1 Samuel 13-15 - To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice

Saul Strikes Down the Philistines

1Sa 13:1 LSB - [1] Saul was [thirty] years old when he began to reign, and he reigned [forty-]two years over Israel.

Act 13:21 LSB - [21] "Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

 

Saul Doesn’t Keep Yahweh’s Commandment

1Sa 13:13-14 LSB - [13] And Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which He commanded you, for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. [14] "But now your kingdom shall not endure. Yahweh has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him as ruler over His people because you have not kept what Yahweh commanded you."

1Sa 13:19, 22 LSB - [19] Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears." ... [22] So it happened on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who [were] with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan.

Jonathan Slaughters the Philistines

1Sa 14:6 LSB - [6] Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps Yahweh will work for us, for Yahweh is not restrained to save by many or by few."

1Sa 14:13-15 LSB - [13] Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him. [14] And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land. [15] And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and the raiders trembled, and the earth quaked so that it became a great trembling.

1Sa 14:19 LSB - [19] And it happened that while Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

1Sa 14:23 LSB - [23] So Yahweh saved Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond Beth-aven.

Saul’s Oath Makes the People Weary

1Sa 14:45 LSB - [45] But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die.

Saul Fights Against His Enemies

Saul’s Disobedience

1 Samuel 15:9 LSB — But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and they were not willing to devote them to destruction; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

Yahweh Regrets He Made Saul King

1 Samuel 15:10-11 LSB — Then the word of Yahweh came to Samuel, saying, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not established My words.” And Samuel became angry and cried out to Yahweh all night.

1 Samuel 15:22 LSB — And Samuel said,

“Has Yahweh as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

As in obeying the voice of Yahweh?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

And to heed than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:35 LSB — So Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel grieved over Saul. And Yahweh regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.