The Prince: Jonathan (4 page)

The prophet held out his hand. “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!”

Jonathan saw men of Judah sneer and whisper among themselves. Thankfully, the vast majority shouted, “Long live the king!”

“Listen to the Word of the Lord!” Samuel called out to the mass. Saul stood beside the seer, facing the people. Samuel opened a scroll and read from it. Some stood still and listened. Many fidgeted. A few whispered among themselves. Samuel looked out over the people.

“The Lord said a day would come when we would ask for a king. He said to appoint a fellow Israelite; he may not be a foreigner.” He faced Saul. “The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.”

Samuel took a smaller scroll and placed it upon the altar he had made of stones, and then handed Saul the Torah. “Saul, son of Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah of Benjamin, you must copy for yourself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. You must always keep that copy with you and read it daily as long as you live. That way you will learn to fear the Lord your God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent you from becoming proud and acting as if you are above your fellow citizens. It will also prevent you from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that you and your descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.”

Saul took the scroll and held it at his side like a sword. Samuel turned him toward the people. Saul’s jaw locked as he looked out over the thousands upon thousands staring at him. He looked but said nothing.

Jonathan was filled with pride as he observed his father. No one could say that he had coveted the power of kingship. Saul had all the eagerness of a man who had just received a sentence of death. But no man among all Israel looked more like a king than Saul, son of Kish.

Whatever it takes, Lord, help me to help my father
, Jonathan prayed.
Give me strength when he needs protection. Give me wisdom when he needs counsel. Put mighty men around him, warriors who fear You and will faithfully serve the king
.

Jonathan thought their lives would change, but as soon as the family reached Gibeah, his father turned to his field, leaving without orders those who returned with them and were eager to do the king’s bidding. They built camps around the town and waited.

“Are you going to copy the Law, Father?”

“The fields must come first.”

Troubled, Jonathan went to his mother. “The seer commanded it, Mother. Surely Samuel will be displeased if Father doesn’t do it.”

“Saul is king of Israel now, Jonathan, and every king does what is pleasing in his own sight. If your father won’t copy the Law, there’s nothing you can do about it. Do not waste time arguing with him. As strong as Kish is, has your grandfather ever won a battle with Saul?”

“No.”

“Your father had no ambitions to be king, but whether he likes it or not, he is. And whether you want to be or not, you are the prince, heir to the throne.”

His mother was shrewd. Everything she said meant something. “What are you saying, Mother? I would prefer you tell me outright.”

She spread her hands. “Is it for a woman to tell a man what he should do?”

“All I want is to serve Father.”

She folded her hands in her lap and smiled enigmatically. “Then serve him.”

Ah. If the Law must be written and his father had no time to do it, then he must.

He went out into the field and asked permission to go to the school of prophets in Naioth. Saul nodded. “Finish the task as quickly as possible and come home.” He embraced Jonathan, kissed him, and let him go.

By the time Jonathan returned to the house, his mother had already made preparations for his journey.

Jonathan unrolled the scroll a little farther, secured it, and carefully dipped his stylus into the ink. He copied each letter, jot, and tittle exactly as it was written in the Law handed down by Moses. His lip was raw from chewing on it, the back of his neck ached, and his shoulder muscles were knotted; but he finished the line, set the stylus aside, and leaned back, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

“Enough for today.”

Startled, Jonathan glanced up and saw Samuel watching him. The seer’s face was solemn, his eyes glowing with inner fire. Jonathan never felt at ease when he looked into Samuel’s face, this man who heard the voice of God and spoke His Word to the people.

As Jonathan stood, Samuel took the scroll, rolled it carefully, placed it inside its covering, and put it away.

“The letter of the Law is important, my prince, but you must also understand what it says.”

Jonathan recited, “‘Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.’” He saw the frown that crossed the seer’s face and felt heat flood his own. Had Samuel thought him impertinent, or worse—disrespectful? Jonathan wished he had not said something that might be misconstrued as criticism of the prophets’ sons, whose reputations were as different from Samuel’s as the sun was from the earth. Jonathan swallowed hard, debating. If he apologized, he might have to explain.

“You walked all the way to this school of prophets to copy the Law. Why not one closer to home?”

“You were here, my lord.”

Samuel’s eyes darkened. “Do not call me lord.” He pointed up. “There is only one Lord. The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of heaven and earth.”

Jonathan hung his head. Better to say nothing than to cause more offense.

“Did your father the king send you here?”

How should he answer? He did not want the prophet to know that Saul thought the fields more important than the law of God.

“You won’t answer?”

“He gave me permission to come.”

“Why is your father not with you?”

Jonathan’s heart thumped. “The king has matters of great importance—”

“More important than copying the Law?”

A rebuke! “No. I will give it to him.”

Samuel shook his head. “Everyone heard what I said to your father at the coronation at Gilgal. You were standing right there beside him, weren’t you?”

“Yes.” Jonathan’s palms sweated. Was God listening? “You said the king was to have a copy of the Law, read it every day, and carry it with him at all times.”

“The
king
is to write a copy of the Law in his own hand.”

Jonathan could not promise that his father would take the time to make his own copy. Despite the warriors who had followed Saul back to Gibeah, the king kept to his fields. Maybe he hoped they would grow tired of waiting and go home. But would God allow that to happen? It was one thing to want to be king, another entirely to be called by God to be king.

“Are you afraid to say anything?”

Jonathan looked up at the seer. “I don’t know what my father is thinking. He is pressed from all sides. I didn’t want to add to his burdens.”

Samuel’s expression gentled. He held out his hand. “Sit.” He approached and sat on the bench with Jonathan. He rested his hands on his knees. “If you wish to honor and serve your father, tell him the truth. If you always speak the truth to the king, he will have reason to trust you, even when he doesn’t like what you say.”

“As the people trust you.”

A flicker of pain crossed the seer’s face. “If Saul obeys the Law, the Lord will give him victory over our enemies, and Israel
may
complete the work God gave them to do when they entered Canaan.”

“My father will listen.”

“It is not enough to listen, my son. One must obey.”

Jonathan was certain his father would have come himself to copy the Law if he had not had so many other responsibilities. He worried about preparing the fields. He worried about the quality of the seed. He worried about sun and rain. He had always worried about many things. Now he had the entire nation to concern him. “Can any one man hold the future of Israel in his hands?”

Samuel shook his head. “God holds the future in His hands.”

“May I ask you something?” Jonathan hoped Samuel would agree, for one thing had continued to plague him. He couldn’t sleep for worrying about it.

Samuel inclined his head.

“You told us at Mizpah that we sinned by asking for a king. Has God forgiven us, Abba? or will His wrath be poured out upon my father? Saul did not ask to be king.”

Samuel’s gaze softened. “God calls whom He calls, Jonathan. The people have what they want: a king who stands tall among men. The Lord is compassionate upon His people. When we confessed before Him, He forgave us. God knows the hearts of men, my prince. He gave us commandments to follow so that we will not fall into sin. He knew Israel would one day ask for a king, and He told Moses what that king must be: a brother, a man who writes the Law in his own hand, studies it, is able to teach it, and abides by it all the days of his life.”

When Jonathan returned home, he would tell his father everything Samuel said.

“You have great confidence in your father, don’t you?”

“Yes!” Jonathan nodded. He was proud of his father. “I think I have more confidence in my father than he has in himself.”

“He will learn what it means to be a king.”

Who else could Jonathan trust but the prophet of God? “Now that he is king, he has enemies on every side. Some of the other tribes cried out against him when God made him king.”

“There will always be men who stand against the one God calls to serve Him.” Samuel turned and placed his right hand upon Jonathan’s shoulder. “Honor your father, my son, but let your confidence be in the Lord our God. I know you love Saul, as well you should. But do not allow your love to blind you. Do not keep silent if you see your father, the king, sin. Learn the Law and counsel the king wisely. You are his eldest son, first show of his strength, and heir to his throne. Much will be expected of you. Seek wisdom from the Lord. Study the Law, and encourage your father to do the same. But do not ever think you can do the work for him. The king must know the Lord our God and the power of His strength.”

Jonathan nodded again, accepting every word Samuel said as though it came from God Himself.

“I have watched you work, my son. You wash your hands before you enter the chamber and tremble when you open the scroll.”

“To hold the Law is a wondrous thing, Abba, but to copy it is a terrifying task.”

Samuel’s eyes grew moist. He put his hands on his knees and pushed himself up. “I will look over your work.”

“Thank you, Abba.”

Samuel patted Jonathan’s shoulder. “I wish all men revered the Law as you do.”

Jonathan bowed his head, embarrassed. “I must confess I would rather be a student of the Law than a prince.”

Samuel put his hand on Jonathan’s head. “You can be both.”

Jonathan returned home with the copy of the Law carefully packed for travel. A small portion of it was tucked into a leather cylinder hidden beneath his tunic. He would keep it near his heart at all times.

How he looked forward to sitting with his father and discussing the Law, plumbing its meanings, relishing the richness of it. Each day that he had worked on making the copy, he had thought how wonderful it was going to be to share it with the king.

He found his father still in the fields, and warriors still encamped around Gibeah, waiting for the king to give them orders. Kish looked haggard. Jonathan overheard his low, heated words to Abner. “I dare say nothing to Saul that can be overheard or these men who wait upon him will think him more of a coward! What is my son waiting for?”

Jonathan was troubled by the talk. God had chosen his father as king. No one could doubt that! God would tell Saul when to act and what to do.

To pass the time, warriors sparred with one another. They trained for war daily while waiting for a command. Saul’s habits did not change. He arose with the sun, yoked his oxen, and went out to work. When he returned, he ate with his family and guests.

Jonathan offered numerous times to read the Law to his father, but Saul always said, “Later. I’m tired.”

Reaching for more bread, Kish spoke to his son in a quiet, hard whisper. “You must do something or these men will desert you! They will not wait forever for you to take the reins of kingship.”

Tense lines appeared around Saul’s eyes. “And everything you planned and sacrificed for will be lost. Isn’t that right, Father?”

“I didn’t do it for me.” Kish spoke between his teeth. “I did it for you, for our family, for our people! Do you wait because you’re angry with me?”

“No.”

“Then what holds you back?”

“I will wait until I have some sign of what I am to do.”

“Some sign?” Kish flung the bread down. Realizing others watched, he bared his teeth in a smile and leaned forward for some dates. When the others began to talk again, Kish glanced at Jonathan and then back to Saul. “A sign from whom? What sort of sign do you need other than the crown upon your head and these men who wait to obey your least command?”

Burned by his grandfather’s sarcasm, Jonathan leaned over so that he could see past his father. “
God
will tell the king what to do and when to do it.”

“A child’s faith.”

Heat surged into Jonathan’s face.

Saul clenched his hand. “My son speaks more wisdom than anyone at this table!”

The room was silent.

Florid, Kish held his tongue. When Saul rose, Kish followed. Jonathan followed both men. “You have barely three thousand men,” Kish stormed when they were out of hearing. “The rest refuse to follow a king who hides among the baggage!”

Saul turned, his face as red as his father’s. “I felt unworthy to be king of Israel, but you got what you wanted, Father, didn’t you?” He waved his hands in the air. “You and all my other ambitious relatives who thirst for Philistine blood!”

“God chose you.”

“Convenient of you to remember that.”

Jonathan stood, staring at them. It was not the first time he had seen them argue this way.

Kish lowered his voice. “Yes. We wanted one of our own to be king. Judah ruled for a time, but now it is time for the tribe of Benjamin to lead the nation to glory.”

Benjamin, the youngest of Jacob’s twelve sons. Benjamin, son of the beautiful Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife. Benjamin, Joseph’s beloved baby brother. Though smallest among the twelve tribes, they were not least in arrogance!

“You must prove yourself worthy of respect, my son. You must punish those who refused to bring you gifts due a king. You must—”

“Must?”
Saul glared, the cords in his neck standing out. “I wear the crown. Not you. God told Samuel to place it upon
my
head. Not yours. You have no right to command me to do anything anymore. Offer me advice when I ask for it, Father. If I ever ask. And never forget Jonathan is my heir.”

Kish glanced back. Jonathan wondered if his grandfather realized he had been there the entire time. Muttering under his breath, Kish left them. Saul let out his breath and shook his head. “I need to be alone.”

When his father left him, Jonathan found a quiet place and a lamp. He took his scroll from its casing and read. Someone cleared his throat softly. He turned.

A servant appeared from the shadows. “Your mother requests the pleasure of your company, my prince.”

Rolling the scroll, he tucked it back into its case. His mother. She always knew every word that was spoken in the household.

When he entered his mother’s quarters, she was working at her loom. Without looking up, she said, “Your father and grandfather had words.” She turned to face him. “When the time comes, you will stand at your father’s right hand and help him command his army.”

Distracted, Jonathan watched his sisters.

His mother called to them. Merab came quickly, but Michal ignored them both.

“Get your sister out of the wool. It’s yet to be carded. She already reeks.” She glanced at him, frustrated. “I have so much to say to you.”

Jonathan’s brothers Malkishua and Abinadab clattered sticks as they sparred like the warriors outside the walls. Jonathan grinned. “Gibeah is alive with men eager to follow the king.”

A servant brought his youngest brother, Ishbosheth, to his mother. The infant cried and sucked on his fist. “Saul is first among our people, Jonathan.” His mother took the baby. “And you are second. You must be as wise as a serpent. Kish will come to you now with his advice. Listen to him and hold on to what will best serve your father, for that will serve you best as well.” Ishbosheth screamed for what he wanted. “And may God grant us peace.”

Jonathan left, relieved that whatever else his mother had to say would have to wait until later.