NOW ... - Rather “and,” since this verse is in immediate dependence upon the preceding. When Jonathan saw the garrison come out again and again, in defiance “of the armies of the living God,” at length “upon a day” he determined to attack them.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDER A POMEGRANATE - Compare 1 Samuel 22:6; Judges 4:5. Saul was at the northern extremity of Gibeah, about an hour’s march from Geba, where Jonathan was. Migron, if the reading is correct, must be a different place from the Migron of Isaiah 10:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whether “Ahiah” or “Ahijah” is the same person as “Ahimelech the son of Ahitub” (see the marginal reference), or whether Ahimelech was the brother or son of Ahijah, and his successor in the priesthood, it is impossible to say certainly. Most probably “Ahijah” and “Ahimilech” are variations of the sa... [ Continue Reading ]
(The southern cliff was called “Seneh,” or “the acacia,” and the same name still applies to the modern valley, dotted by acacias. The northern cliff was named “Bozez” or “Shining.” The valley runs nearly due east, and the northern cliff is of ruddy and tawny tint, crowned with gleaming white chalk,... [ Continue Reading ]
It is remarkable that the epithet “uncircumcised,” used as a term of reproach, is confined almost exclusively to the Philistines. (Compare 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36; Judges 14:3; Judges 15:18, etc.) This is probably an indication of the long oppression of the Israelites by the Philistines and o... [ Continue Reading ]
Though it is not expressly said, as in the case of Gideon Judges 6:34, Othniel Judges 3:10, and others, that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, yet the whole course of the narrative, especially 1 Samuel 14:13, indicates an extraordinary divine interposition.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WILL SHOW YOU A THING - Said mockingly.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHIN AS IT WERE AN HALF ACRE ... - The Hebrew text is extremely obscure. Hence, there is some probability that the true reading is preserved by the Septuagint which translates the clause “with darts and stones and flints of the field.” Others take the words to mean: “in about half the time that a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH QUAKED - This naturally increased the panic to the utmost. Compare 1 Samuel 7:10; Joshua 10:11; Psalms 114:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
MULTITUDE - The word is in 1 Samuel 14:19 (margin) rendered tumult. It must have the same meaning here. The sentence is obscure and probably corrupt; perhaps it means, “and behold the tumult! and it went on” (increased) “melting away and beating down.”... [ Continue Reading ]
For “the ark,” some read “the ephod,” owing to the improbability of the ark being with Saul at this time, and from the verb “Bring hither” being never applied to the ark, but regularly to the ephod 1Sa 23:9; 1 Samuel 30:7. Moreover, not the ark, but the ephod with Urim and Thummim, was the proper in... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHDRAW THINE HAND - i. e., “Desist from what thou art about.” Saul in his impatience to join the battle would not wait for the answer from God, which he had desired Ahijah to inquire for; just as later 1 Samuel 14:35 he would not wait to finish the altar which he had begun to build. Had he now wai... [ Continue Reading ]
ASSEMBLED THEMSELVES - See marg. Many versions give the sense “shouted,” which is far preferable, and only requires a different punctuation.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THEY OF THE LAND - literally, all the land, probably meaning all those named in 1 Samuel 14:21, who now flocked to the wood as a rendezvous.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HONEY DROPPED - Rather, “Behold a stream of honey.” The same thing may be seen in Spain, where in woody and rocky ground copious streams of honey are often found.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE ENLIGHTENED - i. e., he was refreshed, when he was faint.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE WERE FAINT - Read, “are faint,” the words are part of the man’s complaint.... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH TROUBLED - The same word as was applied to Achan Joshua 7:25, and gave its name to the valley of Achor. This additional reference to Joshua is remarkable (compare 1 Samuel 14:24).... [ Continue Reading ]
AIJALON. - The modern Yalo. It lies upon the side of a hill to the south of a fine valley which opens from between the two Bethhorons right down to the western plain of the Philistines, exactly on the route which the Philistines, when expelled from the high country about Michmash and Bethel, would t... [ Continue Reading ]
SIN AGAINST THE LORD - See the marginal reference “u.” But the prohibition was older than the Law of Moses Genesis 9:4. Compare Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAUL BUILT ... - i. e., of the great stone which they had rolled to kill the oxen and sheep upon, he began to build an altar to Yahweh (see the margin); but he did not finish it (compare 1 Chronicles 27:24), in his haste to pursue the Philistines that night.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THE PRIEST ... - Ahijah, with equal courage and faithfulness, worthy of his office as “the priest,” when every one else yielded to Saul’s humor, proposed that they should draw near to God to inquire of Him. (Compare 1 Kings 22:7.)... [ Continue Reading ]
ASKED COUNSEL - The technical phrase for inquiring of God by Urim and Thummim, and applied also to inquiry of other oracles.... [ Continue Reading ]
Saul’s rashness becomes more and more apparent. He now adds an additional oath, to bring down yet further guilt in “taking God’s name in vain” The expressions in 1 Samuel 14:36, 1 Samuel 14:40, indicate the fear in which the people stood of Saul. None dared to resist his will.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE A PERFECT LOT - The phrase is obscure, but the meaning is probably as in the margin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare 2 Samuel 8:15. The preceding narrative shows that before this time Saul had been king in name only, since his country was occupied by the Philistines, and he could only muster 600 men, and those but half armed and pent up in a narrow stronghold. Now, however, on the expulsion of the Philisti... [ Continue Reading ]
This enumeration of Saul’s children and chief officers is according to the analogy of the subsequent annals of David and Solomen’s reign. But the one here called Ishui, is elsewhere (marginal references) called Abi-nadab; and a fourth son, Esh-baal or Ish-bosheth, is here omitted.... [ Continue Reading ]
The only other “Ahimaaz” mentioned in Scripture was the son of Zadok the priest. The word “Ahi” (brother) is frequently found in composition in names in the High Priest’s family, e. g. in Ahijah, Ahimelech. It is not improbable that Ahimaaz may have been of this family, as marriages between the reva... [ Continue Reading ]
Read, “And Kish the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner, were the sons of Abiel.” Ner was Saul’s uncle.... [ Continue Reading ]