1. Rise Of The Kings The Books of I & II Samuel
“The Decline of Saul”
1 Samuel 13
Samuel Rebukes Saul
 1 Saul was thirty[a] years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-[b]two years.  2 Saul [c] chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.
 3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, "Let the Hebrews hear!" 4 So all Israel heard the news: "Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines." And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
 5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand [d] chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.       Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. 9 So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. [e] " And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
 11 "What have you done?" asked Samuel.       Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, 12 I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."
 13 "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."
 15 Then Samuel left Gilgal [f] and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.
Israel Without Weapons
 16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah [g] in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Micmash. 17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual, 18 another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the desert.  19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!" 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plowshares, mattocks, axes and sickles [h] sharpened. 21 The price was two thirds of a shekel [i] for sharpening plowshares and mattocks, and a third of a shekel [j] for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.
 22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
Jonathan Attacks the Philistines
 23 Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Micmash. 1 Samuel 14
 1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not tell his father.
 2 Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, 3 among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
 4 On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh. 5 One cliff stood to the north toward Micmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
 6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."
 7 "Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."
 8 Jonathan said, "Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you,' we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands."
 11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. "Look!" said the Philistines. "The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in." 12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come up to us and we'll teach you a lesson."       So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel."
 13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. 14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre. [k]
Israel Routs the Philistines
 15 Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God. [l]  16 Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. 17 Then Saul said to the men who were with him, "Muster the forces and see who has left us." When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.
 18 Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God." (At that time it was with the Israelites.) [m] 19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."
 20 Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. 21 Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. 23 So the LORD rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
Jonathan Eats Honey
 24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, "Cursed be any man who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!" So none of the troops tasted food.  25 The entire army [n] entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. 26 When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out, yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. [o] 28 Then one of the soldiers told him, "Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, 'Cursed be any man who eats food today!' That is why the men are faint."
 29 Jonathan said, "My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened [p] when I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?"
 31 That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, they were exhausted. 32 They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood. 33 Then someone said to Saul, "Look, the men are sinning against the LORD by eating meat that has blood in it."       "You have broken faith," he said. "Roll a large stone over here at once." 34 Then he said, "Go out among the men and tell them, 'Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with blood still in it.' "       So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had done this.
 36 Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive."       "Do whatever seems best to you," they replied.       But the priest said, "Let us inquire of God here."
 37 So Saul asked God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel's hand?" But God did not answer him that day.
 38 Saul therefore said, "Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed today. 39 As surely as the LORD who rescues Israel lives, even if it lies with my son Jonathan, he must die." But not one of the men said a word.
 40 Saul then said to all the Israelites, "You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here."       "Do what seems best to you," the men replied.
 41 Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, "Give me the right answer." [q] And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. 42 Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was taken.
 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done."       So Jonathan told him, "I merely tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now must I die?"
 44 Saul said, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan."
 45 But the men said to Saul, "Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God's help." So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
 46 Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.
 47 After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings [r] of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them. [s] 48 He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.
Saul's Family
 49 Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal. 50 His wife's name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul's army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul's uncle. 51 Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.  52 All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.
1 Samuel 15
The LORD Rejects Saul as King
 1 Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy [t] everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.' "  4 So Saul summoned the men and mustered them at Telaim—two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. 5 Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. 6 Then he said to the Kenites, "Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
 7 Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. 8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves [u] and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.
 10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: 11 "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.
 12 Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, "Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal."
 13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions."
 14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"
 15 Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest."
 16 "Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night."       "Tell me," Saul replied.
 17 Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.' 19 Why did you not obey the LORD ? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD ?"
 20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
 22 But Samuel replied:        "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices        as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?        To obey is better than sacrifice,        and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,        and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.        Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,        he has rejected you as king."
 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD."
 26 But Samuel said to him, "I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!"
 27 As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you. 29 He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind."
 30 Saul replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God." 31 So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
 32 Then Samuel said, "Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites."       Agag came to him confidently, [v] thinking, "Surely the bitterness of death is past."
 33 But Samuel said,        "As your sword has made women childless,        so will your mother be childless among women."       And Samuel put Agag to death before the LORD at Gilgal.
 34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Footnotes:
1 Samuel 13:1 A few late manuscripts of the Septuagint; Hebrew does not have thirty.
1 Samuel 13:1 See the round number in Acts 13:21; Hebrew does not have forty-
1 Samuel 13:2 Or and when he had reigned over Israel two years, 2 he
1 Samuel 13:5 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac; Hebrew thirty thousand
1 Samuel 13:9 Traditionally peace offerings
1 Samuel 13:15 Hebrew; Septuagint Gilgal and went his way; the rest of the people went after Saul to meet the army, and they went out of Gilgal
1 Samuel 13:16 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba , a variant of Gibeah
1 Samuel 13:20 Septuagint; Hebrew plowshares
1 Samuel 13:21 Hebrew pim; that is, about 1/4 ounce (about 8 grams)
1 Samuel 13:21 That is, about 1/8 ounce (about 4 grams)
1 Samuel 14:14 Hebrew half a yoke ; a "yoke" was the land plowed by a yoke of oxen in one day.
1 Samuel 14:15 Or a terrible panic
1 Samuel 14:18 Hebrew; Septuagint "Bring the ephod." ( At that time he wore the ephod before the Israelites. )
1 Samuel 14:25 Or Now all the people of the land
1 Samuel 14:27 Or his strength was renewed
1 Samuel 14:29 Or my strength was renewed
1 Samuel 14:41 Hebrew; Septuagint "Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim."
1 Samuel 14:47 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint king
1 Samuel 14:47 Hebrew; Septuagint he was victorious
1 Samuel 15:3 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the LORD, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 8, 9, 15, 18, 20 and 21.
1 Samuel 15:9 Or the grown bulls ; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
1 Samuel 15:32 Or him trembling, yet

2. Announcements

3. I and II Samuel Week Date Topic 1 07 Mar 12
Samuel’s Call: 1 Samuel 1:1-4:1a 2
14 Mar 12
The Ark Narratives: 1 Samuel 4:1b-7:17 3
21 Mar 12
Israel Demands a King: 1 Samuel 8-12 4
28 Mar 12
The Decline of Saul: 1 Samuel 13-15 5
04 Apr 12
David – God’s Anointed: 1 Samuel 16-19 6
11 Apr 12
Saul’s Rejection of David: 1 Samuel 20:1-28:2 7
18 Apr 12
The Death of Saul: 1 Samuel 28:3-31:13 8
25 Apr 12
David Becomes King: II Samuel 1-6 9
02 May 12
The Davidic Covenant: II Samuel 7-10 10
09 May 12
Senior Blessing 11
16 May 12
David’s Moral Failure: II Samuel 11-14 12
23 May 12
Absalom’s Rebellion: II Samuel 15:1-19:8a 13
30 May 12
David Returns to Jerusalem: II Samuel 19:8b-24

4. I and II Samuel Week Date Topic 1 05 Mar 08
Samuel’s Call: 1 Samuel 1:1-4:1a 2
12 Mar 08
The Ark Narratives: 1 Samuel 4:1b-7:17 3
19 Mar 08
Israel Demands a King: 1 Samuel 8-12 4
26 Mar 08
The Decline of Saul: 1 Samuel 13-15 5
02 Apr 08
David – God’s Anointed: 1 Samuel 16-19 6
09 Apr 08
Saul’s Rejection of David: 1 Samuel 20:1-28:2 7
16 Apr 08
The Death of Saul: 1 Samuel 28:3-31:13 8
23 Apr 08
David Becomes King: II Samuel 1-6 9
30 Apr 08
The Davidic Covenant: II Samuel 7-10 10
07 May 08
David’s Moral Failure: II Samuel 11-14 11
14 May 08
Absalom’s Rebellion: II Samuel 15:1-19:8a 12
21 May 08
David Returns to Jerusalem: II Samuel 19:8b-22:51
28 May 08
Last Words, Final Actions: II Samuel 23-24

5. Historical Background
Samuel named as the primary author
Samuel was the 13th (or 15th) judge of Israel
Nathan of Gad wrote about David’s life (1 Chron 29:29)
Abiathar, high priest, may have wrote later chapters
Existed as one book until translated into Greek around B.C.
Written between 931 B.C. and 722 B.C. and covered the period from B.C. or 130 years
Imperialistic void
Hittite and Egyptian empires had fallen more than a century earlier
Smaller kingdoms like the Ugarit had disintegrated as well
Author: Babylonian Talmud names Samuel as the primary author, but he dies in I Samuel 25, therefore someone else had to have penned the remainder of 1 Samuel and all of II Samuel.
Samuel: Samuel or Shmu'el (Hebrew: שְׁמוּאֵל, Standard Šəmuʼel Tiberian Šəmûʼēl) is an important leader of ancient Israel in the Book(s) of Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. His status, as viewed by rabbinical literature, is that he was the last of the Hebrew Judges and the first of the major prophets who began to prophesize inside the Land of Israel. He was thus at the cusp between two eras. According to the text of the Book(s) of Samuel, he also selected/anointed the first two kings of the Kingdom of Israel: King Saul and King David.
Nathan of Gad:
Abiathar:
Questions: How come it remained as one book until 300 B.C.? Good evidence exists that the books of Samuel were considered one book. The Masoretic postscript is at the end of 2 Samuel. Esdras and Josephus refer to Samuel as a single work. The translators of the Septuagint divided the books due to their
length when the vowels were added and renamed them 1 and 2 Kingdoms. Jerome followed the same divisions but changed their names to 1 and 2 Kings, but later versions of the Vulgate reverted to Samuel again.
Ugarit: Mediterranean port kingdom on the coast of modern day Syria. Very progressive, but small, society. Worshipped Baal and Dagon.
How many Judges were there? While the book of Judges lists only 12, Joshua, Eli, and Samuel are considered judges as well. This would increase the total from 12 to 15. The following (in order) are identified as Judges in the Book of Judges - great judges are those deemed worthy of large narratives in the Book:
Major Judges(Common Judges)
Joshua (the first judge/great judge)(book of Exodus)
Samson (great judge)
Deborah (great judge)
Gideon (great judge)
Minor Judges
Othniel
Ehud (great judge)
Shamgar
Tola
Jair
Jepthah (great judge)
Ibzan
Elon
Abdon
Some Biblical critics, though not all, believe that Abimalech was also originally considered a judge, becoming changed to a "king" owing to his being regarded as evil, at which point Shamgar was added to the list so that there were still 12 in the Book. Textual criticism also views the minor judges as being added to the list simply to make the total number equal 12, a number of religious significance to the Israelites
I Samuel also mentions:
Minor Judge
Eli (great judge)
Major Judge (Common Judge)
Samuel (great judge)
According to some textual critics the initial portion of the first book of Samuel, containing these two names, was probably originally the final part of the Book of Judges. Hence the original form of the book, according to some textual critics, listed 8 judges, 7 good and 1 bad, 7 being a religiously significant number.

6. Historical Background
Transition period in Israel’s history
Conclusion of a great famine in the land (see Ruth 1:1)
After the exodus, end of the period of the judges, and beginning of the monarchy
Israel had disintegrated morally, spiritually, and politically
Chapter Notes
Decline of Saul’s reign
Saul’s failure to wholeheartedly obey God
God raises another to replace Saul: David

8. Palestine in Saul’s Time

9. Saul Challenges the Philistines (13:1-7a)
Saul was 30 years old when he became king
Reigned for 42 years (until age 72)
Saul creates a military presence
Standing army of 3000
2000 under his command at Michmash (north of Jerusalem)
1000 led by his son Jonathan at Gibeah
Rest were sent home (13:2)
Jonathan starts a war by attacking Philistine outpost
Geba, between Micmash and Gibeah
Saul took credit (13:3-4)
Philistine force of 3000 chariots with riders plus soldiers
Saul’s men overcome by fear of Philistines (13:5-7)
13:1 - Conflicts with Acts 13:21 – which says 40 years, perhaps 40 being a round number or broad generalization. (Lifelinks)
Klemmer note: Gibeah and Michmash were close together, perhaps only 5-10 miles from each other; hence, the armies were only a few miles apart. Although the text and reference information does not indicate, I would surmise that Saul’s positioning of troops started to expose the weakness of Saul’s rule. Many questions start to quickly arise. Why would Saul downsize his Army so quickly if the Philistines still had outposts between his forces? Why would he keep the entire army within a mile or so of each other? And, how could Philistines start up, much less maintain, a military outpost between Saul’s two military units a response? The Philistine outpost at Geba probably existed prior to Saul’s coronation. Why Saul did not take it out when he rescued the city of Jabesh is a mystery.
MICHMASH - mik'-mash (mikhmash; Machmas): A town in the territory of Benjamin, apparently not of sufficient importance to secure mention in the list of cities given in Josh 18:21 ff. It first appears as occupied by Saul with 2,000 men, when Jonathan, advancing from Gibeah, smote the Philistine garrison in Geba (1 Sam 13:2). To avenge this injury, the Philistines came up in force and pitched in Michmash (1 Sam 13:5). Saul and Jonathan with 600 men held Geba, which had been taken from the Philistine garrison (1 Sam 13:16). It will assist in making clear the narrative if, at this point, the natural features of the place are described. (ISBE)
GIBEAH - gib'-e-a (gibh`ah, "hill"): A city described as belonging to Benjamin (Josh 18:28; Jdg 19:14) Gibeah of Benjamin (1 Sam 13:2,15; 14:16), Gibeah of the children of Benjamin (2 Sam 23:29), Gibeah of Saul (1 Sam 11:4; Isa 10:29), and possibly, also, Gibeah of God (1 Sam 10:5 margin); see GIBEATH, 4.
1. History:
The narrative in which it first appears is one of extraordinary and tragic interest, casting priceless light on the conditions prevailing in those days when "there was no king in Israel" (Jdg 19 ff). A Levite sojourning on the farther side of Mt. Ephraim was deserted by his concubine who returned to her father's house in Beth-lehem-judah. Thither he went to persuade her to return. Hospitably entertained by her father, he tarried till the afternoon of the fifth day. The evening was nigh when they came over against Jebus--Jerusalem--but, rejecting his servant's suggestion that they should lodge in this "city of a stranger"--i.e. the Jebusite--the Levite pressed on, and when they were near to Gibeah the sun set. They entered the city and sat down in the street. The laws of hospitality today do not compel the entertainment of strangers who arrive after sunset. But it may have been through disregard of all law that they were left unbefriended. An old man from Mt. Ephraim took pity on them, invited them to his house, and made himself responsible for their necessities. Then follows the horrible story of outrage upon the Levite's concubine; the way in which he made known his wrongs to Israel; and the terrible revenge exacted from the Benjamites, who would not give up to justice the miscreants of Gibeah.
Gibeah was the home of Saul, the first king of Israel, and thither he returned after his election at Mizpah (1 Sam 10:26). From Gibeah he summoned Israel to assemble for the relief of Jabesh-gilead, which was threatened by Nahash the Ammonite (1 Sam 11:4 ff). In the wars of Saul with the Philistines, Gibeah seems to have played a conspicuous part (1 Sam 13:15). Here were exposed the bodies of the seven sons of Saul, slain by David's orders, to appease the Gibeonites, furnishing the occasion for Rizpah's pathetic vigil (2 Sam 21:1 ff). Gibeah is mentioned in the description of the Assyrian advance on Jerusalem (Isa 10:29).
2. Identification:
The site now generally accepted as that of Gibeah is on Teleil el-Ful, an artificial mound about 4 miles North of Jerusalem, a short distance East of the high road to Shechem. A little way North of Teleil el-Ful, the high road bifurcates, one branch turning eastward to Jeba`, i.e. Geba (which should be read instead of "Gibeah" in Jdg 20:31); the other continuing northward to Bethel. Not far from the parting of the ways, on the road to Jeba` lies erRam, corresponding to Ramah (Jdg 19:13). At Gibeah, about 30 furlongs from Jerusalem, Titus encamped for the night on his advance against the city from the North Teleil el-Ful quite satisfactorily suits all the data here indicated. (ISBE)
Geba: (a hill), a city of Benjamin, with "suburbs," allotted to the priests. (Joshua 21:17; 1 Chronicles 6:60) It is named amongst the first group of the Benjamite towns --apparently those lying near to and along the north boundary. (Joshua 18:24) Here the name is given as GABA. During the wars of the earlier part of the reign of Saul, Geba was held as a garrison by the Philistines, (1 Samuel 13:3) but they were ejected by Jonathan. It is now the modern village of Jeba , which stands picturesquely on the top of its steep terraced hill, six miles north of Jerusalem, on the very edge of the great Wady Suweinit , looking northward to the opposite village of ancient Michmash, which also retains its old name of Mukhmas . (Smith)

10. Philistines
Israel

11. Saul Foolishly Presents Offerings (13:7b-15)
Saul makes sacrifices in the face of the Philistine army
Again, Saul’s troops fled (13:6)
On the seventh day, Samuel had not arrived (13:7-8)
Saul sacrifices, despite Samuel’s directions (see 10:8)
Samuel rebukes Saul, Saul offers excuses (13:12-13)
Samuel’s rebuke of Saul
Lineage of the kingdom would be given to another
Indications of David’s ascension
To one who was committed to obedience (13:13-14)
Samuel leaves the town of Gilgal
Saul left with a shattered force of only 600 men (13:15)
Can the king sacrifice? Nothing in the Mosaic law forbid this. David and Solomon did with no indications of God’s disapproval (see II Sam 24:24 and I Kings 3:15). Saul’s sin was failing to follow specific instructions.
Gilgal: The site of the first camp of the Israelites on the west of the Jordan, the place at which they passed the first night after crossing the river, and where the twelve stones were set up which had been taken from the bed of the stream, (Joshua 4:19,20) comp. Josh 4:3 Where also they kept the first passover in the land of Canaan ch. (Joshua 5:10) It was "in the east border of Jericho," apparently on a hillock or rising ground, (Joshua 5:3) comp. Josh 5:9 In the Arboth-Jericho (Authorized Version "the plains"), that is, the hot depressed district of the Ghor which lay between the town and the Jordan. ch. (Joshua 5:10) Here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king. We again have a glimpse of it, some sixty years later, in the history of David?s return to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 19:40) A Gilgal is spoken of in (Joshua 15:7) in describing the north border of Judah. In (Joshua 18:17) it is given as Geliloth. Gilgal near Jericho is doubtless intended. (Smith) Gilgal reappears frequently in subsequent history. Samuel (1 Sam 7:16) made it one of the three places where he annually held circuit court, the other places being Bethel and Mizpah. The Septuagint text adds that these were holy places. The place continued as one of special resort for sacrifices (1 Sam 10:8; 13:8,9,10; 15:21), while it was here that Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord (1 Sam 15:33), and that Saul was both crowned (1 Sam 11:14,15) and rejected as king. It was at Gilgal, also (2 Sam 19:15), that the people assembled to welcome David as he returned from his exile beyond Jordan during Absalom's rebellion. The early prophets refer to Gilgal as a center of idolatry in their day (Hos 4:15; 9:15; 12:11; Am 4:4; 5:5). Micah (6:5) represents Gilgal as at the other end of the Dead Sea from Shittim. (ISBE)

12. I Samuel 13:16 to 14:52 In Brief
Saul and Jonathan attacked by Philistines at Geba
Situation seemed dire, but not to Jonathan
Jonathan slips away to the Philistine camp with an armor bearer
Jonathan lures Philistine soldiers into a fight
With his armor bearer he kills 20 Philistines
Philistines become panic stricken after an earthquake
Saul observes their confusion
Saul foolishly bounds his soldiers to fasting until he got his revenge against the Philistines
Despite Saul’s foolishness, Israel is granted victory
Qualifications for a leader/overseer: Samuel found his own sons unfit; similarly, Paul may defines qualifications for service, as well, in 1 Tim 3:4, 12 and Titus 1:6. Also see Deut. 17:14-20.

13. Saul Fails to Obey (15:1-9) Samuel reminds Saul of his anointing
By Samuel, with God’s authority (15:1)
God punishes the Amalekites
Had attacked Israel after the Exodus (15:1-2)
Saul was to totally destroy the Amalekites (15:3)
Nothing was to be spared: people, animals, possessions
Saul musters his troops at Telaim, in southern Israel
Saul attacks from Havilah to Shur, south of Israel
Saul fails to obey God’s commands
Does not kill Amalekite king Agag and choice livestock
Saul tries to rationalize his disobedience
Israelite Exodus: Exodus 17:8-16, Num 24:20, Deut 25:17-19.
Amalekites: a tribe that dwelt in Arabia Petraea, between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. They were not the descendants of Amalek, the son of Eliphaz, for they existed in the days of Abraham (Gen. 14:7). They were probably a tribe that migrated from the shores of the Persian Gulf and settled in Arabia. "They dwelt in the land of the south...from Havilah until thou comest to Shur" (Num. 13:29; 1 Sam. 15:7). They were a pastoral, and hence a nomadic race. Their kings bore the hereditary name of Agag (Num. 24:7; 1 Sam. 15:8). They attempted to stop the Israelites when they marched through their territory (Deut. 25:18), attacking them at Rephidim (Ex. 17:8-13; comp. Deut. 25:17; 1 Sam. 15:2). They afterwards attacked the Israelites at Hormah (Num. 14:45). We read of them subsequently as in league with the Moabites (Judg. 3:13) and the Midianites (Judg. 6:3). Saul finally desolated their territory and destroyed their power (1 Sam. 14:48; 15:3), and David recovered booty from them (1 Sam. 30:18-20). In the Babylonian inscriptions they are called Sute, in those of Egypt Sittiu, and the Amarna tablets include them under the general name of Khabbati, or "plunderers." (ISBE)
Totally destroyed: reference Deut 7:2-6, 12:2-3, 20:16-18, and Josh 6:17 for other uses of the hebrew word.

14. N

15. God Rejects Saul as King of Israel (15:10-23)
Saul’s failure to completely obey God
Brings Samuel a troubling revelation
God was grieving over Saul’s anointing
Samuel prays to God for guidance
Saul erects a monument for himself at Carmel
Honor his victory over the Amalekites
Saul credits himself with the victory
Saul tells Samuel, “I carried out God’s instructions”
Samuel rebukes Saul
Saul blames others (15:15)
It was Saul who disobeyed (15:16-19)
God rejects Samuel (15:23)

16. Samuel Repudiates Saul’s Kingship (15:24-35)
Saul’s insincere repentance
Fear of what people thought weakens his leadership
Real motive for repentance, he feared losing earthly support (15:24-25, 30)
Because Saul rejected God, God rejects Saul
Samuel tears Saul’s robe – a metaphor (15:27-28)
Kingdom would be torn from him and given to another
Saul reigns for 15 more years, but is rejected by God and repudiated by Samuel
Samuel kills Agag to highlight Saul’s disobedience (15:32-33
Samuel returns to Ramah never to seek Saul again

17. Review
Review last week’s lesson, historical background, and timeline for the books of I and II Samuel
Review historical maps of Israel and the region
Read chapter 13:1-15, Review 13:16-14:52, Read 15:1-35
Learn how Saul challenges the Philistines
Learn about Saul’s foolish offerings
Examine the destructive effects of Saul’s partial obedience
Desire to avoid blame-shifting and take full responsibility for our decisions