1 Ch. 9: The Benjamin Gate

1 Chronicles 9:1 "All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel."

This chapter describes where some of the tribes of Israel settled back on their own property after the exile. Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh were the main four. Their numbers are counted. So...were these places that Nebuchadnezzar gave to them to live in, or is this completely post-exile. I'unno. It was after a time of the scattering. Anyway, they are all numbered.

The Levites are listed next. In addition to serving in the house of God, the tent, they had to be the gatekeepers and guard the place. Phinehas was in charge of the gatekeepers at one point, and you may remember Phinehas from this awesome episode. This guarding was serious business. But guarding is only necessary if you care about something. 

Next we have the genealogy of Saul. Curiously, in 1 Samuel, we have Abiel being the father of Kish, while in Chronicles, Ner is the father of Kish. Perhaps there was some half-brothering going on, or Abiel or Ner were higher up in the family tree than the other. I'unno. 

1 Ch. 8: Saul's Folks

1 Chronicles 8:33 "Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal."

We got the geneaology of Saul in here, from Benjamin himself, on through the sons of Ulam. They were archers, which is neat. You gotta have archers.

1 Sa. 16: Harping Shepherd King

1 Samuel 16:11 "So he asked Jesse, 'Are these all the sons you have?'
'There is still the youngest,' Jesse answered, 'but he is tending the sheep.'
Samuel said, 'Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.'"

Saul's deposing was troubling to Samuel. Samuel seemed like the type of guy who wanted to see Israel get back on track without much upheaval. Now there was a king. Now the king was a failure. Now there was going to be a new king. Changes, changes, changes. But God had it all figured out, so there was no cause for alarm. God had the next step already planned out. And even God's conduit to man, Samuel, had no idea, and still managed to be troubled in his heart.

The chosen one was David, after a sort of Man Pageant from the house of Jesse. Saul was unaware of the goings-on, as it was obscured by the sacrifice ruse.

And the most ironic thing of it all...Saul, tormented by an evil spirit from the LORD, had David come to his court to soothe him with his harp playing. Yeah. His replacement. Came to his own court. To make him feel better. Amazing irony, I spose, since Saul had no idea he was even being replaced.

And I wonder about this evil spirit from the LORD. Did God inflict evil on Saul? Did God just allow an evil spirit to torture Saul? Also...another shepherd becomes king. Saul was a donkey-minder, and here comes David, last mentioned in Ruth 4, a shepherd boy, not chosen because of his stature and reputation, quite the opposite. It was because of his heart. We'll see if this trend continues.

1 Sa. 14: Jonathan

1 Samuel 14:45 "But the men said to Saul, "Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God's help." So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death."

In chapter 14, Jonathan (along with his armor bearer) takes a little initiative and attacks a Philistine outpost. He consults God, rather briefly, in a manner similar to drawing lots. If the Philistines spot them and tell them to wait there, God is not behind him. If they tell them to come up, God will have delivered the Philistines into Jonathan's hands. This takes some guts, because there was going to be a fight either way, and it was one extreme or another. Jonathan would have had victory or defeat. God helps Jonathan kill about 20 dudes in this section. That's kind of an exciting thing. God didn't have to do this, but God was with Jonathan. God didn't command this attack, but God still gave victory. God didn't appear to require a sacrifice and lots of fasting...merely to be acknowledged it would seem. And from what little has been revealed about Saul this far, this is significant, because Saul was God's stand in, and wasn't exactly the most God-fearing type.

I wonder if this contributed or touched off a panic sent by God through the Philistine camp, because the door was thrown wide open at this point for Israel to come storming in and take a great military victory.

Then we have another rash vow...Think Jephthah...Saul curses anyone who eats food before he avenges himself on his enemies. That is pretty selfish. Its personal. And it made the soldiers faint. And of course there were going to be those who didn't know about it. Like those who sneaked away on their own without the others knowing about it...Jonathan. Jonathan eats some honey...significant. Honey is mentioned a lot in some big time stories...Samson, and the idea that it shouldn't be sacrificed. Anyway, the word says it brightened Jonathan's eyes...gave him a boost. Like ancient Red Bull. When told of Saul's curse, he knew that was moronic, saying Saul has made trouble for the country.

Not because it was making men faint, but also desperate for food. After taking care of the Philistines, the Israelite soldiers just rip into their plunder and butcher it on the ground and just start chowing down. This was a sin, because God had forbidden the eating of meat with blood still in it.

Saul then puts his son Jonathan on the chopping block before his men to die. Ostensibly, it is because Jonathan ate the honey. But I wonder if Jonathan showed his dad up with his commitment to his faith, and trusting God. Clearly the men showed great respect for Jonathan, moreso than Saul, because they opted to let Jonathan live, where Saul put him up to die. Another case here where a father puts his son up to die...Abraham and Isaac...and there is another one, but it currently escapes me.

Saul ended up being a great warrior, but I just wonder who this "man after God's own heart" is going to be. Saul is a lame duck.

1 Sa. 11: Saul's Ammonite Crisis

1 Samuel 11:13 "But Saul said, 'No one shall be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel.'"

Well, we're one chapter into Saul's kingship, and he already has a crisis on his hands. The Ammonites come to beseige Jabesh Gilead (remember in Judges, they refused to go to assembly, and were almost wiped out by their own people). Jabesh Gilead, shrewd negotiators as they are tell the Ammonite leader, Nahash, that they will just be subject to them, minus an eye from each Gileadite, if they aren't rescued within the week.

This makes Israel sad and scared.

It makes Saul angry. Saul (or God) convinces the people to come together and fight, and Israel musters an army of 330,000. Which is huge-mongous. Of course they destroy the Ammonite invaders in like one day. And the Ammonite army is so destroyed, the Bible says that no two attackers are left together.

Then something happens that even I find unexpected. Some Israelites wanted to put to death whoever suggested that Saul become king. Despite this great military victory. Was it because they were undyingly devoted to the LORD and His kingship? Or because they were threatened into battle by having their oxen cut up into pieces? Something tells me its the latter.

Saul busts in and says, "No one shall be put to death, because the LORD has rescued Israel." And I like that. Saul gives credit and glory to God. The ruler he has replaced. That shows great leadership, in spite of an unpopular public opinion. Of a few people. At least.

Anyway, they have a huge celebration for Saul, and with the victory, its his "coming out party."

1 Sa. 10: Long Live the King

1 Samuel 10:9 "As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day."

As Samuel is anointed king by Samuel, Samuel tells him that his dad is now worried about where he is, just as Saul thought previously. Was this because Saul knew his dad was predisposed to this, or because God made it happen. If so, why? Then Saul is instructed to go to Tabor, Gibeah, and Gilgal, because his next steps had been planned out. He was to join a group and start prophesying with them. I don't really know what that means. They were just talking amongst themselves about God? They were telling the future to each other? To the people? I don't know. Doesn't say. With the presence of musical instruments, I'd imagine they were causing a scene, and wanted to entice people to pay attention to them...

Then God changed Saul's heart. As if Saul wasn't completely on board, or was kind of unsure about this whole being king deal. And it was a big deal. Not only was he going to be king, he was going to be a man of God, with abilities sent from God. We're talking major upheaval in the life of someone who was probably otherwise destined to become a donkey-finder for hire, and an unsuccessful one at that. This change in Saul was so great, that even his friends noticed when they saw him prophesying. Admittedly, that seems like a pretty noticeable change.

At the assembly to announce Saul's kingship, Samuel again relates the message from God about how God was rejected even though it was the LORD who brought them through all their trouble and calamity and distress. This didn't appear to phase Israel, who probably thought of God as the one who got them into those calamities to begin with. "Long live the king!" They shouted. They were going to force their way through whatever it took. We'll see what happens.

1 Sa. 9: Donkey-Finding Mission Goes Awry

1 Samuel 9:16: "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me."

This is a story about a guy who's a head taller than the rest of the Israelites. And one day, donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish wandered off. These donkeys were very important to Kish, so he sent his son to go find these donkeys and bring them back. Stupid donkeys. Don't know where they are in life. Don't know enough to stay in a place prepared for them.

Anyway, Kish sends Saul with a servant to find them, but they just couldn't. Finally, enough was enough, and Saul decided to turn back to avoid worrying his father. The servant realizes that a nearby town has a seer (Samuel), which is what they called the prophets, who can tell them the way to take. To take back home or to take to find the donkeys, I'm not sure.

Anyway, God had gone ahead and told Samuel who to expect. Which I find amazing. Can you imagine someone telling you something that was going to happen, and then tomorrow it happens? Ah, that still gives my chills. What an amazing thing that could happen.

It turns out to be Saul, and he dines with Samuel.

One note in particular is how God deals with this anointing of a king. God, rejected by his people, selects someone from those people, has compassion on their cries. More interesting is how God says this person will deliver God's people from the hand of the Philistines. Of course, I could only expect that it would be God pulling the strings, but its interesting here that he implies this king would deliver his people. God is giving in here.