Saul’s Vow (24)

Before unleashing his army to fight the Philistines, Saul sent through the ranks a command, forbidding any to eat until “he had taken vengeance on the Philistines.” Likely, Saul was trying to make up for his spiritual lack by having his troops do something he thought would appear spiritual to Yahweh so He would favor him with victory and honor. 

Saul was no longer fighting the battle with Yahweh. Saul’s heart had turned from that, and he began to seek vengeance rather than Yahweh’s will for battle. Here we begin to watch Saul’s life unravel. Once Saul was rebuked by Samuel (1 Samuel 13:13-14), he did not turn all the more to Yahweh for help but instead continued to seek the appearance of being devoted.

Accompanying Saul’s ambition to win for himself was Saul’s greater concern for winning the battle rather than concern for the welfare of his troops. Yahweh had not given the order to fast—that was all Saul’s attempt to make up for his spiritual lack by appearing devoted to God before the troops and at the expense of his troops. 

Saul further warned his men that if they ate food, they would be cursed (24). 

Jonathan Breaks the Vow (25-30)

As the army entered the forest in pursuit of the Philistines, they noticed in spots that wild honey oozed from the forest floor (25). None of Saul’s army considered having any of it for fear of the oath they had taken, so they pursued the Philistines without refreshment (26).

Jonathan, having not heard the command or curse attached to it, cupped some honey with the tip of his staff and began to eat. The honey gave Jonathan immediate energy, and his mind immediately sharpened, his eyes growing bright with vigor (27).

Some troops in pursuit with Jonathan informed him of his father’s command and curse (28). Jonathan became openly critical of his father, telling the troops that his father had made the battle unnecessarily more difficult (29). He then had the troops with him recognize how much more alert he was than the rest of the army from a small taste. Jonathan announced that his father’s decision would greatly diminish the victory over the Philistines (30). 

The Troop's Ritual Sin (31-35)

Israel chased the Philistines for 20 miles, to the edge of the hill country, which would have been considered the former border of their original territory. The troops were faint (31), so once evening had come and the battle seemed won, they slaughtered the livestock where they stood. In their haste to kill and eat, the troops did not drain the blood properly as prescribed by Moses and began eating the meat with blood still in the flesh (Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 14:31-32) (32). Taking the life of an animal and eating it without the ritual of draining blood was a sin. To take the life of an animal belonging to God without offering the life of the animal to God was a pagan act that even Saul knew to be gravely offensive (33). 

In response, Saul had a large stone rolled to the place where the animals had been slaughtered. He then had the troops bring the carcasses they had slain and put them on the stone, and there Saul offered the remaining animals’ blood to Yahweh. Then Saul built his first altar and offered the remaining flesh of the animals his troops had slain to Yahweh (34-35).

God Is Silent (36-37)

Saul then wanted to go on by night and plunder the fleeing Philistines until morning, slaying every Philistine troop. The officers were ready to follow, but the priest urged Saul to inquire of Yahweh (36).

Saul inquired of God but received no answer. Likely, Saul was using the pouch full of 12 stones, plus the Urim and Thummin, so 14 stones total. When Saul asked the question, the priest did not, by divine directive, pull the Urim or Thummim from the pouch. Saul asked at least two questions, but neither question received the usual or expected miracle of the Urim or Thummim being grasped. God was not answering Saul (37).

Saul Concluded It Must Be Sin (38-44)

Saul concluded that not getting an answer from Yahweh must have been because someone had violated his command and brought a curse on the camp (38). Saul declared that even if the violator turned out to be his own son, he would suffer death. None of his officers would answer Saul and give up Jonathan (39).

Saul then had Jonathan and the royal family stand with him on one side with the troops opposite. 

Saul then prayed, asking God why He had not answered him; he then asked Yahweh to bring up the Urim stone if the guilt was in his family and the Thummim stone if the guilt was among the troops. The stone was Urim—the troops had escaped. On the next pull, Jonathan received the Urim stone (40-42).

Saul then began interrogating Jonathan, and Jonathan told Saul exactly what he had done with the honey, taking just a touch of it to eat. Then Jonathan asked, in a willing spirit, if he must die for what he had done (43). Saul confirmed his oath and made a new one: Jonathan would surely die (44).

Troops Intervene (45-46)  

Just then, the troops led by the officers intervened and put a question to Saul. Should the life of the one who had caused the victory over the Philistines and the salvation of Israel die? “As Yahweh lives,” they made an oath to Saul and before each other: Jonathan would not die. The army had witnessed in Jonathan the working of Yahweh’s power for victory, and they would not allow him to die. The troops essentially, in a mutinous way, told Saul that he would only be able to take Jonathan’s life over their dead bodies. Saul listened to the people, the very act which would soon bring greater trouble upon him. We are seeing the king come apart. First, he took the role of vengeance upon himself. Then he made a foolish vow. Lastly, he listened to the people for the redemption of his son. In the middle of it all, he finally built his first altar, but its primary purpose seems not to be for seeking God but for appeasing people. 

The army purchased Jonathan’s life by making an oath to God against the oath of Saul. The officers were telling Saul that their mass-in-numbers oath was stronger than his lone, ill-advised, kingly command (45).

With Yahweh giving no answer and the army at some level splintered, the hostilities ceased and the armies returned home (46).

Saul’s Successes (47-48)

Here, the author catalogs Saul's successful military campaigns. 

• Moab

• Ammon

• Edom

• Kings of Zobah

• Philistines

• Amalekites

Saul had successfully routed those who had come to plunder Israel, being used by Yahweh to route them and deliver Israel from their enemies (47-48).

Saul’s Family (49-51)

Saul’s family was then listed: 

Saul’s Sons

• Jonathan 

• Ishvi

• Melchishua (49)

Saul’s Daughters

• Merab

• Michal (49)

Saul’s Wife

• Ahinoam

Saul’s Concubine

• Rizpah (2 Samuel 3:7) (50) 

Saul’s Commander 

• Abner, his cousin (50) 

Saul’s Ancestors

• Kish, his father

• Ner, his uncle

• Abiel, his grandfather

Saul’s Draft (52)

During the reign of Saul, the fighting between Israel and the Philistines was particularly fierce, so Saul would grab and conscript into military service any man who had two virtues: strength and courage (52).