1 Samuel 15:1-5 -- As if it were a test, Saul was told by Samuel that Jehovah had determined to exterminate the Amalekites, a tribe descended from Esau. These folks were wholly despicable, opportunists, the proto-typical devious Arabs. They had attacked from the rear during the Exodus (Exodus 17:8), where the guard was lighter, and where one would find the animals, as well as the aged, children and pregnant women. For this, and similar crimes, they were marked for genocide, to include all their herd animals. The Hebrew term is cherem -- in this context, "devoted to destruction."
Saul mustered his troops at Telaim (or Telem), a location unknown today. We can safely assume it is down on the southern end of Palestine. The wording is a little uncertain, but it appears only Judah sent troops for this, and the numbers are, as usual, not clear from the various manuscripts. However, the count is given in the standard: so many conscripts and so many professional soldiers. His plan was to approach their main city at night, then prepare to assault from the valley below.
15:6-9 -- First, Saul sent word to the Kenite leadership to separate themselves from the more numerous Amalekites, among whom they lived. The Kenites were old allies, the tribe of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law. The Kenites had remained Bedouin in lifestyle, so moving out of the area was no big hardship for them. Once they were clear, Saul attacked, pursuing this enemy of Israel all the way to Shur, beyond which was under Egyptian control. However, Saul failed to go the whole way in obeying God's command. He allowed their king, Agag, to live. He also joined in his people's plundering of the finer specimens of domesticated animals. They had no trouble destroying everything else. Furthermore, a few Amalekites survived until the time of Hezekiah, probably after taking refuge in the Sinai awhile.
15:10-16 -- Samuel, still God's prophet to the nation, got word that Saul no longer had a zeal to obey. Jehovah found Saul unworthy of ruling His people, and determined to replace him. Samuel wept all night in prayer, in a final attempt to stay God's judgment, but the Lord had removed His Spirit from Saul. The next morning, Samuel received word that Saul had returned, set up a monument to himself at a place named Carmel (not the mountain far to the north) and was waiting at Gilgal.
When Samuel arrived, Saul was all cheery, declaring he had done God's will. The racket from the animals was obvious testimony Saul was less than truthful. Saul began to bluster piously about offerings to honor God, but Samuel cut him off abruptly. Taken aback, Saul dutifully awaited the message from God that so obviously weighed on Samuel's mind.
15:17-23 -- Using Saul's own expression from that day back when Samuel first anointed him king near the gate of Ramah, the priest brought that scene back to Saul's mind. Was it not God Himself who had promoted this nobody, Saul? It's not as if God was asking so much in wishing to destroy the Amalekites. They were already delivered into Saul's hand, and would be unable to resist. Saul insisted he had done so, but that he couldn't restrain the people from keeping some plunder, with the false justification of planning to offer them up to God. Samuel responds with a bit of Hebrew poetry that has been widely memorized in many languages. Piety means nothing without full obedience. So it is announced that, inasmuch as Saul rejected strict obedience to the command of God, so God rejected Saul as king.
15:24-33 -- Saul's admission of sin is obviously superficial. He cared only about the honor from the people. He pressured Samuel to stay on for this one ceremony, so as not to be publicly humiliated. When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the edge of his priestly robe, and it tore. This prompted Samuel to utter that just so, had God torn the throne from the hand of Saul, and would pass it to a better man. Even though Samuel could be persuaded to play along, Jehovah was not a mere man who could be cajoled into anything. As a part of the ceremony, Samuel demanded the captive Amalekite king be brought before him. Saul had no doubt planned to keep Agag around as a living trophy in his palace, a common practice in ancient times. Agag was nervous, but hopeful of his own life. Samuel pronounced and then executed God's judgment.
15:34-35 -- Once Samuel left, and got away from Saul, he was able to maintain proper decorum. His love for the man remained strong to the end. Still, he would have to act on the judgment of God and not appear with him ever again in public.
16:1-5 -- Though Samuel mourned for Saul, the Lord told him to get over it. The time came to anoint another king. This one would be in Bethlehem, to a son of Jesse, who was of the royal tribe of Judah. Samuel's question was not an objection, but a simple request of how to carry this out without raising Saul's suspicion. Saul had already demonstrated his willingness to sin for personal gain, and might not hesitate to kill God's prophet. The Lord's reply was for Samuel to go with the pretense of making another of those numerous visits he once made as a judge over the nation. He was to take along a heifer to sacrifice as a ritual meal before the Lord. He was to invite Jesse as the guest of honor. The man would naturally present his sons, and one of them would be chosen king.
His arrival was at first worrying to the local leaders. They feared Samuel had come to pronounce judgment on some sin. Their question implied, "Are we in trouble?" Samuel answered that he came for a celebration, and that he wanted them to join him. Naturally, this required them to pass through some purification rituals. These rituals in the Law of Moses echoed what was required throughout that part of the world when one came into the presence of a ruler or a god. While in our Western culture this smacks of putting on a false front, to the Eastern mind it was a matter of treating this as a special occasion, reverencing some higher power. A special effort went into preparing Jesse for the seat of honor at this feast.
16:6-13 -- While Samuel's eyes saw the man, God saw the heart. The first born would naturally be the preferred candidate. Yet God passed over all seven of the men Jesse brought before Samuel. When Samuel asked if there were anymore, Jesse offered that his youngest was out with the sheep. While it is fair to see here that David was being left out of things because he is the youngest -- and therefore least important -- it also foreshadows David's virtue. David was a shepherd at heart, and we can safely assume he was hardly offended at being left out of the festivities when someone has to watch the flock. Samuel declared that the feast could not begin while David was absent, so they must fetch him. He is described as handsome, with obvious intelligence. Upon his appearance, God declares him the one, and Samuel anointed him in front of everyone. From that time, the same royal spirit torn from Saul now rested on David.
16:14-18 -- Bereft of God's guiding presence, Saul is left instead with a demon. The author brings us back to look upon the fallen king as now an object of pity. Whatever flaw in his character led him astray was now magnified. At times he would be someone else entirely. The symptoms are today known as schizophrenia, or "split personality." A primary symptom is for the milder self to forget everything that happened while the demented self is manifest. It was known then, as now, that music could help to calm raging passions, and restore clear thinking. Saul's counselors advised him to find a good musician who could play the lyre and sing. When he put out the word to find one, somebody recalled meeting a young fellow named David who would fit the bill, and was quite a valiant warrior, as well.
16:19-23 -- David was sent with proper supplies and gifts. He was indeed quite the musician, but in this case, it is more a matter of David singing praises to God that drives Saul's demon away. His manners fit him well for Saul's court, and his debut as royal demon-tamer was successful. Saul was so delighted with him as to appoint him as his armor steward, at this a point a position with many additional ceremonial duties. This was the best excuse possible for keeping him at hand. Saul sent word asking that David be released for royal attendance, though it is wholly likely he himself never paid attention to who David's family was. We see a man quickly becoming ever more dependent on others. Saul was a deeply troubled soul, and left many details of his life to others.
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Ed Hurst
10 April 2004
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