=--64. Saul"s Opportunity= (I Sam. 11:1-11, 15)
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee."
And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, "On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel."
And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, "Give us seven days" respite, that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel: and then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to thee."
Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and spake these words in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, "What aileth the people that they weep?"
And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. And the spirit of G.o.d came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, "Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen."
And the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out as one man. And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said unto the messengers that came, "Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, "To-morrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye shall have deliverance.""
And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "To-morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you."
And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pa.s.s, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
THE MEANING OF THE STORY
202 (--62A). Look at the map of Canaan and find the tribe of Benjamin. Is it a very large tribe? The tribes occupied separate districts, something like our states. This story is going to tell us about how the first king was chosen, so it is particular to tell us where he came from and how it happened. What kind of man was Saul? Some animals that are used very much in Palestine had strayed: tell about them.
203 (--62A). Saul and the servant had wandered a long way looking for the donkeys, probably spending several days in the hunt. At last Saul made up his mind to do something: what was it? But the servant thought of a plan to help them in their search. The man of G.o.d was one who could help people in their troubles. They were supposed to bring him a present.
What did Saul do about the present?
204 (--62B). Try to imagine the whole scene. Think what Saul and the servant were doing: whom did they meet and what did they ask? We must understand that a feast was to be held. The people were going to cook a whole animal. They would pour out the blood and burn the fat, which was called a sacrifice and was part of their religion; then they would eat the rest of the animal with great joy. It happened that the two men reached the city just as the feast was to be held. And Samuel would be there to ask the blessing. The girls told the two men all this. What happened just as they reached the city?
205 (--62B). The Philistines were enemies of Israel who greatly troubled them. Samuel had been wondering how the people could be saved from their enemies. What had the Lord told him? What did Samuel feel just as soon as he saw Saul?
206 (--62B). Try to imagine the meeting. What did Saul say? What did Samuel answer? Notice the invitation, the information about the donkeys, and especially the hint of some great thing. Saul is surprised: what does he say to Samuel?
207 (--62B). What did Samuel do for Saul? What plan had Samuel made so that a good piece of meat could be kept? Note the part of the animal that they thought best is the same that we like: it is the leg of lamb or the second joint of the turkey. What did Samuel say to Saul?
208 (--62B). Evidently Samuel took Saul to his own house. What part of the house did they use in those days for visiting? How could they do so?
What do you think they talked about? Once during the Civil War Abraham Lincoln went to visit Henry Ward Beecher: what do you think they talked of? Samuel had great hopes that Saul was the man to save Israel.
209 (--63A). After the conversation they went to bed. Then they talked again early in the morning. Then Samuel walked with Saul out of the city. What plan did Samuel use to be alone with Saul? Picture the scene to yourself: the old man with the flask of olive oil in his hand, the tall young man wondering about his future, the anointing, the solemn kiss, the promise.
210 (--63A). What signs was Saul to have? Samuel"s last word meant that Saul was to wait until some great opportunity should arise and then to do as G.o.d led him. We shall see how the opportunity came.
211 (--63B). Tell the story of what happened to Saul after he left Samuel. What was the conversation between Saul and his uncle? What did Saul keep silent about? Why do you think he did so? He was modest; he did not want to boast. It seems that he went quietly to work on his father"s farm and waited for something to happen that should show him what to do.
212 (--64). The scene of the story changes. Locate Ammon on the map, east of the Jordan. The Ammonites were old enemies of Israel. Locate Jabesh-Gilead, the town which they attacked. The people were afraid and begged for mercy. What terms did the cruel king offer them? He was so sure that no one in Israel could save them that he let them send messengers asking for help. The messengers came to the town where Saul lived. Locate Gibeah in Saul"s tribe. How did the people feel when they heard the news? What had Saul been doing since his return from Samuel?
Tell the story of how he came home on the day the messengers arrived.
213 (--64). How did the news affect Saul? This was the opportunity that Samuel had told him to wait for. What striking thing did he do to gather an army? Tell the story of the successful march to relieve Jabesh-Gilead.
214 (--64). What did the people think of the hero who had saved them?
What did they do? Who was the first president of the United States? Why was he elected? Who was the first king of Israel? Why was he chosen?
WRITTEN REVIEW
Consider which man you would rather have been: A wise, good man who was magnanimous enough to see that a king was needed and to choose him, or the vigorous man who could conquer the enemies and win the kingship.
Think carefully of the heroic qualities of each of them. Write down which you admire the most and why you would rather be that one.
XX. JONATHAN"S VICTORY
THE STORY
=--65. The New King and the Old Foes= (I Sam. 13:2-7, 15-17; 14:1-23)
A. THE OUTBREAK OF WAR
When Saul had reigned two years over Israel, he chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with him in Michmash and in the mount of Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 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."
And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul.
And the Philistines a.s.sembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand hors.e.m.e.n, and people as the sand which is on the sea sh.o.r.e in mult.i.tude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven. 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 holds, and in pits.
[Ill.u.s.tration: A PHILISTINE]
Now some of the Hebrews had gone over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines.
B. JONATHAN"S BOLD ATTACK
Now it fell upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, "Come and let us go over to the Philistines" garrison, that is on yonder side." But he told not his father.
And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. And between the pa.s.ses, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines" garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side. The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, "Come and let us go over unto the garrison: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is not restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few."
And his armorbearer said unto him, "Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee, behold I am with thee according to thy heart."
Then said Jonathan, "Behold, we will pa.s.s over unto the men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. If they say thus unto us, "Tarry until we come to you;" then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, "Come up unto us," then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be the sign unto us."