Blew — That is, he sent messengers to tell them all what Jonathan had done, and how the Philistines were enraged at it, and therefore what necessity there was of gathering themselves together for their own defence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Saul — Perhaps contrary to some treaty.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thirty thousand chariots, &c. — Most of them, we may suppose, carriages for their baggage, not chariots of war, tho' all their allies were joined with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Strait — Notwithstanding their former presumption that if they had a king, they should be free from all such straits. And hereby God intended to teach them the vanity of confidence in men; and that they did not one jot less need the help of God now, than they did when they had no king. And probably... [ Continue Reading ]
All the people — That is, all that were left.... [ Continue Reading ]
Seven days — Not seven compleat days; for the last day was not finished.... [ Continue Reading ]
Camest not — That is, when the seventh day was come, and a good part of it past, whence I concluded thou wouldst not come that day.... [ Continue Reading ]
Supplication — Thence it appears, that sacrifices were accompanied with solemn prayers. Forced myself — I did it against my own mind and inclination.... [ Continue Reading ]
For ever — The phrase, for ever, in scripture often signifies only a long time. So this had been abundantly verified, if the kingdom had been enjoyed by Saul, and by his son, and by his son's son; after whom the kingdom might have come to Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
A man — That is, such a man as will fulfil all the desires of his heart, and not oppose them, as thou dost. Commanded — That is, hath appointed, as the word command is sometimes used: but though God threatened but Saul with the loss of his kingdom for his sin; yet it is not improbable, there was a t... [ Continue Reading ]
Philistines — Not to the land of the Philistines, but to the stations and garrisons which the Philistines retained in several parts of Israel's land, though Samuel's authority had so far over — awed them, that they durst not give the Israelites much disturbance. In these, therefore, the Philistines... [ Continue Reading ]
Sword — It seems restrained to the six hundred that were with Saul and Jonathan; for there were no doubt a considerable number of swords and spears among the Israelites, but they generally hid them, as now they did their persons, from the Philistines. And the Philistines had not yet attained to so g... [ Continue Reading ]