How we cite our quotes:
Quote #7
When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe. And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king. (1 Samuel 12:8-12, KJV)
When Jacob went into Egypt and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your ancestors cried to the LORD and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your ancestors out of Egypt, and settled them in this place. But they forgot the LORD their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of King Jabin of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. Then they cried to the LORD, and said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served the Baals and the Astartes; but now rescue us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.' And the LORD sent Jerubbaal and Barak, and Jephthah, and Samson, and rescued you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety. But when you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' though the LORD your God was your king. (1 Samuel 12:8-12, NRSV)
The Bible really likes to repeat its traditions. In these verses, Samuel gives us a brief overview of Israelite history. He goes back to Genesis when Jacob and his family went down to Egypt and brings us up to his present. If you're looking for more details than Samuel provides, you can start here.
Quote #8
And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood. Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day. {transgressed: or, dealt treacherously}. (1 Samuel 14:31-33, KJV)
After they had struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, the troops were very faint; so the troops flew upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the troops ate them with the blood. Then it was reported to Saul, "Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood." And he said, "You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone before me here." (1 Samuel 14:31-33, NSRV)
Okay, so we understand eating meat cooked rare is a thing. In fact, it's supposedly the healthiest way to eat. However, we strongly advise not eating your meat while it's still very bloody no matter how hungry you are. If Saul was kind and let his men eat before the battle, this wouldn't have been an issue.
Quote #9
And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? {lay: Heb. fell}. (1 Samuel 19:23-24, KJV)
He went there, toward Naioth in Ramah; and the spirit of God came upon him. As he was going, he fell into a prophetic frenzy, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. He too stripped off his clothes, and he too fell into a frenzy before Samuel. He lay naked all that day and all that night. Therefore it is said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (1 Samuel 19:23-24, NRSV)
Holy weird traditions, Batman. Usually traditions are cool and have some sort of explanation. This one, however, is strange and hard to explain. Apparently, prophets in the ancient world did some odd things. The Bible calls this a prophetic frenzy. Maybe they went into a trance or their body twitched or they did a strange dance. Whatever a prophetic frenzy was, you can bet that it was strange to see. Saul seems to get especially caught up in this particular ritual. Good thing this was before tabloids.