1 Samuel 13:5

_AND THE PHILISTINES GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER TO FIGHT WITH ISRAEL, THIRTY THOUSAND CHARIOTS, AND SIX THOUSAND HORSEMEN, AND PEOPLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS ON THE SEA SHORE IN MULTITUDE: AND THEY CAME UP, AND PITCHED IN MICHMASH, EASTWARD FROM BETHAVEN._ Thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen. Either this number must include chariots of every kind, or the word "chariots" must mean the men fighting in them (2 Samuel 10:18; 1 Kings 20:21; 1 Chronicles 19:18). х_ SHªLOSHIYM_ (H7970), thirty, is omitted in one manuscript. Instead of "thirty," the Syriac and Arabic versions have _ SHAALOSH_ ...

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....

Verse 1 Samuel 13:5. _THIRTY THOUSAND CHARIOTS, AND SIX THOUSAND HORSEMEN_] There is no proportion here between the _chariots_ and the _cavalry_. The largest armies ever brought into the field, even by mighty emperors, never were furnished with _thirty thousand_ chariots. I think שלשים _sheloshim_, THIRTY, is a false reading for שלש _shalosh_, THREE. The _Syriac_ has [Syriac] _telotho alpin_, and the Arabic [Arabic] _thalathato alf_, both signifying THREE _thousand_; and this was a fair proportion to the _horsemen_. This is most likely to be the true reading....

THIRTY THOUSAND CHARIOTS - Probably a copyist’s mistake for 300. (Compare, for a similar numerical variation, 1 Chronicles 18:4 with 2 Samuel 8:4.) EASTWARD FROM BETHAVEN - Or more simply “to the east of Bethaven,” which Joshua 7:2 lay “on the east side of Bethel.” Bethaven (thought to be the same as Deir Diwan) lay between Bethel and Michmash, which had been evacuated by Saul....

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;...

AND THE PHILISTINES GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER TO FIGHT WITH ISRAEL,.... To prevent their further encroachments on them, and designs against them; for they perceived they intended to cast off their yoke, and free themselves entirely from them: THIRTY THOUSAND CHARIOTS, AND SIX THOUSAND HORSEMEN; it may seem incredible that so small a people as the Philistines were, who only were possessed of five cities, or lordships, with the villages belonging to them, except what they had taken from Israel; and even if assisted by the Tyrians, the author of Sirach in the Apocrypha says: "And he destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians, and all the princes of the Philistines.'' (Sirach 46:18) though he seems to have respect not to this time, but when Samuel discomfited them, 1 Samuel 7:10. I say it may seem incredible that they should bring such a number of chario

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

THIRTY THOUSAND... SIX, &c. Multiples of six. See App-10. AS THE SAND, &c. Figure of speech _Parcemia._ App-6....

_thirty thousand chariots_ This reading, though as old as the Sept., is certainly wrong. The number of chariots was always less than that of horsemen, and such an enormous force of chariots is not only quite unparalleled, but would be useless in the mountainous country. Possibly the numeral 30, expressed in Hebrew by the letter _l_, was due to the accidental repetition of the last letter of the word _Israel_, and we should read "_a thousand_chariots." Jabin had "nine hundred chariots" (Judges 4:3). _people as the sand which is on the sea shore_ "People" = infantry. "The sand on the sea shore" is a common figure for an indefinite number. Cp. Genesis 22:17; Genesis 41:49;...