Download or read book Mark of the Covenant written by Eleanor Hunsinger and published by . This book was released on 2021-07-16 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: MARK OF THE COVENANTAs a child, Jonathan admires his loving father, the agrarian King Saul, anointed Israel's first king by the Prophet Samuel. The lives of the three become intertwined.Jonathan enjoys a happy childhood participating in farming, studying under the student-prophet Ethan, and gaining spiritual insights. After military training, Jonathan is appointed an army commander. His confrontation with a Philistine patrol results in declaration of war. With Saul's army at Gilgal dwindling, when Samuel does not arrive in time Saul offers the sacrifice, determined to preserve his kingdom. Samuel arrives and denounces this usurpation of the priesthood, declaring Saul's kingdom will not endure. Jonathan initiates a daring raid at Michmash. Battle ensues and Israel gains victory, the first of many successful battles. Doeg the Edomite ingratiates himself into Saul's confidence. Saul's trust of the heathen disturbs Jonathan. When Saul does not destroy the Amalekites, as God commanded, Samuel again declares Saul's kingdom will not endure. Unaware of these declarations of judgment, Jonathan is confused by Saul's indecisiveness, defensive attitude, paranoia, and erratic responses. Jonathan develops a spiritual bond with David, killer of the giant Goliath, and they "cut a covenant," a vow of loyalty and mutual protection. Saul perceives the highly praised David as a threat to his kingship and becomes obsessed with killing him. Saul slaughters 85 priests and the Gibeonites, plus other retaliations against David. Jonathan gradually understands the cause of his father's state of mind. Jonathan accepts he will never be king. His brother Malki-Shua's blind allegiance to their father troubles Jonathan, who finds solace in God's presence and psalms of David which he has memorized. Malki-Shua eventually sees his father's wrong and seeks reconciliation. Saul never repents. The king and three sons die in battle at Jezreel in the final scene on Mount Gilboa.Jonathan lives and dies in the faith. A man of integrity, the crown prince never reigns over a kingdom, but instead rules his own spirt-a true conqueror.