1 Samuel 14:21

_MOREOVER THE HEBREWS THAT WERE WITH THE PHILISTINES BEFORE THAT TIME, WHICH WENT UP WITH THEM INTO THE CAMP FROM THE COUNTRY ROUND ABOUT, EVEN THEY ALSO TURNED TO BE WITH THE ISRAELITES THAT WERE WITH SAUL AND JONATHAN._ The Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, х_ WªHAA-`IBRIYM_ (H5680). The Septuagint, reading wªhaa`ªbaadiym, renders it: kai hoi douloi hoi ontes echthes kai triteen heemeran, and the slaves who had been (with them) yesterday and the third day.] The whole body of Hebrews who thus rallied round the king to aid him in pursuing the Philistine fugitives is stated in the Septuagint to have comprised [hoos deka chiliades androon] about 10,000 men. Josephus gives the same humor ('Antiquities,' b. 6:, ch. 6:, sec. 3)....

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 14:21. _THE HEBREWS_ THAT _WERE WITH THE PHILISTINES_] We may understand such as they held in bondage, or who were their servants. Instead of _Hebrews_ the _Septuagint_ read, οι δουλοι, _the slaves_; from which it is evident that, instead of עברים _Ibrim,_ _Hebrews_, they found in their text עבדים _abadim_, servants. But this reading is not countenanced by any other version, nor by any MS. yet discovered....

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....

MOREOVER, THE HEBREWS THAT WERE WITH THE PHILISTINES BEFORE THAT TIME,.... Who either were their servants and bondsmen they brought along with them, or such in whose cities they dwelt, or had taken as they came along, and forced into their army; or it may be some of them were renegades from the Israelites, deserters, who for safety and subsistence betook themselves to them as the stronger party. The Greek version reads, "the servants that were with the Philistines:'' WHICH WENT UP WITH THEM INTO THE CAMP [FROM THE COUNTRY] ROUND ABOUT; either willingly or by force; the words, "from the country", are not in the text, wherefore some observe, as Kimchi and Abarbinel, that this respects their being round about the camp, and that they were not within it, but without it, that if possible they might escape fighting against the Israelites: EVEN THEY ALSO TURNED TO BE WITH THE ISRAELITES THAT...

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.)...

THE HEBREWS. Called so in distinction from the foreigners among whom they lived; referring to language rather than nationality. Compare 1 Samuel 14:11. turned. Septuagint and Vulgate read "turned round"....

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....

MOREOVER, THE HEBREWS, &C.— Our translators have well expressed here the sense of the text. But it seems hard to allow them the liberty of inserting so many words as they have done, which are not in the Hebrew. To make out the sense they have put in the words _that,_ and _from the country,_ and _turned._ As to the first, I make no doubt but that the word אשׁר _asher, that_ or _who,_ is here implied, as the Vulgate, Latin, and the LXX represent it. The other two insertions, _from the country,_ and _turned,_ will be altogether needless, if, instead of סביב _sabib,_ we read, as the Vulgate and LXX plainly did, סבבו _sabebu._ Then the place must be rendered, _the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them to the camp, they also turned to be with the Israelites._ It may be further noted, that the LXX in the beginning of the verse read עבדים _abadim, slaves,_...