YHWH BRINGS ABOUT THE DEFEAT OF THE PHILISTINES (1 SAMUEL 14:15). We must not underestimate the beliefs of ancient peoples in omens. This comes out in that regularly battles were decided by champions being selected from both sides, with the winner reducing the other side to pure terror as they reco... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL'S MEN ARE HINDERED BY A RASH OATH MADE BY SAUL, WHILE JONATHAN WHO KNEW NOTHING OF IT BREAKS THE OATH (1 SAMUEL 14:23 A). The contrast between the spiritually dead ritualist and the true man of faith continues. Jonathan the man of faith has enabled YHWH to act on behalf of His people. Now we d... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE SIN BY EATING THE BLOOD OF SLAIN BEASTS, AND SAUL ERECTS A PRIMITIVE PLACE FOR SLAUGHTER (1 SAMUEL 14:31). A further consequence of Saul's rash vow is now seen. Having been deprived of food Saul's men now sin against YHWH by eating animals with their blood. This was something strictly for... [ Continue Reading ]
CONTINUATION OF THE DEFEAT OF THE PHILISTINES BY RAIDING THEIR TERRITORY IS ABORTED AND JONATHAN IS NEARLY EXECUTED, AND ALL DUE TO SAUL'S FOOLISH CURSE (1 SAMUEL 14:36). This passage (1 Samuel 14:1) began with the depiction of Jonathan, the man of faith, bringing about the defeat of the Philistines... [ Continue Reading ]
A SUMMARY OF SAUL'S EARLIER REIGN AND ITS SUCCESSES AND OF HIS CLOSE FAMILY (1 SAMUEL 14:47). Having demonstrated both Saul's partial success, mainly through the faith of Jonathan, and his partial failure as a result of his own distorted religious ideas, the writer looks back and summarises his rei... [ Continue Reading ]
FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT SAUL AND HIS LEADING GENERAL WHO WAS RELATED TO HIM (1 SAMUEL 14:49). Saul's ancestry was given in 1 Samuel 9:1. Now we are given his family details, after which we are also given the details of his commander in chief's family, partly because they were related to Saul, and par... [ Continue Reading ]