Saul's Downfall
Saul trying to kill David in a fit of rage Engraving of a painting attributed to Ambrosius Francken The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Saul's Jealousy of David
David's popularity with the army was becoming a source of real jealousy for Saul, who tried several times to get David to lead the troops into battle, hoping he would be killed. He told his son Jonathan and all his attendants to kill David. But Jonathan and David had become close friends, and Jonathan warned David every time Saul tried to kill him.
One day an evil spirit sent from the LORD came upon Saul as he was sitting in his palace with a spear in his hand. While David was playing the harp, Saul hurled the spear at David trying to pin him to the wall, but he made good his escape and went on the run (1Samuel 19:9-10)
David On The Run From Saul
For the following few years David was on the run from Saul, who continued to hunt him down to kill him. On two occasions David had the opportunity to kill Saul but said:
" How can I lay a hand on the LORD's anointed? " And each time he presented himself to Saul and showed him he had refrained from killing him.
David's Alliance with the Philistines
Convinced that nothing was going to stop Saul from pursuing him and trying to kill him, David thought the best thing was to escape to the land of the Philistines. He took his six hundred men and went to Gath to stay with Achish, the king of Gath's son. Achish gave David Ziklag as a base and told him that in return he would have to fight with the Philistines if they attacked Israel.
When Samuel died, the Philistines attacked the Israelites at Mount Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
Saul Consults The Witch of Endor
Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”
"There is one in Endor,” they said. So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman.
“Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
The woman at first refused because she knew Saul had forbidden consultation with mediums. But after he swore an oath she would not be punished, she asked:
“Whom shall I bring up for you?”
“Bring up Samuel,” he said.
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
The king said to her, “Don't be afraid. What do you see?”
The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”
Saul recognised Samuel, who told him that the LORD had rejected him and his sons because he had failed to destroy the Amalekites.
"The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
Saul Dies on Mount Gilboa
Some time later the Philistines attacked the Israelites, who fled to Mount Gilboa and many died there, including Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. Saul himself was wounded critically and asked his armour-bearer to run him through with his sword. But he refused and so Saul took his sword and fell on it. When the armour-bearer saw the king was dead, he too fell on his sword (1 Samuel 31:1-6).
David & Goliath
David with the head of Goliath Painting by Caravaggio, Gallerie Borghese, Rome
The Israelites Paralysed By Fear
The Philistines were attacking the Israelites and terrifying them. Every day the Philistine champion, a giant of a man named Goliath, challenged an opponent to fight him, but none of the Israelites took up the challenge.
When young David visited his brothers with provisions, he was appalled at the Israelites' fear and offered to fight Goliath. His brothers and King Saul thought him too weak and Goliath taunted him on account of his size.
David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul replied: " Well then, go and the LORD be with you." (1 Samuel 17:34-37)
Other People's Armour Is No Use
Saul offered David his armour, but David declined to wear it because it was far too big and heavy for him and he was not used to wearing it. Instead, he took his shepherd's staff in his hand, chose five smooth pebbles from the stream and with his sling in his hand advanced towards the Philistine.
Goliath advanced with his shield bearer in front of him and, when he saw David was little more than a young boy, he cursed David by his gods and said:
“Come here and I'll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals! ”
David's Response to Goliath's Boast
Unafraid, David replied:
“ You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. (1 Samuel 17:45-51)
Saul's Jealousy & Growing Fear At David's Success
The Philistines fled when they saw their champion was dead and were thoroughly defeated. David eventually was taken to Saul carrying Goliath's head as a souvenir. But instead of being delighted by the young boy's victory, the king was jealous of the popularity it won him with the troops and was afraid of his success. It marked the beginning of Saul's attempts to show David who was in charge and of David's close friendship with Saul's son Jonathan.
Saul and David
David playing the harp for King Saul Painting by Rembrandt van Rijn Mauritshuis, Amsterdam
Two Kings, Two Characters
Saul and David were both anointed by the Spirit of God, anointed with oil by the prophet Samuel and crowned king of Israel, but history shows they were very different characters.
Israel Demands A King
Saul prophesying among the prophets Painting by James Tissot Jewish Museum, New York
Israel Ignores God's Will
As long as Samuel was leader of Israel, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines and the towns they had captured were returned to Israel. But when Samuel was old, he appinted his sons Joel and Abijah as his successors. The problem was they did not follow the ways of their father. So the leaders of Israel approached Samuel and said:
“You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” (1 Samuel 8:5)
Samuel was very unhappy with their demand and prayed to the LORD for advice. God replied:
“ Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” (1 Samuel 8:7-9)
Samuel reported what God had said and pointed out how a king would demand complete obedience and loyalty from his subjects, whatever job they were given. But the people refused to listen to Samuel.
“No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20)
When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord.
The Lord answered, “ Listen to them and give them a king.” (1 Samuel 8:21-22)
Saul Anointed King of Israel
Saul was out looking for his father Kish's donkeys he had lost, when he came across Samuel going to conduct a sacrifice at a high place near the town of Zuph. He told his servant to give Samuel money to tell them where the donkeys were, because Samuel was in touch with God. Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel:
“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.”
When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”
Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer's house is?”
“I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?” (1 Samuel 9:19-20)
Saul was reluctant to agree he was the one God had chosen to be king because he was from the smallest of the twelve tribes, the tribe of Benjamin. But after dining with Samuel. at daybreak the pair set off together until Samuel told the servant to go ahead of them, while Saul remained with him because he had a message from God for him.
Samuel prophesied several definite events that would happen as Saul went to Gilgal and waited seven days until Samuel came with more orders from God about what to do. But he must wait for Samuel to arrive. These were:
• Samuel predicted he would meet two men who would say such and such, and it happened.
• Samuel predicted that he would meet three men who would give him two loaves of bread, and it happened.
• Samuel predicted that he would meet a band of prophets and he would prophesy, and it happened.
As Samuel left, God confirmed all the signs he had given him and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon Saul and he joined in with a group of prophets who were prophesying.
Samuel Anoints Saul as King At Mizpah
Samuel anointed Saul as king again before the crowd that had assembled and the people shouted "Long live the king!"
Samuel explained to the people the rights and responsibilities of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes. (1 Samuel 9:25)
Samson Shorn of His Power
Samson being shorn of his power Painting by Peter Paul Rubens National Gallery, London
Samson The Spirit-filled Warrior
Samson had been anointed by the Spirit of God as a boy. The only problem was he did not listen to his father and mother, when he fell in love with a young Philistine woman and wanted to marry her. The Philistines were long-time enemies of Israel. But in spite of his parents' disapproval, Samson went ahead and married the Philistine.
The wedding itself ended in Samson killing thirty of the Philistine men he blamed for persuading his wife to tell them the answer to a riddle he had set them. The result was he returned to his family, while she was given to another man. It was an ominous sign of what was to come.
Samson's Revenge on the Philistines
Samson was furious his wife had been given to another man and vowed revenge on the Philistines. The Philistines in turn gathered an army together and demanded that Samson was handed over to them to be punished for what he had done to them. Three thousand men of Judah persuaded Samson to hand himself over to the Philistines. But as he approached them the Spirit of the LORD came upon him and, picking up the jawbone of a donkey, he attacked and killed a thousand Philistines. For the next twenty years Samson led the people of Israel.
Samson & Delilah
Samson's problem was he was addicted to sex, which led to his downfall after he met and fell in love with a woman called Delilah. The Philistines saw their chance to trap Samson into revealing the source of his supernatural strength by persuading Delilah to seduce him into him telling her the secret of his strength.
Three times Delilah tried to get Samson to tell her his secret and three times he told a lie. Eventually, after weeks of nagging, he revealed the true secret.
“No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother's womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” (Judges 16:17)
When Delilah contacted the Philistines with the news, the leaders came with the money they had promised her and, after putting Samson to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave his head and his strength slowly left him.
This time when she shouted: "Samson, the Philistines are upon you," he woke up believing he had the strength to save himself, but did not realise the Spirit of the LORD had left him. The Philistines gouged out his eyes and took him in chains to Gaza, where they set him to grinding grain in prison.
Samson's Final Act
Modern excavation of Philistine temples similar to the temple of Dagon showing the two front pillars Source: adefenceofthebible.com
The Philistines forgot Samson's hair would grow back! The leaders decided to celebrate their victory by holding a festival with sacrifices to their fish god Dagon, saying:
“Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”
They brought Samson out of prison to perform for them in the temple of Dagon. Samson told them to place him between two pillars so he could lean against them. With some three thousand men and women on the roof of the temple, Samson prayed:
“Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.”
Then reaching out for the two central pillars, he braced himself against them and, as he pushed with all his might, he said: “Let me die with the Philistines!”
The pillars gave way and the temple collapsed killing many more Philistines in his death than he had during his life.