1 Samuel 14:19

_AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHILE SAUL TALKED UNTO THE PRIEST, THAT THE NOISE THAT WAS IN THE HOST OF THE PHILISTINES WENT ON AND INCREASED: AND SAUL SAID UNTO THE PRIEST, WITHDRAW THINE HAND._ Withdraw thine hand. The priest, invested with the ephod, prayed with raised and extended hands. Saul, perceiving that the opportunity was inviting and that God appeared to have sufficiently declared in favour of His people, requested the priest to cease, that they might immediately join in the contest. The season for consultation was past, the time for prompt action was come....

16-23 The Philistines were, by the power of God, set against one another. The more evident it was that God did all, the more reason Saul had to inquire whether God would give him leave to do any thing. But he was in such haste to fight a fallen enemy, that he would not stay to end his devotions, nor hear what answer God would give him. He that believeth, will not make such haste, nor reckon any business so urgent, as not to allow time to take God with him....

Verse 1 Samuel 14:19. _WHILE SAUL TALKED UNTO THE PRIEST_] Before he had made an end of consulting him, the increasing noise of the panic-struck Philistines called his attention; and finding there was no time to lose, he immediately collected his men and fell on them....

WITHDRAW THINE HAND - i. e., “Desist from what thou art about.” Saul in his impatience to join the battle would not wait for the answer from God, which he had desired Ahijah to inquire for; just as later 1 Samuel 14:35 he would not wait to finish the altar which he had begun to build. Had he now waited he would doubtless have avoided the error into which he fell....

EXPOSITION JONATHAN SMITES THE PHILISTINE GAR-BISON (1 Samuel 14:1). 1 SAMUEL 14:1 NOW IT CAME TO PASS UPON A DAY. Literally, "And there was a day, and Jonathan," etc.; or, as we should say, And it happened one day that Jonathan. The phrase means that Jonathan's brave feat took place not many days after the garrison had occupied the cliff, probably only two or three, but without definitely stating how many. HE TOLD NOT HIS FATHER. Not only because Saul would have forbidden so rash an enterprise, but because secrecy was essential to any chance of success: probably too the purpose came upon him as an inspiration from above....

AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHILE SAUL TALKED WITH THE PRIEST,.... With Ahiah about bringing the ark, and inquiring before it: THAT THE NOISE THAT WAS IN THE HOST OF THE PHILISTINES WENT ON, AND INCREASED; the shrieks and cries of those that were beat down and trampled upon, and were bruised and wounded; and indeed the cry of the whole host, being alarmed with the enemy being upon them, or among them; and it seems that not only their motions could be seen, but the noise of them heard at this distance: AND SAUL SAID UNTO THE PRIEST, WITHDRAW THINE HAND; from putting on the ephod, or opening the breastplate of Urim and Thummim, or placing the ark in a proper position, to inquire before it, or from lifting up both hands in prayer for direction. Saul by the noise he heard concluded the army of the Philistines was routed, and therefore there was no need to consult the Lord, and he had no leisure f...

7. JONATHAN'S HEROIC DEED OF FAITH CHAPTER 14 _ 1. Jonathan's victory (1 Samuel 14:1)_ 2. Saul's adjuration and Jonathan's deed (1 Samuel 14:24) 3. Saul's first altar and unanswered inquiry (1 Samuel 14:33) 4. Jonathan condemned and saved (1 Samuel 14:38) 5. Saul's battle and success (1 Samuel 14:46) 6. Saul's family (1 Samuel 14:49) Jonathan, one of the most beautiful characters

1 Samuel 14:16. The Israelites observe the confusion among the Philistines, and find that Jonathan and his armour-bearer are missing. Saul proposes to obtain an oracle by means of the ephod. (Thus with LXX; the references to the Ark have been introduced by an editor.) But, seeing the growing panic amongst the enemy, the king cuts short the priest in his ritual, and leads the people in pursuit. They are joined by their fellow-countrymen who were serving with the Philistines, and by Israelite refugees. The pursuit is carried beyond Beth-horon. (So probably, instead of Beth-aven, which, however, some would retain and understand as Beth-el.)...

TALKED: i.e. concerning the inquiry proposed. WITHDRAW: i.e. from the ephod. Stop! HAND. Some codices, with three early printed editions, and Septuagint, read "hands"....

The rout of the Philistines 16. _in Gibeah of Benjamin_ If _Tuleil-el-Fûl_is the true site of the town of Gibeah, we must either suppose that Gibeah is here used of the surrounding district, or read _Geba_for Gibeah, since according to Lieut. Conder, Michmash is not visible from _Tuleil-el-Fûl_. See note on 1 Samuel 10:5. _they went on beating down one another_ It is doubtful if this or any other meaning can be extracted from the present Heb. text The Sept. gives a good sense: "And behold, the camp was in confusion on every side....