1Sa 13:1 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Sam 13:1-14: 13:1–16:13 Saul’s fall from power involved a threefold sequence, as had his rise to power (see study note on 9:1–11:15): (1) He offered the sacrifices himself and did not wait for Samuel (13:1-14 ); (2) he made a rash oath that put Jonathan’s life in danger (14:1-46 ); and (3) he failed to obey God by eliminating the Amalekites and their belongings (15:1-35 ). 13:1 For the kings of Israel and Judah, Scripture normally records the age of ascension and the length of reign (e.g., 2 Sam 5:4-5 ; 1 Kgs 14:21 ). • thirty years old: The number represents a plausible age for Saul’s ascension. The Hebrew text and most Greek manuscripts omit the number , making it difficult to know the original wording. • reigned for forty-two years: See NLT textual note. Most scholars agree that something has fallen out of the original manuscript, most likely due to a copyist’s error. The majority of English translations have forty-two based on the approximate number in Acts 13:21 .

a13:1–16:13►

b13:1-14►

c14:1-46►

d15:1-35►

e13:1►

f2 Sam 5:4-5►

g1 Kgs 14:21►

hActs 13:21►

‏ 1 Samuel 13:1

Summary for 1Sam 13:1-14: 13:1–16:13 ^a Saul’s fall from power involved a threefold sequence, as had his rise to power (see study note on 9:1–11:15): (1) He offered the sacrifices himself and did not wait for Samuel (13:1-14 ^b); (2) he made a rash oath that put Jonathan’s life in danger (14:1-46 ^c); and (3) he failed to obey God by eliminating the Amalekites and their belongings (15:1-35 ^d). 13:1 ^e For the kings of Israel and Judah, Scripture normally records the age of ascension and the length of reign (e.g., 2 Sam 5:4-5 ^f; 1 Kgs 14:21 ^g).

• thirty years old: The number represents a plausible age for Saul’s ascension. The Hebrew text and most Greek manuscripts omit the number , making it difficult to know the original wording.

• reigned for forty-two years: See NLT textual note. Most scholars agree that something has fallen out of the original manuscript, most likely due to a copyist’s error. The majority of English translations have forty-two based on the approximate number in Acts 13:21 ^h.