Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, Ver. 1. _Saul reigned one year,_] _i.e., _ Well and orderly; he reigned the two first years, till he was rejected of God, and bereft of his Spirit; for then he turned tyrant, holding the kingdom by violence, 1Sa 14:47 and ruling... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul chose him three thousand [men] of Israel; [whereof] two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent._ Ver. 2. _Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel._] _Praesid... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that [was] in Geba, and the Philistines heard [of it]. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. Ver. 3. _And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines._] By his father's command no doubt, 1Sa 13:4 - else... [ Continue Reading ]
_And all Israel heard say [that] Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and [that] Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal._ Ver. 4. _That Saul had smitten a garrison._] As desirous to rid the country of those Lurdai... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which [is] on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. Ver. 5. _Thirty thousand chariots._] Armed... [ Continue Reading ]
When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. Ver. 6. _For the people were distressed._] Notwithstanding their having a king to save them. God wil... [ Continue Reading ]
And [some of] the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he [was] yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. Ver. 7. _And all the people followed him trembling._] Mικροψυχοι; they were quite dispirited; and now that all seemed to be on fire, they rang th... [ Continue Reading ]
And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel [had appointed]: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. Ver. 8. _And he tarried seven days,_] _i.e., _ Till part of the seventh day was past; but because patience had not her perfect work, wanting nothi... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. Ver. 9. _And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering._] The heathens also were wont to sacrifice before they went to war: whence also they called a sacrifice _hostia,_ from the enemies they... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. Ver. 10. _And it came to pass, that as soon, &c._] _Vide quid faciat praecipitatio et impatientia._ Saul should have held out an hour... [ Continue Reading ]
And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and [that] thou camest not within the days appointed, and [that] the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Ver. 11. _What hast thou done?_] Samuel saw well what was done; for t... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. Ver. 12. _And I have not made supplication unto the Lord._] Saul dared not enter the battle without this armour: but the s... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever._ Ver. 13. _Thou hast done foolishly._] This was to reprove _libere et rotunde,_ as one saith... [ Continue Reading ]
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee. Ver. 14. _The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart,_] _sc., _ _Iuxt... [ Continue Reading ]
And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people [that were] present with him, about six hundred men. Ver. 15. _Unto Gibeah of Benjamin._] Whither also went Saul and his forces: either with Samuel, or soon after him. For though Samuel had sharply re... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people [that were] present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. Ver. 16. _Abode in Gibeah of Benjamin._] His own country, where he was likely to have the best assistance of his allies, but especially of Samuel's go... [ Continue Reading ]
And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way [that leadeth to] Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: Ver. 17. _And the spoilers came out of the camp._] This is one of the woes of war, that hell of this world, - as one calleth it, wherein the... [ Continue Reading ]
And another company turned the way [to] Bethhoron: and another company turned [to] the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. Ver. 18. _And another company turned, &c._] They might rove and plunder at pleasure, there being none but a naked people to withstand... [ Continue Reading ]
Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make [them] swords or spears: Ver. 19. _Now there was no smith found._] For the Philistines had either slain them, or carried them away, By a like wicked policy, Julian the Apostate forbade Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. Ver. 20. _But all the Israelites went down._] Which many of them could not do, without much trouble and expense of time. See into what straits sinful people plunge the... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. Ver. 21. _Yet they had a file._] This was all the help they allowed them, "The tender mercies of the wicked are cruelties.... [ Continue Reading ]
So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that [were] with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. Ver. 22. _There was neither sword nor spear found._] And yet the Israelites had the day... [ Continue Reading ]
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash. Ver. 23. _To the passage of Michmash._] A place of advantage, kept till now by Saul's soldiers.... [ Continue Reading ]