After the storm when Samuel finished speaking, the people asked him to pray for them because of their sins. Samuel told them not to worry if they did not turn away from the Lord, but served him with all their hearts. He reminded them not to turn to false idols because they could not help them. Then he said he would pray for them so he didn't sin. Samuel told them that God wanted them to be His and that He wouldn't reject them if they feared and served Him. If not, they would be swept away.
Saul was king over Israel for 42 years. The Philistines were at it again, attacking the Israelites. Saul had 3000 soldiers. 2000 were with him and 1000 were with his son Jonathan. Jonathan attacked an outpost and riled up the Philistines. The Philistines had an army much larger than the Israelites. The few Israelites that were there hid in caves and behind bushes and rocks. The soldiers were "quaking with fear" and after the seven day waiting period (1Samuel 10:8) which Samuel had specified had passed Saul went ahead and did the sacrifices without Samuel. He arrived right when Saul was finished making the offerings. He scolded Saul for not following the commandments of the Lord that he had been given earlier.
The Philistines had prevented the Israelites from having blacksmiths. Consequently, they had to go the the Philistine towns to get their farm equipment sharpened. Also, they had no swords or spears. The only swords in the camp belonged to Saul and Jonathan. (This explains their extreme fear!)
Jonathan and his armor bearer went to check out the Philistines without telling his dad what they were up to. Jonathan believed he had the Lord with him and his armor bearer believed in him. They came out so the Philistines could see them and the Philistines told them to come over to them so they could teach them a lesson. This was the sign that the Lord was indeed with them. So they climbed up to where the Philistines were and killed about 20 of them. This, and an earthquake, sent the Philistines into a panic so that they were killing each other.
Saul noticed the number of fighters melting away and told some of his men to find out who had left. When they returned they told him that Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing. Saul asked Ahijah the priest to bring the ark of God, but while he was speaking to the priest, the confusion of the Philistines increased even more so that they were defeated by God.
I'm not sure what Saul was thinking, but he cursed his soldiers by refusing them permission to eat until sundown when he had avenged himself on his enemies. Jonathan did not hear this curse. The army marched through a forest where there was honey. Even though they were all weak from lack of nutrition, no one tasted the honey except for Jonathan because he didn't know about the curse. When he tasted the honey he felt better. Another soldier told him about the curse. Jonathan said that his father had forced hardship on Israel because they could have freely eaten of the plunder from the battle and been strengthened. That night the soldiers were so hungry that they began to kill and eat animals with the blood still in them. So Saul set up a rock and told them to bring their animals to be slaughtered properly so they didn't eat the blood. Saul wanted them to go down to the Philistines that night, but the priest said they should ask God. God didn't answer them. Saul figured that someone had sinned since God wasn't answering them. So he got everyone together to find out what had been done.
Tomorrow read 1Samuel 14:43-17:25
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