1 Samuel Chapter 13

Saul’s Disobedience
A. The Philistine Threat

1. (1 Samuel 13:1–2) Saul assembles Israel’s first standing army.
“Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, every man to his tent.”

Saul’s decision to form a permanent army marks a major shift in Israel’s military organization. Until this point, Israel had relied on volunteer militias who rallied only in moments of national crisis. This act of establishing three thousand chosen men represented the first standing army of the nation, signaling Israel’s transition from tribal confederation to centralized monarchy. By selecting two thousand men to stay with him in Michmash and Bethel and assigning one thousand under his son Jonathan in Gibeah, Saul divided his forces strategically to protect key positions in Benjamin’s territory.

The text introduces Jonathan for the first time here, describing him not just as Saul’s son but as a future hero of Israel. His name means “Yahweh has given,” a fitting introduction to a man who would later prove himself courageous, loyal, and spiritually devoted. Clarke rightly observed, “This is the first place in which this brave and excellent man appears; a man who bears one of the most amiable characters in the Bible.” Jonathan’s faith and courage would soon stand in contrast to his father’s growing pride and insecurity.

2. (1 Samuel 13:3–4) Jonathan initiates conflict with the Philistines.
“And Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, ‘Let the Hebrews hear!’ Now all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal.”

Jonathan demonstrated bold initiative by striking the Philistine garrison stationed in Geba. This attack was not reckless but an act of faith and courage against Israel’s oppressors. His victory disrupted the uneasy peace Israel had endured under Philistine dominance—a peace maintained through submission and silence. Jonathan’s act effectively declared, “We will no longer live as conquered people.”

However, this act of defiance provoked the Philistines to hostility, as Scripture records, “Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines.” When Israel was passive and subdued, their enemies were content. But when they rose with faith and strength in the LORD, they became hated. The same principle applies to believers today. As Ephesians 6:12 declares, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Spiritual warfare invites opposition; when Christians live boldly in obedience to God, the powers of darkness react with hatred. Satan and his forces are content when believers remain spiritually apathetic, but when they step out in faith and obedience, the enemy takes notice. Peace with the devil is not the same as peace with God. If peace with the enemy means compromise, it is not peace worth keeping.

The site of this attack, Geba (sometimes called Gibeah), has been confirmed archaeologically as a fortified Philistine position that was destroyed and later rebuilt by Saul. Excavations have revealed that it later became a royal fortress during Saul’s reign, evidence that Israel indeed gained control of the region after this conflict.

Yet amid the excitement of victory, a troubling sign emerges in Saul’s behavior. Scripture records that “all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines.” Though Jonathan initiated and executed the attack, Saul claimed the credit. This early glimpse into Saul’s character reveals his insecurity and thirst for public acclaim. He could not allow others—even his own son—to receive glory or recognition. His pride, rooted in insecurity, foreshadows the spiritual decline that would soon follow. A leader driven by the need for applause will ultimately make decisions that dishonor God, for pride and insecurity are fatal weaknesses in spiritual leadership.

3. (1 Samuel 13:5–7) The Philistines prepare their army.
“Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.”

The Philistines, infuriated by Jonathan’s attack at Geba, mobilized a massive army in retaliation. Scripture describes “thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude.” This vast force descended upon Michmash, east of Beth Aven, threatening to annihilate Israel. The overwhelming military strength of the Philistines—bolstered by their iron weaponry and advanced chariot technology—created terror among the Israelites.

a. Thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen: This figure represents an enormous army. Some have questioned the number, suggesting a textual variation where “thirty thousand” might be “three thousand.” As Poole notes, “This number seems incredible to infidels; to whom it may be sufficient to reply, that it is far more rational to acknowledge a mistake in him that copied out the sacred text in such numeral or historical passages, wherein the doctrine of faith and good life is not directly concerned, than upon such a pretense to question the truth and divinity of the Holy Scriptures.” Whether thirty or three thousand, the intent of the passage is clear—the Philistines had a decisive military advantage and gathered a force vastly superior to Israel’s fledgling army.

b. When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger: The Israelites, witnessing the size and might of the Philistine host, were overwhelmed with fear. The text says they were “distressed,” literally meaning “pressed” or “hemmed in.” In terror, they fled to whatever shelter they could find—caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and pits. Others abandoned the land entirely, crossing the Jordan into the territories of Gad and Gilead. This was a moment of national panic and spiritual weakness.

This episode reveals the insufficiency of human leadership apart from divine trust. The people had demanded a king, believing that a monarch would solve their problems and deliver them from their enemies. Yet here, with a king and a standing army, they still trembled before their foes. As Poole observes, “Hereby God intended to teach them the vanity of all carnal confidence in men; and that they did not one jot less need the help and favour of God now than they did before, when they had no king.” The presence of Saul did not remove their need for faith; it merely exposed their misplaced confidence.

c. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal: Saul remained in Gilgal, the place where his kingship had been confirmed before the nation in 1 Samuel 11:15. Many months later, he was still there—perhaps clinging to the memory of that triumph. It is possible that Saul lingered in Gilgal in hopes of re-experiencing the glory of his past victories. But leadership demands movement and dependence on God, not nostalgia. The Philistine army was gathering at Michmash, yet Saul hesitated, waiting for Samuel, whose absence would soon test his patience and obedience.

d. The people followed him trembling: Though Saul still held the allegiance of his people, their obedience was born of fear, not faith. They followed him, but trembling. This was a tragic scene—a king with a title but no courage, leading a people with loyalty but no confidence. The true problem was not the size of the Philistine army but the spiritual weakness of Israel. Had they trusted in the LORD, they would have remembered His past deliverances, such as when the LORD thundered upon the Philistines and defeated them at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:10: “But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.”) The same God who had fought for them then had not changed, but their faith had faltered.

This moment illustrates that fear thrives where faith is absent. Israel’s trembling before the Philistines foreshadows Saul’s own trembling heart—a leader who could not inspire courage because he himself lacked trust in God.

B. Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

1. (1 Samuel 13:8–9) Saul offers the burnt offering.
“Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, ‘Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.’ And he offered the burnt offering.”

Saul obeyed Samuel’s earlier instruction to wait seven days, yet when Samuel did not appear within the expected time frame, Saul’s fear overtook his obedience. The Philistines were massing at Michmash, the people were scattering, and Saul felt the urgency of battle pressing upon him. His impatience led him to overstep his divine boundaries.

a. He waited seven days: Saul’s waiting was externally obedient but internally anxious. Waiting becomes a test of faith when circumstances appear desperate. Saul’s long months in Gilgal had already eroded his patience, and now in crisis, he viewed time as his enemy. He reasoned that if Samuel did not come soon, Israel would lose its only chance to strike before the Philistine army became fully mobilized. Faith requires trust in God’s timing, even when delay appears disastrous.

b. According to the time set by Samuel: Samuel had given clear instruction that he alone, as the prophet and priestly mediator, would preside over the sacrifice so that Israel would be spiritually prepared for battle. Saul knew that obedience to this instruction was not ceremonial—it was spiritual preparation for victory. Yet Saul allowed impatience to outweigh obedience.

c. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him: This moment exposes the weakness of Saul’s leadership. A godly leader draws strength from faith in God; Saul drew his strength from the confidence of his men. As their faith failed, so did his resolve. The scattering of the troops intensified his fear. Saul was losing control of the situation, and instead of turning to God in humble prayer, he turned to ritual to regain order.

In his anxiety, Saul likely gave a rousing speech to keep his men together: “We must act now! The Philistines are ready, and Samuel has delayed. We must seek the LORD before we fight!” His words might have sounded spiritual, but his heart was driven by panic, not faith.

d. And he offered the burnt offering: This was an act of direct disobedience. Only a priest, specifically one from the line of Aaron, was authorized to offer sacrifices before the LORD (see Numbers 18:7: “Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for everything of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.”) Saul, as king, had no right to assume priestly duties. By doing so, he usurped God’s appointed order and confused the distinct offices of priest and king, which God had purposely kept separate.

History warns of the dangers of combining civil and priestly power. 2 Chronicles 26:16–19 recounts how King Uzziah, in pride, attempted to burn incense before the LORD, and God struck him with leprosy for violating the priestly office. Likewise, Saul’s intrusion into sacred duty revealed a heart that feared men more than God. Trapp observed, “If Saul was among the prophets before, will he now be among the priests? Can there be any devotion in disobedience? O vain man! What can it avail to sacrifice to God, against God?”

Saul’s disobedience stemmed from fear, not faith. He thought his actions were necessary, but true worship can never flow from rebellion. Obedience is better than sacrifice, as Samuel will soon remind him (1 Samuel 15:22).

2. (1 Samuel 13:10–12) Samuel arrives and Saul tries to explain what he did.
“Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. And Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ And Saul said, ‘When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD. Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.’”

The timing of Samuel’s arrival heightens the tragedy. The prophet came immediately after Saul had completed the unlawful sacrifice. Had Saul waited just a little longer, he would have been vindicated by obedience. His failure teaches that the final hour of waiting is often the hardest—the moment when faith must stand against sight.

a. As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering: The very next moment, Samuel appeared. Saul’s act of disobedience was unnecessary and premature. If he had endured just one more hour, he would have been blessed for faithfulness rather than judged for rebellion. Often the greatest tests of faith come in the final stretch of waiting, when all visible hope seems gone.

b. Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him: The Hebrew suggests that Saul intended to bless Samuel, much like a priest blesses the people. This shows the depth of Saul’s spiritual confusion. Not only had he offered the sacrifice unlawfully, but he now presumed the authority to bless God’s prophet. His behavior revealed spiritual pride masked as piety—he wanted to appear holy in the very act of rebellion. Trapp aptly noted that such gestures are like a child caught stealing cookies who immediately says, “Let’s pray.”

c. Samuel said, “What have you done?” Samuel’s question pierced straight to the heart. He did not engage Saul in argument or justification; he sought confession and repentance. But Saul’s heart was not contrite. Instead of repentance, he gave excuses.

d. And Saul said: Saul’s explanation exposed his failure to trust God. Each excuse made his sin worse:

• “I saw that the people were scattered from me” — Saul justified disobedience as a leadership necessity. He feared losing his men more than losing God’s favor. Like many leaders, he sought popularity over principle. He thought he must “do something” to keep control, when obedience would have accomplished far more.

• “You did not come within the days appointed” — Saul shifted the blame to Samuel, implying the prophet was late. But obedience to God is not dependent on another’s behavior. Even if Samuel had erred, Saul’s sin was still his own.

• “The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal” — Saul’s reasoning sounded pious: he wanted God’s favor before battle. But true faith does not manipulate ritual to earn protection. God desired obedience, not a hurried sacrifice.

• “Therefore I felt compelled” — Saul’s final excuse revealed that feelings had replaced faith. He allowed emotion to dictate his actions, saying, “I had to do something.” Yet no circumstance ever compels disobedience to God.

Saul’s tone showed no remorse, only justification. He did not ask, “Have I sinned?” because he already knew the answer. His heart was hardened by pride and fear, showing how easily panic can disguise itself as piety.

3. (1 Samuel 13:13–14) Samuel proclaims God’s judgment upon Saul’s household.
“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.”

Samuel’s rebuke to Saul marked a solemn turning point in Israel’s history. The prophet’s words were not merely a condemnation of one act, but the divine rejection of a dynasty. God’s warning to Saul demonstrated that no amount of ritual, rank, or outward success can substitute for a heart of obedience.

a. “Thou hast done foolishly:”
Samuel’s statement was not an insult but a spiritual indictment. In biblical usage, foolishness is not a matter of intellect but of moral failure. As Psalm 14:1 declares, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” The fool acts as though God’s authority can be ignored, choosing pride and impulse over submission and faith. Saul’s act of offering the sacrifice was not a mere misjudgment—it was rebellion against God’s order. He acted as though divine commands were negotiable when under pressure.

b. “Thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which He commanded thee:”
Despite all his excuses, Saul’s guilt was simple and clear. God had commanded him through Samuel to wait, and Saul had not obeyed. Excuses, fear, and good intentions did not change that fact. The prophet’s words cut through all of Saul’s rationalizations: “Thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God.” Saul’s failure was not ignorance—it was willful disobedience rooted in pride and unbelief.

c. “For now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever:”
These words reveal the immense loss caused by Saul’s sin. God’s plan was to establish a lasting dynasty through Saul’s line, much like He would later do through David. The promise of enduring kingship could have belonged to Saul’s descendants, but his disobedience forfeited that blessing. To be the first king of Israel and lose the throne’s permanence was a tragic testimony to how far one can fall through unfaithfulness.

d. “But now thy kingdom shall not continue:”
Though Saul would remain on the throne for many years—approximately two more decades—his reign was now spiritually over. The sentence was declared, even if its execution was delayed. Saul’s future victories would be hollow, for the presence and favor of the LORD had departed from his house. Trapp wrote, “To disobey God in the smallest matter is sin enough: there can be no sin little, because there is no little God to sin against.”

Samuel’s pronouncement, however, was also merciful in nature. The judgment was not immediate. Saul was still given time to repent, as Poole noted: “Though God threaten Saul with the loss of his kingdom for this sin, yet it is not improbable that there was a tacit condition implied, as is usual in such cases.” God’s warnings often carry the offer of repentance, but Saul’s pride would not allow it.

e. “The LORD hath sought Him a man after His own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over His people:”
Though God rejected Saul, He did not reject Israel. His covenant faithfulness to His people remained. God would raise up another—a man after His own heart. This man would not seek the throne for power or prestige but to serve God’s purpose.

Saul was a man after Israel’s heart—impressive in stature, skilled in battle, and appealing to the eye. But God sought a man after His own heart—one who valued obedience above appearance, faith over fear, and repentance over pride.

The phrase “after His own heart” does not mean sinless perfection but spiritual alignment. It describes a person whose deepest desire is to honor and please God, even when he fails. David would later embody this truth. While he sinned grievously, he always returned to God in repentance and humility.

f. A man after God’s own heart:
To understand this, we can contrast Saul and David—the man rejected and the man chosen.

• A man after God’s heart honors the LORD.
  Saul cared more for his own will than God’s will. David, by contrast, always recognized God’s authority as supreme. Even when David disobeyed, his conscience was tender, and he confessed his guilt. As Psalm 51:10 shows, David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Saul never uttered such words.

• A man after God’s heart enthrones God as King.
  For Saul, Saul was king. For David, the LORD was King. Both men knew that sacrifice before battle was important, but their motives differed. Saul offered sacrifice as a means to secure victory; David sacrificed to honor God. Saul treated God as a tool for success, while David saw God as the goal itself.

• A man after God’s heart has a repentant spirit.
  When Saul was confronted with sin, he made excuses. When David was confronted by Nathan, he immediately confessed, saying, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Samuel 12:13). That difference marked the contrast between a proud heart and a humble one.

• A man after God’s heart loves others.
  Saul grew bitter, suspicious, and self-centered, eventually turning against even those who loved him. David, however, showed compassion to those in distress. 1 Samuel 22:1–2 records that when David was in exile, “every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them.” Even in adversity, David cared for others.

g. “The LORD hath sought Him a man after His own heart:”
This statement reveals the heart of God in history. Long before David’s anointing, God was already seeking a heart that beat in harmony with His own. The search was not for strength, appearance, or skill, but for faithfulness and sincerity. God found such a heart in a shepherd boy of Bethlehem.

God still seeks men and women after His own heart today—those who will obey even when it costs them, who will love others with sincerity, and who will seek His glory above their own. If David, with all his flaws, could be called such a man, then any believer who truly loves God and repents when failing can share that same title.

C. The Philistine Threat

1. (1 Samuel 13:15–18) The Philistines begin their raids.
“Then Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. 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. And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: and another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.”

After Samuel pronounced divine judgment upon Saul, he departed, knowing the words of the LORD were final. “Then Samuel arose” implies not only physical departure but spiritual withdrawal. Samuel likely left knowing that Saul’s heart would not repent, for though judgment often contains a merciful opportunity for repentance, Saul’s pride and fear had hardened his heart.

a. “Then Samuel arose:” Samuel’s departure symbolizes the loss of spiritual guidance from the nation’s leadership. Saul was left to himself—still king in title, but now without prophetic counsel. The separation between Samuel and Saul marked the growing divide between Saul’s external position and his internal disobedience. When the Word of God departs, even the throne becomes a lonely place.

b. “About six hundred men:” Saul’s forces were now reduced to a mere six hundred soldiers. Earlier he had 3,000 (1 Samuel 13:2), and now his army had dwindled to one-fifth its former strength. Many had fled in fear during the crisis at Gilgal (1 Samuel 13:8). This drastic reduction revealed the weakness of Saul’s leadership and the consequences of his unbelief. When men lose confidence in a leader who no longer walks with God, they scatter.

This also became a divine test of faith. According to 1 Samuel 13:5, the Philistines’ army was vast—chariots, horsemen, and infantry “as the sand on the seashore.” Against such power, Saul’s remaining six hundred men stood as a human impossibility. Yet God allowed this to show that victory would not come through numbers or weapons but through faith in His power. This same divine principle was later demonstrated in Judges 7:7, when the LORD told Gideon, “By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand.” God delights in using small numbers to magnify His own glory.

c. “Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines:” The Philistines, emboldened by their overwhelming advantage, launched raids throughout Israel. These raiding parties divided into three companies, strategically covering multiple routes—Ophrah toward the north, Beth Horon toward the west, and Zeboim toward the wilderness in the east. This threefold incursion surrounded Israel, disrupting trade routes and cutting off communication between tribes. The Philistines were not merely waging war; they were suffocating Israel’s economy and mobility.

This constant harassment mirrors the tactics of spiritual warfare. When God’s people are weakened by disobedience and fear, the enemy strikes at every direction. Satan, like the Philistines, seeks to isolate believers, disrupt fellowship, and sow fear. Only through faith and steadfast obedience can the people of God endure such testing.

2. (1 Samuel 13:19–23) The technological superiority of the Philistines.
“Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.”

a. “There was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel:” The Philistines’ dominance extended beyond military numbers to technological monopoly. Ironworking was the cutting edge of ancient warfare, and the Philistines, being a seafaring and trade-connected people, had obtained this technology from advanced Mediterranean cultures such as the Greeks. They carefully guarded this advantage, banning blacksmiths from Israel to prevent the forging of weapons.

Archaeological evidence supports this account. Numerous excavations have revealed a vast number of Philistine iron artifacts—tools, weapons, and jewelry—dating from this period. The Israelites, by contrast, were left technologically inferior. As one scholar notes, “The metal was introduced into Canaan—at least for weapons, agricultural tools, and jewelry—by the Philistines.” (Youngblood). Thus, the Philistines not only enslaved Israel militarily but also economically, controlling even their means of survival.

b. “All the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his plowshare:” This dependency illustrates how deeply Israel’s bondage ran. Every farmer had to rely on the enemy to maintain even the simplest tools of work. The Philistines exploited this, charging a fee—“a pim”—for each sharpening. Yet the Philistines ensured that no tool would be sharpened too well. They would allow the Hebrews to till the ground but not to fight back. The enemy was cunning enough to maintain control through dependence.

Spiritually, this represents how the world enslaves those who compromise with it. When God’s people rely on worldly systems instead of divine strength, they find themselves powerless in times of battle. Israel could not fight because they had depended too long on their oppressors for sustenance. The enemy gladly provides dull plowshares but never swords.

c. “There was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people... they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son:” Only Saul and Jonathan possessed proper weapons. The rest of the army fought with farming tools and makeshift arms. This situation underscores the extremity of Israel’s weakness and the total impossibility of victory apart from divine intervention. God had stripped them of every human advantage so that their only hope would be Him.

This lesson is echoed throughout Scripture. In Zechariah 4:6, the LORD declares, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Israel’s lack of weapons was not a failure of logistics but a design of providence. God would show that deliverance does not depend on the strength of arms but on faith in His power.

d. “And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash:” The Philistine forces now occupied strategic mountain passes, giving them complete control of movement between the north and south of Israel. Humanly speaking, this situation was hopeless. Yet this very moment of helplessness set the stage for one of the most remarkable deliverances in Israel’s history—Jonathan’s daring faith and God’s miraculous intervention in the next chapter.