Smart people try to learn from other people’s mistakes instead of having to make the same mistakes themselves. We can certainly learn from Saul’s failures just as David did. When we think about the downfall of Saul we might mistakenly think that Yahweh left Saul because Saul lied to Yahweh. This is not the case. Yahweh left Saul because Saul did not look to Yahweh or inquire of Him as he had been commanded. Saul became impatient in waiting on Yahweh and Samuel. In comparison, we see that David was always seeking the face of Yahweh. We see David in continual prayer to Yahweh. We see David looking for direction from Yahweh. We see that Saul does not look to Yahweh in this second battle since he becomes king and this is why Yahweh takes the kingdom from him. Saul goes on to do a few more foolish things that cause Samuel to cry out to Yahweh all night long. Yahweh regrets Saul as king.
1 Samuel 13:2 G2532 And G1586 [2chose G1438 3for himself G* 1Saul] G5140 three G5505 thousand G435 men G1537 from G3588 the G435 men G* of Israel. G2532 And G1510.7.6 there were G3326 with G* Saul G1367 two thousand G1722 in G* Michmash, G2532 and G1722 in G3588 the G3735 mountain G* of Beth-el, G2532 and G5507 a thousand G1510.7.6 were G3326 with G* Jonathan G1722 in G* Gibeah G3588 G* of Benjamin. G2532 And G3588 the G2645 rest G3588 of the G2992 people G1821 he sent out, G1538 each man G1519 unto G3588 G4638 his tent. G1473
3 G2532 And G3960 Jonathan struck G* G3588 the G* Nasib G3588 of the G246 Philistines, G3588 the one G1722 in G3588 the G1015 hill. G2532 And G191 [3heard G3588 1the G246 2Philistines], G2532 and G* Saul G4537 trumped G4536 the trumpet G1519 in G3956 all G3588 the G1093 land, G3004 saying, G114 [3disregard us G3588 1The G1401 2servants].
4 G2532 And G3956 all G* Israel G191 heard, G3004 saying, G3817 Saul has smitten G* G3588 the G* Nasib G3588 of the G246 Philistines; G2532 and G153 Israel was put to shame G* G1722 by G3588 the G246 Philistines. G2532 And G305 [3ascended up G3588 1the G2992 2people] G3694 after G* Saul G1722 in G* Gilgal.
Saul mobilizes an army. Saul has command of two thousand men and Jonathan has command of one thousand men. We can guess that Jonathan was like Saul and Kish, muscular and strong. Some English translations try to make Nasib a garrison, but it was not a military battalion of troops, it was one person. Nasib is a personal pronoun, the name of a man, Nasib. It is possible that this Nasib was among the people who opposed Saul, of whom Saul originally spared their lives after Saul defeated Nahash. Nasib was probably a giant, someone who was part of the mixed tribes of the Philistines, and a Gibeonite. Nasib lived in the hill. What hill? Probably the hill at Gibeon which was north of Jebus (Jerusalem) near Michmash which is seven miles north of Jerusalem. This is where the tabernacle of Moses was. It was the hill that David and Solomon worshiped on. This was certainly not a place that the Philistines or a giant would have been living with a military force. However if he was a Gibeonite, he would certainly have been living there.
From Saul’s statement in verse 3, we gather that Nasib has lived in the area for a long time and was supposed to be serving the Israelites, as per Joshua. This was part of the treaty that Joshua made with the Gibeonites, they asked to be Israel’s servants. When Joshua found out that they were from the Nephilim tribes he was angry that they had deceived him. We don’t know the details as to why Jonathan killed Nasib, but we have to keep in mind that there was a new government in Israel. Saul was king and Nasib should have been willing to serve in the army. He was not serving them. However killing him caused shame on Israel because of Joshua’s treaty.
The Philistines gather at the coast for war with Israel and head north to Michmash. When the men of Israel saw the Philistines coming they hid in the caves and crevasses. The Philistines cross the Jordan into Gad and Gilead. Saul waited for Samuel for seven days and when he didn’t come Saul made a burnt offering to Yahweh. A whole burnt offering is also known as a holocaust offering. When he was done with this whole burnt offering, Samuel shows up and was upset.
1 Samuel 13:11 G2532 And G2036 Samuel said, G* G5100 What G4160 have you done? G2532 And G2036 Saul said, G* G1360 Because G1492 I saw G3754 that G1289 [3scattered G3588 1the G2992 2people] G575 from G1473 me, G2532 and G1473 you G3756 did not come G3854 G1722 in G3588 the G3142 testimony G3588 of the G2250 days G5613 as G1299 you set in order, G2532 and G3588 the G246 Philistines G4863 were gathered together G1519 in G* Michmash,
12 G2532 and G2036 I said, G3568 Now G2597 [3shall come down G3588 1the G246 2Philistines] G4314 to G1473 me G1519 in G* Gilgal, G2532 and G3588 the G4383 face G3588 of the G2962 lord G3756 I beseeched not; G1189 G2532 and G1467 I took control myself G2532 and G399 offered G3588 the G3646.1 whole burnt-offering.
Saul was worried because the people were scattered (hiding in caves and crevasses) and the Philistines were coming for him. Saul went from two thousand men to six hundred men. Saul panicked. Saul did not pray or petition Yahweh. This is Saul’s offence against Yahweh. The word egkrateuomai means to exercise self restraint. Saul did not exercise self restraint. He did not wait for Samuel, he made an offering himself. The problem, although not pointed out here, is that Saul was not a godly man, he was a goodly man. Saul was not holy, just a good guy. No one should be making an offering who is not a priest or prophet. The king was not a priest or prophet, he was a good man and he was afraid of fighting the Philistines with so few men. Saul acted in fear. Fear has torment and is not from Yahweh. This is why Yahweh took the kingdom from Saul’s household.
Samuel gave a long speech after choosing lots for Saul and in 10:25 Samuel tells the people the ordinance of the kingship. In this speech it is possible that Samuel told the people, and Saul, that Saul as king was to seek Yahweh first and foremost before all his decisions. Since this is exactly what David did, we realize that David was probably told this as well. This is Saul’s second big decision and he became impatient and unrestrained in waiting on Yahweh and Samuel. Samuel scolds Saul and says that he did not keep the commandment that Yahweh had charged him with.
1 Samuel 13:13 G2532 And G2036 Samuel said G* G4314 to G* Saul, G3154 It is folly G1473 to you G3754 that G3756 you kept not G5442 G3588 G1785 my commandment G1473 G3739 which G1781 [2gave charge G1473 3to you G2962 1 the lord]. G5613 As G2090 the lord prepared G2962 G3588 G932 your kingdom G1473 G1909 over G* Israel G2193 unto G165 the eon.
14 G2532 And G3568 now G3588 G932 your kingdom G1473 G3756 shall not G2476 stand G1473 with you. G2532 And G2212 the lord shall seek G2962 G1438 for himself G444 a man G2596 according to G3588 G2588 his heart. G1473 G2532 And G1781 the lord shall give charge G2962 G1473 to him G1519 for G758 ruler G1909 over G3588 G2992 his people, G1473 G3754 for G3756 you did not G5442 keep G3745 as many things as G1781 [3gave charge G1473 4to you G3588 1the G2962 2 lord].
Saul was to have a kingdom forever, into the ages. But within the space of a few years he had messed it all up by not inquiring of Yahweh (which had been a command), and by offering a holocaust offering to Yahweh. Now we can understand why David sought after Yahweh, it was Yahweh’s command. The offering that Saul made was not a magic trick to winning a battle. Saul was to seek Yahweh’s face first. Now Yahweh will give the kingdom to a manfaced who looks to Yahweh in every battle. David had this downward heart from heaven to earth.
The Israelites had another problem. The Philistines, who were supposed to be serving the Israelites, were Israel’s blacksmiths. We can see the consequences for a nation that does not have its own ability to make weapons. The Israelites simply went to the areas that the Philistines lived in to make their farming tools and the Philistines had control over the metal work. Saul and Jonathan were the only two people with weapons.
Jonathan and his servant stealthily left to fight the Philistines. Jonathan and his servant decided to rely on Yahweh and they came into the Philistine camp which was between jagged rocks. Jonathan says “Yahweh is not holding back deliverance in many or in few”, meaning it does not matter how many people there are, Yahweh is not holding back their deliverance. The two had a plan; if the Philistines see them and tell them to wait, and that they will send a messenger, then Jonathan and his servant wouldn’t go to kill them. But if the Philistines tell them to come down to them, then they will go to kill the Philistines and Yahweh will deliver them. Jonathan and his armor bearer killed twenty Philistines with arrows, slings, and pebbles. Jonathan knocked them out and the armor bearer killed them. This is the same process as David knocking out Goliath first, and then cutting off his head. This is who David learned warfare from.
The Philistines were thrown into confusion and started killing one another. The servants of the Philistines left them and joined up with Saul and Jonathan. The men who were hiding in caves and crevasses gathered for battle as well. Yahweh delivered Israel despite Saul and on account of the future Messiah coming out of Israel.
1 Samuel 14:24 G2532 And G* Saul G50 knew not G52 [2ignorance G3173 1 through great] G1722 in G3588 G2250 that day, G1565 G2532 and G689.1 he curses G3588 the G2992 people, G3004 saying, G1944 Accursed is G3588 the G444 man G3739 who G2068 shall eat G740 bread G2193 until G2073 evening -- G2532 so G1556 I will punish G1519 for G3588 G2190 my enemy. G1473 G2532 And G3756 not G1089 [4tasted G3956 1any G3588 2of the G2992 3people] G740 bread, G2532 and G3956 all G3588 the G1093 land G2064 went G1519 unto G1409.1 Grove.
25 G2532 And G1409.1 at Grove G1510.7.3 was G3193.1 an apiary G2596 by G4383 the face G3588 of the G68 field.
Why did Saul think that the people needed to fast after fighting the Philistines? Why would he curse people for eating before evening? Was this Saul’s way of making an offering to Yahweh, by making the people fast? Did Saul seek the face of Yahweh before this declaration? No. Saul did this in ignorance. Of course Jonathan did not hear about the curse, there was no social media or mass communications then. Jonathan, his armor bearer, the people in caves and crevasses, and the servants of the Philistines who defected to Israel were in a different part of the land.
1 Samuel 14:27 G2532 And G* Jonathan G3756 did not G191 hear G1722 in G3588 the G3726 binding [3by an oath G3588 4 by G3962 5his father G1473 G3588 1the G2992 2people]. G2532 And G1614 he stretched out G3588 the G206.1 tip G3588 G4638.1 of his staff, G1473 G3588 of the one G1722 in G3588 G5495 his hand, G1473 G2532 and G911 he dipped G1473 it G1519 into G3588 the G2781 honeycomb G3588 of the G3192 honey, G2532 and G1994 he returned G3588 G5495 his hand G1473 G1519 to G3588 G4750 his mouth, G1473 G2532 and G308 [2looked up G3588 G3788 1his eyes]. G1473
28 G2532 And G611 [5responded G1520 1one G1537 2of G3588 3the G2992 4people] G2532 and G2036 said, G3726 By an oath G3726 [2bound G3588 G3962 1your father] G1473 G3588 the G2992 people, G3004 saying, G1944 Accursed be G3588 the G444 man G3739 who G2068 shall eat G740 bread G4594 today; G2532 and G1590 [3were faint G3588 1the G2992 2people].
The word for accursed here is epikataratos meaning “on downward curse”. Saul did something really dumb, he cursed a large portion of his army when they had no way of knowing what he was pronouncing. The men who were fighting with Jonathan did not hear what Saul said because they weren’t near him, they had already been tired from fighting. Once Jonathan ate the honey he knew what Saul had done. Why? Because Jonathan felt the downward curse on him.
1 Samuel 14:29 G2532 And G1097 Jonathan knew, G* G2532 and G2036 said, G525 [3rids G3588 G3962 2father G1473 1My] G3588 the G1093 land; G1492 [2behold G1360 1for G1492 4see G3588 G3788 3my eyes] G1473 G3754 now that G1089 I tasted G1024 a little G5100 something G3588 G3192 of this honey. G3778
30 G235 But G3754 that G1487 if G2532 also G2068 [4ate G2068 3in eating G4594 5today G3588 1the G2992 2people] G3588 of the G4661 spoils G3588 G2190 of their enemies G1473 G3739 which G2147 they found, G3568 now G302 even G3173 greater G1096 would have been G3588 the G4127 calamity G1722 among G3588 the G246 Philistines.
31 G2532 And G3960 he struck G1722 in G3588 G2250 that day G1565 G1537 of G3588 the G246 Philistines G4183 many G1722 in G* Michmash, G2532 and G2872 [3tired G3588 1the G2992 2people] G4970 exceedingly.
32 G2532 And G3729 [3advanced G3588 1the G2992 2people] G1909 unto G3588 the G4661 spoils. G2532 And G2983 [3took G3588 1the G2992 2people] G4168 flocks, G2532 and G1009.3 herds, G2532 and G5043 offspring G1016 of oxen, G2532 and G4969 slew them G1909 upon G3588 the G1093 ground, G2532 and G2068 [3ate them G3588 1the G2992 2people] G4862 with G3588 the G129 blood.
The people who were in Michmash ate the spoils of the Philistines as they slaughtered everything. They did not have time to drain the blood, and properly barbecue the meat, they were tired and hungry. Jonathan’s eyes were opened, meaning he realized something. That Saul was "changing off” or “transforming away” apallassō, the land. The word apallassō comes from apo meaning “off” or “away” and allassō meaning to “change” or “transform”. What Jonathan is saying is that his father altered the land away from Israel, because he had cursed so many people. This idea of fasting did not come from Yahweh. This was a bad idea.
Saul decides to have all the people who ate the spoils, bring their sheep for a big sacrifice to Yahweh. Saul built an altar with a rock for the slaughter of the animals. Saul is now thinking that he should follow the Philistines and kill them all, but Samuel left a priest with Saul. Ahijah the priest suggested that they inquire of the Elohim first. But the Elohim did not answer Saul, 14:37. Saul then calls to the tribal leaders to bring all the chiefs to see who had sinned against Yahweh by eating before sundown. Saul then casts lots between himself and Jonathan and the lot falls on Jonathan. We don’t know why Saul did this, but we can guess that the people who fought with Jonathan were in support of Jonathan and not Saul. Jonathan tells Saul that he ate honey and that he must die. The people decided not to kill Jonathan because of the great deliverance that he had provided for Israel. The people prayed for Jonathan and broke Saul’s curse so that he did not die.
We now see that Saul fought against all the surrounding kingdoms, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Beth Peor, Zobah, and the Philistines. He also struck Amalek. If we look at the book of Jasher, something that stands out to us is just how fierce the children of Jacob were. They destroyed many tribal communities. Saul is now doing the same.
Just because Saul was a goodly man did not mean that he was a godly man. He has now made three very big mistakes as king. He did not wait for Samuel and did not inquire to Yahweh. He made a holocaust offering to Yahweh. He then curses his own people when he had no idea what a large portion of his army was doing. When it comes to spiritual matters, Saul is someone who did not listen well and was impatient. He thought that he knew what he was doing but really he didn’t.
1 Samuel 15:1 G2532 And G2036 Samuel said G* G4314 to G* Saul, G1473 [4me G649 3has sent G2962 G3588 1the G2962 2 lord] G3588 G5548 to anoint G1473 you G1519 as G935 king G1909 over G* Israel G3588 G2992 his people. G1473 G2532 And G3568 now G191 hear G3588 the G5456 voice G3588 of the G4487 saying G2962 of the lord!
2 G3592 Thus G2036 said G2962 the lord G4519 of hosts, G3568 Now G1473 I G1556 shall punish G3739 what G4160 Amalek did G* G3588 G* to Israel, G5613 when G528 he met G1473 him G1722 in G3588 the G3598 way G305 ascending G1537 out of G* Egypt.
Saul receives direction from Yahweh through Samuel. This is a very specific word. Amalek is being punished because of the way that they treated Israel during the exodus. That was a long time ago, but there is more.
1 Samuel 15:3 G2532 And G3568 now, G4198 go! G2532 and G3960 you shall strike G3588 G* Amalek, G2532 and G1842 you shall utterly destroy G1473 him, G2532 and G3956 all G3588 the things G1473 of his. G2532 And G332 you shall devote him to consumption, G1473 G2532 and G3956 all G3588 the things G1473 of his; G2532 and G3766.2 in no way G5339 shall you spare G575 over G1473 him. G2532 And G615 you shall kill G575 from G435 man G2532 and G2193 unto G1135 woman, G2532 and G575 from G3516 infant G2532 and G2193 unto G2337 one nursing; G2532 and G575 from G3448 calf G2532 and G2193 unto G4263 sheep, G2532 and G575 from G2574 camel G2532 and G2193 unto G3688 donkey.
Saul was to kill Amalek (the Amalekites) and his household and destroy his possessions. Israel was to kill men, women, infants, livestock, herds, and beasts of burden. All of it.
We have another number discrepancy here as the Septuagint says that Saul numbered in Gilgal four hundred thousand regular troops and Judah had thirty thousand regular troops.
1 Samuel 15:7 G2532 And G3960 Saul struck G* G3588 G* Amalek G575 from G* Havilah G2193 unto G* Shur G1909 at G4383 the face G* of Egypt.
8 G2532 And G4815 he seized G3588 G* Agag G935 king G* of Amalek G2198 alive. G2532 And G3956 all G3588 G2992 his people G1473 G1842 he utterly destroyed G1722 by G4750 the mouth G4501 of the broadsword.
Saul kept king Agag of Amalek alive. This is the event that we usually associate with Saul losing the kingdom from Yahweh, but in fact, by this time Saul had already lost the kingdom.
1 Samuel 15:9 G2532 And G4046 [5preserved G* 1Saul G2532 2and G3588 3the G2992 4people] G3588 G* Agag, G2532 and G3588 the G18 good ones G3588 of the G4168 flocks, G2532 and G3588 of the G1009.3 herds, G2532 and G3588 of the G1475.1 foods, G2532 and G3588 of the G290 vineyards, G2532 and G3956 all G3588 the G18 good things; G2532 and G3756 they did not G1014 want G1842 to utterly destroy G1473 them. G2532 And G3956 every G2041 work G821 being a disgrace, G2532 and G1847 being treated with contempt G1842 they utterly destroyed.
After the last battle with the Philistines at Michmash it is possible that Saul realized they could have plundered all the Philistines spoils. Saul did ask Yahweh if he could follow after the Philistines, but Yahweh never answered him. Why? Maybe because Saul invoked a curse on his people. The people under the curse would have all died. In this battle Saul was to destroy everything, but he didn’t.
1 Samuel 15:10 G2532 And G1096 came to pass G4487 the word G2962 of the lord G4314 to G* Samuel, G3004 saying,
11 G3338 I have changed my mind G3754 for G936 Saul to reign G* G1519 as G935 king, G3754 for G654 he turned away G575 from G3693 following after G1473 me; G2532 and G3588 G3056 my words G1473 G3756 he did not G5083 give heed to. G2532 And G120 Samuel was depressed, G* G2532 and G994 yelled G4314 to G2962 the lord G3650 the entire G3588 G3571 night.
Yahweh had already said that he was taking the kingdom away from Saul, but now Yahweh wants to end Saul’s reign as king. It seems that originally Yahweh would have waited for Saul to die and then he would have removed the kingdom, but now he is going to have to speed up the process of Saul’s death.
The rhēma of Yahweh to Samuel was that Yahweh metamellomai “regrets” Sauls reign as king because Saul apostrephō “turned away” opisthen “from behind the back” of Yahweh’s logos and didn’t guard it. The idea here shows movement that Saul was to follow behind Yahweh, instead Saul turned away from Yahweh and didn’t guard his words. This is a great picture for all of us to comprehend. We are to follow, Yahweh leads, and we are to guard what he tells us. This is what David did. We can understand David more clearly now as we can compare David’s life with Saul’s mistakes.
Samuel was athumeō, broken in spirit and discouraged. It had only been a few years from the time that the people decided they wanted a king and now the first king has already turned away from Yahweh’s words. Samuel yells and shouts to Yahweh all night. Samuel is in anguish. Samuel warned the people about the problem of having a king and yet they still wanted a king. Saul didn’t want to be king and seems to fumble around with the directions and commands from Yahweh. Samuel is old and concerned that Saul is going to lose the kingdom because of his disobedience.
We know today that there are many people who get elected who immediately turn away from the people they are supposed to serve in order to serve themselves. We do not put a plumb line on our leaders as to whether they follow Yahweh or not. We tend to make bad decisions in the absence of Yahweh’s logos and rhēma. Saul was to lead the nation according to Yahweh, not according to his own ideas. Samuel rightfully cries to Yahweh all night long, in anguish at the state of affairs of the nation. We too can cry out to Yahweh over the state of our nations. We can travail in prayer for our nations to be spared.
During Samuel’s speech to the nation, the people, in 12:19, realize their sin of asking for a king and they ask for Samuel to pray for them. We can do the same if we have elected the wrong national leader. We can repent and pray. Samuel states in 12:25 that if they continue to do evil then they and their king will be consumed. All the nations will be consumed after the harpazo of the righteous, but evil nations may be consumed prior to the tribulation.
1 Samuel 15:12 G2532 And G3719 Samuel rose early G* G2532 and G4198 went G1519 to G529 meet G3588 G* Israel G4404 in the morning. G2532 And G518 it was reported G3588 G* to Samuel, G3004 saying, G2240 Saul comes G* G1519 to G3588 G* Carmel. G2532 And G2400 behold, G450 he has raised up G1438 to himself G5495 a hand, G2532 and G1994 turned G3588 G716 his chariot, G1473 G2532 and G2597 went down G1519 into G* Gilgal.
We are missing a portion of this verse here. Saul was making a whole burnt offering or holocaust offering to Yahweh.
1 Samuel 15:12 And Samuel rose early and went to meet Israel in the morning, and it was told Saul, saying, Samuel has come to Carmel, and he has raised up help for himself. And he turned his chariot, and came down to Gilgal to Saul. And behold, he was offering up a whole burnt offering to the Lord, the chief of the spoils which he brought out of Amalek.
The section that is missing here explains a lot to us about Saul’s mind and what he was thinking. Saul had made a burnt offering on his own prior to the battle with the Philistines and here he is doing it again. The idea of the offerings is that they are pure, clean, and sanctified to Yahweh. Saul just took some of the best spoils of the Amalekites and offered them. However the Amalekites were a defiled people. The point is to make a holy offering, not an offering of loot from an idolatrous tribe. Yahweh doesn’t want defiled offerings. Saul is treating what is supposed to be holy as an idolatrous offering to Yahweh.
1 Samuel 15:13 G2532 And G3854 Samuel came G* G4314 to G* Saul. G2532 And G2036 [2said G1473 3to him G* 1Saul], G2128 Blessed are G1473 you G3588 to the G2962 lord . G2476 I established G3956 all G3745 as many things as G2980 the lord spoke. G2962
Saul tells Samuel that he did what he was told, but Samuel responds that this is not what he was told to do. Saul did not understand why he was to destroy everything.
1 Samuel 15:16 G2532 And G2036 Samuel said G* G4314 to G* Saul, G447 Spare! G2532 and G518 I will report G1473 to you G3739 what G2980 the lord spoke G2962 G4314 to G1473 me G3588 in the G3571 night. G2532 And G2036 he said G1473 to him, G2980 Speak!
Samuel tells Saul what Yahweh said. Instead of heeding the correction Saul deflects. Saul may think that if he makes an offering to Yahweh then he can get away with not killing Agag and destroying everything. There is a very important reason that Yahweh wanted these people destroyed along with all their possessions.
1 Samuel 15:22 G2532 And G2036 Samuel said, G* G1487 Does G2308.2 [3want G3588 1the G2962 2 lord] G3646 whole burnt-offerings G2532 and G2378 sacrifices, G5613 as compared G3588 G191 to hearing G3588 the G5456 voice G2962 of the lord, no . G2400 Behold, G189 hearkening G5228 is better than G2378 sacrifice, G2532 and G3588 G1874.1 heeding G5228 over G4720.1 the fat G2919.1 of rams.
23 G3754 For G266 sin G3634.4 is as an omen, G1510.2.3 G3601 [3grief G2532 4and G4192 5miseries G2324.1 1teraphim G1863 2bring upon]. G3754 Because G1847 you treated with contempt G3588 the G4487 word G2962 of the lord, G2532 even G1847 [2treats you with contempt G2962 G2962 1 the lord] G3361 to not G1510.1 be G935 king G1909 over G* Israel.
Now we know exactly why Yahweh wanted Amalek/Amalekites destroyed along with everything they had. They were practicing witchcraft, and satanism.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/02/teraphim-ventriloquists-omenizing-drugs.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/11/sex-cults-sacred-groves-ephods-teraphim.html
Yahweh did not want this nation to infect other nations. Yahweh wants them utterly destroyed, but Saul spared Agag and their demonic idols. These idols are more than simply a statue that someone carved, they are a statue that was inhabited by a demon who was to attend to humans. It was a practice of relying on demons, not relying on Yahweh. Saul really messed this up. Saul seems to have no idea why he was to consume everything there.
1 Samuel 15:24 G2532 And G2036 Saul said G* G4314 to G* Samuel, G264 I have sinned, G3754 that G3845 I violated G3588 the G3056 word G2962 of the lord, G2532 and G3588 the G4487 saying G1473 by you; G3754 for G5399 I feared G3588 the G2992 people, G2532 and G191 I hearkened to G3588 G5456 their voice. G1473
25 G2532 And G3568 now, G142 take away G1211 indeed G3588 G265 my sin, G1473 G2532 and G390 return G3326 with G1473 me! G2532 and G4352 I shall do obeisance G2962 to the lord G3588 G2316 your God. G1473
Again Saul deflects. Saul thinks Samuel will fix this for him.
What we don’t understand with our twenty first century eyes is that Yahweh was in favor of war when it came to evil nations and their satanic practices. Yahweh believes in destroying those nations who practice occultic worship, rape and murder of the innocent, and sacrifice to demons. This is how Yahweh wants us to think because He wants to protect the innocent. He wants children to grow up healthy. He wants his children to know Him, the author of life. Yahweh does not want humans to suffer with eternal death. It is our job to eradicate evil, as individuals, as churches, as nations.
1 Samuel 15:26 G2532 And G2036 Samuel said G* G4314 to G* Saul, G3756 I shall not G390 return G3326 with G1473 you. G3754 For G1847 you treated with contempt G3588 the G4487 saying G2962 of the lord, G2532 and G1847 [2shall treat you with contempt G1473 G2962 1 the lord] G3588 G3361 to not G1510.1 be G935 king G1909 over G* Israel.
27 G2532 And G1994 Samuel turned G* G3588 G4383 his face G1473 G3588 G565 to go forth, G2532 and G2902 Saul took hold G* G3588 of the G4419 border G3588 G1361.4 of his doubled garment, G1473 G2532 and G1284 tore G1473 it.
Saul is desperate.
1 Samuel 15:28 G2532 And G2036 [2said G4314 3to G1473 4him G* 1Samuel], G1284 the lord tore G2962 G3588 G932 your kingdom G1473 G575 from G* Israel, G1537 from out of G5495 your hand G1473 G4594 today, G2532 and G1325 he shall give G1473 it G3588 to G4139 your neighbor, G1473 G3588 to the one G18 good G5228 over G1473 you.
29 G2532 And G1244 Israel shall be divided G* G1519 into G1417 two, G2532 and G3756 he shall not G1994 turn, G3761 nor G3340 shall [4change his mind G3588 1the G39 2holy one G3588 G* 3of Israel], G3754 for G3756 not G5613 as G444 a man G1510.2.3 is he G3588 G3340 to change the mind.
All of this comes to pass. David of Judah, a neighbor to Benjamin becomes king, and after Solomon the kingdom is split into two kingdoms.
1 Samuel 15:30 G2532 And G2036 Saul said, G* G264 I have sinned, G235 but G1392 glorify G1473 me G1799 before G3588 the G4245 elders G3588 G2992 of my people, G1473 G2532 and G1799 before G3588 G* Israel, G2532 and G390 return G3326 with G1473 me! G2532 and G4352 I will do obeisance to G2962 the lord G3588 G2316 your God. G1473
31 G2532 And G390 Samuel returned G* G3694 behind G* Saul, G2532 and G4352 he did obeisance G3588 to the G2962 lord .
32 G2532 And G2036 Samuel said, G* G4317 Bring G1473 to me G3588 G* Agag G935 king G* of Amalek. G2532 And G4334 [2came forward G4314 3to G1473 4him G3588 G* 1Agag] G5141 trembling. G2532 And G2036 Agag said, G* G1487 Is G3779 [2thus G4089 3bitter G3588 G2288 1death]?
33 G2532 And G2036 Samuel said G* G4314 to G* Agag, G2530 As G815.1 [3made 5childless G1135 4women G3588 G4501 2broadsword G1473 1your], G3779 thus G815.1 [3shall be made childless G1537 4among G1135 5women G3588 G3384 2mother G1473 1your]. G2532 And G4969 Samuel slew G* G3588 G* Agag G1799 in the presence of G2962 the lord G1722 in G* Gilgal.
Saul is asking Samuel to esteem him, not glorify him as we glorify Yahweh. Saul is trying not to lose face in front of the elders. Saul worships the whole way home. When they get back to Israel Samuel wants to see Agag, and Samuel, who is an old man, kills Agag. While the Amalekites did not allow the Israelites to cross their land during the exodus, Agag himself filled up the rest of their sins by killing pregnant women’s babies. This was a practice of some of the tribes around Israel during various wars. We see it at a later time period. The practice was started by Agag. Now we can see why Agag and the Amalekites needed to be killed, they aborted their enemies’ babies.
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Samuel goes back to the ekklesia in Ramah, his School of the Prophets. Saul continues as king and continues to make mistakes before Yahweh.
1 Samuel 15:34 G2532 And G565 Samuel went forth G* G1519 unto G* Ramah, G2532 and G* Saul G305 ascended G1519 unto G3588 G3624 his house G1473 G1519 in G* Gibeah.
35 G2532 And G3756 [2did not G4369 3proceed G* 1Samuel] G1492 to see G3588 G* Saul G2193 until G2250 the day G2288 of his death, G1473 G3754 for G3996 Samuel mourned G* G1909 over G* Saul. G2532 And G2962 the lord G3338 repented G3754 that G936 Saul reigned G3588 G1909 over G* Israel
Samuel mourned over Saul. Yahweh regretted that Saul had reigned. In reviewing what Saul did, before lying to Yahweh, Saul did not ask Yahweh what to do and did not wait for His answer. Saul then made a whole burnt offering on his own to Yahweh. The first rule of leadership is to consult with Yahweh before doing anything. Wait on Yahweh for an answer. We do know what probably happened in Saul’s mind. Out of fear Saul became influenced by demons and acted irrationally and impatiently. Saul acted more irrationally by cursing his own people for eating food. Once he did that, demons led him to lie to Yahweh regarding the Amalekites, their king, possessions, and flocks. As an appeasement to Yahweh, Saul made a whole burnt offering to Yahweh from the defiled animals of the Amalekites, but used impure, un-sanctified offerings. Saul was ignorant of the spiritual nature of the battle that he was waging. We see Saul’s sins continue to snowball.
Israel needed a leader who submitted every thought, idea, and action to Yahweh. We need political and religious leaders who do the same. David is the comparison to Saul. David walked closely with Yahweh because he saw Saul’s mistakes and learned from them. We can learn from Saul’s mistakes too. We can put Yahweh into our lives in every thought, idea, and action; asking beforehand, waiting on the answer, and not moving until we get an answer. We can decide not to react out of fear, because fear is not from Yahweh. And we can learn patience, waiting on Yahweh’s directions. Meanwhile, like Samuel, we can cry out to Yahweh for the salvation of our nation.
