When examining Saul’s character, we need to step back and not view him as a wicked person on purpose, but as someone who was insecure, ego-driven, and a person who let his evil inclination get the better of him. The bad choices he made as the first king of Israel were because of these reasons, […]

“Sha’ul said to Adonai the God of Israel, ‘Who is right?’ Y’honatan and Sha’ul were chosen by lot, and the people went free.” -1 Samuel 14:40 Saul’s ridiculous inquisition by lots has begun. The result of the first round declared all of Israel innocent which left only Jonathan and Saul. Then the second round of […]

“Then he said to all Israel, ‘You be on one side, and I and Y’honatan my son will be on the other side.’ The people replied to Sha’ul, ‘Do what seems good to you.’”-1 Samuel 14:40 What does it mean to “take the Bible literally”? Or what do we mean when we say the Scripture […]

“Sha’ul said, ‘Come here, all you heads of the people. Think carefully: who has committed this sin today?’” -1 Samuel 14:38 From verse 38, we’re told that Saul summoned all the heads, chiefs, and military leaders of Israel. What was going on here? Well, from Saul’s perspective, he had just initiated a divine trial to […]

Let’s continue to get our bearings by reviewing the details of what’s happened so far. Recall that Jonathan was hanging out with his armor-bearer at a place called Mikhmas (Saul’s tribal home territory of Benjamin). Jonathan and his servant were on one side of a huge dried river bed (called a WADI in Hebrew) and […]