1 Samuel 13:22

_SO IT CAME TO PASS IN THE DAY OF BATTLE, THAT THERE WAS NEITHER SWORD NOR SPEAR FOUND IN THE HAND OF ANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WITH SAUL AND JONATHAN: BUT WITH SAUL AND WITH JONATHAN HIS SON WAS THERE FOUND._ In the day of battle, х_ BªYOWM_ (H3117) _ MILCHEMET_ (H4421)] (a verbal noun) - in the day of fighting. [The Septuagint: kai egeneethee en tais heemerais tou polemou Machmas, 'and it happened in the time of the war of Michmash'-a meaning quite different from that of the Hebrew text.] THERE WAS NEITHER SWORD NOR SPEAR FOUND IN THE HAND OF ANY OF THE PEOPLE. They had no weapons of offence but their rude implements of husbandry. But by means of these a bold, energetic militia could do great execution; and in the well-known instances of the royalist peasantry of La Vendee, or the Hays of Cramond, in Scotland, we have examples of the alert and

15-23 See how politic the Philistines were when they had power; they not only prevented the people of Israel from making weapons of war, but obliged them to depend upon their enemies, even for instruments of husbandry. How impolitic Saul was, who did not, in the beginning of his reign, set himself to redress this. Want of true sense always accompanies want of grace. Sins which appear to us very little, have dangerous consequences. Miserable is a guilty, defenceless nation; much more those who are destitute of the whole armour of God....

Verse 1 Samuel 13:22. _IN THE DAY OF BATTLE - THESE WAS NEITHER SWORD NOR_ _SPEAR_] But if the Israelites enjoyed such profound peace and undisturbed dominion under Samuel, how is it that they were totally destitute of _arms_, a state which argues the lowest circumstances of oppression and vassalage? In answer to this we may observe, that the _bow_ and the _sling_ were the principal arms of the Israelites; for these they needed no _smith_: the most barbarous nations, who have never seen _iron_, have nevertheless _bows_ and _arrows_; the arrow _heads_ generally made of _flint_. Arrows of this kind are found among the inhabitants of the South Sea islands; and even axes, and different implements of war, all made of stone, cut and polished by stone, are frequent among them. The arms of the aboriginal Irish have been of this...

This seems to be mentioned here, in anticipation of the narrative in the next chapter, to enhance the victory gained, through God’s help 1 Samuel 14:23, by the comparatively unarmed Israelites over their enemies. What with occasional skirmishes with the Philistines, the necessity of using their arms for domestic purposes, accidental losses, and the ordinary wear and tear, coupled with the impossibility of renewing their arms from the want of smiths and forges, the people that were with Saul and Jonathan came to be very imperfectly armed. It has been observed, moreover, that the Benjamites were more famous for the use of the sling than for any other weapon Judges 20:16, and this would be an additional cause of the paucity of swords and spears....

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;...

SO IT CAME TO PASS IN THE DAY OF BATTLE,.... When that drew near, and they were called to it, and obliged to fight or flee, or surrender: THAT THERE WERE NEITHER SWORD NOR SPEAR FOUND IN THE HAND OF ANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WITH SAUL AND JONATHAN: which was not owing to their leaving them behind in the camp, or casting them away from them through fear, as they followed Saul with trembling, but to the cause now mentioned. In what manner some preceding battles were fought with the Philistines and Ammonites, notwithstanding, have been accounted for on 1 Samuel 13:19, but it is strange that the Israelites did not furnish themselves with the arms of the Philistines at the defeat of them in Ebenezer, 1 Samuel 7:10 and with the arms of the Ammonites at Jabeshgilead,...

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

WITH SAUL. with those who were with Saul and Jonathan:. picked force....

The disarmament of the Israelites 19. _Now there was no smith found_, &c. A signal proof of the severity of the Philistine oppression, and the difficulties against which Saul had to contend. This general disarmament clearly points to the lasting subjugation of a large district in the later years of Samuel's judgeship and the beginning of Saul's reign, and was not merely the temporary result of the present invasion. A similar tyranny was practised by the Canaanites before Deborah's victory (Judges 5:8, cp. Judges 3:31); and Porsena is reported by Pliny to have prohibited the Romans from using iron except for agricultural purposes (_Hist. Nat._XXXIV. 14)....