_A.M. 2909. B.C. 1095._ Saul and Jonathan's life-guard, 1Sa 13:1, 1 Samuel 13:2. Jonathan smites a garrison, and the people are called together, 1 Samuel 13:3; 1 Samuel 13:4. The Philistines come up, and the Israelites are terrified, 1 Samuel 13:5. Saul's sacrifices, 1 Samuel 13:8. Is reproved by S... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines_ The Philistines, though subdued by Samuel at Eben-ezer, and driven out of the country, yet still retained possession of some strong-holds. _Saul blew the trumpet_ That is, he sent messengers to tell them all what Jonathan had done, and how the Philist... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thirty thousand chariots_ The Syriac and Arabic copies mention only three thousand chariots, which seems to be the true reading; for there is no foundation for believing that the Philistines could bring into the field thirty thousand chariots of war. Indeed we read of nothing like it in all history... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel saw that they were in a strait_ Though their wonderful success against the Ammonites had encouraged them to obey the summons of such a prosperous leader as Saul had been; yet when they saw the vast army of the Philistines, how well they were appointed, and themselves unprovided, their hearts... [ Continue Reading ]
_Some of the Hebrews went over Jordan_ They fled as far as they could from the present danger, even into the country of the two tribes and a half. _All the people followed him trembling_ That is, all that were left, who, it appears, were not many. _He tarried seven days_ Not seven complete days, for... [ Continue Reading ]
_I saw that thou camest not_ When the seventh day was come, and a good part of it was past, I concluded thou wouldst not come that day. _I have not made supplication_ Hence it appears that sacrifices were accompanied with solemn prayers. _I forced myself_ I did it against my own mind and inclination... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord would have established thy kingdom for ever_ The phrase, _for ever_, in Scripture, often signifies only a long time. And this declaration would have 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 co... [ Continue Reading ]
_A man after his own heart_ That is, such a man as will fulfil all the desires of his heart, and not oppose, them as thou dost. _The Lord hath commanded_ That is, hath appointed, as the word _commanded_ is often used. But although God threatened Saul with the loss of his kingdom for his sin, yet, it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul numbered the people, about six hundred men_ A strange alteration since the last year, when, going out against the Ammonites, he had three hundred thousand with him, besides those of Judah, chap. 1 Samuel 11:6. _Saul, and the people, abode in Gibeah_ This was a strong place, in which they could... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel_ To this miserable condition the Philistines had reduced them during the forty years' tyranny which they exercised over them, as we read Judges 13:1. But after Samuel had put an end to that tyranny, by the great overthrow which he gave the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Israelites went down to the Philistines_ Not to the country of the Philistines, for that was too far from many parts of the land of Israel; but to their garrisons, which they held among them even after Samuel had driven the main body of them out of the country. In these, it seems, the Philistin... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was neither sword nor spear_ This, it seems, must be 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... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the garrison of the Philistines went out_ This probably refers to the garrison mentioned in the beginning of the next chapter. And Michmash seems to have been the name of the garrison, not of the passage: as if it had been said, _The garrison of the Philistines in Michmash went out to the passa... [ Continue Reading ]