Post by Ben on Jul 1, 2014 20:44:28 GMT
Notes from Story of the Bible, Volume 2, pages 316-317 (in blue).
8. And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
"The Philistines heard of Jonathan's action and sent a huge force of infantry, cavalry and chariots to punish the Israelites. They appeared on the heights of Michmash as Saul was in the valley below waiting for Samuel. Saul realised he was in an awkward position. To attack the Philistines, he would have to advance up the steep rise that leads from Gilgal to Michmash, and this seemed an impossible task against the tremendous forces of chariots and cavalry commanded by the Philistines. God was testing Saul, and he failed through lack of faith. A large army of Israelites had gathered around him, but when they saw how greatly the odds were against them, they were filled with fear, and began to desert. Meanwhile the Philistines began to oppress all around them, so that the people of Israel were much distressed. Their cities gave them no protection, they were not safe in their homes. The Philistines swaggered through the streets of their towns, roughly entering their houses, and illtreated the people. Many Israelites left the cities and sought hiding places in the caves, forests and hills. Saul began to panic. He had not the faith or patience to 'stand and await the salvation of Yahweh'. Samuel had told him that he would come within seven days, and then all would be well. But it did not look well to Saul as he viewed his dwindling forces, and the vast, confident army poised above, ready to swoop down upon him and destroy him. Impatiently he waited for Samuel. Day after day went by, and fewer and fewer were the men that stayed with him. At last the seventh day came. But with it not Samuel. Saul thought he would never come, that he was deserted by even the prophet."
9. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
"There remained but one thing to do. Saul impatiently decided to offer the sacrifice himself. He knew that he should not do so, but his patience had run out. By now, only 600 men remained with him. If he did not do something quickly, he would lose the kingdom. In desperation, he ordered the sacrifices to be brought to him, and against the command of Samuel, he offered them upon the altar."
10. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
"But the seventh day had not quite finished, and even as Saul had completed his unlawful offering, he saw Samuel approaching. He went out to meet him, but there was no smile of greeting on the prophet's face. Only stern anger."
11. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? 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; 12. Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto Yahweh: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
"'What have you done?' he harshly demanded of the king. Saul explained: 'The people were scattering from me; I thought you were not going to come; the Philistines are massing their forces at Michmash; if I wait here much longer, they will come down upon us and destroy us. I therefore forced myself to offer the sacrifice'. ... Saul's answer showed that he lacked sufficient faith and patience to act as Yahweh's king in Israel. To exercise authority in God's Kingdom, the king must set an example of strict, unswerving obedience. Instead; he had disobeyed the voice of the prophet in the sight of all Israel."
13. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of Yahweh thy Elohim, which he commanded thee: for now would Yahweh have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Yahweh hath sought him a man after his own heart, and Yahweh hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Yahweh commanded thee.
"So saying, Samuel abruptly turned from Saul. He left the king a disappointed man. Only 600 men of his army remained with him, and in face of the tremendous odds that the Philistines had brought against him, there was but one thing to do: go in hiding from the enemy that now fully occupied the territory of Benjamin."
8. And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
"The Philistines heard of Jonathan's action and sent a huge force of infantry, cavalry and chariots to punish the Israelites. They appeared on the heights of Michmash as Saul was in the valley below waiting for Samuel. Saul realised he was in an awkward position. To attack the Philistines, he would have to advance up the steep rise that leads from Gilgal to Michmash, and this seemed an impossible task against the tremendous forces of chariots and cavalry commanded by the Philistines. God was testing Saul, and he failed through lack of faith. A large army of Israelites had gathered around him, but when they saw how greatly the odds were against them, they were filled with fear, and began to desert. Meanwhile the Philistines began to oppress all around them, so that the people of Israel were much distressed. Their cities gave them no protection, they were not safe in their homes. The Philistines swaggered through the streets of their towns, roughly entering their houses, and illtreated the people. Many Israelites left the cities and sought hiding places in the caves, forests and hills. Saul began to panic. He had not the faith or patience to 'stand and await the salvation of Yahweh'. Samuel had told him that he would come within seven days, and then all would be well. But it did not look well to Saul as he viewed his dwindling forces, and the vast, confident army poised above, ready to swoop down upon him and destroy him. Impatiently he waited for Samuel. Day after day went by, and fewer and fewer were the men that stayed with him. At last the seventh day came. But with it not Samuel. Saul thought he would never come, that he was deserted by even the prophet."
9. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
"There remained but one thing to do. Saul impatiently decided to offer the sacrifice himself. He knew that he should not do so, but his patience had run out. By now, only 600 men remained with him. If he did not do something quickly, he would lose the kingdom. In desperation, he ordered the sacrifices to be brought to him, and against the command of Samuel, he offered them upon the altar."
10. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
"But the seventh day had not quite finished, and even as Saul had completed his unlawful offering, he saw Samuel approaching. He went out to meet him, but there was no smile of greeting on the prophet's face. Only stern anger."
11. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? 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; 12. Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto Yahweh: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
"'What have you done?' he harshly demanded of the king. Saul explained: 'The people were scattering from me; I thought you were not going to come; the Philistines are massing their forces at Michmash; if I wait here much longer, they will come down upon us and destroy us. I therefore forced myself to offer the sacrifice'. ... Saul's answer showed that he lacked sufficient faith and patience to act as Yahweh's king in Israel. To exercise authority in God's Kingdom, the king must set an example of strict, unswerving obedience. Instead; he had disobeyed the voice of the prophet in the sight of all Israel."
13. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of Yahweh thy Elohim, which he commanded thee: for now would Yahweh have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Yahweh hath sought him a man after his own heart, and Yahweh hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Yahweh commanded thee.
"So saying, Samuel abruptly turned from Saul. He left the king a disappointed man. Only 600 men of his army remained with him, and in face of the tremendous odds that the Philistines had brought against him, there was but one thing to do: go in hiding from the enemy that now fully occupied the territory of Benjamin."