite was taken. Then Saul, the son of Kish, was chosen, but when they looked for him, they could not find him. So, Samuel asked the Lord if Saul had come up, yet? And, the Lord responded and said, “The man you desire is hiding among the luggage!” The people went to find him and when he stood up, he was taller by head and shoulders than the others. So, Samuel asked, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”

So went the introduction of Saul, the first king of Israel, to his people. After the declaration of the people was completed, Samuel told the people of all the ordinances of the kingdom and wrote them in the book and placed it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away with each one going to his own house. Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. There were several valiant men whose hearts God had prepared that went with Saul. These would be those who watched over Saul and protected him from harm within the kingdom. Thus was the instituting of Israel’s first king.

But just like things are in our nation, there were certain worthless men who asked, “How can this one deliver us? So, these men hated him and brought no gifts of acceptance to him. And Samuel knew of it and Saul did as well, but no one mentioned the dissenters. So was Saul made king.

Saul Chosen; Seeks Lost Donkeys (1 Samuel 9:1-14)  

Last week we saw Israel hit the limit of their frustration with having judges appoint their unruly children to high positions only to have them sin against Israel and commit crimes against her people. Just like Eli’s sons, early in 1 Samuel, now Samuel’s sons are guilty of crimes against Israel while serving in offices to which their fathers appointed them. Israel’s demand for a king resulted in God identifying Saul, the son of Kish, to be their first king. Verses 9:1-2 give Saul’s qualifications as Benjaminite, son of Kish, a mighty man of valor, handsome and standing head and shoulders above all other men. So, God selected a first king for Israel who’s qualification were nothing other than tall and handsome. Very disappointing.

So, our story of Saul opens with him going after his father’s lost donkeys (1 Sam 9:3-14). He selects a servant to accompany him in the search which included Ephraim, Shalishah, the land of Shaalim and the whole land of the Benjaminites. They continued searching through Zuph where Saul told his servant they should return home without the donkeys, concerned that his father might become more worried about them than the donkeys (vs. 5). The servant responded that there was a man of God in the city and they should visit him quickly before they returned. Some said he was a seer and might be able to tell them where the donkeys were. 

After some concern about what they could pay the seer (vss. 7-10), they inquired of some young ladies for directions to his location (vs. 11). They agreed that Samuel was in their city but that he was scheduled to attend a sacrifice soon which may tie him up for a while. They suggested Saul and his servant should hurry to catch him before he left for the high place to do the sacrifice. They advised that Samuel would have to ask the blessing over the sacrifice and then attend a meal hosted by the people asking for the sacrifice (vss. 12-13). This might tie the seer up for quite a while so, Saul and his servant departed for the city immediately. Just as they were coming into the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way to do the sacrifice at the high place (vs. 14).  

Saul Meets Samuel (1 Samuel 9:15-27)

Verse 15 backs up to the day before and says that God revealed Saul’s coming to Samuel about the same time the next day. Further, God revealed to Samuel that he should anoint Saul as prince over the entire land of God’s people, and that he would deliver His people from the hand of the Philistines (vs. 16). God said that He heard the cries of His people coming to Him. Verse 17 says that when Samuel finally saw Saul, God said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over my people.” So, Samuel saw Saul and told him that he was the seer for whom he sought, and he should go up before him to the high place where they would enjoy a meal together. “I will talk with you in the morning,” he continued, “and tell you all that is on your mind” (vss. 18-19). Samuel also told Saul not to worry about his father’s donkeys because they were found and returned. Then Samuel asked, “For whom is all that desirable in Israel” (vs. 20)? 

His saying shocked Saul and he replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way” (vs. 21)? Samuel left the question unanswered but took Saul and his servant into the hall and gave them a place at the head of the table of about 30 people invited. Samuel also told the cook to bring the portion he told him to set aside (vss. 22-23).  Samuel set the leg he had set aside for him the day before, and Saul ate with him that day (vs. 24).

Verses 25-26 say that when the sacrificial event was over, and the attendees came down from the high place, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. The next morning, they arose at daybreak and Samuel called Saul and his servant to send them on their way. Shortly thereafter, Saul joined Samuel on the street, and they walked to the edge of the city. Samuel asked Saul to send his servant ahead, so they might have a private discussion. Samuel told Saul he wanted to share the word of the Lord with him. Recall that God had already communicated with Samuel regarding the anointing of Saul as the first king of Israel. Samuel had to look for the best and most private time to share that communication with Saul. The news was so overwhelming, timing was key. 

Samuel Anoints Saul (1 Samuel 10:1-16)  

So, Samuel did quite a bit more than share the word of God with him; he took the action of anointing Saul just as he was leaving the city (vs. 10:1). He took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him and said, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over His inheritance? When you go from me today, then you will find two men close to Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. Now behold, your father has ceased to be concerned about the donkeys and is anxious for you, saying, ‘What shall I do about my son’” (vss. 1-2)? 

Then Samuel told Saul he must go on from there until he comes to the oak of Tabor where he will meet three men going up to God at Bethel. They will be carrying three young goats, three loaves of bread and a jug of wine. Samuel said, as they meet you, they will offer two loaves of bread to you which you will take from them. Next, you will come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is, and you will meet a group of prophets there carrying a harp, tambourine, flute and lyre. They will be prophesizing, and you will join them, and the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will be changed into another man (vss. 5-6). After doing what that occasion requires, you will go to Gilgal where you will meet Samuel. We will offer burnt offerings there, and you will wait for seven days until I (Samuel) return to show you what you should do (vss. 7-8).

So, verse 9 says, as Saul began to leave Samuel, God changed his heart and all the things Samuel told to him began happening immediately, all on the same day. When he saw the group of prophets, the Spirit of God came upon him, and he began prophesying among the others (vss. 10-11). The people around him started asking, “What has happened to the Son of Kish? Is Saul now a part of the prophets?” When Saul finished prophesying, he came to the high place (vs. 13).

When he returned, Saul’s uncle asked, “Where did you go” (vs. 14)? Saul said he had gone to look for the donkeys. When we saw they could not be found, we went to the seer, Samuel, for help. Saul’s uncle asked, “Tell all Samuel said.” Saul said he told us the donkey’s had been found.

Saul Publicly Designated King (1 Samuel 10:17-27)  

So, Samuel called all the people together to the Lord at Mizpah (vs. 10:17). He said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up rom Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’  But you have today rejected your God, who delivers you from all your calamities and your distresses; yet you have said, ‘No, but set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.” 

So, Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. Then he brought the families of Benjamin together and the family of Matrite was taken. Then Saul, the son of Kish, was chosen, but when they looked for him, they could not find him. So, Samuel asked the Lord if Saul had come up, yet? And, the Lord responded and said, “The man you desire is hiding among the luggage!” The people went to find him and when he stood up, he was taller by head and shoulders than the others. So, Samuel asked, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”

So went the introduction of Saul, the first king of Israel, to his people. After the declaration of the people was completed, Samuel told the people of all the ordinances of the kingdom and wrote them in the book and placed it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away with each one going to his own house. Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. There were several valiant men whose hearts God had prepared that went with Saul. These would be those who watched over Saul and protected him from harm within the kingdom. Thus was the instituting of Israel’s first king.

But just like things are in our nation, there were certain worthless men who asked, “How can this one deliver us? So, these men hated him and brought no gifts of acceptance to him. And Samuel knew of it and Saul did as well, but no one mentioned the dissenters. So was Saul made king.

Ammonites Attack Jabesh (1 Samuel 11:1-4)  

Nahash was the king of the Ammonites in those days and sent notice they were going to take the city of Jebash-Gilead. The response from the men of Jebash was a good illustration of the complete weakness of Israel after the 180-year period of the Judges. Rather than enter into combat, the men offered a treaty which would included Jabash serving the Ammonites. But Nabash had more in mind than simply defeating Jabash, he wanted to humiliate Israel in addition to taking all the spoils of war. Nahash wanted Jabesh to let them take the right eye of each of the men of the city. 

To make matters worse, the Ammonites and the Moabites were related to Israel through Lot, who was Abraham’s nephew. The beginning of Ammon and Moab was through Lot’s daughters after God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:30-38). So, both nations were cursed by Israel, and here was an opportunity for Ammon to get some revenge over them.

Jabesh-Gilead requested seven days to consider the terrible deal Nahash had offered, and to see if there might be a deliverer in all of Israel. After Nahash agreed, they went immediately to Gilead to report the situation to King Saul. When he and the other men heard to report, they lifted their voices and wept (vs. 4). This was hardly the response the men of Jabesh were hoping to receive, but it was certainly the one Nahash anticipated.

This, of course, would be the first challenge to which Israel would be called to respond under the rule of Saul, their new king. If King Saul simply agreed to the terms of Nahash the Ammonite, the humiliation would be told far and wide, and Israel will have been proved to be no better off with a king than they were under judges. If, however, Saul could respond with some kind of authority and turn back the Ammonites, Israel would be vindicated in their insistence on having a king, and Saul would have his first victory for Israel. 

The two possible outcomes are that Saul could repeat his earlier introduction to Israel where he hid among the baggage, or he could understand that he is anew man and lead Israel to victory.

Saul Defeats the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:5-7)  

Verse 5 makes it clear that Saul had not yet made any effort to organize a government or establish an army. Why, he was “coming from the field behind the oxen” – he was plowing the field! He opened by asking, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So, the people who received the message from the men of Jabesh-Gilead presented the details to Saul just as they had heard it.” Verse 6 starts with our answer from its beginning, “Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry!” Saul took a yoke of oxen (i.e., two oxen) and cut them into small pieces. He took those pieces and sent them via messenger throughout all of Israel and said, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” (vs. 7). Saul was speaking to a nation of farmers saying if you do not follow us, we will destroy your capability to produce a crop. Here is the moment of truth: will the people join him in his Spirit-driven anger, or would they remember their beatings from the past and ignore their king?

The very next words answer that question “in spades.” Then the dread (fear, terror) of the LORD fell on the people, and they all came out as one man!”  The nation of Israel did not come out in response to Saul individually or in some random manner but as a united force of a country poised to respond to their leader. “They all came out as one man!” They were not divided or single-minded. They came out together, combined, the many as one. They felt the need come as a single force through the Spirit of God.  Saul’s pungent symbol of the oxen cut into small pieces drove them into one thought, one mind, and one objective. 

As the nation responded and headed to where King Saul was, would his anger and their determination remain active long enough to put them together, arm them, tell them about the goals and objectives (or military mission) might be? Saul was angry through the Spirit of God; the people were determined, eager to follow their king. The people of the Ammonites were motivated by the years of rejection and saw their first opportunity to humiliate Israel in return. Stage is set!

Saul Defeats the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:8-11)

Like many of our Bible leaders (see the Bible book of Numbers), Saul decided he ought to know how many members were in his army. So, in Bezek, he numbered them. He found out that he had 300,000 from Israel and 30,000 from Judah. Saul could report to the messengers from Jabesh that their deliverance was on the way. They could tell the Ammonites their offer was rejected. He told the messengers to tell Jabesh-Gilead that tomorrow before the sun is high, they would have deliverance from the Ammonites. 

So, Saul was confident that he would get a victory for Jabesh-Gilead the next day. It would please those who insisted on having a king as well as those who were ready to surrender to the Ammonites until they learned that Saul was able to come to their rescue. It was looking like a new day was dawning in Israel. With God’s Spirit guiding the new-man named Saul, there would be no boundaries, no bullies and no enemy great enough to bring them down.

Now that the message was published to Jabesh-Gilead, two additional actions were necessary. First, Jabesh was to communicate to Nahash what their decision was regarding the loss of their right eye in exchange for peace for their city. So, the men of Jabesh contacted Nahash saying, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do whatever seems good to you” (vs. 10).

The second action was that of exactly how Saul would send his 330,000 soldiers into the battle. He decided to divide the army into three segments. Each would come into the city and strike down the Ammonites from the first watch of the morning until the heat of the day. While the Ammonites were expecting a humbled and surrendered band of men, they were set upon by three separate armies of 110,000 highly motivated, unforgiving men. Those who survived this massive onslaught of power were so completely scattered that no two of them were left together (vs. 11). It was a victory worthy of documenting in the annuls of military history. Those fully intending to totally humiliate Israel were totally humiliated instead. By threatening to take the right eye of every man in the city they were sure to defeat, they forgot that Israel was a nation under Jehovah. 

People Proclaim Saul King (1 Samuel 11:12-15)

Looking at the massive achievement of Saul under God, the crowd asked Samuel who it was who suggested for an instant that Saul was not fit to be the king of Israel (vs. 12). At first, the men wanted to kill those people, but Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has accomplished deliverance in Israel” (vs. 13).  Saul wanted to focus everyone’s minds and hearts on what God had done for them rather than killing a fellow countryman. God’s work in this day was just too big in Saul’s mind to look any other direction. But Samuel recalled what God commissioned him to do. So, he said, “Come and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there” (vs. 14). God told Samuel that Saul would be coming to see him and that it was that man who would be the prince over all Israel (1 Sam 9:16). Now, while the people held him in such high esteem, the time was right. So, the people all journeyed to Gilgal with Samuel (vs. 15).

And when they arrived at Gilgal, they made Saul the king of Israel in the presence of the Lord. They accompanied the coronation with sacrifices of peace offerings to God, the Creator of the Universe. For at this time, in this place all of Israel was rejoicing in the Lord that they had the king they insisted having. 

There are 39 kings listed in the six books of kings (1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles). Only eight of them would do that was right in the eyes of the Lord, while 31 would do that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord. And the kind of evil most prevalent in those books is against the very first of the Ten Commandments God gave us: “Then God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth” (Ex 20:1-4).  Yet, it was this commandment that was broken in Israel most often of all. Even while Moses was on Mount Sinaia, the people of Israel made a calf out of their gold and worshiped it until Moses came down. One of the three items in the Ark of the Covenants was the second set.