Story 78: A Prince More Noble Than His Father lll

   Even Jon'a-than, who was responsible for the defeat of the Phi-lis'tines, did not know that Saul had ordered his men to eat nothing during the day. In the woods where they pursued the Phi-lis'tines there was an abundance of wild honey, so Jon'a-than had relieved his hunger by eating of it. When told of his father's strict order, Jon'a-than said, "My father hath troubled the land, see how I am refreshed by the honey; and if the people had been permitted to eat freely of the spoils of the enemy, our victory would have been far greater."
   In the meantime Saul had sought counsel of the LORD, but the ear of GOD was deaf to his prayers. Instead of looking into his own heart for the cause of the LORD'S refusal to hear him, he sought to lay the blame upon someone else.
   When he was told of the act of Jon'a-than, Saul declared that the failure of the Is'ra-el-ites to wipe out the Phi-lis'tines was the result of a violation of his solemn oath. He also declared his intention to have Jon'a-than slain.
   The people rose up in violent rebellion against this blindness to the heroism of his son and deafness to the voice of reason. Saul's unjust sentence upon Jon'a-than: "Thou shalt surely die" was met by the united voice of the people, "There shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground." Up to this moment they had been faithful to the command of the king, but when he acted unwisely they felt justified in rescuing Jon'a-than from his unholy decree, the noble young man who had led them to victory.
   The LORD permitted Saul to remain in office for a number of years, sparing him until GOD could find a successor worthy to occupy the throne of Is'ra-el.

Story 78: A Prince More Noble Than His Father ll

   Finding that hundreds of his men had deserted him, and that he had only six hundred warriors left, Saul joint Jon'a-than in the fortress which he had captured from the Phi-lis'tines. In the meantime the Phi-lis'tine army at Mich'mash had been divided into three bands which raided the valleys to the north, west, and east.
   While Saul and his six hundred men were encamped on a high rock near Gib'e-ah, from which place the Phi-lis'tine garrison at Mich-mash might easily be observed, Jon'a-than suggested a daring exploit to his armor-bearer. The two of them went down into the valley between the outposts of the opposing armies, and approached the camps of the Phi-lis'tines at a point where there was a great cliff. Thinking that they were deserters from the army of Is'ra-el, the Phi-lis'tine sentries scornfully invited them to climb the rocks to their camp.
   With daring faith in GOD, Jon'a-than said to his armor-bearer, "This is a sign that the LORD hath delivered them into our hand." Then they scaled the rocks, slew twenty of the sentries, and spread confusion through the entire camp of the enemy. Simultaneous with this bold adventure of Jon'a-than, the LORD sent a terrific earthquake into that vicinity, and all the Phi-lis'tine bands were dispersed in terror.
   When the sentries of Saul observed the tumult among the armies of the Phi-lis'tines, they tried to discover who had left their camp. When it was found that Jon'a-than and his armor-bearer were absent, Saul ordered the priest in the camp to bring out the ephod and pray for victory. His army of six hundred men, strengthened by thousands who left their places of hiding and alliances with the Phi-lis'tines, pursued the scattered forces of the enemy. It was a great victory, and the Phi-lis'tines who escapt the slaughter were glad to return to their own land. Thus the power of the Phi-lis'tines over Is'ra-el was temporarily broken.
   The two unhappy incidents which accompanied this great victory are to the discredit of Saul. Although he did not enter the field of battle until the enemy had already been routed by Jon'a-than, he assumed full credit for the triumph. There was no word of recognition for the bravery of his son, nor acknowledgment of the Divine power which had given the victory to Is'ra-el. Saul pretended to be very religious, but inwardly his heart was wrong with GOD. He took advantage of a natural mistake of his soldiers to excuse his own sin.
   So eager was Saul to "avenge himself of his enemies" that he ordered his men to pursue the Phi-lis'tines when they were already in a weakened state, at the same time forbidding his soldiers under oath to take any food. When the day had passed, his soldiers were so hungry that they slew the animals taken from their enemies and ate them without properly draining the blood according to the law of Mo'ses. For this act Saul charged them with sin, and they were punished by being forced to bring offerings to the LORD from their own sheep and oxen.

Story 78: A Prince More Noble Than His Father l

   When Sam'u-el first informed Saul that he was to become king of Is'ra-el, he stressed the fact that his first duty would be to rid the nation of the Phi-lis'tines. But instead of following up his brilliant victory over the Am'mon-ites with an immediate war against the ancient foes of Is'ra-el, he settled down quietly in his home at Gib'e-ah and began to surround himself with the royal courts and splendors enjoyed by heathen kings. In his public acceptance of the throne he had pledged his loyalty to the laws announced by Sam'u-el. These promises were soon forgotten, and he became a king in name only.
   The Phi-lis'tines were much more advanced in the arts and crafts than the Is'ra-el-ites, and were well supplied with such implements of war as swords, spears, and iron chariots. They fordade the Is'ra-el-ites to have iron workers, so their only weapons of war were axes and mattocks and similar farming tools. The Is'ra-el-ites were obliged to go to the iron workers of the Phi-lis'tines to have their tools repaired and sharpened.
   The condition of the nation seemed to be hopeless, and Saul was making no effort to break off the yoke of the Phi-lis'tines. The spirit of the Is'ra-el-ites became so broken that many of them entered into friendly relations with their oppressors.
   It was in the midst of this sad state in Is'ra-el that the LORD moved the heart of one of Saul's sons to take the lead in war against the Phi-lis'tines. Jon'a-than, a young man of great courage and piety, was placed at the head of an army of one thousand men stationed at Gib'e-ah. His father Saul headed another army of two thousand men which occupied the town of Mich'mash, about seven miles north of Je-ru'sa-lem. A strong Phi-lis'tine garrison occupied an elevated position between Gib'e-ah and Mich'mash.
   While Saul and his two thousand men remained inactive and afraid to move against the Phi-lis'tines, Jon'a-than and his army made a sudden attack upon the garrison, overwhelmingly defeating the heavily armed enemy. This victory aroused the spirit of Saul, and he ordered all Is'ra-el to gather with him at Gil'gal in the Jor'dan valley. The confidence of the nation in Saul's ability as a leader had been so shaken by his years of idleness that only six hundred men responded.
   Realizing that the LORD had deserted him because of his shameful inactivity over a number of years, and because of his religious backslidings, Saul asked Sam'u-el to come to Gil'gal that he might sacrifice unto the LORD on his behalf. Growing impatient and worried by the delay in Sam'u-el's arrival, Saul presumptuously made the burnt offering himself, thus incurring greater disfavor from GOD. When Sam'u-el  finally came to Gil'gal he denounced Saul for his irreverent act, declared that because of such unworthiness the LORD would choose another to take his kingdom, and then left the king in a state of confusion.
  
  

Story 77: King Saul's Good Beginning; Sam'u-el's Resignation Address ll

   In the furious battle which followed, the Am'mon-ites were badly beaten, many of them were slain, and those who escaped death were so confused that not even two of them could be found together.
   Now that Saul's military courage and skill had been fully proved, the people of Is'ra-el shouted in honor of their new king. He was given a great public ovation, and his loyal subjects demanded that those who had spoken contemptuously of him should be brought forth and put to death. In reply to the demand for vengeance upon his enemies, Saul showed a fine spirit of self-control and forgiveness. He declared, "There shall not a man be put to death this day, for today the LORD hath set his people free from their enemies." In this victory over self and in his acknowledgment of the LORD'S power, Saul showed his fitness to be a king more convincingly than he had in the defeat of the Am'mon-ites. The tragedy of his life, as we shall learn in future chapters, is that he did not live up to the nobility and piety of these early days of his reign.
   At the invitation of Sam'u-el, the people gathered for a great religious celebration at Gil'gal in the Jor'dan valley. Burnt offerings were made to the LORD, and all the people joint in giving Saul a vote of confidence. Sam'u-el announced his resignation as civil ruler over the nation, but declared his intention to continue as their spiritual adviser.
   In his farewell address as ruler, Sam'u-el recalled his faithfulness during the long years of his service, reminding the people that he had ruled justly, had wronged or defrauded no one, had never accepted a bribe, or oppressed the people in any way. There was a note of sorrow in his remarks, for it was hard to give way to another ruler, but he did not complain. To all his claims the people readily agreed. There was not a single blot on his entire life, and the people did not blame him for the weakness and sins of his two sons.
   Sam'u-el also reviewed GOD'S past favors upon the nation, and called attention to the truth that all their past misfortunes and periods of oppression by heathen nations had been sent by the LORD, because of their idolatry and sinful association with heathen people. With great devotion to the nation which he loved, he urged perfect loyalty to GOD. They were setting up a new government, and there would come many temptations to turn away from for their unseen RULER. He stressed the fact that both king and people must continue to recognize GOD as their chief RULER, that the Laws of GOD must remain supreme in the land, and that the conduct of both civil affairs and warfare must be carried forward under Divine guidance.
   Solemn warnings were given by the prophet against the tendency to lean upon their own understanding and to depend upon their earthly king, instead of relying upon the wisdom and power of GOD. The people were assured that, even though they had acted in an unworthy and unbelieving manner in demanding a king, the LORD would give them continued security and progress for as long as they remained faithful to HIS Commandments.
   The address closed with a glorious climax as Sam'u-el said:
"Moreover, as for me, GOD forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for
 you, but I will teach you the good and right way. Only fear the LORD, and serve HIM in truth
 with all your heart; for consider how great things HE hath done for you. But if you shall still
 do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king."

Story 77: King Saul's Good Beginning; Sam'u-el's Resignation Address l

   Although Saul had been privately anointed king by Sam'u-el at Ra'mah and his appointment had been publicly approved at Miz'peh, it seems that he did not assume the office at once. Instead, he returnt to his father's farm, and continued to engage in the work of agriculture and stock-raising. It was not long, however, before the occasion arose through which he was led by the LORD to take his place of leadership over all the tribes of Is'ra-el.
   On the east side of the Jor'dan there lived a clan known as the Gil'e-ad-ites, who were members of the tribe of Ma-nas'seh. The territory which they occupied had once belonged to the Am'mon-ites, but had been taken by the Am'o-rites and later conquered by the children of Is'ra-el under the leadership of Mo'ses. The Am'mon-ites claimed the right to take back this territory, and frequently pressed their claims by making war upon the Gil'e-ad-ites. It was in subduing one of their attacks that Jeph'thah rose to the rank of judge in Is'ra-el. A threatened war by them against the Gil'e-ad-ites was one of the circumstances which led the Is'ra-el-ites to demand a king.
   After the newly elected king failed to assume the leadership of Is'ra-el and returnt to his father's farm, the Am'mon-ites decided that he lacked the courage and ability to resist their demands upon Gil'e-ad. They therefore marched against Ja-besh-Gil'e-ad, the capital of the Gil'e-ad-ites, knowing that the people there were too few and too weak to oppose them. In great fear the people of that city offered to become subjects of the Am'mon-ites, provided that their lives be spared.
   Na'hash, king of the Am'mon-ites, agreed to accept their offer of surrender on condition that his soldiers be permitted to put out the right eye of all the men of the city. By this cruel measure the Gil'e-ad-ites would be made unfit for army service, since the left eye was covered by a shield in battle, and the right eye was used in aiming the spear.
   The elders of Ja-besh-Gil'e-ad asked for a truce of seven days, during which to seek help from the other tribes of Is'ra-el, and agreed to submit to the cruel demands of Na'hash if help did not come within that time. Messengers came to Gib'e-ah, the home of Saul, with the news of the tragedy facing the Gil'e-ad-ites, and the people cried out in fear and sympathy. When Saul came in from the fields where he had been working and saw the entire town bowed in wailings, he asked for an explanation. They told him of the plight of their brethren at Ja'besh, and as he listened a spirit of supernatural power came upon him. He expressed his feelings by cutting two oxen into twelve pieces, and sending the pieces among the tribes of Is'ra-el by special messengers. He then summoned all Is'ra-el to join him and Sam'u-el in a war against the Am'mon-ites, saying, "Whoever fails to come, so shall it be done unto his oxen."
   From every tribe of Is'ra-el there came a hearty response to the call, and more than three hundred thousand people gathered at Be'zek, on the plains of Jez're-el within the territory of Is'sa-char, to follow the leadership of their new king in the first crises of his reign.
   Saul then sent messengers to Ja'besh with the good news that on the next day he would attack the Am'mon-ites who were gathered before their gates. The men of Ja'besh then notified the Am'mon-ites that they would come out on the following day and submit to having their right eyes put out. Saul organized his army in the evening and marched all night, moving over the mountains of central Ca'naan to one of the fords of the Jor'dan, crossing the river, and climbing the plateau of Gil'e-ad. Early the next morning, therefore, the Am'mon-ites were trapped between the men of Ja'besh and the armies of Is'ra-el.

Story 76: Is'ra-el Demands A King; Saul Is Chosen lll

   Sam'u-el then made himself known, and invited Saul to join him in the offerings and feast on top of the High Place where there was an altar to the LORD. "As to the asses," said Sam'u-el, "do not be troubled about them, for they have been found." Then the prophet said something about the desire of Is'ra-el being set on his father's house and upon him, but Saul did not know what was meant by these words. With great modesty, therefore, Saul replied, "Is not my tribe the smallest in Is'ra-el? And is not my family the least of the tribe of Ben'ja-min?"

   At the religious festival which followed there were about thirty guests, yet Saul was given the place of honor and was served with the choicest food. When the feast was over, Sam'u-el took Saul and the servant to his own home to be guests for the night. Out on the flat roof of the building, with no other light than that of the stars, the prophet told the young man that he was to be appointed king of Is'ra-el. The next morning they arose early, and Sam'u-el journeyed with Saul and his servant toward the gates of the town.

   When they reached the border of Ra'mah, Sam'u-el directed the servant to leave him alone with Saul. He then took a vial of the oil used in anointing the priests of God, and poured it on the head of young Saul; he also kissed him as a sign of homage to the new king. Sam'u-el then directed the course for Saul's homeward journey, telling him of certain things that would happen as signs of his Divine selection for the office of king.

   Seven days after the private anointing of Saul, Samu-el ordered all Is'ra-el to gather at Miz-peh to cast lots for the choice of a king. Prayer was made to God that His choice be revealed through this method commonly used in Is'ra-el for deciding such matters. Slips of paper representing each tribe were placed in a vessel, and one was drawn out. The lot fell to the tribe of Ben'ja-min. Then slips of paper on which were written all the families of Ben'ja-min were placed in the vessel; this lot fell to the family of Kish. Then the names of the sons of Kish were placed in the vessel, and one was drawn out. It bore the name of Saul. As a result of this election the people felt that Saul had been chosen for the office by the LORD.
   When a cry went up that Saul be presented to the people, there was no response. A search was made for him, and he was found among the baggage of the people who had gathered for the solemn occasion-hiding in shyness. He knew from the words of Sam'u-el seven days before that the choice would probably fall to him, and modestly fled from assuming such a responsible position.
   Saul was then brought before the people, and they were greatly pleased with his tall, impressive appearance. God had read the mirror of their hearts, and had given them a man after their own desires.

Story 76: Is'ra-el Demands A King; Saul Is Chosen ll

   The incidents leading up to Sam'u-el's discovery of the first king for Is'ra-el present a rather curious story, but are in perfect keeping with the customs and superstitions of those days. There was living in the tribe of Ben'ja-min a wealthy man by the name of Kish, who owned large herds of cattle and asses. According to the habit of Oriental shepherds in pastoral regions, Kish let his animals roam at large during the grazing season, and later sent men to search for them. He had a son to whom he assigned the responsible and honorable task of taking charge of his herds of cattle and asses. The son's name was Saul, and he was tall, handsome, and industrious.
   When it was time to gather in the roaming herds Saul and one of his servants left Gib'e-ah, a few miles north of Je-ru'sa-lem, and traveled northwest toward the mountains of E'phra-im in search of his father's herds. After searching for several days without success, Saul proposed to his servant that they return. Their supply of food had given out, and Saul did not wish his father to be alarmed by their long absence.
   Since they were not far from Ra'mah, which was the home of the prophet Sam'u-el, Saul's servant suggested that before giving up the search they should consult God. In the land of Ca'naan at the time it was a common thing for people to consult "seers" for help in finding things which had been lost or stolen, or for advice in private matters of importance. Sam'u-el had no doubt encouraged this practice in order to prevent his people from going to heathen magicians, and as a means of opening the way for his more important duties as a prophet of God.
   Saul hesitated to follow the suggestion of his servant, for he had no money to pay the customary fee for such advice. But when the servant told him of the small piece of money which he had, Saul agreed to go to the prophet's home.
   As we learnt in a previous chapter, Ra'mah was one of the centers of worship which Sam'u-el had provided after the abandonment of the tabernacle at Shi'loh. Preparations for a religious festival were in progress when Saul and his servant reached the town. Making inquiry of some young women, they were told that the prophet was expected to attend  the festival to be held that day.
   On the day before, as Sam'u-el was in prayer to God about the choice of a king, he was told that the LORD would bring him a man of the tribe of Ben'ja-min, and that he should make him the prince of Is'ra-el. When Saul and his servant drew near, the prophet had a Divine intuition that this was the man of whom the LORD had spoken. Never having met Sam'u-el, Saul asked if he could direct him to the seer of God.