Day 81. 1 Samuel 14-15

In our reading for today we behold the further unwinding of Saul's kingship. His problems are two. Obviously he shows a lack of judgment, as witnessed by the foolish oath he exacts from his troops to fast until he has "avenged" his enemies. He puts his own pride above the welfare of his army. His son Jonathan, without knowing the oath under which the army had been placed, eats honey from a honeycomb (14:25), and his eyes brightened (14:27)—a sign that he wwas refreshed and strengthened. But the rest of the army, weakened by their king's foolish command to fast, are unable to follow up the victory the LORD gives them. Instead, in their ravenous hunger they fall upon some of the captured livestock, killing and eating sheep and calves "with the blood" (14:33) in them, an outrageous violation of the Law of Moses forbidding the eating of blood (see Deuteronomy 12:23-24).
This lack of judgment and leadership is one thing, but Saul's more fundamental problem is that, in spite of his courage (14:48), he is disobedient to the commands of the LORD and lacking in trust. He is a general who cannot follow orders. When the LORD commands that the Amalekites—man, woman, and child, together with all their cattle--be "devoted"—that is, utterly destroyed—Saul spares their king as a trophy and the best of their livestock (15:8-9). When Samuel confronts him with the sound of "the bleating of sheep" and the "lowing of cattle" (15:14), Saul makes the excuse that he has only spared them to sacrifice to the LORD (15:15). Is this the truth—the text does not speculate on that.
It is certainly a failure to obey orders, and Samuel isn't buying any excuses. He tells the king that "to obey is better than sacrifice" (15:22) and warns him that the LORD has rejected him from being king. In contrition, Saul catches hold of the hem of his robe and tears it. But Samuel is adamant —"The LORD has torn the kingdom from you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you" (15:28) And against this decision there is no appeal—"The Glory of Israel will not recant or change his mind; for he is not a mortal, that he should change his mind" (15:29). Saul's fate is sealed, and with him the fate of his son Jonathan.
Jonathan is presented in our reading as the ideal prince, the wise son of a foolish father. He is the tragic hero of the story. He is obedient to the will of God (14:6), and valorous in single-handed battle with the Philistines (14:13). As a champion of the army of Israel, he kills twenty-four of the enemy, and the LORD sends a "very great panic" (14:15) that routs the Philistine army. The Israelite victory is dampened, however, by Saul's foolish oath that will not allow his troops to eat until the day is won. Jonathan acknowledges his father's failings in leadership-- "My father has troubled the land," he says.
And it is Jonathan who is condemned by his father's oath. When a tactical decision is necessary, the LORD is silent and will not answer. The sacred lots are cast to see who is blame, the king and son or the people. (Chapter 14, verse 41 gives us an insight into how these lots worked. Apparently they gave a yes or no answer to questions directed to God through them.) The lot falls on Jonathan, and Saul, again rashly, is prepared to slay his own son to fulfill his ridiculous vow. But the people intervene, a sign of Jonathan's great popularity, and Jonathan does not die (14:45). But the stage is now set for the appearance of another young hero, Saul's "neighbor" upon whom the LORD has set his heart.
Our reading ends with the old prophet Samuel grieving over the failure of Israel's first king, whom he had anointed, and LORD regretting his choice of Saul, whom he had raised to that honor. Now another king is on the horizon—David.