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SAUL VERSUS THE PHILISTINES

I Samuel 13:1-7

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline the section:

 

i.                    THREE THOUSAND CHOSEN MEN (I Sam. 13:1-2)

ii.                  TRIUMPH OF JONATHAN OVER  PHILISTINES (I Sam. 13:3a)

iii.                TWO NATIONS GATHER FOR BATTLE (I Sam. 13:3b-5)

iv.                TREPIDATION OF THE ISRAELITES (I Sam. 13:6-7)

 

2.      In what year of his reign did Saul gather 3000 men together? (I Sam. 13:1)

 

Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel.

 

A.    Saul chose 3000 men in the second year of his reign.

 

B.      Barnes believes the number of years Saul was king have been corrupted in this text.  He believes this because of two verses.

1.      When Saul is made king, he is a young man (I Sam. 9:2).

2.      But, in I Samuel 13:2, Saul’s son, Jonathan, is a warrior. 

 

3.      How many men were with Saul? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel…

 

A.    Three thousand

 

B.      The Philistines were an occupying force in the land of Israel.  Perhaps they were not a threat at this time, but Saul desired to keep them in check.  Thus, he only selected a small force of 3000 men at this time.

 

4.      Where was Saul’s force gathered together? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

…whereof two thousand men were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel…

 

A.    Michmash with 2000 men

 

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5.      How many men were with Jonathan? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

…and a thousand were with Jonathan…

 

A.    1000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah

 

6.      Who is Jonathan? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

A.    This is the first time that we read of Jonathan in the Biblical text. 

1.      Nothing is said here of his relationship to Saul.  We learn of it in I Samuel 13:16.  “And Saul, and Jonathan his son…”

2.      He was the first son of Saul (I Chron. 8:33)

 

B.      He was a mighty warrior in Israel.

1.      He was a skilled archer (I Sam. 20:20).

2.      He was also trained to use a sling (I Chron. 12:2).

 

C.     He ultimately became a very close friend of David.

 

7.      Where was Jonathan’s force located? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

… in Gibeah of Benjamin…

 

A.    Gibeah of Benjamin

 

8.      What did Saul do with the people who were not needed? (I Sam. 13:2)

 

… and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

 

A.    He sent the rest of the men of Israel home to their tents.

 

9.      T – F    Jonathan lost a decisive battle against the Philistines in Geba. (I Sam. 13:3)

 

And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines…

 

A.    False

 

10.  Where was the garrison of the Philistines located? (I Sam. 13:3)

 

…the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba…

 

A.    Geba

 

B.      Geba has one of the 48 cities allotted to the Levites (Num. 35:1-8). 

 

C.     Geba was located in the territory of Benjamin (Josh. 21:17).

 

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11.  T – F    The Philistines soon heard of their defeat at Geba. (I Sam. 13:3)

 

…and the Philistines heard of it…

 

A.    True

 

12.  What did Saul do that was heard through all the land of Israel? (I Sam. 13:3)

 

And Saul blew the trumpet through out all the land…

 

A.    Blew the trumpet

 

B.      This trumpet call did two things.

1.      It sounded the victory over the Philistines.

2.      It was also a call to prepare for further battle with the enemy.

 

13.  “Let the Hebrews  hear “ (I Sam. 13:4)

 

14.  What two things did the Israelites hear? (I Sam. 13:4)

 

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…

 

A.    That Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines.  Why was the victory attributed to Saul when it was Jonathan who had fought the battle?

1.      Saul was king.

2.      Any action done by one under the command of the king was attributed to the king.

 

B.      That Israel was had in abomination of the Philistines.

 

15.  Define:  abomination (I Sam. 13:4)

 

A.    Strong (887):  to smell bad, to be offensive morally

 

B.      BDB:  to have a bad smell, stink, to be odious

 

C.     This was an act of rebellion on the part of Israel.  They were attempting to loosen the Philistine’s grip on the nation.  This was not well-pleasing to their enemies.

16.  In what city did the people gather? (I Sam. 13:4)

 

...And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

 

A.    Gilgal

 

17.  T – F    The Philistines gathered themselves to fight against Israel. (I Sam. 13:4)

 

And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel…

 

A.    True

 

B.      The ruling nation does not take rebellion lightly.  They are not going to let their servants go without putting up a fight.

 

18.  The Philistines had:  (I Sam. 13:5)

 

…thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude…

 

A.     30,000 chariots

 

B.      6,000 horsemen

 

C.     “…and people as the sand which is on the sea  shore in multitude” (I Sam. 13:5)

 

D.    The Philistines intended to teach Israel a lesson.  How could they prevail against such a large army of people?

 

19.  Where did the Philistines pitch camp? (I Sam. 13:5)

 

…and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

 

A.    Michmash

 

20.  T – F    Israel was in a strait. (I Sam. 13:6)

 

When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait…

 

21.  Define:  strait (I Sam. 13:6)

 

A.    Strong (6887):  to cramp

 

B.      BDB:  to bind, tie up, shut up, to make narrow, to be cramped

 

22.  What was their emotional reaction?  (I Sam. 13:6)

 

…(for the people were distressed,)…

 

23.  Define:  distressed (I Sam. 13:7)

 

A.    Strong (5065):  tyrannize

B.      BDB:  to be hard pressed

 

24.  Where did the Israelites hide?  (I Sam. 13:6)

 

…then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

 

A.    Caves

 

B.      Thickets

 

C.     Rocks

 

D.    High places

 

E.      Pits

 

25.  What river did some of the Israelites cross? (I Sam. 13:7)

 

And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan…

 

A.    The Jordan River

 

26.  Into what two lands did they go? (I Sam. 13:7)

 

…to the land of Gad and Gilead.

 

A.    Gad

 

B.      Gilead

 

Image result for gilead

 

27.  Where was Saul located? (I Sam. 13:7)

 

…As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal…

 

A.    He continued in Gilgal

 

B.      He did this because he was under strict orders from Samuel (I Sam. 10:8)

 

And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings:  seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

 

28.  T – F    “…and all the people followed him trembling” (I Sam. 13:7)

 

A.    False.  “…and the people were scattered from him.”

 

B.      Saul is in a very bad predicament. 

1.      The army against him is great in size.

2.      They are pressing hard upon him and his troops.

3.      His people are scared and beginning to flee from him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAUL’S SIN AT GILGAL

I Samuel 13:8-23

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline the section:

 

i.                    I Samuel 13:8-9

ii.                  I Samuel 13:10-15a

iii.                I Samuel 13:15b-18

iv.                I Samuel 13:19-22

v.                  I Samuel 13:23

 

2.      T – F    Saul tarried seven days waiting for Samuel to arrive. (I Sam. 13:8)

 

3.      What was happening to the people during this seven day period? (I Sam. 13:8)

 

 

4.      What two offerings did Saul request to be brought to him? (I Sam. 13:9)

 

A.

 

B.

 

5.      Which one of these did he offer unto the Lord? (I Sam. 13:9)

 

 

6.      When did Samuel finally arrive? (I Sam. 13:10)

 

 

7.      What did Saul do when he arrived? (I Sam. 13:10)

 

 

8.      What question did Samuel ask of Saul? (I Sam. 13:11)

 

 

9.      What three reasons did Saul give for his actions in I Samuel 13:11?

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

10.  What fourth reason did he give in I Sam. 13:12?

 

 

11.  Define:  supplication (I Sam. 13:12)

 

 

12.  “I  ________________  myself therefore, and  __________________ a burnt offering (I Sam. 13:12).

 

13.  How did Samuel say Saul had acted? (I Sam. 13:13)

 

 

14.  T – F    It is foolish when man does not keep the commandments of the Lord (I Sam. 13:13).

 

15.  If Saul had obeyed, what would the Lord have done for Saul? (I Sam. 13:13)

 

 

 

16.  “But now thy kingdom shall  ___________  ___________________” (I Sam. 13:14)

 

 

17.  What kind of a man would God search for now to become captain over His people? (I Sam. 13:14).

 

 

18.  T – F    Samuel emphasized again that Saul had not kept the commands of God. (I Sam. 13:14).

 

19.  Where did Samuel go after this confrontation with Saul? (I Sam. 13:15).

 

 

20.  How many men were with Saul at this time? (I Sam. 13:15)

 

 

21.  What family member was with Saul at this time? (I Sam. 13:16)

 

22.  Where did Saul and Jonathan and his forces abide? (I Sam. 13:16)

 

23.  Where did the Philistines encamp? (I Sam. 13:16)

 

24.  How many spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines? (I Sam. 13:17)

 

25.  Define:  spoilers (I Sam. 13:17)

 

26.  In what three directions did the Philistines go? (I Sam. 13:17-18)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

27.  T – F    Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel. (I Sam. 13:19)

 

28.  Why was there no blacksmith in Israel? (I Sam. 13:19)

 

 

29.  Where did Israel have to go to sharpen their tools? (I Sam. 13:20)

 

30.  T – F    They were not even allowed to have files for daily maintenance on their tools. (I Sam.

13:21).

 

31.  On the day of battle, who were the only ones in Israel who had a sword or spear? (I Sam. 13:22)

 

 

32.  “And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the  ______________  ______  _______________” (I Sam. 13:23)