Eventually, Saul himself goes and also joins the prophets. Different signs will help Saul know that God chose him: Saul will meet various people carrying various things, will encounter prophets, and will fall into a prophetic frenzy (1 Samuel 10:16). [34][6] A biblical summary states that "wherever he turned, he was victorious". (Adaside dynasty1700722 BCE)Bel-bani Libaya Sharma-Adad I Iptar-Sin Bazaya Lullaya Shu-Ninua Sharma-Adad II Erishum III Shamshi-Adad II Ishme-Dagan II Shamshi-Adad III Ashur-nirari I Puzur-Ashur III Enlil-nasir I Nur-ili Ashur-shaduni Ashur-rabi I Ashur-nadin-ahhe I Enlil-Nasir II Ashur-nirari II Ashur-bel-nisheshu Ashur-rim-nisheshu Ashur-nadin-ahhe II, Second Intermediate PeriodSixteenthDynasty [83], Some Muslims refer to Saul as lt (Arabic: ), and believe that (as in the Bible) he was the commander of Israel. But that was a lie. God Rejected Saul as King - Loop Kids - Yumpu Jeremiah 31 If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. 5Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. Saul offers to accept a bride price of 100 Philistine foreskins, intending that David die in the attempt. That man, of course, is Samuel, who has been told by God who will be king, when they will meet, and what the role of the king will be that he will save the Israelites from the Philistines (1 Samuel 9:1517). The LORD repented that he had made Saul king. 12So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul went to (E)Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal. 13Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, (F)Blessed are you of the Lord! God Repented for Making Saul the King. BibleGateway+ less than $5/mo. Samuel does, however, arrive as soon as [Saul] had finished offering the burnt offering (1 Samuel 13:10), and tells Saul that now Sauls kingdom will not continue. Saul then began to be tormented by an evil spirit from God. But even if circumstances make choices difficult, people always have a choice. Saul said that he had saved them all for sacrifice to God. While dining with Saul, Jonathan explains David's absence, saying he has been called away to his brothers. This has a parallel in the account of Jonah who also wished that God would not change His mind on Nineveh: after Jonah 'preach against' Nineveh (Jonah 1:2), prophesying its destruction due to its wickedness, the people of the city repented, so God 'changed His mind' (Hebrew: nhm) and did not bring the destruction He had threatened (Jonah 3:10). The Hebrew in 1 Samuel 8:6 can be more literally translated as, and the thing was evil in Samuels eyes. Still, and somewhat surprisingly, God responds by telling Samuel to listen to their voice. This gets repeated twice, in 1 Samuel 8:9 and in 1 Samuel 8:22. Leaving his home at, A popular movement having arisen to establish a centralized monarchy like other nations, Samuel assembles the people at. So regarding our sins, God acts as advocate rather than judge. We will be Gods people, we will know him, and He will forgive our sins. These actions of King Saul remind us of how fleshly man behaves. After pronouncing this, Samuel turns to leave. Exodus 17:816; Deuteronomy 25:1719). In 1 Samuel 10:27, the specific question asked by the doubters is How can this man save us? The Hebrew, however, can be more literally translated as How will this save us? There is no subject specified; this could refer to Saul, to his actions, etc. [50][51][52] The defeated Israelites flee from the enemy and Saul asks his armour bearer to kill him, but the armour bearer refuses, and so Saul falls upon his own sword. But the Amalekite tells David he found Saul leaning on his spear after the battle and delivered the coup de grce. George Stein views the passages depicting Saul's ecstatic episodes as suggesting that he may have suffered from mania. New International Version (NIV). No matter how you look at it, we are left with a glaring discrepancy. English Deutsch Franais Espaol Portugus Italiano Romn Nederlands Latina Dansk Svenska Norsk Magyar Bahasa Indonesia Trke Suomi Latvian Lithuanian esk . [19], The only male descendant of Saul to survive was Mephibosheth, Jonathan's lame son,[20] who was five years old at the time of his father's and grandfather's deaths. And the answer is a resounding NO. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.. Why does God ultimately reject him? Saul, after getting a direct command from God via the Prophet Samuel, decided to save the best for himself and to also spare the life of the king. Samuel asked Saul why he heard the bleating of sheep if the command had been completed according to what God had instructed? The rest of the troops are faint with hunger, and when they tell Jonathan about his fathers oath, he responds by critiquing his father for that oath, saying, My father has troubled the land; [] How much better if today the troops had eaten freely of the spoil taken from their enemies; for now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great (1 Samuel 14:2930). Start for FREE. You judge for yourself if Saul was genuinely repentant. 1 Samuel 15 KJV - Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD - Bible Gateway God is most gracious, but we should never think that disobeying His explicit commands will be without consequence. In contrast with his father, Jonathan immediately takes responsibility, saying, I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand; here I am, I will die (1 Samuel 14:43). Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Ish-bosheth reigned for two years, but after the death of Abner, was killed by two of his own captains. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. The majority explanation for the discrepancy is that the narrative originally described the birth of Saul, and was given to Samuel in order to enhance the position of David and Samuel at the former king's expense. [63], Two opposing views of Saul are found in classical rabbinical literature. Samuel also gives Saul permission to do whatever you see fit to do, for God is with you, but also commands Saul to wait at Gilgal for seven days, until I come to you and show you what you shall do (1 Samuel 10:78). [21] Mephibosheth had a young son, Micah,[22] who had four sons and descendants named until the ninth generation.[23]. God never made that promise to Saul. 15Samuel said to Saul, I am the one the Lord sent to anoint(A) you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. 33But Samuel said, (U)As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women. And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. He questions God's decision and asks for God's guidance, but all he receives is God's silence. God's Rejected King: A Story of Saul by Ron Baesler - Goodreads Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night., 17Samuel said, Although you were once small(P) in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord? David flees to Jonathan, who arranges a meeting with his father. The succession to his throne was contested between Ish-bosheth, his only surviving son, and David, his son-in-law; David ultimately prevailed and assumed kingship over Israel and Judah. Samuel is told once again that Saul is "rejected" and that Yahweh has "chosen" a king (1 Sam 16:1), in contrast to "[giving] them a king." (1 Sam 8:22). [58], In the narrative of Saul's private anointing in 1 Samuel 9:1-10:16, Saul is not referred to as a king (melech), but rather as a "leader" or "commander" (nagid)[59][60] Saul is only given the title "king" (melech) at the public coronation ceremony at Gilgal. David realizes that the citizens of Keilah will betray him to Saul. I think that what David and Solomon did was worse than what Saul did, and what Joshua did was equally as bad. But if they persist in doing what is evil, they will be swept away (1 Samuel 12:25). And while Saul was merciful to his enemies, he was strict with his own people; when he found out that Ahimelech, a kohen, had assisted David with finding food, Saul, in retaliation, killed the remaining 85 kohanim of Ahimelech's family and the rest of his hometown, Nob. Why was King Saul rejected by God? - BibleAsk 50:8, 9; 51:16, 17; [Prov. The two friends say their goodbyes, and David flees into the countryside. [66], The second view of Saul makes him appear in the most favourable light as man, as hero, and as king. Joshua 7:1, 2:2426). Sauls hesitance is repeated when the people cast lots for their king and Sauls name is chosen; Saul is hiding among the baggage and only takes his stand among the people when they bring him out (1 Samuel 10:2024). NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. The second time God tells Samuel to listen to their voice (8:22), God tells him to set a king over them. Samuel is upset by the request more so than many translations indicate. For further discussion of the complexity of Saul, see Barbara Greens How Are the Mighty Fallen? [97] Liubov Ben-Noun of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, believes that passages referring to King Saul's disturbed behavior indicate he was afflicted by a mental disorder, and lists a number of possible conditions. [18] Michal was childless. After the battle, Saul instructs his armies, by a rash oath, to fast. The Hebrew root word nhm for "regret" was used 4 times in this chapter (among English Bible translations, ESV consistently renders it as "regret" whereas others use "change of mind" or "repent"). Knowing this, Saul moves on to battle the Philistines. Similarly, God will not forsake us because He said He wouldnt. But the most striking proof that Saul would not live up to the ideal was his disobedience of an explicit order from the Lord. 7:2], NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV Study Bible, Full-Color, Comfort Print: The Complete Resource for Studying Gods Word. [62] Later biblical criticism has posited that the story of Saul's death was redacted from various sources, although this view in turn has been criticized because it does not explain why the contradiction was left in by the redactors. And thats the key. everything that belongs to them as an offering to the Lord . What we need to understand as we go through this story is that the Bible says that disobedience and rebellion is as bad as witchcraft or idolatry. [15], Saul as God's anointed has been given a clear mission from God, that Samuel spoke in detail, perhaps to avoid 'miscommunications' in previous commandments (cf. so will your mother be childless among women., The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the. [81] In Sheol, Samuel reveals to Saul that in the next world, Saul would dwell with Samuel, which is a proof that all has been forgiven him by God. Originally published in Tabletalk, our daily Bible study magazine. 8He took Agag(G) king of the Amalekites alive,(H) and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. Saul battles Israel's enemies, suffers the harsh dictates of the prophet Samuel, and contends with . Life of David: 6. Saul Disobeys God | Bible Fun For Kids How did King Saul fall and lose his calling? - BibleAsk Two clues in the text point us toward an answer. As children of God namely, Christians, we need to understand that obedience is to follow all that God instructs. What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?, 15Saul answered, The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest., 16Enough! Samuel said to Saul. In many ways Saul is representative of Israels entire relationship with its monarchy. (AB) 28Samuel said to him, The Lord has torn(AC) the kingdom(AD) of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighborsto one better than you. [98] However, Christopher C. H. Cook of the Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University, UK recommends caution in offering any diagnoses in relation to people who lived millennia ago. Start your free trial today! gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. David becomes increasingly successful and Saul becomes increasingly resentful. Before, Saul is presented in positive terms, but afterward his mode of ecstatic prophecy is suddenly described as fits of madness, his errors and disobedience to Samuel's instructions are stressed and he becomes a paranoiac. "[47] Jonathan even gives David his military clothes, symbolizing David's position as successor to Saul. He also shifted blame to others, saying it was the soldiers who had saved out the best sheep and cattle. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Then comes the punch line: Samuel asks, And on whom is all Israels desire fixed, if not on you and on all your ancestral house? (1 Samuel 9:20) This must have seemed like a non sequitur or a surprise to Saul, as Saul answers Samuels question with his own: Why then have you spoken to me in this way? (1 Samuel 9:21). The passage makes extensive play with the root-elements of Saul's name, and ends with the phrase hu sa'ul le-Yahweh, "he is dedicated to Yahweh." [96] Martin Huisman sees the story of Saul as illustrative of the role of stress as a factor in depression. Check out our other article Is Solomon in Hell? 1 Samuel 13:1-15:33 - God Rejects Saul as King - Enter the Bible In the Book of John 14:15 Jesus tells us exactly what we as His followers are supposed to do. Again with Solomon, we see the same pattern playing out. And although Sauls sin may not seem like such a big deal to us, it was to God. [10] Three of Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua died with him at Mount Gilboa. 9But Saul and the army spared(I) Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves[b] and lambseverything that was good. Man has not changed, God has not changed, sin has not changed. But neither is he a villain. It does not allow for us to pick and choose what we want to obey and that which we choose to discard because it does not sit well with us. [5][15] When Saul did not completely fulfill the order, Samuel spoke an oracle of judgement to Saul (verses 1731), a similar prophetic attitude as in 8:122 and 13:815, but here the rejection of Saul is final and absolute (verses 2829) and 'parabolically confirmed by the accidental tearing of Samuel's robe when Saul made his last desperate supplication' (verse 27). [16], After Saul disobeyed God's command, God told Samuel of His regret making Saul a king. We have also written three books. Samuel's name, however, can mean "name of God," (or "Heard of God" or "Told of God") and the etymology and multiple references to the root of the name seems to fit Saul instead. The next day, David reveals himself to Saul, showing the jug and spear as proof that he could have slain him. Saul is said to have died by suicide when he "fell on his sword" during a battle with the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, in which three of his sons were also killed. Second king of Israel, David united the northern and southern kingdoms. You can update your choices at any time in your settings. All rights reserved worldwide. Saul disobeyed the Lord and lost the opportun And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.. [13][a], God through Samuel commanded Saul to lead genocidal war against the Amalekites, as punishment for their attacks on the Israelites on their way from Egypt (verses 13, cf. Samuel is upset by the request more so than many translations indicate. King Saul constantly experienced victory over Israel's enemies (14:47-52). Samuel then goes to Saul and gives Saul an opportunity to explain. We might wonder: Why does it matter so much that someone makes an offering instead of waiting for the priest? 21The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal., Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrificesas much as in obeying the Lord?To obey is better than sacrifice,(S)and to heed is better than the fat of rams.23For rebellion is like the sin of divination,(T)and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.Because you have rejected(U) the word of the Lord,he has rejected you as king., 24Then Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned. A Mosque in the area of Medina, possibly: This page was last edited on 25 June 2023, at 22:21. Please turn on your Flash player plugin or download the latest version from https:\/\/get.adobe.com\/flashplayer\/","mejs.fullscreen":"Fullscreen","mejs.play":"Play","mejs.pause":"Pause","mejs.time-slider":"Time Slider","mejs.time-help-text":"Use Left\/Right Arrow keys to advance one second, Up\/Down arrows to advance ten seconds. But God still gives us a chance. This button displays the currently selected search type. (AE) 29He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie(AF) or change(AG) his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.. "Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night." "Tell me," Saul replied. The event becomes a symbol of Saul's disobedience of God's commands, and Saul, rejected by God, is later killed by the Philistine tribe as his kingdom is given to David. A story tells of an elder speaking to a youth about how inside of him and inside of everyone live two wolves: one good and kind, and the other cruel and violent. [80] His anger at the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:2) was not personal hatred, but was induced by zeal for the welfare of Israel. It is very similar to Law vs Grace. [64] According to this view, Saul is only a weak branch,[65] owing his kingship not to his own merits, but rather to his grandfather, who had been accustomed to light the streets for those who went to the beit midrash, and had received as his reward the promise that one of his grandsons should sit upon the throne. I have carried out the Lords instructions., 14But Samuel said, What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? Now Saul actively plots against David. The historicity of Saul and the United Kingdom of Israel is not universally accepted, as what is known of both comes exclusively from the Hebrew Bible. Saul | Israel''s First King & Biblical Ruler | Britannica The Gibeonites told David that only the death of seven sons of Saul would compensate them for losing their livelihood after the priests at Nob were killed under Saul's orders. His Spirit departed from Saul and a demon possessed Saul. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 18 Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed. God Rejects Saul's Kingdom - Ligonier Ministries [76] As a reward for this, God himself gave Saul a sword on the day of battle, since no other sword suitable for him was found. However, King Saul after seeing what was available to him decided against Gods instructions and took back much of the spoils, cattle and life-stock for himself. These admonitions apply to both the Israelites and their king: if they follow God, things will go well; but if they rebel, Gods hand will be against them (1 Samuel 12:1415). Saul's death is described by the narrator (and also in 1 Chronicles 10) but a conflicting account is given by a young Amalekite who lies, thinking to win David's favour. The reason 1 Samuel 15 is key to understanding statements of God's change is because it connects apparent divine alteration not only to man's sin (so God is not fickle), but also to God's character (he's acting consistently). There is a shortage of weapons among the Israelites; only Saul and his son Jonathan have them (1 Samuel 13:22). We may look at this story and judge King Saul rather harshly, but if we take a closer look at ourselves, we would notice that we probably behave in the exact same manner. The chapter opens by saying that Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel . Who was King Saul? - BibleAsk A second clue is in Samuels words, repeated two times in 1 Samuel 13:1314, that Saul did not keep the commandment of the LORD, which he commanded you. Consequences for not keeping Gods commands are serious, especially for leaders. And more importantly, can God reject us the same way? When the Israelites demanded a king, God instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint Saul. At this point, however, Saul is transformed when God gives him another heart (1 Samuel 10:9), and the spirit of God possesses Saul before he prophesies (1 Samuel 10:10). Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. 7:20; 1 Sam. What does this say about the character of Samuel? 10:410], [Eccl. 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers Saul speaks with a humility that turns out to be false; he says that he is a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe in Israel, and that his family is the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:21). The covenant describes how God deals with man. When this happens, the people fear God and Samuel, but Samuel tells them not to be afraid. It is probably arguably the worst position any person can find themselves in. Both Samuel, the last judge of Israel, and David, the future builder of the small Israelite empire, opposed him. Does the Holy Spirit Take Over our Church Services? Saul, Hebrew Shaul, (flourished 11th century bce, Israel), first king of Israel (c. 1021-1000 bce). You have rejected(Z) the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!, 27As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe,(AA) and it tore. But if his mercy toward a foe was a sin, it was his only one; it was his misfortune that it was reckoned against him, while David (who had committed many sins) was so favored that it was not remembered to his injury. 6:68; Heb. [69] He was marvelously handsome; and the maidens who told him concerning Samuel (1 Samuel 9:1113) talked so long with him in order to observe his beauty for longer. Nor was there any one more pious than he;[68] for when he ascended the throne he was as pure as a child, and had never committed sin.