1 Samuel 14
As you will know, I live in the UK, where we have a royal family - Oh boy do we have a royal family! There have been some real characters both good and bad.
The queen has been on the throne for more than 60 years and she is into her 80's, her eldest son, the prince of Wales, served in the navy (And did impressions of the popular radio series, the Goons). His sons, William and Harry have both served in the armed forces.
Saul's son, Jonathan appears to have set an example for princes to come - accompanied by his armour bearer decides to have a look at the Philistines and see if they want to fight.
They are spotted in a bit of a valley with cliffs on both sides, climb up the cliffs and attack the Philistines - killing about 20 of the enemy. The Bible mentions that God sent an earthquake and caused a panic in the Philistine army.
Another well known thing about armies is that an army marches on its stomach, but Saul seems to forget this on the day of the battle by forbidding the men from eating any food that day. Jonathan had not heard this and being hungry and coming across some honey he eats some and his strength is renewed.
When he heard that his father had forbidden the army to eat, he basically said "Dad, that was a stupid thing to do" and he ponders that the victory would be better had Saul not forced the army to fight hungry.
Anyway the hungry army, victorious in battle take the plunder and seem to start eating the animals, if not before they are dead, at least with blood in the meat which is very strictly forbidden.
Saul prevents this by setting up a stone and making all the soldiers slaughter and bleed the captured beasts so the blood is at least removed. Saul also built an alter to God at this time.
Later somebody suggested that they should carry on the war overnight and kill everybody they could find. Saul asks for God's guidance but God is silent on account of Jonathan eating the honey.
They cast lots to find the responsible person and the lot landed on Jonathan who admitted his action.
Saul was all set to kill him, but the army came to his rescue and pointed out that any victory was due to the actions of Jonathan and he should not be punished.
Saul carried on as king defeating the hostile surrounding neighbours - though the Philistines and Israel remained hostile for a long time.
They royal family consisted of Saul, his wife Ahinoam, and their children Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua and his 2 daughters Merab and Michal. The commander of the army was Saul's cousin Abner.
Any mighty or brave Israelite that they came across was immediately conscripted into the army.
I guess the royal princes of Britain are not allowed to go onto covert military sorties like Jonathan did as too much capiatal could be made of any failure.
This chapter also, for me, suggests that king Saul is actually not all that great a tactician and the brave men around him often resolve a situation that he seems unwilling to take any action in, but when he does do something decisive it's often the wrong thing.
As you will know, I live in the UK, where we have a royal family - Oh boy do we have a royal family! There have been some real characters both good and bad.
The queen has been on the throne for more than 60 years and she is into her 80's, her eldest son, the prince of Wales, served in the navy (And did impressions of the popular radio series, the Goons). His sons, William and Harry have both served in the armed forces.
Saul's son, Jonathan appears to have set an example for princes to come - accompanied by his armour bearer decides to have a look at the Philistines and see if they want to fight.
They are spotted in a bit of a valley with cliffs on both sides, climb up the cliffs and attack the Philistines - killing about 20 of the enemy. The Bible mentions that God sent an earthquake and caused a panic in the Philistine army.
Another well known thing about armies is that an army marches on its stomach, but Saul seems to forget this on the day of the battle by forbidding the men from eating any food that day. Jonathan had not heard this and being hungry and coming across some honey he eats some and his strength is renewed.
When he heard that his father had forbidden the army to eat, he basically said "Dad, that was a stupid thing to do" and he ponders that the victory would be better had Saul not forced the army to fight hungry.
Anyway the hungry army, victorious in battle take the plunder and seem to start eating the animals, if not before they are dead, at least with blood in the meat which is very strictly forbidden.
Saul prevents this by setting up a stone and making all the soldiers slaughter and bleed the captured beasts so the blood is at least removed. Saul also built an alter to God at this time.
Later somebody suggested that they should carry on the war overnight and kill everybody they could find. Saul asks for God's guidance but God is silent on account of Jonathan eating the honey.
They cast lots to find the responsible person and the lot landed on Jonathan who admitted his action.
Saul was all set to kill him, but the army came to his rescue and pointed out that any victory was due to the actions of Jonathan and he should not be punished.
Saul carried on as king defeating the hostile surrounding neighbours - though the Philistines and Israel remained hostile for a long time.
They royal family consisted of Saul, his wife Ahinoam, and their children Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua and his 2 daughters Merab and Michal. The commander of the army was Saul's cousin Abner.
Any mighty or brave Israelite that they came across was immediately conscripted into the army.
I guess the royal princes of Britain are not allowed to go onto covert military sorties like Jonathan did as too much capiatal could be made of any failure.
This chapter also, for me, suggests that king Saul is actually not all that great a tactician and the brave men around him often resolve a situation that he seems unwilling to take any action in, but when he does do something decisive it's often the wrong thing.
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