13:13-15
Samuel is having none of Saul’s explanations and states clearly that Saul has acted foolishly. He had not kept the command of the Lord. Now is this referring solely to the present situation, or is it a more general summary of Saul’s life. Saul is never presented as a man of God. So Samuel tells Saul that his kingdom would not endure. Some may think this harsh, but Moses was also treated “harshly” when God told him he would not enter the Promised Land. There is an enormous difference in Moses’ later behaviour after that severe rebuke, and Saul’s later behaviour. Moses continued to act faithfully, obeying the Lord, seeing the Lord’s plan fulfilled. Saul, in contrast, is a duplicitous and unstable man. The Lord had already “sought out a man after His own heart”. David was far from perfect, but his heart was very different to that of Saul. Samuel left for Gibeah, and Saul numbered his men, which were now down to about six hundred. I.e. about two thirds had left.
Note that Lord had already sought out a man after His own heart. God was not surprised by Saul’s failures.
13:16
God, through Samuel, has pronounced judgement upon Saul, but life carries on, seemingly much as before, at least for a time. The same happened after Moses was told he would not enter the Promised Land. However, the reality of the judgement will become apparent in due course. Likewise, Adam and Eve were told they would die after they sinned, but this did not happen immediately. So Saul and Jonathan with their rather meagre forces are ranged against the Philistines.
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