1 Samuel 14

1 Samuel 14:1  That same day Saul’s son Jonathan said to the boy who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” However, he did not tell his father.

1 Samuel 14:2  Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree in Migron on the outskirts of Gibeah. The troops with him numbered about six hundred.

1 Samuel 14:3  Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod, was also there. He was the son of Ahitub, the brother of Ichabod son of Phinehas, son of Eli Yahveh’s priest at Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.

1 Samuel 14:4  There were sharp columns of rock on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine garrison. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh;

1 Samuel 14:5  one stood to the north in front of Michmash and the other to the south in front of Geba.

1 Samuel 14:6  Jonathan said to the boy who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps Yahveh will help us. Nothing can keep Yahveh from saving, whether by many or by few.”

1 Samuel 14:7  His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. You choose. Notice I’m right here with you whatever you decide.”

1 Samuel 14:8  “Notice,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us.

1 Samuel 14:9  If they say, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them.

1 Samuel 14:10  But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because Yahveh has handed them over to us– that will be our sign.”

1 Samuel 14:11  They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Notice, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding!”

1 Samuel 14:12  The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said. “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for Yahveh has handed them over to Israel.”

1 Samuel 14:13  Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off.

1 Samuel 14:14  In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in a half-acre field.

1 Samuel 14:15  Terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops. Even the garrison and the raiding parties were terrified. The land shook, and terror spread from God.

1 Samuel 14:16  When Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, they noticed the panicking troops scattering in every direction.

1 Samuel 14:17  So Saul said to the troops with him, “Call the roll and determine who has left us.” They called the roll and noticed that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were gone.

1 Samuel 14:18  Saul told Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God,” for it was with the Israelites at that time.

1 Samuel 14:19  While Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So Saul said to the priest, “Stop what you’re doing.”

1 Samuel 14:20  Saul and all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and noticed the Philistines fighting against each other in great confusion!

1 Samuel 14:21  There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

1 Samuel 14:22  When all the Israelite men who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle.

1 Samuel 14:23  So Yahveh saved Israel that day. The battle extended beyond Beth-aven,

1 Samuel 14:24  and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath: “The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.” So none of the troops tasted any food.

1 Samuel 14:25  Everyone went into the forest, and there was honey on the ground.

1 Samuel 14:26  When the troops entered the forest, they noticed the flow of honey, but none of them ate any of it because they feared the oath.

1 Samuel 14:27  However, Jonathan had not heard his father make the troops swear the oath. He reached out with the end of the staff he was carrying and dipped it into the honeycomb. When he ate the honey, he had renewed energy.

1 Samuel 14:28  Then one of the troops said, “Your father made the troops solemnly swear, ‘The man who eats food today is cursed,’ and the troops are exhausted.”

1 Samuel 14:29  Jonathan replied, “My father has brought trouble to the land. Just look at how I have renewed energy because I tasted a little of this honey.

1 Samuel 14:30  How much better if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Then the slaughter of the Philistines would have been much greater.”

1 Samuel 14:31  The Israelites struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash all the way to Aijalon. Since the Israelites were completely exhausted,

1 Samuel 14:32  they rushed to the plunder, took sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, slaughtered them on the ground, and ate meat with the blood still in it.

1 Samuel 14:33  Some reported to Saul: “Notice, the troops are sinning against Yahveh by eating meat with the blood still in it.” Saul said, “You have been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here at once.”

1 Samuel 14:34  He then said, “Go among the troops and say to them, ‘Let each man bring me his ox or his sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat. Don’t sin against Yahveh by eating meat with the blood in it.'” So every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there.

1 Samuel 14:35  Then Saul built an altar to Yahveh; it was the first time he had built an altar to Yahveh.

1 Samuel 14:36  Saul said, “Let’s go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning. Don’t let even one remain!” “Do whatever you want,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “Let’s approach God here.”

1 Samuel 14:37  So Saul inquired of God, “Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day.

1 Samuel 14:38  Saul said, “All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.

1 Samuel 14:39  As surely as Yahveh lives who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan, he must die!” Not one of the troops answered him.

1 Samuel 14:40  So he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the troops replied, “Do whatever you want.”

1 Samuel 14:41  So Saul said to Yahveh, “God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, Lord God of Israel, give Urim; but if the fault is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge.

1 Samuel 14:42  Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected.

1 Samuel 14:43  Saul commanded him, “Tell me what you did.” Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff I was carrying. Notice, I am ready to die!”

1 Samuel 14:44  Saul declared to him, “May God punish me and do so severely if you do not die, Jonathan!”

1 Samuel 14:45  But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? No, as Yahveh lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God’s help today.” So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die.

1 Samuel 14:46  Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.

1 Samuel 14:47  When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc.

1 Samuel 14:48  He fought bravely, defeated the Amalekites, and rescued Israel from those who plundered them.

1 Samuel 14:49  Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, his firstborn, and Michal, the younger.

1 Samuel 14:50  The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul’s uncle Ner.

1 Samuel 14:51  Saul’s father was Kish. Abner’s father was Ner son of Abiel.

1 Samuel 14:52  The conflict with the Philistines was fierce all of Saul’s days, so whenever Saul noticed any strong or valiant man, he enlisted him.

links:

by many or by few
first domino
loyalty
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Wednesday, September 13, 2023
redeemed by the people
trouble to the land

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 13

1 Samuel 13:1  Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty-two years over Israel.

1 Samuel 13:2  He chose three thousand men from Israel for himself: two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in Bethel’s hill country, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.

1 Samuel 13:3  Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”

1 Samuel 13:4  And all Israel heard the news, “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

1 Samuel 13:5  The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

1 Samuel 13:6  The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, in thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.

1 Samuel 13:7  Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear.

1 Samuel 13:8  He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him.

1 Samuel 13:9  So Saul said, “Bring me the ascending offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the ascending offering.

1 Samuel 13:10  Just as he finished offering the ascending offering, notice Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him,

1 Samuel 13:11  and Samuel asked, “What have you done?” Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash,

1 Samuel 13:12  I thought, ‘The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought Yahveh’s favor.’ So I forced myself to offer the ascending offering.”

1 Samuel 13:13  Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command Yahveh your God gave you. It was at this time that Yahveh would have permanently established your reign over Israel,

1 Samuel 13:14  but now your reign will not endure. Yahveh has found a man after his own heart, and Yahveh has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what Yahveh commanded.”

1 Samuel 13:15  Then Samuel went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men.

1 Samuel 13:16  Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash.

1 Samuel 13:17  Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah road leading to the land of Shual.

1 Samuel 13:18  The next division headed toward the Beth-horon road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the Zeboim Valley toward the wilderness.

1 Samuel 13:19  No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.”

1 Samuel 13:20  So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles.

1 Samuel 13:21  The price was two-thirds of a shekel for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on a cattle prod.

1 Samuel 13:22  So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

1 Samuel 13:23  Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.

links:

he would have
hiding at Gilgal
Is Death a Better Place ?
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Thursday, September 12, 2019
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Tuesday, September 14, 2021
test completed — test failed
waiting for Jesus

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 12

1 Samuel 12:1  Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Notice, I have carefully listened to everything you said to me and placed a king over you.

1 Samuel 12:2  Now notice that the king is leading you. As for me, notice I’m old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until now.

1 Samuel 12:3  Notice me. Bring charges against me before Yahveh and his anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whom have I accepted a bribe to overlook something? I will return it to you.”

1 Samuel 12:4  “You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone,” they responded.

1 Samuel 12:5  He said to them, “Yahveh is a witness against you, and his anointed is a witness today that you haven’t found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they said.

1 Samuel 12:6  Then Samuel said to the people, “Yahveh, who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt, is a witness.

1 Samuel 12:7  Now present yourselves, so I may confront you before Yahveh about all the righteous acts he has done for you and your ancestors.

1 Samuel 12:8  “When Jacob went to Egypt, your ancestors cried out to Yahveh, and he sent them Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

1 Samuel 12:9  But they forgot Yahveh their God, so he handed them over to Sisera commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. These enemies fought against them.

1 Samuel 12:10  Then they cried out to Yahveh and said, ‘We have sinned, for we abandoned Yahveh and worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now rescue us from the power of our enemies, and we will serve you.’

1 Samuel 12:11  So Yahveh sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely.

1 Samuel 12:12  But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was coming against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king reign over us’– even though Yahveh your God is your king.

1 Samuel 12:13  “Now notice the king you’ve chosen, the one you requested. Notice, this is the king Yahveh has placed over you.

1 Samuel 12:14  If you fear Yahveh, worship and obey him, and if you don’t rebel against Yahveh’s command, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow Yahveh your God.

1 Samuel 12:15  However, if you disobey Yahveh and rebel against his command, Yahveh’s hand will be against you as it was against your ancestors.

1 Samuel 12:16  “Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that Yahveh will do before your eyes.

1 Samuel 12:17  Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on Yahveh, and he will send thunder and rain so that you will recognize what an immense evil you committed in Yahveh’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.”

1 Samuel 12:18  Samuel called on Yahveh, and on that day Yahveh sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared Yahveh and Samuel.

1 Samuel 12:19  They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to Yahveh your God for your slaves so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.”

1 Samuel 12:20  Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following Yahveh. Instead, worship Yahveh with all your heart.

1 Samuel 12:21  Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are worthless.

1 Samuel 12:22  Yahveh will not abandon his people, because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people.

1 Samuel 12:23  “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against Yahveh by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way.

1 Samuel 12:24  Above all, fear Yahveh and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you.

1 Samuel 12:25  However, if you continue to do what is evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”

links:

into his hands
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Monday, September 13, 2021
Samuel’s bargain
the right sign

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 11

1 Samuel 11:1  Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”

1 Samuel 11:2  Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I’ll make one with you on this condition: that I gouge out everyone’s right eye and humiliate all Israel.”

1 Samuel 11:3  “Don’t do anything to us for seven days,” the elders of Jabesh said to him, “and let us send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one saves us, we will surrender to you.”

1 Samuel 11:4  When the messengers came to Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, and told the terms to the people, all wept aloud.

1 Samuel 11:5  Just then, notice Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. “What’s the matter with the people? Why are they weeping?” Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh.

1 Samuel 11:6  When Saul heard these words, the Breath of God suddenly came powerfully on him, and his anger burned furiously.

1 Samuel 11:7  He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by messengers who said, “This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn’t march behind Saul and Samuel.” As a result, the terror of Yahveh fell on the people, and they went out united.

1 Samuel 11:8  Saul counted them at Bezek. There were three hundred thousand Israelites and thirty thousand men from Judah.

1 Samuel 11:9  He told the messengers who had come, “Tell this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.'” So the messengers told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.

1 Samuel 11:10  Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do whatever you want to us.”

1 Samuel 11:11  The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions. During the morning watch, they invaded the Ammonite camp and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. There were survivors, but they were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

1 Samuel 11:12  Afterward, the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Give us those men so we can kill them!”

1 Samuel 11:13  But Saul ordered, “No one will be executed this day, for today Yahveh has provided deliverance in Israel.”

1 Samuel 11:14  Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal, so we can renew the kingship there.”

1 Samuel 11:15  So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in Yahveh’s presence they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings in Yahveh’s presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

links:

debugging Luke 23-43
his sovereignty prevails
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Wednesday, September 11, 2019
the right man
the terror of Yahveh
where did all the spirits go?

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

1 Samuel 10

1 Samuel 10:1  Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it out on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t Yahveh anointed you ruler over his inheritance?

1 Samuel 10:2  Today when you leave me, you’ll find two men at Rachel’s Grave at Zelzah in the territory of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went looking for have been found, and notice your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son? ‘

1 Samuel 10:3  “You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a clay jar of wine.

1 Samuel 10:4  They will ask how you are and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.

1 Samuel 10:5  “After that you will come to Gibeah of God where there are Philistine garrisons. When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place prophesying. They will be preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres.

1 Samuel 10:6  The Breath of Yahveh will come powerfully on you, you will prophesy with them, and you will be transformed.

1 Samuel 10:7  When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require because God is with you.

1 Samuel 10:8  Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer ascending offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”

1 Samuel 10:9  When Saul turned around to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, and all the signs came about that day.

1 Samuel 10:10  When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, notice a group of prophets met him. Then the Breath of God came powerfully on him, and he prophesied along with them.

1 Samuel 10:11  Everyone who knew him previously and saw him noticed him prophesy with the prophets and asked each other, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

1 Samuel 10:12  Then a man who was from there asked, “And who is their father?” As a result, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” became a popular saying.

1 Samuel 10:13  Then Saul finished prophesying and went to the high place.

1 Samuel 10:14  Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” “To look for the donkeys,” Saul answered. “When we saw they weren’t there, we went to Samuel.”

1 Samuel 10:15  “Tell me,” Saul’s uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you?”

1 Samuel 10:16  Saul told him, “He assured us the donkeys had been found.” However, Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.

1 Samuel 10:17  Samuel summoned the people to Yahveh at Mizpah

1 Samuel 10:18  and said to the Israelites, “This is what Yahveh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’

1 Samuel 10:19  But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions. You said to him, ‘You must set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before Yahveh by your tribes and clans.”

1 Samuel 10:20  Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected.

1 Samuel 10:21  Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the Matrite clan was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they searched for him, they could not find him.

1 Samuel 10:22  They again inquired of Yahveh, “Has the man come here yet?” Yahveh replied, “Notice him, hidden among the supplies.”

1 Samuel 10:23  They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else.

1 Samuel 10:24  Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one Yahveh has chosen? There is no one like him among the entire population.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

1 Samuel 10:25  Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of Yahveh. Then Samuel sent all the people home.

1 Samuel 10:26  Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him.

1 Samuel 10:27  But some wicked men said, “How can this guy save us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift, but Saul said nothing.

links:

adventures in failure
ignoring criticism
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Tuesday, September 10, 2019
the next step
the right man
what we don’t say
where did all the spirits go?

The 1 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library