14:1-46

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War against the Philistines

(1Sa 13:15-14:46)

After Samuel left Gilgal, Saul took his troops and joined with the other section of the Israelite army, which was under Jonathan. Together they prepared for the battle against the Philistines (1Sa 13:15-18).

The Philistines were confident of victory, partly because for many years they had so controlled metal-working activities in the area that the Israelites owned hardly any weapons.

This enabled the Philistines to raid throughout Israel without fear of strong resistance (1Sa 13:19-22).

In addition they controlled the mountain pass by which the Israelites hoped to attack them (1Sa 13:23).

Jonathan, however, without telling his father, worked out a daring plot to attack the Philistines.

To begin with he took his armour-bearer, climbed up the rocky slope on the other side of the pass, and approached the Philistine camp (1Sa 14:1-7).

The two men tricked the Philistines by pretending they were deserting from the Israelite army. The Philistines relaxed their defences and welcomed the supposed deserters.

Jonathan and his servant then attacked the unsuspecting enemy and killed twenty men (1Sa 13:8-14).

Panic quickly spread through the Philistine camp (1Sa 13:15).

On hearing of the Philistines’ confusion, Saul hurriedly assembled a fighting force and went out to do battle. He was so eager to seize the opportunity to attack the enemy that he did not wait to receive God’s directions through the priest (1Sa 13:16-20; see 1Sa 13:3).

Israelites who had earlier deserted to the Philistines or hidden themselves in fear suddenly returned to Saul’s side and joined in the battle (1Sa 13:21-23).

Saul put a curse on any soldier who stopped to eat that day, as he wanted to carry the battle on unbroken till the Philistines were destroyed. It was a stupid curse, for tiredness and hunger prevented the Israelites from being fully successful (1Sa 13:24-30).

As soon as night fell, the soldiers ate freely. By eating food that was forbidden by God’s law, they showed that, although they feared to break the king’s command, they did not fear to break God’s.

Saul was distressed when he heard what the people had done (1Sa 13:31-35; cf. Lev 17:14).

He was even more distressed when he learnt that God would not guarantee him victory in a proposed night attack on the Philistines. Assuming that one of his soldiers was responsible for this hindrance to God’s help, he added to his previous rash curse an equally rash vow to punish the offender (1Sa 13:36-39).

When it was revealed that Jonathan was the offender, Saul gave a further demonstration of his unpredictable nature. He did not carry out his vow, but heeded the voice of those who demanded Jonathan’s release (1Sa 13:40-46).