1 Samuel 13:6

_WHEN THE MEN OF ISRAEL SAW THAT THEY WERE IN A STRAIT, (FOR THE PEOPLE WERE DISTRESSED,) THEN THE PEOPLE DID HIDE THEMSELVES IN CAVES, AND IN THICKETS, AND IN ROCKS, AND IN HIGH PLACES, AND IN PITS._ When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait. Though Saul's gallantry was unabated, his subjects displayed no degree of zeal and energy. Instead of venturing an encounter, they fled in all directions. [The Septuagint, apparently reading it as: waagash, come near, instead of _ NIGAS_ (H5065), pressed, harassed, renders this clause as: kai aneer Israeel eiden hoti stenoos autoo mee prosagein auton, and the men Israel saw that he was in such difficulties that he could not advance to him-namely, the Philistine.] Numbers of the people took refuge in the hiding-places which the broken ridges of the neighbourhood abundantly afford. The rocks are perforated in every direction with 'caves,...

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 13:6. _THE PEOPLE DID HIDE THEMSELVES_] They, being few in number, and totally unarmed as to _swords_ and _spears_, were terrified at the very numerous and well-appointed army of the Philistines. Judea was full of _rocks, caves, thickets_, c., where people might shelter themselves from their enemies. While some hid themselves, others fled beyond Jordan: and those who did cleave to Saul _followed him trembling_....

IN THICKETS - literally, “among thorns.” HIGH PLACES - Not the high places for worship, but holds or towers Judges 9:46, Judges 9:49; that particular kind of tower which was the work of the old Canaanite inhabitants, and which remained as ruins in the time of 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;...

WHEN THE MEN OF ISRAEL SAW THEY WERE IN A STRAIT, FOR THE PEOPLE WERE DISTRESSED,.... By reason of the vast army that the Philistines brought into the field, greatly superior to theirs, and were likely to be encompassed by them on every side; so that nothing but destruction was expected, which gave them the utmost anxiety and uneasiness; though Abarbinel refers this last clause, not to the people of Israel, but to the people of the Philistines, and takes it in this sense, FOR THE PEOPLE DREW NIGH; the army of the Philistines was approaching, and got near to them; and so they were in great danger of being quickly attacked by them, and destroyed, their numbers being so great: THEN THE PEOPLE DID HIDE THEMSELVES IN CAVES; of which there were many in the land of Judea, capable of receiving a large number, as the cave of Adullam, the cave of Engedi, c. and such as the Israelites made to hid...

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

MEN. Hebrew. _'ish._. App-14. DISTRESSED. pressed: i.e. into Saul's service. and. Note the Figure of speech _Polysyndeton._ App-6....

_in a strait_ In distress and danger: as it were, hemmed in and unable to turn in any direction. _the people did hide themselves_ Cp. Judges 6:2. _in high places_ The word thus translated occurs elsewhere only in Judges 9:46; Judges 9:49 (E. V. hold), and is supposed to mean "a fortified tower," like the "peels" of the border counties, possibly the work of the old Canaanite inhabitants. But the context rather points to some _natural_hiding-place....