1 Samuel 13
Lutheran reading notes
In 1 Samuel chapter 13, the account continues the story of the transition of Israel from judges to monarchy. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, {reigned one...: Heb. the son of one year in his reigning}
1 Samuel 13:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
Saul chose him three thousand {men} of Israel; {whereof} two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
1 Samuel 13:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that {was} in Geba, and the Philistines heard {of it}. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. {Geba: or, the hill}
1 Samuel 13:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And all Israel heard say {that} Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and {that} Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. {was...: Heb. did stink}
1 Samuel 13:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which {is} on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.
1 Samuel 13:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
1 Samuel 13:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
And {some of} the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he {was} yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. {followed...: Heb. trembled after him}
1 Samuel 13:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
1 Samuel 13:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
1 Samuel 13:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {salute: Heb. bless}
1 Samuel 13:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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;
1 Samuel 13:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. {made...: Heb. intreated the face}
1 Samuel 13:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
1 Samuel 13:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him {to be} captain over his people, because thou hast not kept {that} which the LORD commanded thee.
1 Samuel 13:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people {that were} present with him, about six hundred men. {present: Heb. found}
1 Samuel 13:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people {that were} present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. {present: Heb. found} {Gibeah: Heb. Geba}
1 Samuel 13:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way {that leadeth to} Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
1 Samuel 13:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
And another company turned the way {to} Bethhoron: and another company turned {to} the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
1 Samuel 13:18 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make {them} swords or spears:
1 Samuel 13:19 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
1 Samuel 13:20 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. {a file: Heb. a file with mouths, or Heb. a pim, a third of a shekel} {sharpen: Heb. set}
22
So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that {were} with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
1 Samuel 13:22 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash. {garrison: or, standing camp}
1 Samuel 13:23 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.