Introduction
SECTION SECOND.
HISTORY OF SAUL. CHAPTERS 13-31.
With this chapter commences the history of Saul’s reign, and on to the end of the First Book of Samuel we are hurried through a series of events both thrilling and instructive, until the section closes with the tragic fall of Israel’s first monarch. The reader’s mind is saddened as he finds a reign so auspiciously begun, and strengthened by many a noble conquest, deteriorate into a foul persecution of the youthful shepherd of Beth-lehem. As we read on to the end of his life, we are gradually made to feel that the princely appearing, broad-shouldered son of Kish was unequal to the task of successfully transforming the loose confederacy of the Hebrews into a monarchy. But an index to it all is given in the single passage of Hosea: “I gave thee a king in mine anger and took him away in my wrath.”
The first three chapters of this section (13, 14, 15) give a detailed account of the three great errors of Saul’s reign. The first is his disobedience at Gilgal, where it is announced to him that his dynasty shall end with himself. The second is his rash and foolish vow, which he found himself unable to fulfil; a vow which will ever associate him with Jephthah. The third is his most grievous disobedience in failing to execute the divine judgment on the Amalekites. All his subsequent misfortunes, and his insane pursuit of David, were fruits of judicial blindness the penal consequence of his three fatal errors.
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