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SAUL’S SIN AT GILGAL

I Samuel 13:8-23

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline the section:

 

i.                    THE KING’S SACRIFICE (I Sam. 13:8-9)

ii.                  THE PROPHET’S SCOLDING (I Sam. 13:10-15a)

iii.                THE TROOP’S STATION (I Sam. 13:15b-18)

iv.                THE WEAPON SHORTAGE (I Sam. 13:19-22)

v.                  THE PHILISTINE’S SHIFT (I Sam. 13:23)

 

2.      T – F    Saul tarried seven days waiting for Samuel to arrive. (I Sam. 13:8)

 

And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed…

 

A.    True

 

B.      Notice that Saul tarried.  He waited.  He was well aware of the command of the prophet.

 

C.     NOTE:  Both Barnes and Clarke believe that the command about this seven day period is different from the one found in I Samuel 10:8.  They think that too much time had passed for the two to be connected.

 

3.      What was happening to the people during this seven day period? (I Sam. 13:8)

 

…but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

 

A.    The people scattered from Saul

 

B.     LESSON:  Fear is a powerful emotion. 

1.      If it is not overcome with courage, individuals will not stand and fight the battle. 

2.      Israel’s fear overcame them for two reasons:

a.      They did not trust God to deliver them.

b.      Their eyes were on their surroundings instead of being upon God.

 

4.      What two offerings did Saul request to be brought to him? (I Sam. 13:9)

 

And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings…

 

A.    Burnt offering

 

B.      Peace offerings

 

5.      Which one of these did he offer unto the Lord? (I Sam. 13:9)

 

…and he offered the burnt offering.

 

A.    The burnt offering

 

B.      There is difference of opinion as to whether he personally offered the sacrifices or commanded them to be offered by the other priests who were present.

1.      If he had priests to offer the sacrifices, his only sin was in his refusal to wait for Saul.

2.      If he offered the burnt offering personally, then he also encroached upon the priestly office.  (NOTE:  Most do not believe that he did this because Samuel makes no mention of his overreach into the office of the priest).

 

6.      When did Samuel finally arrive? (I Sam. 13:10)

 

And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came…

 

A.    He arrived just as soon as the burnt offering was complete.

 

B.      It was still the seventh day.

 

C.     LESSON:  “How often are the effects of precipitation fatal!” (e-sword, Clarke)

1.      Precipitation:  a hastening or hurrying in movement, procedure, or action

2.      If only Saul had waited a few more minutes, another hour or two. 

3.      To wait, one must trust until the very end.

 

7.      What did Saul do when he arrived? (I Sam. 13:10)

 

……and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

 

A.    He went out to meet him and salute him.

 

B.      We wonder:

1.      Did he feel the sting of his wrong doing?

2.      Did he feel justified in his actions?  Thus, he felt not sting of conscience as he spoke to the prophet.

 

8.      What question did Samuel ask of Saul? (I Sam. 13:11)

 

And Samuel said, What hast thou done?

 

A.    “What hast thou done?”

 

B.      LESSON #1:  The prophet was very quick to confront the sinful behavior.

1.      The question was not asked for information.

2.      The question was asked to illicit a confession of what Samuel knew had been done.

 

C.     LESSON #2:  If wrong behavior is not confronted:

1.      The guilty party may never realize the sinfulness of his behavior.

2.      Sin will prevail.

3.      Sin can spread to others because they believe it will never be confronted.

 

9.      What three reasons did Saul give for his actions in I Samuel 13:11?

 

…And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash.

 

A.    The people were scattered from him

 

B.      Samuel did not come within the days appointed

 

C.     The Philistines were gathering their troops for battle

 

D.    LESSON:  We often have our reasons (excuses) for disobeying the commands of God.

1.      Two of Saul’s reasons were truthful.

2.      One of them was not the truth.  Samuel did come at the appointed time.  Saul just did not wait long enough for him.

 

10.  What fourth reason did he give in I Sam. 13:12?

 

Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord…

 

A.    He needed to make supplication to the Lord before going into battle.

 

11.  Define:  supplication (I Sam. 13:12)

 

A.    Strong (2470):  to stroke or entreat

 

B.      BDB:  to become weak or feeble (When one bows in the presence of God, he acknowledges his weakness and his need for the strength of God.)

 

12.  “I  forced  myself therefore, and  offered a burnt offering (I Sam. 13:12).

 

A.    Forced

1.      Strong (662):  to contain

2.      BDB:  to force, compel oneself

 

B.      He tells Samuel that he carried out the sacrifice with great reluctance.

1.      He knew a sacrifice needed to be made.

2.      He also knew that he should not offer it.

3.      NOTE:  He had a clear command from God to wait for Samuel.  He should have waited.

 

13.  How did Samuel say Saul had acted? (I Sam. 13:13)

 

And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly…

 

A.    Foolishly

 

B.      Definition

1.      Strong (5528):  to be silly

2.      BDB:  to be foolish, to play the fool, to do foolishly

 

14.  T – F    It is foolish when man does not keep the commandments of the Lord (I Sam. 13:13).

 

…thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee…

 

A.    True

 

B.     LESSON:  All of us would be wise to keep this thought in our mind.  A failure to keep the commandments of God is to act foolishly.

15.  If Saul had obeyed, what would the Lord have done for Saul? (I Sam. 13:13)

 

…for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever.

 

A.    He would have established his kingdom forever.

 

B.      Had Saul obeyed God, the kingdom would have continued down the years through his offspring.  This, however, was not going to happen.

 

16.  “But now thy kingdom shall  not  continue.” (I Sam. 13:14)

 

A.    Saul would be allowed to carry out the term of his reign, but the kingdom would then be removed from him.

 

B.      Jonathan would not ever become the king of Israel regardless of how much Saul wished that it would be passed on to him (See I Sam. 20:30-31)

 

Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?  For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom.  Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.

 

17.  What kind of a man would God search for now to become captain over His people? (I Sam. 13:14).

 

…the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart…

 

A.    A man after his own heart

 

B.      What does this mean?

1.      Clarke believes this has reference to David’s public life and how he served God as king of Israel.  He does not believe that the statement has reference to David’s private life.

2.      He limits it to the following:

a.      His strict attention to the law and worship of God.

b.      In his admitting, in the whole of his conduct, that God was King in Israel, and that he himself was but his vicegerent.

c.       In never attempting to alter any of those laws, or in the least change the Israelitish constitution.

 

18.  T – F    Samuel emphasized again that Saul had not kept the commands of God. (I Sam. 13:14).

 

…because thou has not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

 

A.    True

 

B.      This is the second time he has confronted Saul with his sin.  Yet, Saul never repents of his wrong doing.

 

19.  Where did Samuel go after this confrontation with Saul? (I Sam. 13:15)

 

And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin…

A.    Gibeah of Benjamin

 

B.      NOTE:  He left the presence of Saul and would not be with him during this battle as he was when he fought Nahash.

 

20.  How many men were with Saul at this time? (I Sam. 13:15)

 

…And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

 

A.    About 600 men

 

21.  What family member was with Saul at this time? (I Sam. 13:16)

 

And Saul, and Jonathan his son…

 

A.    His son, Jonathan

 

22.  Where did Saul and Jonathan and his forces abide? (I Sam. 13:16)

 

…and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin…

 

A.    Gibeah of Benjamin

 

B.      This is interesting because this is the place to which Samuel departed.  It seems that Saul was following Samuel in an attempt to keep in his fellowship and possibly the fellowship of God.

 

23.  Where did the Philistines encamp? (I Sam. 13:16)

 

…but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

 

A.    Michmash

 

24.  How many spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines? (I Sam. 13:17)

 

And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies…

 

A.    The precise number is not given.

 

B.      We are only told that they came out in three companies.

 

25.  Define:  spoilers (I Sam. 13:17)

 

A.    Strong (7843):  to decay, (causatively) to ruin

 

B.      BDB:  to spoil, ruin, destroy, destroyer

 

26.  In what three directions did the Philistines go? (I Sam. 13:17-18)

 

…one company turned unto the way that leadth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:  and other company turned the way to Beth-horon:  and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

A.    Unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual

 

B.      To Beth-horon

 

C.     The border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness

 

 

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27.  T – F    Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel. (I Sam. 13:19)

 

Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel…

 

A.    True

 

28.  Why was there no blacksmith in Israel? (I Sam. 13:19)

 

…for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears.

 

A.    The Philistines were still the dominate force in the land.

 

B.      The held any rebellion of Israel in check by not allowing them to make any kind of weapons.

 

29.  Where did Israel have to go to sharpen their tools? (I Sam. 13:20)

 

But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his colter, and his axe, and his mattlock.

 

A.    The Israelites had to find a smith among the Philistines to repair or make them new tools.

 

30.  T – F    There were not even allowed to have files for daily maintenance on their tools. (I Sam.

13:21).

 

Ye they had a file for the mattocks, and for the colters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen their goads.

 

A.    False. 

 

31.  On the day of battle, who were the only people in Israel who had a sword or spear? (I Sam. 13:22)

 

So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonahan;  but with Saul and Jonathan his son was there found.

 

A.    Saul and Jonathan

 

32.  “And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the  passage   of  Michmash” (I Sam. 13:23)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAUL’S SIN AT GILGAL

I Samuel 14:1-23

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline the section:

 

vi.                I Samuel 14:1

vii.              I Samuel 14:2-3

viii.            I Samuel 14:4-5

ix.                I Samuel 14:6-10

x.                  I Samuel 14:11-15

xi.                I Samuel 14:16-19

xii.              I Samuel 14:20-23

 

2.      To whom did Jonathan say:  “Come, and let us go over to the Philistine’s garrison, that is on the other side.” (I Sam. 14:1)

 

3.      T – F    Jonathan told all of his plans to his father (I Sam. 14:1)

 

4.      Where did Saul tarry? (I Sam. 14:2)

 

5.      What kind of tree was Saul under? (I Sam. 14:2)

 

6.      How many people were with Saul? (I Sam. 14:2)

 

7.      Who was the Lord’s priest in Shiloh at the time? (I Sam. 14:3)

 

8.      T – F    And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

 

9.      What were the names of the two sharp rocks through which Jonathan passed? (I Sam. 14:4)

 

A.

 

B.

 

10.  Where were these two rocks situated? (I Sam. 14:5)

 

A.

 

B.

 

11.  Who did Jonathan say could work on their behalf? (I Sam. 14:6)

 

12.  “There is no ____________________ to the Lord to save by _________ or by ________” (I Sam. 14:6).

 

13.  T – F    Jonathan’s armorbearer was fearful of following Jonathan. (I Sam. 14:7)

 

14.  T – F    Jonathan was going to discover himself to his enemies. (I Sam. 14:8)

 

15.  What would Jonathan do if the enemy said:  “Tarry until we come to you”? (I Sam. 14:9)

16.  What would Jonathan do if the enemy said:  “Come up unto us”? (I Sam. 14:10)

 

 

17.  Which one of the two statements was a sign that the Lord had delivered them into their hands? (I Sam. 14:10)

 

 

18.  What did the Philistines first say when Jonathan and his armorbearer discovered themselves to them? (I Sam. 14:11)

 

 

19.  T – F    The Philistines said:  “Come up unto us, and we will show you a thing.” (I Sam. 14:12)

 

20.  T – F    Jonathan was sure the Lord had delivered the Philistines into Israel’s hand (I Sam. 14:12)

 

21.  “…and they ____________ before Jonathan; and his armorbearer ____________ after him (I Sam. 14:13)

 

22.  How many men did Jonathan and his armorbearer slay? (I Sam. 14:14)

 

23.  How large of an area of land were they scattered upon? (I Sam. 14:14)

 

24.  How did the Philistines react to the defeat? (I Sam. 14:15)

 

25.  Define:  trembling

 

 

26.  T – F    And the earth quaked (I Sam. 14:15)

 

27.  What did the watchmen of Saul see? (I Sam. 14:16)

 

 

28.  What did Saul immediately do to the people? (I Sam. 14:17)

 

29.  Who did Saul find missing? (I Sam.14:17)

 

30.  What did Saul ask Ahiah to bring to the battle? (I Sam. 14:18)

 

31.  T – F    The children of Israel brought the ark from Shiloh to Gibeah. (I Sam. 14:19)

 

32.  How is the defeat of the Philistines described? (I Sam. 14:20)

 

 

33.  T – F    The Israelites who has surrendered to the Philistines were killed by the Israelites (I Sam.

(14:21)

 

34.  T – F    The Israelites who hid in Ephraim came out of hiding and fought in the battle. (I Sam.

14:22)

 

35.  “So the Lord ________________ Israel that day…” (I Sam. 14:23)

 

36.  Where did the battle finally pass over to? (I Sam. 14:23)