WOW, what an interesting story, I am definitely sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen to Jonathan and his armorbearer! But that is only the beginning, the teaser, for what is to come in this part of First Kings!
Not it came to pass one day… Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armor: Come let us go over to the garrison of the Philistines which is on the other side of yonder place…And the people knew not whither Jonathan was gone… the young man that bore his armor… garrison of the uncircumcised, it may be the Lord will do for us, because it is easy for the Lord to save either by many, or by few. And his armorbearer said to him: Do all that pleaseth the mind: go whither thou wilt, and I will be with thee wheresoever thou hast a mind… because the Lord hath delivered them into our hands… the Hebrews… Let us go up, follow me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel… the first slaughter… was of about twenty men… and it happened as a miracle from God.
Jonathan walked into his enemies’ hands and the Lord delivered the enemy into his hands! Truly a miracle from God and one I did not know about or fully understand as it involves killing of human beings for what purpose? We human beings, or is it nations, are still doing this 2,000-plus years later.
I thought when I read “do all that pleaseth the mind,” this story would end tragically for Jonathan with the message being do first what The Holy Spirit is calling you to do and then use your mind to implement God’s Will.
Then there was the story of Saul’s son Jonathan eating some honey breaking an oath his father had said but did not hear. The people of Israel saved Jonathan through praying to God for wisdom. Saul warred with the Philistines all the days of his kingdom of Israel—nobody found peace with their neighbors in Saul’s time.
Saul got a little too big for his britches, at least from the perspective of the Lord. Instead of completely annihilating Amalec as the Lord had commanded he took King Agag captive and took the spared the best sheep for a sacrifice to the Lord. Pretty much did the job but not completely as the Lord had directed.
Saul rationalized his conduct well, as we all do, but the Lord held him accountable as an example for us to learn from:
Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, and not rather that the voice of the Lord be obeyed? For obedience is better than sacrifice: and to hearken rather than offer… Because it is like the sin of witchcraft, to rebel: and like the crime of idolatry, to refuse to obey. Forasmuch therefore as thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord hath also rejected thee from being king.
What is it exactly that one is supposed to learn from this, in Old-Testament-style of violence and an authoritative, do not question me, God? How can we apply this knowledge to our lives today where we live in the New-Testament-style of love? Or beyond today, as spiritual beings first, and human beings second?
There was repentance by Saul but no forgiveness by the Lord. There was repentance by the Lord for making Saul king.
Saul to Samuel: I have sinned because I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words, fearing the people, and obeying their voice. But now bear, I beseech thee, my sin, and return with me, that I may adore the Lord.
Samuel to Saul: I will not return with thee, because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
So Samuel turned again after Saul: and Saul adored the Lord. And Samuel said: Bring hither to me Agag the king of Amalec. Agag said: Doth bitter death separate in this manner? Samuel said: As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Galgal.
And Samuel saw Saul no more till the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, because the Lord repented that he had made him king over Israel.
The moral of the story? If you are to be a leader at home or at the office, remember to fear the Lord and versus fearing the children or the subordinates. Obey God’s voice and no one else’s when it is in conflict with God. But above all act in accordance with love and our commonality, our unity, of us all being spiritual beings first in life and beyond.
And then the story gets better as the Lord uses Samuel to identify the king to replace Saul and this person is David and comes to be Saul’s armorbearer and play the harp for him to ward off the evil spirit of the Lord.
Evil spirit of the Lord, yes three times references in this passage of the Bible as
And what are the specifications when the Lord chooses a new king?
Lord said to Samuel: Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature: because I have rejected him, nor do I judge according to the look of man: for man seeth those things that appear. But the Lord beholdeth the heart.
For man seeth those things that appear but the Lord beholdeth the heart…
There remained yet a young one (David), who keepeth the sheep. Now he was ruddy and beautiful to behold, and of a comely face. And the Lord said: Arise, and anoint him, for this is he… and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.
But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. .. seek out a man skillful in playing the harp, that when the evil spirit from the Lord is upon thee, he may play with his hand, and thou mayst bear it more easily.
Saul to his servants: Provide me then some man that can play well, and bring him to me.
One servant to Saul: Behold I have seen a son of Isai the Bethlehemite, a skillful player, and one of great strength, and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely person: and the Lord is with him.
And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and Saul loved him exceedingly, and made him his armorbearer.
So whensoever the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, David took his harp, and played with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and was better, for the evil spirit departed from him.
Plays right into the modern day corporate catch phrase of ‘keep your friends close and your enemies even closer!’
And the war saga between Saul and the Philistines continued. It would be decided by a fight in the valley in between the armies between David and Goliath:
Choose a man of you, and let him come down and fight hand to hand. If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, we will be servants to you: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, you shall be servants, and shall serve us.
Now the Philistine (Goliath) came out morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
David: For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
And the words which David spoke were heard, and were rehearsed before Saul.
Saul to David: for thou are but a boy, but he is a warrior from his youth.
David to Saul: I caught them (a lion and a bear) by the throat and strangles and killed them. For I thy servant have killed both a lion and a bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall also be one of them… who hath dared to curse the army of the living God?
Saul to David: Go, and the Lord be with thee.
Began to try if he could walk in armor: for he was not accustomed to it… and he laid them off, and he took his staff… and choose five smooth stones out of the brook… and he took a sling in his hand and went forth against the Philistine.
Goliath to David: Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with a staff?
David to Goliath: Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which thou hast defied.
David made haste and ran to the fight to meet Goliath… took a stone, and cast it with the sling, and fetching it about struck Goliath in the forehead, and the stone was fixed in his forehead, and he fell on his face on the earth. And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine.
A boy killed a giant warrior with a sling and a smooth stone out of the brook.
And it came to pass… the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul… it also came to pass that the battle between Saul and David for the kingdom of Israel had begun. David, accosted with evil spirits from the Lord and knowing the Lord was with David and not him, turned to trickery and gamesmanship to be rid of David’s threat to his kingship.
Now when David returned after he slew Goliath, the women came out of all the cities in Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with timbrels of joy, and cornets. And the women sung as they played, and they said: Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
Saul: What can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul did not look at David with a good eye from that day forward… the evil spirit from God came upon Saul… and Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from himself… Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hands of the Philistines be upon him.
David: Doth it seem to you a small matter to be the king’s son-in-law? But I am a poor man, and of small ability (biggest understatement of the Bible after all he killed Goliath and the Lord was with him!)
The king desired not any dowry, but only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. Now Saul thought to deliver David into the hands of the Philistines. Saul therefore gave him Michol his daughter to wife.
And Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David… And Saul became David’s enemy continually.
Day 97: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Israel Kings: Samuel to Saul to David who kills Goliath; the Lord looks to Our Hearts.
Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Kings Chapters 14-18
Bible Notes:
This and the following Book are also called the Books of Samuel, because they tell of Samuel and the two kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed. After the history of Heli and Samuel, the last of the Judges, this book records the beginning of the Jewish monarchy and the rule of the first king, Saul.
1 Kings Chapter 14: Jonathan advances toward the Philistines; Jonathan miraculously conquers; The flight of the Philistines; Jonathan violates Saul’s oath; The sin of the Israelites; Jonathan is saved by the people; Summary of Saul’s reign; Saul’s family.
Not it came to pass one day… Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armor: Come let us go over to the garrison of the Philistines which is on the other side of yonder place…And the people knew not whither Jonathan was gone… the young man that bore his armor… garrison of the uncircumcised, it may be the Lord will do for us, because it is easy for the Lord to save either by many, or by few. And his armorbearer said to him: Do all that pleaseth the mind: go whither thou wilt, and I will be with thee wheresoever thou hast a mind… because the Lord hath delivered them into our hands… the Hebrews… Let us go up, follow me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel… the first slaughter… was of about twenty men… and it happened as a miracle from God.
Saul: Bring the ark of the Lord… And there were with Saul about ten thousand men. And the Lord saved Israel that day.
Saul: Cursed be the man that shall eat food till evening, till I be revenged of my enemies… came into a forest… there was honey on the ground… For the people feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people…he carried his hand (with homey) to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened… My father had troubled the land: you have seen yourselves that my eyes are enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey… And the people were wearied exceedingly… And falling upon the spoils… and the people ate them (sheep, oxen, calves) with the blood… And they told Saul that the people had sinned against the Lord, eating with blood. And he said: You have transgressed: roll here to me now a great stone… bring me every man his ox and his ram, and slay them upon this stone… and Saul built an altar to the Lord…as the Lord liveth who is the savior of Israel, if it was done by Jonathan my son, he shall surely die… O Lord God of Israel, give a sign, by which we may know, what the meaning is… This must not be… So the people delivered Jonathan, that he should not die.
And Saul having his kingdom established over Israel, fought against all his enemies… And there was a great war against the Philistines all the days of Saul.
1 Kings Chapter 15: Samuel tells Saul to destroy Amalec; Saul allows King Agag to live; The Lord rebukes Saul through Samuel; Saul’s humiliation; Samuel slays Agag; God repents that he made Saul king.
Samuel to Saul: thus said the Lord of hosts… now therefore go, and smite Amalec… and Saul took Agag the king of Amalec alive… the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying: It repenteth me that I have made Saul king: for he hath forsaken me, and hath not executed my commandments… Saul erected a triumphant arch… Saul was offering a holocaust to the Lord… Saul said to Samuel: Bless be thou of the Lord, I have fulfilled the word of the Lord… for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the herds that they might be sacrificed to the Lord thy God… and hast thou done evil in the sight of the Lord? Saul: Yea, I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord… as the firstfruits of those things that were slain, to offer sacrifice to the Lord their God… Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, and not rather that the voice of the Lord be obeyed? For obedience is better than sacrifice: and to hearken rather than offer… Because it is like the sin of witchcraft, to rebel: and like the crime of idolatry, to refuse to obey. Forasmuch therefore as thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord hath also rejected thee from being king.
Saul to Samuel: I have sinned because I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words, fearing the people, and obeying their voice. But now bear, I beseech thee, my sin, and return with me, that I may adore the Lord.
Samuel to Saul: I will not return with thee, because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
So Samuel turned again after Saul: and Saul adored the Lord. And Samuel said: Bring hither to me Agag the king of Amalec. Agag said: Doth bitter death separate in this manner? Samuel said: As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Galgal.
And Samuel saw Saul no more till the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, because the Lord repented that he had made him king over Israel.
1 Kings Chapter 16: Samuel sent to anoint a new king; Samuel anoints David; An evil spirit troubles Saul; Saul sends for David; David becomes Saul’s armorbearer.
Lord to Samuel: How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, whom I have rejected from reigning over Israel? Come, that I may send thee to Isai the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Samuel: How shall I go? For Saul will hear of it, and he will kill me.
Lord to Samuel: thou shalt say: I am come to sacrifice to the Lord
Is thy coming hither peaceable?
Lord said to Samuel: Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature: because I have rejected him, nor do I judge according to the look of man: for man seeth those things that appear. But the Lord beholdeth the heart.
There remained yet a young one, who keepeth the sheep. Now he was ruddy and beautiful to behold, and of a comely face. And the Lord said: Arise, and anoint him, for this is he… and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.
But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. .. seek out a man skillful in playing the harp, that when the evil spirit from the Lord is upon thee, he may play with his hand, and thou mayst bear it more easily.
Saul to his servants: Provide me then some man that can play well, and bring him to me.
One servant to Saul: Behold I have seen a son of Isai the Bethlehemite, a skillful player, and one of great strength, and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely person: and the Lord is with him.
Saul: Send me David, who is in the pastures.
Isai sent gifts ‘by the hand of David his son’ to Saul.
And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and Saul loved him exceedingly, and made him his armorbearer.
So whensoever the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, David took his harp, and played with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and was better, for the evil spirit departed from him.
1 Kings Chapter 17: War with the Philistines; The challenge of Goliath; David returns to his father’s house; David is sent to the camp of the army; David hears Goliath’s challenge; Eliab is angry with David; David offers to fight Goliath; David prepares for the fight; David and Goliath taunt each other; David slays Goliath; The Israelites defeat the Philistines; Saul takes notice of David.
And there went out a man baseborn from the camp of the Philistines named Goliath…
Choose a man of you, and let him come down and fight hand to hand. If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, we will be servants to you: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, you shall be servants, and shall serve us.
Now the Philistine (Goliath) came out morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
David: For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
And the words which David spoke were heard, and were rehearsed before Saul.
Saul to David: for thou are but a boy, but he is a warrior from his youth.
David to Saul: I caught them (a lion and a bear) by the throat and strangles and killed them. For I thy servant have killed both a lion and a bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall also be one of them… who hath dared to curse the army of the living God?
Saul to David: Go, and the Lord be with thee.
Began to try if he could walk in armor: for he was not accustomed to it… and he laid them off, and he took his staff… and choose five smooth stones out of the brook… and he took a sling in his hand and went forth against the Philistine.
Goliath to David: Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with a staff?
David to Goliath: Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which thou hast defied.
David made haste and ran to the fight to meet Goliath… took a stone, and cast it with the sling, and fetching it about struck Goliath in the forehead, and the stone was fixed in his forehead, and he fell on his face on the earth. And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine.
1 Kings Chapter 18: The friendship of Jonathan and David; Saul’s envy of David; Saul attempts to kill David; Saul appoints David a captain; Saul tries to trick David; David slays two hundred Philistines; Saul’s hatred for David increases.
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Now when David returned after he slew Goliath, the women came out of all the cities in Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with timbrels of joy, and cornets. And the women sung as they played, and they said: Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
Saul: What can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul did not look at David with a good eye from that day forward… the evil spirit from God came upon Saul… and Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from himself… Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hands of the Philistines be upon him.
David: Doth it seem to you a small matter to be the king’s son-in-law? But I am a poor man, and of small ability (biggest understatement of the Bible after all he killed Goliath and the Lord was with him!)
The king desired not any dowry, but only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. Now Saul thought to deliver David into the hands of the Philistines. Saul therefore gave him Michol his daughter to wife.
And Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David… And Saul became David’s enemy continually.
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