The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

  10:23 taller…from his shoulders upward. Saul’s physical stature was impressive; being head and shoulders above the rest gave Saul a kingly presence.

  10:25 the behavior of royalty. Samuel reminded the people of the regulations governing the conduct of kings according to Deut. 17:14–20.

  10:26 whose hearts God had touched. Valiant men who were eager to affirm God’s choice of Saul and, in response to a divine impulse, joined him.

  10:27 rebels. Lit. “sons of Belial” (see note on 2:12). Those who did not recognize Saul with the respect befitting a king.

  1 Samuel 11

  11:1 Nahash the Ammonite. Nahash, meaning “snake,” was king of the Ammonites, the descendants of Lot (cf. Gen. 19:36–38) who lived E of the Jordan. Jabesh Gilead. A town E of the Jordan River, about 22 mi. S of the Sea of Galilee, in the tribal territory of Manasseh (cf. Judg. 21:8–14).

  11:2 put out all your right eyes. This barbarous mutilation was a common punishment of usurpers in the ancient Near East which would disable the warriors’ depth-perception and peripheral vision, rendering them useless in battle.

  11:3 seven days. The elders at Jabesh were hoping for deliverance from the Israelites W of the Jordan.

  11:4 Gibeah of Saul. Saul’s home and the first capital city of the monarchy, about 3 mi. N of Jerusalem (cf. 10:26).

  11:5 from the field. Saul continued to work as a farmer while waiting for the time to answer Israel’s expectations of him as the king.

  11:6 the Spirit of God came upon Saul. To fill him with divine indignation and to empower him to deliver the citizens of Jabesh Gilead (cf. 10:6).

  11:7 cut them in pieces. Saul divided the oxen in sections to be taken throughout Israel to rouse the people for battle (see a similar action in Judg. 19:29; 20:6).

  11:8 Bezek. A city 13 mi. N of Shechem and 17 mi. W of Jabesh Gilead. children of Israel…men of Judah. This distinction made between Israel and Judah before the kingdom was divided indicates the book was written after 931 B.C. when the kingdom had been divided. See Introduction: Author and Date.

  11:11 three companies. A military strategy of dividing up forces, it lessened the possibility of losing everyone to a sneak attack while giving greater military options. in the morning watch. The last of the 3 watches (2:00—6:00 a.m.), this surprise attack was before dawn, before the Ammonites were prepared for battle.

  11:13 the LORD has accomplished salvation in Israel. Saul recognized the deliverance of the Lord and refused to kill those who had rebelled against his kingship (10:27).

  11:14 Gilgal. See note on 10:8. renew the kingdom. The reaffirmation of Saul’s kingship by public acclamation.

  11:15 they made Saul king before the LORD. All the people came to crown Saul king that day. The process of entering the kingship was the same for both Saul and David: 1) commissioned by the Lord (9:1—10:16; 16:1–13); 2) confirmed by military victory (10:17–11:11; 16:14–2 Sam. 1:27); and 3) crowned (11:12–15; 2 Sam. 2:4; 5:3). peace offerings. Sacrifices of thanksgiving (cf. Lev. 7:13). rejoiced greatly. Along with the victory over the Ammonites, there was a great celebration over the nation being united.

  1 Samuel 12

  12:1 I have heeded your voice. Samuel had obeyed the will of the Lord and the people and set the king of God’s choice over them, though he had personal reservations concerning the monarchy.

  12:3 Here I am. These familiar words for Samuel throughout his entire life (cf. 3:4, 5, 6, 8, 16) emphasized his availability to God and the people. Witness. Samuel requested the people to “testify against” any covenant stipulations that he had violated.

  12:7 I may reason with you before the LORD. Despite the nation being unified under the new king, Samuel still wanted to rebuke the nation for ignoring and rejecting what God had done without a king.

  12:11 the LORD sent…and delivered you. It was the Lord who delivered them through the hands of the judges, not themselves.

  12:12 when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you. According to the DSS and Josephus, Nahash was campaigning over a large area. It was that Ammonite threat that seemingly provoked Israel to demand a human king (8:1–20). the LORD your God was your king. The clearest indictment of Israel for choosing a mere man to fight for her instead of the Lord God (cf. 8:20).

  12:13 the king whom you have chosen…desired. The Lord gave them their request (cf. Ps. 106:15).

  12:14 fear the LORD. A reminder of Josh. 24:14. Israel was to stand in awe of the Lord and submit to Him (cf. Deut. 10:12). you and the king…following the LORD your God. Both the people and the king were given the same command. The standard was the same, obedience to God’s commands.

  12:15 rebel. “Disobey, not heed, forsake.” Echoing the promises of Deut. 28, there would be blessings for obeying and curses for disobeying the commands of the Lord.

  12:16 this great thing. Though rain during the wheat harvest (late May to early June) was unusual, the Lord sent the rain and thunder to authenticate Samuel’s words to the people.

  12:19 Pray for your servants. The people’s response to the power of God was their recognition of their sinful motives in asking for a king. They needed Samuel’s prayers to intercede for them.

  12:20 serve the LORD with all your heart. An often-expressed covenant requirement (Deut. 10:12, 13; 11:13, 14).

  12:21 empty things. “Futile things,” i.e., idols.

  1 Samuel 13

  13:1 one year…two years. The original numbers have not been preserved in this text. It lit. reads, “Saul was one year old when he became king and ruled two years over Israel.” Acts 13:21 states that Saul ruled Israel 40 years. His age at his accession is recorded nowhere in Scripture. Probably the best reconstruction of vv. 1, 2 is “Saul was one and (perhaps) thirty years old when he began to reign, and when he had reigned two years over Israel, then Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel…”

  13:2 Michmash. This area was located about 7 mi. NE of Jerusalem. Jonathan. “The LORD has given.” Saul’s firstborn son and heir apparent to the throne was evidently old enough to serve as a commander in Israel’s army at this time, much like David when he slew Goliath (1 Sam. 17:32–37). Gibeah of Benjamin. This city was located 3 mi. N of Jerusalem. It was called Gibeah of Saul in 11:4.

  13:3 Geba. This outpost was located about 5 mi. NNE of Jerusalem, 1½ mi. SW of Michmash. blew the trumpet. Saul used the trumpet to summon additional troops for battle.

  13:4 an abomination. Israel could expect retaliation from the Philistines for Jonathan’s raid. Gilgal. This is the town of Saul’s confirmation as king by Samuel and the people (11:14, 15). Saul chose Gilgal because of Samuel’s word in 10:8.

  13:5 thirty thousand chariots. This is probably a scribal error, since the number is too large for the corresponding horsemen. Three thousand is more reasonable and is found in some OT manuscripts. Michmash. See note on 13:2. Beth Aven. Lit. “house of nothingness.” It was less than one mi. SW of Michmash.

  13:7 Gad and Gilead. Areas E of the Jordan River. all the people followed him trembling. The people were in fear over probable Philistine retaliation.

  13:8 seven days…the time set by Samuel. This is a direct reference to Samuel’s word in 10:8. Saul was commanded to wait 7 days to meet Samuel in Gilgal. the people were scattered. Saul’s men were deserting him because of anxiety and fear over the coming battle.

  13:9 he offered the burnt offering. Saul’s sin was not specifically that he made a sacrifice (cf. 2 Sam. 24:25; 1 Kin. 8:62–64), but that he did not wait for priestly assistance from Samuel. See 10:8. He wished to rule as an autocrat, who possessed absolute power in civil and sacred matters. Samuel had wanted the 7 days as a test of Saul’s character and obedience to God, but Saul failed it by invading the priestly office himself.

  13:11 When I saw. Saul reacted disobediently based upon what he saw and not by faith. He feared losing his men and did not properly consider what God would have him do.

  13:13 You have not kept the commandment. Saul’s disobedi
ence was a direct violation of the command from Samuel in 10:8. your kingdom…forever. How could this be in light of God’s promise to Judah (Gen. 49:10)? This would correct the potential contradiction of Saul being from Benjamin, not Judah.

  13:14 a man after His own heart. Instead of Saul, God was going to choose one whose heart was like His own, i.e., one who had a will to obey God. Paul quotes this passage in Acts 13:22 of David (cf. 16:7). commander. Someone else, namely David, had already been chosen to be God’s leader over His people.

  13:15 from Gilgal to Gibeah. This was about a 10 mi. trip westward. Samuel left Saul, realizing that Saul’s kingship was doomed. six hundred men. This indicates the mass departure of the Israelites (v. 6) and gives a perspective on what Saul saw (v. 5).

  13:17 raiders…in three companies. Lit. these were “destroyers” in the Philistine army, divided into 3 groups.

  13:19 no blacksmith. The Philistines had superior iron and metal-working craftsmen until David’s time (cf. 1 Chr. 22:3), accounting for their formidable military force.

  13:20 mattock. A pickax to work the ground by hand.

  13:21 The Philistines charged a high price to sharpen instruments potentially that could be used against them.

  13:22 neither sword nor spear. The Philistines had a distinct military advantage over Israel since they had a monopoly on iron weapons.

  13:23 the pass of Michmash. Some of the Philistines had moved out to a pass leading to Michmash.

  1 Samuel 14

  14:1 the other side. Jonathan and his armorbearer left the Israelite camp to approach the Philistine outpost.

  14:2 pomegranate tree. These trees are common to Israel’s landscape, normally growing as low shrubs with spreading branches. This may have been a particularly large one.

  14:3 Ahijah. “Brother of the LORD.” He was the great-grandson of Eli the High-Priest, another house which had been rejected of the Lord (2:22–36). wearing an ephod. The ephod was a white garment worn by the priests that was attached to the body by a belt. A breastplate worn over the ephod had pouches that were used by the priests to carry certain devices used in determining the will of God, i.e., the Urim and Thummim, or sacred lots. See note on Ex. 28:5–13. Apparently, Saul chose not to use it for seeking the Lord’s will.

  14:4 Bozez…Seneh. Hebrew terms. Bozez may mean “slippery.” Seneh means “thorny.”

  14:6 uncircumcised. This was a derogatory term used by the Israelites to describe the Philistines. by many or by few. Jonathan demonstrated the great faith that should have been demonstrated by the king (cf. 13:11).

  14:10 a sign to us. This was an unusual manner for determining the will of the Lord, but not without similar precedent, e.g., Gideon’s fleece (Judg. 6:36–40). Jonathan was allowed to determine the will of God by the reaction of his enemies.

  14:11 Hebrews. The oldest term used by Gentile nations to refer to the people of Israel. the holes where they have hidden. Many of the Israelites were hiding in fear over the battle. Apparently they thought Jonathan and his armorbearer were Israelite deserters coming to the Philistine side.

  14:15 the earth quaked. The earthquake affirms the fact that divine intervention aided Jonathan and his armorbearer in their raid. The earthquake caused a panic among the Philistines. God would have intervened on Saul’s behalf in such a manner had he chosen to be faithfully patient (cf. 13:9).

  14:18 ark of God. The LXX reads “ephod” instead of “ark,” and this seems more likely since the ark was at Kirjath Jearim and the language of 14:19 better fits the ephod (v. 3) than the ark. See marginal note.

  14:19 Withdraw your hand. Saul, in a hurry, ordered the priest to stop the inquiry into the will of the Lord.

  14:21 Hebrews. This is a reference to Israelite deserters or mercenaries.

  14:22 the mountains of Ephraim. A large and partially wooded area N and W of Michmash.

  14:23 So the LORD saved Israel. The writer uses similar language to that of the Exodus. In spite of their disobedient king, God was faithful to deliver Israel from her enemies. Beth Aven. See note on 13:2.

  14:24 were distressed. Saul’s inept leadership failed to provide for the physical needs of his men, leaving them weak and fatigued. Cursed. Saul’s first foolish oath pronounced a curse upon anyone tasting food until the battle was over. The scene fits chronologically after Jonathan’s departure.

  14:25 honey on the ground. This was a reference to honeycombs found in the forest (v. 27).

  14:27 Jonathan had not heard. Jonathan apparently had departed before Saul made his oath.

  14:29 My father has troubled the land. Jonathan saw the foolishness of Saul’s oath and how it actually hurt Israel’s cause instead of helping it.

  14:31 Aijalon. This area is located 15 mi. W of Michmash. This would have been a normal path back to the land of the Philistines.

  14:32 ate them with the blood. The people were so severely hungry because of the oath (v. 24) that they disobeyed the law by eating the meat raw and not draining the blood (cf. Lev. 17:10–14).

  14:35 the first altar. The first and only altar built by Saul mentioned in Scripture.

  14:36 Let us draw near to God. Ahijah the priest requested that they first seek the Lord regarding their course of action.

  14:37 Saul asked counsel of God. At the request of Ahijah, Saul inquired of the Lord regarding his battle plan. He did not answer him. Because of the sin that Saul had caused in his army, God did not answer his inquiry. This would not be the last time that the Lord would refuse to respond to sinful Saul (cf. 28:6).

  14:39 as the LORD lives. As an encore to his previous oath, Saul followed with another foolish oath, unknowingly jeopardizing his own son’s life.

  14:41 taken. The practice of casting lots was used to distinguish one person or group from another. Jonathan was indicated as the guilty party, though he acted innocently (v. 27).

  14:44 God do so and more also. Saul, proud and concerned with his own authority and honor, was intent on fulfilling his vow.

  14:45 worked with God this day. Jonathan, in stark contrast to his father the king, understood the sufficiency of God for the task and obediently relied on Him for the victory.

  14:46 the Philistines went to their own place. The Philistines were left to continue their retreat unhindered.

  14:47, 48 Saul’s military accomplishments were significant and expanded Israel’s borders in all directions: to the S (Edom), E (Ammon and Moab), N (Zobah), and W (Philistia). The defeat of the Amalekites is recorded in chap. 15.

  14:49–51 Saul’s children, Jonathan and Michal, would both play significant roles in the life of the next king, David. Nothing further is known of Saul’s wife or other children mentioned here.

  14:50 Abner. A cousin of Saul who commanded his army (cf. 1 Sam. 17:55, 57; 20:25; 26:14, 15).

  14:52 fierce war. The Philistines’ opposition to Israel was persistent and continual to the very last day of Saul’s life (1 Sam. 31:1–3). strong…valiant man. Saul looked for the good warriors and attached them to his personal force. David was one such man, who would also continue this practice under his rule (2 Sam. 23:8–39).

  1 Samuel 15

  15:2 Amalek. The Amalekites, a nomadic people of the desert and descendants of Esau (Gen. 36:12), became a marked people when they attacked Israel in the wilderness after leaving Egypt (see notes on Ex. 17:8–16; cf. Num. 24:20; Deut. 25:17–19; Judg. 6:3–5).

  15:3 utterly destroy. God gave Saul an opportunity to redeem himself with obedience. The judgment was to be a complete and total annihilation of anything that breathed. God’s judgment was severe on those who would destroy His people. It was equally severe to those who disobeyed (cf. Achan in Josh. 7:10–26).

  15:4 Telaim. The precise location of this area is unknown, but it may be a reference to Telem found in Josh. 15:24.

  15:5 a city of Amalek. This was possibly modern-day Tel Masos located about 7 mi. ESE of Beersheba.

  15:6 the Kenites. Moses’ father-in-law was a Kenite (cf. Judg. 1:16), a
people friendly to the Israelites.

  15:7 from Havilah…to Shur. Saul’s victory was extensive, covering much of the Amalekite territory. However, the Amalekites were not completely destroyed (cf. 27:8; 30:1).

  15:8 Agag. Another example of Saul’s incomplete obedience, in the case of Agag, is recorded because it had such far-reaching implications. Over 5 centuries later an Agagite named Haman attempted to exterminate the Jewish race from his power base in Persia (cf. Esth. 3:1ff.). all the people. The Israelites killed everyone they came across, except for the king.

  15:9 Saul and the people spared. Motivated by covetousness, both Saul and the people greedily spared the choice spoil of the land, disobeying God’s Word and demonstrating their faithlessness.

  15:11 grieved Samuel. Samuel’s role as priest over the people gave him great concern over the poor performance of the king, who was like the kings of other nations (1 Sam. 6:19, 20) i.e., self-centered, self-willed, and utterly disobedient to the things of God.

  15:12 Carmel. This is not Mt. Carmel of Elijah fame (1 Kin. 18:20ff.), but a Carmel located 7 mi. S of Hebron. monument for himself. Saul, apparently taking credit for the victory, established a monument to himself (cf. Absalom in 2 Sam. 18:18). This foolish act of contemptible pride was Saul’s expression of self-worship rather than true worship of God and another evidence of his spiritual weakness. Gilgal. The site of Samuel’s first confrontation with Saul (13:7b–15) became the site of this pronouncement of judgment.

  15:13 I have performed the commandment of the LORD. Saul, either ignorantly or deceitfully, maintained that he did what was commanded (15:20).

  15:15 the people spared the best…to sacrifice. Saul began to place blame on others, making room for his own excuses just as he had done earlier (cf. 13:11, 12). Then he tried to justify his sin by saying that the animals would be used to sacrifice to the God of Samuel. Saul’s blatant disobedience at least pained his conscience so that he could not claim God as his God.