A little name calling begins-The Israelites call the Philistines uncircumcised and the Philistines call the Israelites Hebrews. Saul's son, Jonathan carelessly falls into an attack on the enemy when Yahweh helps by the occurrence of an earthquake. In the confusion Saul follows suit in the attack where upon the Israelites are victorious. Saul imposes a no eating order which Jonathan does not hear. Jonathan eats some wild honey. At sundown the famished soldiers eat flest with blood. Saul is appalled at the lack of concern for their religious observances and orders the people to slay their animals properly and then eat. Saul wants to smite the enemy by night but Yahweh is not forthcoming with an oracle. Obviously someone broke the taboo. When Jonathan admits to breaking fast before sundown, in ignorance Saul is ready to exact the proper punishment, death. The people stand between the hero of the day and Saul. Fairness trumps superstition, Jonathan lives, and Saul abandons his pursuit of the Philistines. Now we hear from the editor who wants the real kingdom to start with David. Saul defeats the Amalekites, captures their chief. But, Agag is spared and a large amount of cattle. In the words of Genesis "the word of the Lord came to Samuel." Yahweh tells Samuel that he rejects Saul from being king. Samuel is angry and tries to change Yahweh's mind. Saul is portrayed as pathetic. Disobedience is the mortal sin. Total annihilation is the order from Yahweh. From this point Samuel never sees Saul again.
A little name calling begins-The Israelites call the Philistines uncircumcised and the Philistines call the Israelites Hebrews. Saul's son, Jonathan carelessly falls into an attack on the enemy when Yahweh helps by the occurrence of an earthquake. In the confusion Saul follows suit in the attack where upon the Israelites are victorious. Saul imposes a no eating order which Jonathan does not hear. Jonathan eats some wild honey. At sundown the famished soldiers eat flest with blood. Saul is appalled at the lack of concern for their religious observances and orders the people to slay their animals properly and then eat. Saul wants to smite the enemy by night but Yahweh is not forthcoming with an oracle. Obviously someone broke the taboo. When Jonathan admits to breaking fast before sundown, in ignorance Saul is ready to exact the proper punishment, death. The people stand between the hero of the day and Saul. Fairness trumps superstition, Jonathan lives, and Saul abandons his pursuit of the Philistines. Now we hear from the editor who wants the real kingdom to start with David. Saul defeats the Amalekites, captures their chief. But, Agag is spared and a large amount of cattle. In the words of Genesis "the word of the Lord came to Samuel." Yahweh tells Samuel that he rejects Saul from being king. Samuel is angry and tries to change Yahweh's mind. Saul is portrayed as pathetic. Disobedience is the mortal sin. Total annihilation is the order from Yahweh. From this point Samuel never sees Saul again.
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