_A.M. 2917. B.C. 1087._ Jonathan proposes to his armour-bearer the attacking of the Philistines' army, 1 Samuel 14:1. They make the attack; the Philistines are terrified, 1 Samuel 14:11. They slay one another, and are pursued by the Israelites, 1 Samuel 14:16. Saul adjures the people to eat nothing... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah_ In the outworks of the city, where he had intrenched himself to observe the motions of the Philistines. _Under a pomegranate-tree_ A grove of pomegranate-trees. _Which is in_ (or _toward_) _Migron_ A place near Gibeah.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub_ The high-priest, who was here to attend upon the ark, which had been brought hither, 1 Samuel 14:18. _The son of Eli, the Lord's priest in Shiloh_ These last words manifestly belong not to Ahiah, but to Eli, who was high-priest while the tabernacle was at Shiloh. _Wear... [ Continue Reading ]
_Between the passages_ Two passages, both which Jonathan must cross, to go to the Philistines, and between which the following rocks lay; but the words may be rendered, in _the middle of the passage;_ the plural number being put for the singular. _There was a sharp rock_ Which is not to be understoo... [ Continue Reading ]
_The garrison of these uncircumcised_ So he calls them, to strengthen his faith by this consideration, that his enemies were enemies to God; whereas he was circumcised, and therefore in covenant with God, who was both able and engaged to assist his people. _It may be_ He speaks doubtfully; for thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
_This shall be a sign unto us_ Jonathan, not being assured of the success of this intended exploit, desires a sign, and by the instinct of God's Spirit pitches on this. He could upon no good ground have spoken in this manner without an impulse from God, who often suggested such thoughts and resoluti... [ Continue Reading ]
_Both of them discovered themselves_ At the bottom of the rocks. _Come up to us_, &c. A speech of contempt and derision. _The Lord hath delivered them_, &c. Jonathan, hearing those of the garrison make use of the very words which he had fixed on as a sign of victory, immediately concluded that God h... [ Continue Reading ]
_They fell before Jonathan_ It is probable that the garrison, after they had spoken to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, concerned themselves no further about them, so that they climbed up unperceived, and fell upon the Philistines unawares, and perhaps when they were unarmed. And being endowed with e... [ Continue Reading ]
_Within a half acre of land_ The garrison seems to have been divided into several bands, and posted upon several craggy eminences; for this first party that Jonathan attacked seems to have been quite separate from the rest. _There was a trembling in the host_ That is, in the whole host which was in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold the multitude melted away_ Were discomfited and scattered; so that fewer and fewer were seen in a company together. _They went on beating down one another_ Not being able in this confusion to distinguish their friends from their enemies. _Then said Saul, Number now,_ &c. Saul, upon the repor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul said, Bring hither the ark of God_ Finding only Jonathan and his armour-bearer missing, Saul did not know what to conclude, and therefore called in all haste for Ahiah the priest, to inquire of the Lord concerning it, and in what manner he and the people with him were to act. But before the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a very great discomfiture_ Namely, in the army of the Philistines; which, it is likely, consisted of various nations, and in the confusion into which they were thrown, they fell upon one another, not distinguishing friends from enemies. _The Hebrews that were with the Philistines_ Having... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord saved Israel that day_ Their deliverance was evidently effected by him, and that by means very extraordinary, and such as could have produced no such effect without his almighty power working thereby. _The battle passed over unto Beth-aven_ That is, the warriors that were engaged in the ba... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men of Israel were distressed that day_ With hunger, and weakness, and faintness, and all by reason of the following rash and inconsiderate oath, whereby Saul had foolishly adjured them, and to which, it is probable, they had consented. _Saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until even... [ Continue Reading ]
_All they of the land_ The six hundred that were with Saul, and who were now engaged in the pursuit of the Philistines, are chiefly intended here. Many others, however, from different parts of the neighbouring country, had begun to flock in, and join them as soon as they understood that their enemie... [ Continue Reading ]
_His eyes were enlightened_ He was refreshed, and recovered his lost spirits. This cleared his sight, which was grown dim by hunger and faintness. _Then answered one of the people_ One of them that came with Saul, whose forces were now united with Jonathan's.... [ Continue Reading ]
_How much more if the people had eaten freely_ They would have been able to pursue them more swiftly, and to have done greater execution upon them, than they could when they were faint. Thus men, by their rashness, hinder what they most desire.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The people flew on the spoil_ Like ravenous birds. They were so faint and hungry that in the evening, when the pursuit was given over, they seized upon and devoured what was eatable of the spoil, and had not patience to wait the killing and draining of the blood from the beasts, in the manner it ou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye have transgressed_ He sees their fault, but not his own, in giving the occasion of it. _Disperse yourselves among the people_ Saul sends out his officers to charge the people that, when any more beasts were to be killed by or for any of them, they should bring them to a particular place, where h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us go down after the Philistines by night_ Having thus refreshed themselves in the evening, Saul proposes to them to renew the pursuit, hoping to cut off the whole army of the Philistines when they were asleep in the night. _Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God _ To the ark, i... [ Continue Reading ]
_As the Lord liveth_ Here again we have a proof of Saul's rashness and folly, and of the violence and impetuosity of his temper. As he had before adjured the people, and exposed them to an execration uttered most inconsiderately; so now he lays himself under an execration to put to death, as it turn... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give a perfect lot_ Or, _Declare the perfect_, or _guiltless_ person. That is, O Lord, so guide the lot, that it may discover who is guilty in this matter, and who innocent. _The people escaped_ They were pronounced guiltless. _Jonathan was taken_ God so ordered the lot; not that he approved Saul's... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt surely die, Jonathan_ This again was most rashly spoken. Saul, however, seems to have been influenced by a real fear of God, and certainly is to be commended for having a greater regard to his oath than to his kindred and natural affection. _The people said, Shall Jonathan die?_ Hitherto... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul took the kingdom_ That is, resumed the administration of it, after he had, in a manner, lost it by the Philistines, who had almost got the entire possession of it, and enslaved Israel. _And fought against all his enemies on every side_ He did not invade them, as may be gathered from the next v... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Ishui_ Called also Abinadab, 1 Samuel 31:2. Ish- bosheth, Saul's other son, is here omitted because the sacred historian intended to mention only those of Saul's sons who went with him into the battles here recorded, and who were afterward slain with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Saul saw any strong man, he took him_ That is, when he saw any one behave well in battle, or of great strength, he took him into his band to be near to him on all occasions, and to go out to battle with him.... [ Continue Reading ]