_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 ]