From Deliverance to Disobedience: Saul's Critical Turn

1. Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.” 2. Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make it with you, that all your right eyes be gouged out. I will make this dishonor all Israel.” 3. The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.” 4. Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke these words in the ears of the people, then all the people lifted up their voice, and wept. 5. Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, “What ails the people that they weep?” They told him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6. God’s Spirit came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger burned hot. 7. He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever doesn’t come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” The dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man. 8. He counted them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9. They said to the messengers who came, “Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.’” The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you.” 11. On the next day, Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the middle of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. 12. The people said to Samuel, “Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring those men, that we may put them to death!” 13. Saul said, “No man shall be put to death today; for today Yahweh has rescued Israel.” 14. Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.” 15. All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal. There they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. 1. Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. 2. Now, behold, the king walks before you. I am old and gray-headed. Behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth to this day. 3. Here I am. Witness against me before Yahweh, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a ransom to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.” 4. They said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone’s hand.” 5. He said to them, “Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed is witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” They said, “He is witness.” 6. Samuel said to the people, “It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7. Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which he did to you and to your fathers. 8. “When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place. 9. “But they forgot Yahweh their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. 10. They cried to Yahweh, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh, and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ 11. Yahweh sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety. 12. “When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us;’ when Yahweh your God was your king. 13. Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have asked for. Behold, Yahweh has set a king over you. 14. If you will fear Yahweh, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of Yahweh your God. 15. But if you will not listen to Yahweh’s voice, but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then Yahweh’s hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers. 16. “Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which Yahweh will do before your eyes. 17. Isn’t it wheat harvest today? I will call to Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain; and you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in Yahweh’s sight, in asking for a king.” 18. So Samuel called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel. 19. All the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.” 20. Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart. 21. Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain. 22. For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself. 23. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24. Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. 25. But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.” 1. Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years. 2. Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people to their own tents. 3. Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4. All Israel heard that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was considered an abomination to the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal. 5. The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven. 6. When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in tombs, and in pits. 7. Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8. He stayed seven days, according to the time set by Samuel; but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9. Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering to me here, and the peace offerings.” He offered the burnt offering. 10. It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. 11. Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn’t come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash; 12. therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering.” 13. Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom on Israel forever. 14. But now your kingdom will not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.” 15. Samuel arose, and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul counted the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 16. Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17. The raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual; 18. another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19. Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears”; 20. but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, each man to sharpen his own plowshare, mattock, ax, and sickle. 21. The price was one payim each to sharpen mattocks, plowshares, pitchforks, axes, and goads. 22. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that neither sword nor spear was found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. 23. The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

1. Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2. looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls. 4. You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin; 5. and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; 6. For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.” 7. It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline? 8. But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children. 9. Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? 10. For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. 11. All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby. 12. Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, 13. and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14. Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, 15. looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it; 16. lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. 17. For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears. 18. For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, 19. the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, 20. for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”; 21. and so fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.” 22. But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, 23. to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24. to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. 25. See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven, 26. whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” 27. This phrase, “Yet once more”, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28. Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29. for our God is a consuming fire. 1. Let brotherly love continue. 2. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3. Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body. 4. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5. Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.” 6. So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?” 7. Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith. 8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9. Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. 10. We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat. 11. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp. 12. Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate. 13. Let us therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach. 14. For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come. 15. Through him, then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name. 16. But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you. 18. Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. 19. I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner. 20. Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, 21. make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 22. But I exhort you, brothers, endure the word of exhortation; for I have written to you in few words. 23. Know that our brother Timothy has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you. 24. Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. The Italians greet you. 25. Grace be with you all. Amen.

1. In Judah, God is known. His name is great in Israel. 2. His tabernacle is also in Salem; His dwelling place in Zion. 3. There he broke the flaming arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah. 4. Glorious are you, and excellent, more than mountains of game. 5. Valiant men lie plundered, they have slept their last sleep. None of the men of war can lift their hands. 6. At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. 7. You, even you, are to be feared. Who can stand in your sight when you are angry? 8. You pronounced judgment from heaven. The earth feared, and was silent, 9. when God arose to judgment, to save all the afflicted ones of the earth. Selah. 10. Surely the wrath of man praises you. The survivors of your wrath are restrained. 11. Make vows to Yahweh your God, and fulfill them! Let all of his neighbors bring presents to him who is to be feared. 12. He will cut off the spirit of princes. He is feared by the kings of the earth.