The Philistines Invade

 The plagues God had sent on the Philistines while they held the Ark of the Covenant, and their total defeat by Israel had convinced them that an attack on Israel would be foolhardy, so throughout Samuel’s judgeship, they made no attacks, as I Samuel 7:13 tells us.  “So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.”  When Samuel made his sons judges in his place the Philistines heard about the unrest and began to encroach on Israel’s land.  When Saul became king, they seized the opportunity to invade, setting up various outposts, raiding and terrorizing different communities.    

 

Israel had never maintained a standing army, but like Switzerland, had depended on citizen soldiers.  Saul established a small army to deal with the raiders, in I Samuel 13:1-2.  “Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.”

 

Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, really upsetting the Philistine leaders.  The victory inspired many the Israelites, as I Samuel 13:3-4 tells us.  “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 a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.”

 

In retaliation, the Philistines brought a huge force to attack, and realizing they were facing a larger and better equipped force the Israelites lost their confidence, with some going into hiding and others fleeing across the Jordan for safety, as I Samuel 13:5-7 describes.  “And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.  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 high places, and in pits.  And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.”

 

Saul’s confidence had been destroyed by the opposition they faced, and he had sent for Samuel to come and perform sacrifices in hopes of getting God to act on their behalf.  Samuel didn’t arrive when Saul expected him to, so Saul assumed the role of priest, in I Samuel 13:8-10.  “And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.  And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.”

 

Just as Saul finished offering the sacrifices, Samuel arrived, and questioned what he had done, in I Samuel 13:10-12.  “And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.  And Samuel said, What hast thou done?

 

And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;  Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.”

 

In explaining what he had done, Saul makes it clear he knew that under God’s law he was not allowed to serve as a priest.  Saul viewed the sacrifices as some kind of magic spell to get God on his side, rather than as an act of worship, and as a result he did not dare go into battle without making the sacrifice.  Making the sacrifice was more important to him than obeying God.  He didn’t understand that “… to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams,” as Samuel explained in I Samuel 15:22.  Unfortunately, like Saul, a lot of people put their faith in some ritual such as fasting or prayer or giving to the church rather than in God’s love and righteousness. 

 

Samuel warned Saul that his lack of faith would ultimately cost him the kingdom, in I Samuel 13:13-15a.  “And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.  And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin.

 

Saul had started with a three thousand man army, and after hearing about Jonathan’s victory people had flocked to him, but because he lacked faith to go forward, most of the people had left, leaving him with only about six hundred, as we see in I Samuel 13:15b-16.  “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 Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.”