1 Samuel 13 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

1 Samuel 13 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Samuel was born in approximately 1100 B.C.

• Samuel lived until approximately 1012 B.C.

• Israel’s first king was appointed in approximately 1050 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Saul – God selected Saul to be the first king of Israel. He was from the tribe of Benjamin.

• Samuel – A prophet of God. He was Israel’s last significant judge.

• Jonathan – Saul’s son. An honorable young man and a great warrior.

• The Philistines – The long-time enemies of Israel.

WHERE:

• Jonathan defeated a Philistine garrison in Geba, which was approximately 4 miles northeast of Gibeah.

• The Philistine army camped at Michmash.

• Saul waited 7 days for Samuel at Gilgal.

OUTLINE:

• THE PHILISTINES SCARE THE ISRAELITES WITH A MASSIVE ARMY (13:1-7):

  • When Saul had reigned in Israel several years, his son Jonathan defeated a Philistine garrison at Geba.

  • This infuriated the Philistines, and they brought 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and troops to fight against Israel. The Philistines camped at Michmash.

  • Saul gathered the fighting men of Israel at Gilgal, but they were terrified of their enemies.

  • The people of Israel hid in caves, holes, rocky areas, tombs, cisterns, and some even crossed the Jordan River to try to avoid the Philistines.  

• SAUL’S SINFUL SACRIFICE (13:8-18):

  • Samuel told Saul he would meet him in Gilgal within 7 days to offer a sacrifice and ask for God’s help.

  • At the end of the 7 days, there was no sign of Samuel, so Saul decided to take things into his own hands and offer the sacrifice himself.

  • As soon as Saul had offered the burnt offering, Samuel arrived.

  • Samuel was angry with him because he was not authorized to offer sacrifices. He was the king of Israel, but not the priest of Israel.

  • Saul tried to make excuses, but Samuel wasn’t interested.

  • Saul was told he would be punished because of his disobedience. In coming generations, the kingdom of Israel would not be ruled by his children, the throne would be given to another family.

  • Samuel left Gilgal and Saul moved his men to Geba.

  • The Philistines sent out three raiding parties into Israelite territory.

• THE SUPERIOR WEAPONRY OF THE PHILISTINES (13:19-23):

  • There were no blacksmiths in Israel during this time.

  • The Israelites usually went to the Philistines to get their plowshares, axes, and sickles sharpened.

  • Therefore, Saul’s army had a very limited number of weapons.

APPLICATION:

• What was so bad about Saul offering the sacrifice? From his point of view, didn’t he have a good reason for doing it?

• In part, it was the fact that he, as king, felt he could step into a role God hadn’t assigned him.

• God permitted Saul to become king, but Saul didn’t have the authority to overrule God’s religious system. Saul was to be in submission to God’s system.

• He forgot his place.

• We need to be careful that we don’t feel at liberty to step into roles God hasn’t assigned us.

• Sometimes you see churches appointing people to positions God hasn’t authorized them to fill.

• Those churches may feel they have good reasons for appointing those people, but they’re making the same mistake as Saul.

• They are forgetting their place. They are forgetting they are to be in submission to God’s system.