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1 Samuel
Chapter Thirteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 13
This
chapter relates how Saul disposed of his army
1 Samuel 13:1 that
Jonathan his son smote a garrison of Philistines
which provoked them to come
out with a large army against them
to the great terror of the Israelites
many
of whom fled to secret places
and to distant parts
1 Samuel 13:3
that
Saul tarried at Gilgal waiting for Samuel
but he not coming so soon as
expected
offered sacrifice himself
1 Samuel 13:8 for
which Samuel
when he came
reproved him
and told him the kingdom should not
continue with him
but be given to another man
1 Samuel 13:11 on
which Saul departed to Gibeah
where he continued
the Philistines being
encamped at Michmash
1 Samuel 13:15 from
whence went out spoilers
in three companies
into the land of Israel
where
they met with no opposition; for there were no weapons in the hands of any but
Saul and Jonathan
the Philistines having taken care that there should be no
smith in the land of Israel to make them any
so that they were defenceless
1 Samuel 13:17.
1 Samuel 13:1 Saul reigned
one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel
[a]
YLT
1A son of a year [is] Saul
in his reigning
yea
two years he hath reigned over Israel
Saul reigned one year
.... "Or the son of
a year in his reigning"F19בן שנה שאול במלכו
"filius anni Saul in regnando ipsum"
Montanus. ; various are the
senses given of these words: some interpret them
Saul had a son of a year old
when he began to reign
Ishbosheth
and who was forty years of age when his
father died
2 Samuel 2:10
others
who understand the words of Saul himself
think there is an
"ellipsis" or defect of the number
and that it may be supplied
that
Saul was the son of thirty or forty years
or whatsoever age he may be supposed
to be at when he began his reign; others take the words in a figurative sense
that he was like a child of a year old
for purity and innocence; so the
Targum
"as the son of a year
in whom there are no faults
so was Saul
when he reigned;'or he was but a year old
reckoning from the time he was
turned into another man
and had another heart
which was immediately after he
was anointed king at Ramah by Samuel; or he was but a year old with respect to
his kingdom: the inauguration of a king is "natalis imperil"
the
birthday of his kingdom
and therefore the words are well enough rendered by
us
"Saul reigned one year"; which is to be reckoned either from his
unction at Ramah
or rather from his election at Mizpeh
to the renewal of the
kingdom at Gilgal:
and when he had reigned two years over Israel; which the
Jewish chronologersF20Seder Olam Rabba
c. 13. p. 35. Juchasin
fol.
11. 1. make to be the whole of his reign
which is not probable
considering
the many things done in his reign
the many battles he fought with all his
enemies on every side of him
and his long persecution of David; and there were
no less than three high priests in his reign; Josephus saysF17Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 14. sect. 9. he reigned eighteen years in the lifetime of Samuel
and
twenty two years after his death
in all forty; which agrees with Acts 13:21. Some
interpret it he reigned two years well
and the rest in a tyrannical way; or
that at the end of two years
when David was anointed
the kingdom was not
reckoned to him
but to David; and to this purpose Dr. Lightfoot writes
that
he had been king one year from his first anointing by Samuel at Ramah
to his
second anointing by him at Gibeah (Gilgal I suppose he means); and he reigned
after this two years more
before the Lord cast him off
and anointed David;
and the time he ruled after that was not a rule
but a tyranny and persecutionF18Works
vol. 1. p. 55. ; but the sense Ben Gersom gives is best of all
that one year
had passed from the time of his being anointed
to the time of the renewal of
the kingdom at Gilgal; and when he had reigned two years over Israel
then he
did what follows
chose 3000 men
&c. In the first year of his reign was
done all that is recorded in the preceding chapter; and when he had reigned two
years
not two years more
but two years in all
then he did what is related in
this chapter.
1 Samuel 13:2 2 Saul
chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with
Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel
and a thousand were with
Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away
every man
to his tent.
YLT
2and Saul chooseth for himself
three thousand [men] out of Israel; and two thousand are with Saul in Michmash
and in the hill-country of Beth-El; and a thousand have been with Jonathan in
Gibeah of Benjamin; and the remnant of the people he hath sent each to his
tents.
Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel
.... Out of
the 300
000 that went with him to fight the Ammonites
and returned with him to
Gilgal
where he now was
and had stayed as may be supposed about a year
since
now he had reigned two years. These 3000 men some of them doubtless were
appointed as a guard about his person
and the rest were a standing army to
preserve the peace of the nation
to protect them from their enemies
to watch
the motions of the Philistines
and to be ready on any sudden invasion:
whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash
and in Mount
Bethel; "Michmash"
according to Bunting
F19Travels
of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 126. was four miles from Gilgal. JeromF20De
loc Heb. fol. 93. F. says
in his time it was shown a large village on the
borders of Aella
or Jerusalem
retaining its ancient name
nine miles distant
from it
near the village Rama. AdrichomiusF21Thestrum Terrae S. p.
28. says it is now called Byra
and Mr. MaundrellF23Journey from
Aleppo
p. 64. observes that it is supposed by some to be the same with Beer
whither Jotham fled after he had delivered his parable
Judges 9:21.
Michmash is in the MisnahF24Menachot
c. 8. sect. 1. celebrated for
the best wheat being brought from it; and near to it
as appears from hence
was Bethel
and the mount of that name; and so JeromF25Ut supra
(De
loc Heb.) fol. 89. G. speaks of Bethel as over against Michmash; and this mount
very probably is the same said to be on the east of Bethel
where Abraham built
an altar
Genesis 12:8 for
Michmash lay to the east of Bethel:
and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; the native
place of Saul
and this Jonathan was the son of Saul
1 Samuel 13:16.
According to BuntingF26Ut supra
(Travels of the Patriarchs
&c.) p. 127.
Gibeah
where Jonathan was stationed
was eight miles from
Michmash:
and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent; to their own
houses; or
as the Targum
to their cities; these were they that came at his
summons
and were numbered at Bezek
and went with him to the relief of
Jabeshgilead
and had been with him ever since
and now dismissed.
1 Samuel 13:3 3 And Jonathan attacked the
garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba
and the Philistines heard of
it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land
saying
“Let the
Hebrews hear!”
YLT
3And Jonathan smiteth the
garrison of the Philistines which [is] in Geba
and the Philistines hear
and
Saul hath blown with a trumpet through all the land
saying
`Let the Hebrews
hear.'
And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in
Geba
.... Not the same with Gibeah of Benjamin
as Jarchi; for it can
hardly be thought that Jonathan should place himself with his thousand men
where the Philistines had a garrison; or that if this was the same with that in
the preceding verse
that it should be called by another name in this; but
Gibeah and Geba were two places
as Kimchi observes
both indeed in the tribe
of Benjamin
and it is very probable not far from one another; see Joshua 18:24. This
seems to be the same with the hill of God
where was a garrison of the
Philistines
1 Samuel 10:5
who
after their defeat by Samuel contented themselves with some strong holds and
garrisons in some parts of the land to keep Israel in awe; the Targum
understands this of a single person
a governor of the Philistines in this
place
whom Jonathan slew
and so Jarchi; and according to R. Isaiah he was one
that was appointed to gather the tax for them:
and the Philistines heard of it
which alarmed them
and
made them prepare for war:
and Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land; not he in
person
for he was at Gilgal
as the next verse shows; but he ordered it to be
blown
being aware of the preparations the Philistines were making to attack
him:
saying
let the Hebrews hear; both what his son had
done
and what the Philistines were doing.
1 Samuel 13:4 4 Now all Israel heard it
said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines
and that
Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were
called together to Saul at Gilgal.
YLT
4And all Israel have heard
saying
`Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines
' and also
`Israel
hath been abhorred by the Philistines;' and the people are called after Saul to
Gilgal.
And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the
Philistines
.... For though it was smitten by Jonathan
yet it was by the
order of Saul
and so ascribed to him; it seems to be a concerted thing to fall
upon the garrisons of the Philistines
and get them out of their hands
and so
deliver Israel entirely from them; but it was not wise for Saul
if he had such
a scheme in his head
to disband his large army
as he had lately done:
and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines; who were
highly incensed against them by this action
and vowed revenge; the name of an
Israelite was abhorred by them; and perhaps this action might be attended with
much craft and cruelty; and if these garrisons were held by agreement
they
might charge them with perfidy
with breach of articles
and so their name was
made to stink among them
as the word signifies:
and the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal; by sound of
trumpet.
1 Samuel 13:5 5 Then the Philistines
gathered together to fight with Israel
thirty[b] thousand
chariots and six thousand horsemen
and people as the sand which is on
the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash
to the
east of Beth Aven.
YLT
5And the Philistines have
been gathered to fight with Israel; thirty thousand chariots
and six thousand
horsemen
and a people as the sand which [is] on the sea-shore for multitude;
and they come up and encamp in Michmash
east of Beth-Aven.
And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with
Israel
.... To prevent their further encroachments on them
and designs
against them; for they perceived they intended to cast off their yoke
and free
themselves entirely from them:
thirty thousand chariots
and six thousand horsemen; it may seem
incredible that so small a people as the Philistines were
who only were
possessed of five cities
or lordships
with the villages belonging to them
except what they had taken from Israel; and even if assisted by the Tyrians
the author of Sirach in the Apocrypha says:"And he destroyed the rulers of
the Tyrians
and all the princes of the Philistines.' (Sirach 46:18)though he
seems to have respect not to this time
but when Samuel discomfited them
1 Samuel 7:10. I
say it may seem incredible that they should bring such a number of chariots
into the field; wherefore this must either be understood of 30
000 men that
fought in chariots
as Lyra interprets it
and in which sense it is plain and
certain the word chariots is sometimes used
as in 2 Samuel 10:18
or
else of some sort of carriages
not chariots of war
at least not all of them;
but what were brought to carry the baggage of their infantry
which was very
large
and to carry away the goods and substance of the Israelites; some have
thought that there is a mistake of the copier
who instead of שלש
"three"
read שלשים
"thirty": so Capellus; and the rather because in the Arabic and
Syriac versions it is only "three thousand"; but even this is too
great a number
understood of chariots of war; for never any people in the
world was known to have so many chariots of war; Pharaoh in his large host had
but six hundred
Exodus 14:7 Jabin
king of Canaan had indeed nine hundred
Judges 4:3 and
David took from the king of Zobah one thousand chariots; but whether they were
all chariots of war is not certain
2 Samuel 8:4.
Solomon indeed had one thousand and four hundred chariots
but they do not
appear to be chariots of war
but some for use
and some for state and
grandeur. Wherefore
if a mistake in the copy is admitted of
and this can be
confirmed by some MSS
yet we must recur to one or other of the above senses;
some of them must be understood of other sort of carriages
or of men that
fought in these chariots; and allowing ten men to a chariot
which seems to be
the usual number by comparing 2 Samuel 10:18 with
1 Chronicles 19:18
then 3000 men would fill three hundred chariots
which are as many as it can
well be thought the Philistines had Zerah the Ethiopian
who brought into the
field an army of million men
had no more than three hundred chariots
2 Chronicles 14:9
and no more had Antiochus Eupator in his army
"And with him Lysias his
protector
and ruler of his affairs
having either of them a Grecian power of
footmen
an hundred and ten thousand
and horsemen five thousand and three
hundred
and elephants two and twenty
and three hundred chariots armed with
hooks.' (2 Maccabees 13:2)Darius in
his vast army had but two hundredF1Curtius
l. 4. c. 9.
and in the
very large one which Mithridates brought against the Romans there was but one
hundred; and now 3000 men in three hundred chariots were but a proportion to
6000 horsemen
which in those times and countries was a large cavalry:
and the people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude; the infantry
was so large as not to be numbered; however
the phrase denotes a great
multitude of them; Josephus saysF2Antiqu
l. 6. c. 6. sect. 1. there
were 300
000 footmen:
and they came up
and pitched in Michmash
eastward from Bethaven; where Saul
before he went to Gilgal
had his quarters
1 Samuel 13:2.
Bethaven was a place near Bethel
on the east of it
Joshua 7:2 though
Bethel itself was afterwards so called when Jeroboam had set up the worship of
the calves there
Hosea 4:15 it
signifying the house of vanity or iniquity.
1 Samuel 13:6 6 When the men of Israel saw
that they were in danger (for the people were distressed)
then the people hid
in caves
in thickets
in rocks
in holes
and in pits.
YLT
6And the men of Israel have
seen that they are distressed
that the people hath been oppressed
and the
people hide themselves in caves
and in thickets
and in rocks
and in high
places
and in pits.
When the men of Israel saw they were in a strait
for the people
were distressed
.... By reason of the vast army that the Philistines brought into
the field
greatly superior to theirs
and were likely to be encompassed by
them on every side; so that nothing but destruction was expected
which gave
them the utmost anxiety and uneasiness; though Abarbinel refers this last
clause
not to the people of Israel
but to the people of the Philistines
and
takes it in this sense:
for the people drew nigh; the army of the
Philistines was approaching
and got near to them; and so they were in great
danger of being quickly attacked by them
and destroyed
their numbers being so
great:
then the people did hide themselves in caves; of which
there were many in the land of Judea
capable of receiving a large number
as
the cave of Adullam
the cave of Engedi
&c. and such as the Israelites
made to hide themselves when oppressed by the Midianites
Judges 6:2.
and in thickets; woods and forests
or among thorns
as
Jarchi; where there was a very great number of brambles and thorn bushes; some
as Kimchi
interpret the word of munitions
garrisons
and fortified places
to
which they betook themselves:
in rocks
and in high places
and in pits; in the holes
of rocks and mountains
particularly in Mount Ephraim; see 1 Samuel 14:22 and
where there were any pits or ditches
high or deep places
where they might be
out of sight
and be sheltered from their enemies.
1 Samuel 13:7 7 And some of the
Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul
he was
still in Gilgal
and all the people followed him trembling.
YLT
7And Hebrews have passed
over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; and Saul [is] yet in Gilgal
and
all the people have trembled after him.
And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and
Gilead
.... As far off as they could from the Philistines
who lay on
the west of the land of Israel
and these countries were to the east. Kimchi
observes
that the land of Reuben is not mentioned
which was on the other side
Jordan also; because that was nearer to it than what was inhabited by Gad
and
the half tribe of Manasseh; and therefore they chose to go further
thinking
themselves there safer:
as for Saul
he was yet in Gilgal; where he stayed till
Samuel should come to him
as directed
1 Samuel 10:8 to
have his advice and counsel:
and all the people followed him trembling; all that were
with him
the army as distinct from the common people; they abode by him
and
were at his command
and were ready to go where he should direct them; but with
trembling hearts when they saw the pain of the people
fleeing into holes and
corners
and considered what a huge host the Philistines were coming upon them
with
and Samuel their prophet not with them to encourage and counsel them.
1 Samuel 13:8 8 Then he waited seven days
according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the
people were scattered from him.
YLT
8And he waiteth seven days
according to the appointment with Samuel
and Samuel hath not come to Gilgal
and the people are scattered from off him.
And he tarried seven days
according to the set time that Samuel
had appointed
.... He tarried to the seventh day
but not to the end of it
or
towards the close of it
as he should have done:
but Samuel came not to Gilgal; so soon as Saul
expected:
and the people were scattered from him; many deserted
him
the Philistines drawing nigh
and Samuel not coming
as Saul expected
and
had given the people reason to expect.
1 Samuel 13:9 9 So Saul said
“Bring a
burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt
offering.
YLT
9And Saul saith
`Bring nigh
unto me the burnt-offering
and the peace-offerings;' and he causeth the
burnt-offering to ascend.
And Saul said
.... Being impatient
and seeing the people
deserting him apace
and unwilling to engage in a battle without first sacrificing
to God
and imploring his help and assistance:
bring hither a burnt offering to me; that is
a creature for
a burnt offering
a bullock
sheep
goat
or lamb:
and peace offerings; which also were either
of the herd
or of the flock:
and he offered the burnt offering; either he himself
or by
a priest. In this unsettled time
while the tabernacle
altar
and ark
were at
different places
and not yet fixed
it is thought that such who were not
priests might offer
and that in high places
and where the tabernacle and
altar were not.
1 Samuel 13:10 10 Now it happened
as soon
as he had finished presenting the burnt offering
that Samuel came; and Saul
went out to meet him
that he might greet him.
YLT
10And it cometh to pass at
his completing to cause the burnt-offering to ascend
that lo
Samuel hath
come
and Saul goeth out to meet him
to bless him;
And it came to pass
that as soon as he had made an end of
offering the burn offering
.... And before he could offer the peace
offerings:
behold
Samuel came; and it was told Saul
that he was come:
and Saul went out to meet him; left off sacrificing
and would proceed no further
leaving the rest for Samuel and out of respect to
him
and to prevent a chiding of him
he went forth to meet him:
that he might salute him
or "bless him"F3לברכו "ad benedicendum ei"
Montanus. ;
congratulate him on his coming
ask of his health and welfare
and wish him all
peace and prosperity.
1 Samuel 13:11 11 And Samuel said
“What
have you done?” Saul said
“When I saw that the people were scattered from me
and that you did not come within the days appointed
and that the
Philistines gathered together at Michmash
YLT
11and Samuel saith
`What
hast thou done?' And Saul saith
`Because I saw that the people were scattered
from off me
and thou hadst not come at the appointment of the days
and the
Philistines are gathered to Michmash
And Samuel said
what hast thou done? This question
he put to bring him to a confession of what he had done
otherwise he guessed at
it by his countenance; or rather
by the prophetic spirit he was endowed with
he knew it certainly that he had offered the sacrifices without waiting for
him:
and Saul said because I saw the people were scattered from me; they were
deserting
and he feared
if he stayed any longer
they would all leave him;
this was one reason of doing what he did:
and that thou camest not within the days appointed; seven days
were appointed
and because the seventh day was come
though it was not gone
he concluded Samuel would not come at all; and that was another reason why he
did what he did; and by this would have laid the blame on Samuel
as if he did
not keep his time; whereas it was Saul's impatience that hurried him to this
action:
and that the Philistines gathered themselves together to Michmash; where his
station before was
and from thence he might quickly expect them at Gilgal; and
this was another reason why he hastened the sacrifice.
1 Samuel 13:12 12 then I said
‘The
Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal
and I have not made
supplication to the Lord.’
Therefore I felt compelled
and offered a burnt offering.”
YLT
12and I say
Now do the
Philistines come down unto me to Gilgal
and the face of Jehovah I have not
appeased; and I force myself
and cause the burnt-offering to ascend.'
Therefore said I..... That is
within himself:
the Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal; on a sudden
unprepared for them
especially in a religious way:
and I have not made supplication to the Lord; for his
direction and assistance
and for success in the war; which it seems went along
with sacrifices
or was implied in them:
I forced myself therefore
and offered a burnt offering; it was
reluctant to him
it was against his will as well as the command of Samuel
to
offer before he came
he suggests; but such were the circumstances he was in
that he was obliged to it; these are the reasons or excuses he made
and some
of them have a specious appearance in them.
1 Samuel 13:13 13 And Samuel said to Saul
“You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God
which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established
your kingdom over Israel forever.
YLT
13And Samuel saith unto Saul
`Thou hast been foolish; thou hast not kept the command of Jehovah thy God
which He commanded thee
for now had Jehovah established thy kingdom over
Israel unto the age;
And Samuel said to Saul
thou hast done foolishly
.... Not by
intruding himself into the priest's office
with that he is not charged
but
not waiting the full time till Samuel came; which showed his impatience
disregard to Samuel
and distrust of God; and though he thought he had acted
wisely
and taken the proper precautions in his circumstances
yet he acted
foolishly; and though a king
Samuel being a prophet of the Lord
and in his
name
spared not to tell him so:
thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God
which he
commanded thee; by his prophet
that he should wait seven days for his coming
who would then offer sacrifices
and tell him what he should do; and not to
keep the commandment of God was acting a foolish part:
for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel
for ever; that is
for a long time
on his son
and son's son; and then
according to promise and prophecy
it would come to one of the tribe of Judah;
but now seeing he had acted such a part
it should not continue long in his
family
no longer than his own life
and quickly come into other hands.
1 Samuel 13:14 14 But now your kingdom shall
not continue. The Lord
has sought for Himself a man after His own heart
and the Lord has commanded
him to be commander over His people
because you have not kept what the Lord commanded
you.”
YLT
14and
now
thy kingdom doth
not stand
Jehovah hath sought for Himself a man according to His own heart
and Jehovah chargeth him for leader over His people
for thou hast not kept
that which Jehovah commanded thee.'
But now thy kingdom shall not continue
.... That is
in his family
nor in his tribe
but be removed to another:
the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart: who was
David; though as yet Samuel knew him not
he knew by divine revelation that
there was another one chosen
to whom the kingdom would be given; a man every
way agreeable to the will of God
and who would fulfil his will
though he knew
not particularly who he was:
and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people; that is
had
appointed him to be king over Israel. God's decrees have the force of a law in
them
and must be fulfilled; and cannot be resisted so as to be frustrated:
because thou hast not kept that which the Lord hath commanded thee; it matters
not whether the thing commanded is greater or less
it is disobedience to the
command that is the sin
and is resented: this might seem a small thing
since
to offer the sacrifice was not criminal; but doing it before the time
a little
before it should have been done
not waiting long enough for the prophet; yet
it being against the command of God
or in neglect of it
it was sinful
and
severely chastised; and the rather
that it might be an example to all
succeeding kings how they offended
or broke the least of God's commandments;
and this being the first king of Israel
he was made an example of to the rest.
1 Samuel 13:15 15 Then Samuel arose and went
up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.[c] And Saul
numbered the people present with him
about six hundred men.
YLT
15And Samuel riseth
and
goeth up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin; and Saul inspecteth the people who
are found with him
about six hundred men
And Samuel arose
.... Seemingly in wrath and displeasure
not
staying to offer up the peace offerings which remained; and though no mention
is made of Saul's going with him
yet it seems as if he did
or at least
quickly followed him
as appears from the next verse:
and got him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin; the native
place of Saul
thereby directing Saul where he should go
and which might be a
stronger place than Gilgal; or however where he might expect to be joined by
more persons of his own tribe
as well as in the first place protect and defend
that; and it looks by Samuel's going thither
though he was displeased with
Saul
yet that he did not intend to forsake him directly and entirely:
and Saul numbered the people that were present with him
about six
hundred men: which was done either before he left Gilgal
or as soon as he
came to Gibeah; so great a desertion was there from him
that of the 3000 first
chosen by him
and of the people after called and gathered to him at Gilgal
only six hundred remained with him; a small number indeed to encounter so large
an army the Philistines had brought into the field
and which therefore Saul
could not face.
1 Samuel 13:16 16 Saul
Jonathan his son
and the people present with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin. But the
Philistines encamped in Michmash.
YLT
16and Saul
and Jonathan his
son
and the people who are found with them
are abiding in Gibeah of Benjamin
and the Philistines have encamped in Michmash.
And Saul
and Jonathan his son
.... Who were now joined
to their men
on Saul's coming to Gibeah:
and the people that were present with them; the six
hundred men before numbered: abode in Gibeah of Benjamin; being perhaps a
strong fortified place
not choosing to go forth to meet the army of the
Philistines
so vastly superior to them:
but the Philistines encamped at Michmash; the old
quarters of Saul before he went to Gilgal
1 Samuel 13:2.
1 Samuel 13:17 17 Then raiders came out of
the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned onto the
road to Ophrah
to the land of Shual
YLT
17And the destroyer goeth out
from the camp of the Philistines -- three detachments; the one detachment
turneth unto the way of Ophrah
unto the land of Shual;
And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three
companies
.... Saul not daring to come out to fight them
and there being
none throughout the land to oppose them
they sent out three companies of
soldiers to ravage and spoil the country; of so little use and service was a
king to Israel
they were so extremely desirous of; and this was suffered
to
convince them of their vain confidence in him
and that their trust ought to be
in the Lord their God; never was their country more exposed to rapine and
violence than now:
one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah; a city in the
land of Benjamin
of which see Joshua 18:23 and
lay southwest from Michmash
where the army of the Philistines were:
unto the land of Shual: which the Targum
paraphrases
"the land of the south;'it seems to have had its name from the
multitude of foxes in it
Shual signifying a fox.
1 Samuel 13:18 18 another company turned to
the road to Beth Horon
and another company turned to the road of
the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
YLT
18and the one detachment
turneth the way of Beth-Horon
and the one detachment turneth the way of the
border which is looking on the valley of the Zeboim
toward the wilderness.
And another company turned the way to Bethhoron
.... Of which
name there were two cities
the upper and nether
and both in the tribe of
Ephraim
of which see Joshua 16:3 this
lay northwest from the camp of the Philistines at Michmash; eight miles from
it
according to BuntingF4Travels of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 133.
:
and another company turned to the way of the border
that looketh
towards the valley of Zeboim
toward the wilderness; some take
this to be the Zeboim which was destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah; and the
wilderness
the wilderness of Jordan; but as that
so the valley in which it
stood
was turned into a bituminous lake; this seems to be a city in the land
of Benjamin
Nehemiah 11:34 near
to which was a valley
and this towards the wilderness of Jericho
and so lay
eastward; the Targum calls it the valley of vipers
perhaps from its being
infested with many; and so David de PomisF5Tzemach David
fol. 13.
2. & 153. 1. says it is the name of a place where plenty of serpents were
found
and which he says were called so because of the variety of colours in
them; with which agrees Kimchi's note on the place; they seem to mean serpents
spottedF6 αιολον οφιν
Homer. Iliad. 12. ver. 208. "notis maculosus grandibus"
Virgil.
Georgic. l. 3. v. 427.
as if they were painted and dyed of various colours
as the Hebrew word which is thus paraphrased signifies: according to BuntingF7Ut
supra. (Travels of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 133.)
it was eight miles from
Michmash.
1 Samuel 13:19 19 Now there was no
blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel
for the Philistines
said
“Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.”
YLT
19And an artificer is not
found in all the land of Israel
for the Philistines said
`Lest the Hebrews
make sword or spear;'
Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel
.... The
Philistines
when they ruled over them
having removed them into their own
country
and forbid any to learn or exercise that trade in Israel:
for the Philistines said
lest the Hebrews make swords or spears: this they did
to prevent their having arms
and the use of them
that they might not rebel
against them
and fight with them
and overcome them; it was a piece of policy
to keep them subject to them; so Nebuchadnezzar
when he conquered the Jews and
carried them captive
took care particularly to carry away their smiths
and
left none but the poorest sort of people in the land
2 Kings 24:14 and
Porsena
king of the Etrusci
when he made a covenant with the Romans
upon the
expulsion of their kings
made this a condition of peace with them
that they
should use no iron but in husbandryF8Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 34. c. 14.
. When this course was taken by the Philistines with the Israelites
and how
long it had continued is not certain; it is probable it might be in the space
of forty years they ruled over Israel
in which Samson was born
for we never
read of any sword or spear that he made use of; and though there were two
battles in the times of Eli
in both which Israel were beaten
they might make
use only of bows and arrows
slings
and stones
clubs
&c
as also in the
battle of Saul with the Ammonites; and as for the defeat of the Philistines in
the time of Samuel
it was by thunder; and though the Philistines were then
subdued
yet
as Samuel grew old
they regained their power in a good measure
and the Israelites had not spirit enough to oppose them
nor diligence and
industry to learn and revive the trade of smiths among them; not even for what
was necessary to husbandry
as the following verse shows.
1 Samuel 13:20 20 But all the Israelites
would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man’s plowshare
his mattock
his ax
and his sickle;
YLT
20and all Israel go down to
the Philistines
to sharpen each his ploughshare
and his coulter
and his axe
and his mattock;
But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines
.... Were
obliged to go into Palestine
into some one or other of the cities of the
Philistines
or to their garrisons
where the trade of a smith was exercised:
to sharpen every man his share
and his coulter; which are the
parts of the plough made of iron
with which the earth is cut and thrown up:
and his axe and his mattock; or pick axe; with the
one wood is felled and cut
and with the other stones are dug; and each of
these for their several uses needed sharpening; and when they did
they were
obliged to go to the Philistines to have them done
they having no smiths among
them.
1 Samuel 13:21 21 and the charge for a
sharpening was a pim[d] for the
plowshares
the mattocks
the forks
and the axes
and to set the points of the
goads.
YLT
21and there hath been the
file for mattocks
and for coulters
and for three-pronged rakes
and for the
axes
and to set up the goads.
Yet they had a file for the mattocks
and for the coulters
and
for the forks
and for the axes
.... Those that would not go to the
Philistines
or were not able
or thought it too much trouble
these kept files
by them to sharpen those several instruments with upon occasion; though the words
are by some rendered in connection with the preceding
to this sense
that they
went to the Philistines to sharpen them
when the mouths
or edges
of the
mattocks
coulters
&c. were dull; or "blunt"F9והיתה הפצירה פים
"retusae itaque erant acies vomerum"
V. L. "quandoquidem acies
cultrorum aratri"
&c. "obtusae erant"
Tigurine version. ;
and so needed sharpening; and even
to sharpen the goads; with which they pricked
and pushed on the oxen in ploughing
when sluggish and remiss. (The word for
"file" in the verse is פים "pim"
and occurs only here in the Hebrew scriptures. It is not used elsewhere in
other Hebrew writings. Therefore the translators of the 1611Authorised Version
had only the root derivation to deduce what the word meant. Literally
it means
"a file with mouths". However
recently archaeologists have found a
stone inscribed with this word. Also they found a stone inscribed with the word
"shekel". Hence they deduced that the word was really a weight of
measure equal to about one third of a shekel. Newer translations usually
translate this as "the charge was a third of a shekel..."
hence
removing the obvious contradiction between this verse and the preceding one.
Editor.)
1 Samuel 13:22 22 So it came about
on the
day of battle
that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any
of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with
Saul and Jonathan his son.
YLT
22And it hath been
in the
day of battle
that there hath not been found sword and spear in the hand of
any of the people who [are] with Saul and with Jonathan -- and there is found
to Saul and to Jonathan his son.
So it came to pass in the day of battle
.... When that
drew near
and they were called to it
and obliged to fight or flee
or
surrender:
that there were neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any
of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: which was not owing to
their leaving them behind in the camp
or casting them away from them through
fear
as they followed Saul with trembling
but to the cause now mentioned. In
what manner some preceding battles were fought with the Philistines and
Ammonites
notwithstanding
have been accounted for on 1 Samuel 13:19
but
it is strange that the Israelites did not furnish themselves with the arms of
the Philistines at the defeat of them in Ebenezer
1 Samuel 7:10 and
with the arms of the Ammonites at Jabeshgilead
1 Samuel 11:11 and
that such a warlike prince as Saul appeared at his first setting out to be
should not in the first place take care to provide armour for his men by some
means or another; for that those that left him should have arms
and not those
that abode with him
does not seem reasonable. It may be the Benjamites
being
expert in slinging
were indifferent to and neglected the use of any other
weapon
or method of fighting:
but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found; swords and
spears
and with them only.
1 Samuel 13:23 23 And the garrison of the
Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.
YLT
23And the station of the
Philistines goeth out unto the passage of Michmash.
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of
Michmash. According to Jarchi
these two places
Michmash where the
Philistines were
and Gibeah where Saul and Jonathan were
lay on two hills
over against each other
and there was a valley between them; and the garrison
of the Philistines drew nigh to the passage of Michmash
which led to the side
of Gibeah
to the valley between them
either with an intention to besiege
Gibeah
or to dare Israel to come out and fight them: but rather it seems to be
some strong pass between the rocks near Michmash
where the garrison placed
themselves to guard and keep against any sudden surprise; see 1 Samuel 14:4. The
Targum is
"the governor of the Philistines went out to the ford or passage
of Michmash;'and Kimchi interprets it of the princes or generals of the army;
these might go to mark out a camp
and pitch upon a proper place to draw up in
a line of battle.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)