1 Samuel 13 13

1 Samuel 13:13 kjv

And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

1 Samuel 13:13 nkjv

And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

1 Samuel 13:13 niv

"You have done a foolish thing," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.

1 Samuel 13:13 esv

And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

1 Samuel 13:13 nlt

"How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. Had you kept it, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

1 Samuel 13 verses

1 Samuel 13 13 Meaning

Samuel's declaration to King Saul highlights a pivotal moment of judgment. Saul had committed an act of folly by directly disobeying a specific command from the LORD, mediated through His prophet. This act of self-willed religious usurpation, done out of impatience and a lack of faith, carried severe consequences: it forfeited the divine intention for Saul's kingdom to be perpetually established as a lasting dynasty in Israel. Saul's immediate disobedience fundamentally disqualified him and his lineage from the foundational promise of a lasting monarchy, which God desired to establish for His people through a king who would faithfully adhere to His instructions.

1 Samuel 13 13 Context

This verse is the climax of 1 Samuel chapter 13. Saul, as Israel's first king, was facing a formidable Philistine army. He was at Gilgal, awaiting the prophet Samuel, who was to offer sacrifices before the battle. Samuel had specifically instructed Saul to wait seven days for him (1 Sam 10:8). However, as the seven days concluded, Samuel had not arrived, the Philistines were amassing, and Saul's own men were scattering out of fear. In a display of impatience, a lack of trust in God's timing and word, and a presumptuous overreach of his royal authority, Saul took it upon himself to offer the burnt offering. Immediately upon Saul completing this forbidden act, Samuel arrived. This verse is Samuel's direct rebuke, pronouncing God's judgment on Saul's disobedience. Historically, this event signifies the critical distinction in Israel between the roles of king, prophet, and priest, preventing the accumulation of absolute power in a single figure as often occurred in surrounding pagan nations where kings frequently acted as chief religious leaders. God had designed a system of checks and balances where even the king was subject to the prophetic word and distinct priestly functions.

1 Samuel 13 13 Word analysis

• And Samuel said to Saul: Establishes the authoritative divine pronouncement through the prophet to the king, highlighting a direct confrontation between spiritual authority and human monarchy.
• "You have done foolishly;" (Hebrew: הִסְכַּלְתָּ hiskalta from שָׂכַל śākhal meaning "to act foolishly, stupidly, act perversely"). This isn't just a simple mistake but a morally and spiritually flawed act, demonstrating a profound lack of wisdom, judgment, and ultimately, trust in God. It implies a departure from true wisdom that comes from obedience to God.
• "you have not kept" (Hebrew: לֹא־שָׁמַרְתָּ lo-shāmarta): Implies a failure to guard, observe, or faithfully fulfill a specific instruction. This is active disobedience, not mere oversight. Saul willingly disregarded what he was told.
• "the command" (Hebrew: מִצְוַת miṣvat): Refers to a precise and clear instruction, a divine ordinance or precept. It indicates that the order given through Samuel was explicit and directly from God.
• "of the LORD your God,": Emphasizes the supreme authority behind the command. It personalizes God's relationship with Saul as "your God," intensifying the severity of the betrayal.
• "which He commanded you.": Reiteration for clarity and emphasis that this was a direct divine injunction, leaving no room for misunderstanding or excuse on Saul's part.
• "For the LORD would have established" (Hebrew: הֵכִין hekīn from כּוּן kûn "to make firm, prepare, establish, confirm"): This phrase expresses what God intended to do—to confirm and make secure Saul's kingdom, indicating a promise contingent on obedience. The imperfect tense indicates a potential outcome now revoked.
• "your kingdom": Refers specifically to Saul's dynastic rule, the continuation of his family line on the throne of Israel.
• "over Israel forever." (Hebrew: לְעוֹלָם lĕʿōlām "for perpetuity, always, enduringly"): Here, "forever" implies a continuous, unbroken dynasty that would endure for many generations. However, in the context of Old Testament covenants, promises of "forever" to individuals or lines were often conditional upon their obedience and faithfulness, unlike the unconditional "forever" promised later to David's unique seed. Saul's actions revealed him to be unfit for this perpetual stewardship.

Words-group Analysis:

• "You have done foolishly; you have not kept the command": This conjoins the foolish act with the specific violation of a direct order. It portrays Saul's spiritual ineptitude, showing a king who is strategically foolish by ignoring God's authority.
• "the command of the LORD your God, which He commanded you": This phrase meticulously emphasizes the divine source and the direct personal application of the command to Saul. It underlines that this was not Samuel's idea, but God's specific instruction given to His anointed king.
• "For the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever": This presents the immediate and profound consequence of Saul's disobedience. It paints a picture of what was possible, an enduring dynasty under divine blessing, that has now been forfeited due to one critical failure of obedience. The "forever" highlights the magnificent promise that was lost.

1 Samuel 13 13 Bonus section

• Theological Polemic: This incident is a powerful theological statement against the prevailing syncretism of the Ancient Near East, where kings often served as high priests or even deities. In Israel, the roles of king, prophet, and priest were strictly separated, each serving distinct divine functions and each ultimately answerable to God's ultimate sovereignty. Saul’s attempt to merge these roles challenged the divinely ordained order, reflecting a move towards pagan models rather than Israel's unique covenant relationship with Yahweh.
• Gilgal's Significance: The sin occurred at Gilgal, a place deeply symbolic for Israel: it was where Israel first encamped after crossing the Jordan (Josh 4-5), where they were circumcised, and where they renewed the covenant. Saul's disobedience in such a hallowed place further magnified the severity of his transgression against God.
• Faith vs. Sight: Saul's decision to offer the sacrifice demonstrates a failure to walk by faith and patience, choosing instead to rely on his own understanding of the immediate crisis. He prioritized the "sight" of his dwindling army over trusting in God's specific promise and timing through Samuel.
• Precedent for Subsequent Kings: This event set a powerful precedent for future kings in Israel regarding the boundaries of their authority. The story of King Uzziah later illustrates a similar judgment for the same usurpation of priestly functions (2 Chr 26).
• Contrasting "Forever": The conditional nature of "forever" in this context for Saul's line stands in stark contrast to the unconditional and eternal "forever" of the Davidic covenant later established with David (2 Sam 7), which ultimately points to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whose kingdom alone is truly forever because of His perfect obedience. Saul's failure highlighted the need for a perfect, obedient King.

1 Samuel 13 13 Commentary

1 Samuel 13:13 stands as a critical turning point in Saul's reign, revealing his core spiritual defect. His disobedience stemmed from impatience, fear of man (his scattering army), and a presumptuous overstepping of his God-given authority by usurping priestly duties. The offering itself was not the primary issue; the violation was his unfaithfulness in awaiting God's ordained representative, Samuel, and presuming a spiritual office not granted to him. This act demonstrated Saul's inability to submit his kingship to divine sovereignty and instruction. God required unwavering obedience from His anointed king, particularly in situations of pressure and uncertainty. Saul’s self-will, choosing human expediency over divine command, signified his spiritual unfitness for the lasting kingdom God desired to establish. This singular act marked the beginning of the end for his dynasty.