Saul's reign, failure, and rejection by God

Saul's reign and rejection by God (1 Samuel 8–15)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

1. a
   God chooses Saul when Israel demands a king at Ramah8:1–10:16evaluation: bad; begins: Israel comes to Samuel in Ramah; God chooses Saul and Samuel declares this choice to Saul; Saul protests that he is insignificant and therefore not the right choice (9:21); "as Saul turned to go, God changed his heart" (10:9); Samuel will offer sacrifices at Gilgal (10:8); ends: Saul went to his home in Gibeah (10:9–16)
2. b
   Saul chosen by casting of lots at Mizpah10:17–27evaluation: good; lots work well for Samuel, identifying Saul as rightful king
3. c
   story of war preparations and victory over Ammonites11:1–13evaluation: good; Saul is able to gather a huge army (330,000 soldiers); Saul succeeds in gathering many troops by slaughtering two oxen; seven-day wait results in victory
4. d
   CENTER: Samuel's farewell address11:14–13:1ends: summary of Saul's reign
5. c′
   story of war preparations against Philistines13:2–15evaluation: bad; Saul gathers a pathetically small army (only 600 soldiers); Saul fails to keep troops with him by sacrificing (oxen?); seven-day wait results in God's condemnation
6. b′
   Saul's tainted victory at Michmash with the casting of lots13:16–14:52evaluation: bad; lots do not work well for Saul, identifying Jonathan as the culprit to be killed when Jonathan is actually the hero
7. a′
   God rejects Saul: Saul's sin in Amalekite war15:1–35evaluation: bad; ends: Samuel returns to Ramah, never to see Saul again; God rejects Saul, and Samuel declares this choice to Saul; Saul's insignificance in his own eyes (15:17); "as Samuel turned to go, Saul caught hold of . . ." (15:27); Saul intended to disobey God by offering sacrifices at Gilgal (15:21); ends: Saul returns to his home in Gibeah