1 Samuel 13:1

_SAUL REIGNED ONE YEAR; AND WHEN HE HAD REIGNED TWO YEARS OVER ISRAEL,_ Saul reigned one year - literally, a son of a year (was) Saul in 'reigning;' i:e., he had been a king for a year. The transactions recorded in the eleventh and twelfth chapters were the principal incidents comprised in the first year of Saul's reign; and the events about to be described in this passage happened in the second year. Some writers, however, regard the text as mutilated and defective in this first verse. The 'Hexapla' of Origen has this Greek reading-`Saul was (thirty) years old when he was made king, and he reigned-years in Israel,' the blank number being filled up by Houbigant, Wall, and others, as 'forty' (cf. Acts 13:21: Josephus, 'Antiquities,' b. 6: ch. 14:, sec. 9, where it is said that Saul lived eighteen years while Samuel was alive, and twenty two after that prophets death, = forty).

1-7 Saul reigned one year, and nothing particular happened; but in his second year the events recorded in this chapter took place. For above a year he gave the Philistine time to prepare for war, and to weaken and to disarm the Israelites. When men are lifted up in self-sufficiency, they are often led into folly. The chief advantages of the enemies of the church are derived from the misconduct of its professed friends. When Saul at length sounded an alarm, the people, dissatisfied with his management, or terrified by the power of the enemy, did not come to him, or speedily deserted him....

CHAPTER XIII _Saul chooses a body of troops_, 1, 2. _Jonathan smites a garrison of the Philistines_, 3, 4. _The Philistines gather together an immense host against Israel_, 5. _The Israelites are afraid; and some hide themselves in caves,_ _and others flee over Jordan_, 6, 7. _Samuel delaying his coming, Saul offers sacrifice_, 8, 9. _Samuel comes and reproves him, and Saul excuses himself_, 10-12. _Samuel shows him that God has rejected him from being captain_ _over his people_, 13, 14. Samu

The text of this verse, omitted by the Septuagint, is held to be corrupt, and the numerals denoting Saul’s age at his accession as well as the duration of his reign, are thought to be omitted or faulty. Saul may have been about 30 at his accession, and have reigned some 32 years, since we know that his grandson Mephibosheth was five years old at Saul’s death 2 Samuel 4:4; and 32 added to the seven and a half years between the death of Saul and that of Ishbosheth, makes up the 40 years assigned to Saul’s dynasty in Acts 13:21. Neither is there any clue to the interval of time between the events recorded in the preceding chapter, and those which follow in this and succeeding chapters. But the appearance of Jonathan as a warrior...

SAUL'S PROBATION AND FAILURE (CHS. 13-15.). EXPOSITION WAR AGAINST THE PHILISTINES (verse 1-14:46). 1 SAMUEL 13:1 Saul's age and length of reign. SAUL REIGNED ONE YEAR. This verse literally translated is, "Saul was one year old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years over Israel." In its form it exactly follows the usual statement prefixed to each king's reign, of his age at his accession, and the years of his kingdom (2 Samuel 2:10; 2Sa 5:4; 1 Kings 14:21;...

SAUL REIGNED ONE YEAR,.... "Or the son of a year in his reigning" s; various are the senses given of these words: some interpret them, Saul had a son of a year old when he began to reign, Ishbosheth, and who was forty years of age when his father died, 2 Samuel 2:10, others, who understand the words of Saul himself, think there is an "ellipsis" or defect of the number, and that it may be supplied, that Saul was the son of thirty or forty years, or whatsoever age he may be supposed to be at when he began his reign; others take the words in a figurative sense, that he was like a child of a year old, for purity and innocence; so the Targum, "as the son of a year, in whom there are no faults, so was Saul when he reigned;'' or he was but a year old, reckoning from the time he was turned into another man, and had another heart, which was immediately after he was anointed

6. THE FIRST FAILURE OF SAUL AND ITS RESULTS CHAPTER 13 _ 1. The failure of Saul (1 Samuel 13:1)_ 2. Samuel's sentence (1 Samuel 13:10) 3. Israel's deplorable condition (1 Samuel 13:15) Omit the first verse of this chapter as it does not belong into the text. In self-confidence Saul has dismissed the greater part of the people; only 2000 remained with him and 1000 with his son Jonathan. Saul is now passing through a test. Hath he true faith which counts and depends on God? Is he obedient to His word as given by the prophet? Jonathan appears here for the first time. His name means “the Lord hath given.” He is the opposite from his poor father; the son is a man of real faith

1 SAMUEL 13, 14. SAUL'S EARLY STRUGGLES WITH THE PHILISTINES. (J), chiefly from the ancient narrative concerning Saul. Editorial notes, or additions from other sources, are 1 Samuel 13:1; 1 Samuel 7_ b,_ but as for Saul. Benjamin, 1 Samuel 13:15_ a_; 1 Samuel 13:19; 1 Samuel 14:47. 1 SAMUEL 13:1. If the present Hebrew text were regarded as correct and complete, the translation (_cf.mg._) would be, And Saul was a year old when he became king, and he reigned two years over Israel. Both periods are absurd. The edi

1 Samuel 13:1-7. Revolt of the Israelites under Saul from the Philistines 1. _Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel_ The Hebrew cannot be thus translated. It is the common formula for denoting the age of a king at his accession, and the length of his reign. See 2 Samuel 2:10; 2 Samuel 5:4; 1 Kings 14:21, &c. We must render, "SAUL WAS [] YEARS OLD WHEN HE BEGAN TO REIGN, AND REIGNED [] AND TWO YEARS OVER ISRAEL." Either the numbers were wanting in the original document, or they have been accidentally lost. 30 is supplied in the first place by some MSS. of the Sept., and is a plaus

SAUL REIGNED ONE YEAR, &C.— The Hebrew here literally is, _Saul was the son of a year, and he reigned two years._ A passage which almost all the versions render differently, and upon which the comm entators are greatly divided. Dr. Waterland renders it, _Saul had reigned one year, and was reigning on two years over Israel._ Houbigant, after one of the versions in the Hexapla, reads, _Saul when he began to reign was thirty years old, and he reigned two years._...