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1 Samuel
Chapter Fourteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 14
This
chapter gives an account of an adventure of Jonathan and his armourbearer
smiting a garrison of the Philistines
1 Samuel 14:1
which with other circumstances struck terror into the whole army; which being
observed by Saul's spies
he and his men went out against them
and being
joined by others
pursued them
and obtained a complete victory
1 Samuel 14:15
but
what sullied the glory of the day was a rash oath of Saul's
adjuring the
people not to eat any food till evening which Jonathan not hearing of
ignorantly broke
1 Samuel 14:24 and
which long fasting made the people so ravenous
that they slew their cattle
and ate them with the blood
contrary to the law of God
for which they were
reproved by Saul
1 Samuel 14:32
upon which he built an altar
and inquired of the Lord whether he should pursue
the Philistines all that night till morning
but had no answer; which made him
conclude sin was committed
and which he inquired after
declaring that if it
was his own son Jonathan that had committed it he should surely die
1 Samuel 14:35
the
people being silent
he cast lots
and the lot fell upon Jonathan; who had it
not been for the resolution of the people that rescued him out of his hands
because of the great salvation he had wrought
must have died
1 Samuel 14:40 and
the chapter is cited with an account of Saul's battles with the neighbouring
nations in general
and of his family
1 Samuel 14:47.
1 Samuel 14:1 Now it happened
one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor
“Come
let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other
side.” But he did not tell his father.
YLT
1And the day cometh that
Jonathan son of Saul saith unto the young man bearing his weapons
`Come
and
we pass over unto the station of the Philistines
which [is] on the other side
of this;' and to his father he hath not declared [it].
Now it came to pass upon a day
.... At a certain time
a
little after the garrison of the Philistines had made the movement
1 Samuel 13:23 and
it is not to be taken strictly for the day time; for it is probable it was in
the night that the following proposal was made
and began to be carried into
execution; for JosephusF11Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 2. says it was
day light when Jonathan and his armourbearer came to the camp of the
Philistines; he had formed his scheme perhaps the night before
and he and his
man set out in the night time
and by break of day came up to the garrison
as
after related:
that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare
his armour; as was usual in those times for generals of armies to have such
and so in later times; such were Automedon to Achilles
and Achates to Aeneas
as Grotius observes:
come and let us go over to the Philistine garrison that is on the
other side; that is
go over the valley which lay between Michmash and
Gibeah
to the Philistines
that lay on the other side the valley beyond it;
and so was not in it
but at a pass on the hills
at the bottom of which this
valley lay
and could be seen at a distance
and pointed at with the finger
as
Jarchi notes:
but he told not his father; lest he should
disapprove of his project
and hinder him from pursuing it; and had not his
spirit been stirred up to this by the Lord
of which he was fully persuaded
he
would have acted not only a rash part
but contrary to military discipline
in
engaging in an enterprise without the knowledge and direction of his general; unless
we can suppose he had all unlimited commission from his father to attack the
enemy
at discretion
at any time
and any where.
1 Samuel 14:2 2 And
Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is
in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred
men.
YLT
2And Saul is abiding at the
extremity of Gibeah
under the pomegranate which [is] in Migron
and the people
who [are] with him
about six hundred men
And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah
.... Not
daring to go out against the Philistines
but remained in the furthest part of
Gibeah
at the greatest distance from the camp of the Philistines
in the
strongest part of the city
or deeply entrenched in the outer
part of it in
the field:
under a pomegranate tree; where were his
headquarters; his tent or pavilion was erected under a large spreading
pomegranate
which protected him from the heat of the sun: or
under Rimmon; the rock Rimmon; under the shelter of that
and in the caverns of it; where a like number of Benjaminites he now had with
him formerly hid themselves
Judges 20:47.
which is in Migron; a part of Gibeah
or rather of the field of
Gibeah
so called; for near it it certainly was; and is also mentioned along
with Michmash
and as lying in the way of the march of Sennacherib king of
Assyria
to Jerusalem
Isaiah 10:28.
and the people that were with him were about six hundred men; which is
observed to show that no addition was made to his little army; it was the same
it was when he came thither
the people did not flock to his assistance
being
in fear of the army of the Philistines
which was so powerful; see 1 Samuel 13:15.
1 Samuel 14:3 3 Ahijah
the son of Ahitub
Ichabod’s brother
the son of Phinehas
the son of Eli
the Lord’s priest in
Shiloh
was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had
gone.
YLT
3and Ahiah
son of Ahitub
brother of I-Chabod
son of Phinehas son of Eli priest of Jehovah in Shiloh
bearing an ephod; and the people knew not that Jonathan hath gone.
And Ahiah the son of Ahitub
Ichabod's brother
.... Ichabod
was the child that Phinehas's wife bore prematurely on hearing the news of the
ark being taken and of the death of her husband and father-in-law
which name
she gave him on that account
and died; see 1 Samuel 4:19
he
it seems
had an elder brother
called Ahitub
who died young
and this Ahiah
was the son of him; for not he
but Ahitub
was Ichabod's brother:
the son of Phinehas; so Ichabod was:
the son of Eli; so Phinehas was:
the Lord's priest in Shiloh; this refers not to Ahiah
for he was not now priest in Shiloh
which was destroyed: and besides
he was
now in the camp of Saul; but to Eli
who when living exercised the priest's
office in Shiloh:
wearing an ephod; as Ahiah now did; not such as common
priests wore
but the ephod the high priest wore
which had the breastplate of
judgment
the Urim and Thummim
in it
by which inquiry was made
1 Samuel 14:37. The
meaning of all this is
that the high priest is now with Saul
and the ark
also
which and the high priest might be sent for on this occasion
1 Samuel 14:18.
and the people knew not that Jonathan was gone; or they would
have gone with him
namely
the military men that were particularly with him;
he and Saul were in two different parts of Gibeah
with distinct bodies of men;
whether the thousand that Jonathan first had with him all continued is not
certain; it seems probable they did not; it can hardly be thought he should
have more with him than were with Saul; see 1 Samuel 14:2
though from 1 Samuel 14:17 they
seem now to have been together.
1 Samuel 14:4 4 Between the passes
by
which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison
there was
a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of
one was Bozez
and the name of the other Seneh.
YLT
4And between the passages
where Jonathan sought to pass over unto the station of the Philistines [is] the
edge of a rock on the one side
and the edge of a rock on the other side
and
the name of the one is Bozez
and the name of the other Seneh.
And between the passages by which Jonathan sought to go over unto
the Philistines' garrison
.... One of which is called the passage of
Michmash
1 Samuel 13:23 and
was that by which they went from Gibeah to Michmash; the other
which might be
called the passage of Gibeah
was that by which they went from Michmash to
Gibeah
and in effect was but one; and this was seized by the garrison of the
Philistines
on that part of it which was towards Michmash; so that there was
no way of access to the camp of the Philistines
which Jonathan therefore
proposed to go over to and destroy
but his difficulties were very great:
there was a sharp rock on the one side
and a sharp rock on the
other side; not that there was on each side of the passage or passages to
the right and left a cragged rock
between which men passed as they went from
place to place; for the position of them in the next verse shows the contrary;
but there was "the tooth of a rock"F12שן
הסלע "dens petrae"
Pagninus
Montanus;
"scopulus"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator.
as it is in the
original text; or a promontory or prominence on the one side towards Michmash
which stood out like a tooth; and another promontory or prominence on that
towards Gibeah; so that both must be gone over to get to the camp
the only
passage being guarded by the garrison; and indeed it seems to me there was but
one rock
and two precipices at the opposite parts of it
and which stood
between the passages
which precipices must be climbed over:
and the name of the one was Bozez
and the name of the other Seneh; which
according to the Targum
the one signifies "lubrication"
being
smooth and slippery
and the other "treading"
being more trodden and
beaten: but HillerusF13Onomastic. Sacr. p. 73
82. derives both from
clay
which seems not so agreeable to a rock; though in another placeF14Ibid.
p. 43. he makes the former to have its name from whiteness
which is the colour
of some rocks and clifts; and one should think the latter rather has its name
from bushes
brambles
and thorns
that might grow upon it.
1 Samuel 14:5 5 The front of one faced
northward opposite Michmash
and the other southward opposite Gibeah.
YLT
5The one edge [is] fixed on
the north over-against Michmash
and the one on the south over-against Gibeah.
The forefront of the one was situate northward
over against
Michmash
.... The northern precipice of this rock was towards Michmash
where the Philistines lay encamped
and where was the passage of Michmash the
garrison went into and possessed:
and the other southward
over against Gibeah; the southern
precipice faced Gibeah
and both precipices were to be got over before he could
get to the garrison
these lying between the two passages; the one at one end
called the passage of Michmash
the other at the other
which might be called
the passage of Gibeah.
1 Samuel 14:6 6 Then Jonathan said to the
young man who bore his armor
“Come
let us go over to the garrison of these
uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For
nothing restrains the Lord
from saving by many or by few.”
YLT
6And Jonathan saith unto the
young man bearing his weapons
`Come
and we pass over unto the station of
these uncircumcised; it may be Jehovah doth work for us
for there is no
restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.'
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour
.... A second
time
as Abarbinel thinks; the young man giving no answer to him the first
time
perhaps through fear
he repeats it
and enlarges upon it for his
encouragement:
come
and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised; as these
Philistines were
whereas several of the other nations
though Heathen
were
circumcised; as the Edomites
Arabians
and others; and this Jonathan observes
to the young man
in hope that they being such the Lord would deliver them into
their hand:
it may be that the Lord will work for us; a sign
as
the Targum
a miracle
as indeed he did; and of which Jonathan was persuaded in
his own mind
though he did not choose to express himself in a confident way;
not knowing in what manner
and whether at this time the Lord would appear
and
work salvation and deliverance; and yet had a strong impulse upon his mind it
would be wrought
and therefore was encouraged to try this expedient:
for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few; he is not
limited to numbers
and can easily work salvation by a few as by many. It is no
difficult thing to him to save by few
nor can anything hinder him
let the
difficulties be what they will
when he has determined to deliver his people.
1 Samuel 14:7 7 So his armorbearer said to
him
“Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you
according to
your heart.”
YLT
7And the bearer of his
weapons saith to him
`Do all that [is] in thy heart; turn for thee; lo
I [am]
with thee
as thine own heart.'
And his armourbearer said unto him
.... Very readily and
cheerfully:
do all that is in thine heart; whatever is thy pleasure
that thou hast a mind to do
that is upon thy heart
and thou art desirous of
and strongly inclined and affected to:
turn thee; which way thou wilt
towards the garrison of the Philistines
or
elsewhere:
behold
I am with thee
according to thy heart; I will go
with thee wherever thou goest
and do whatsoever thou wouldest have me to do; I
am at thy command
and according to thy wish and desire
and in all things
subject to thy will; I am as thine own heart.
1 Samuel 14:8 8 Then Jonathan said
“Very
well
let us cross over to these men
and we will show ourselves to
them.
YLT
8And Jonathan saith
`Lo
we
are passing over unto the men
and are revealed unto them;
Then said Jonathan
behold
we will pass over to these men
.... Over the
precipices to them
as steep and as cragged as they are:
and we will discover ourselves to them; present
themselves to them at daylight
and let them know plainly who they were
that
they were Hebrews.
1 Samuel 14:9 9 If they say thus to us
‘Wait until we come to you
’ then we will stand still in our place and not go
up to them.
YLT
9if thus they say unto us
`Stand still till we have come unto you
' then we have stood in our place
and
do not go up unto them;
If they say thus unto us
.... By this and what
follows he gives his man a sign by which both might know how they should
conduct themselves in this expedition
and what would be the issue
whether
they should succeed or not: should they say
tarry until we come to you; this
as it would
express boldness in the men of the garrison
and show that they were ready to
come out and fight
would portend evil
and then what they had to do was to be
upon the defensive:
then we will stand still in our place; wait till
they came to them
and make the best defence of themselves as they could
showing as little fear as possible
and not attempting to retreat and flee:
and will not go up unto them; neither go backwards nor
forwards; not backward
which would show fear; nor forward
to expose
themselves to too much danger from the garrison
they appearing to be bold and
intrepid.
1 Samuel 14:10 10 But if they say thus
‘Come up to us
’ then we will go up. For the Lord has delivered
them into our hand
and this will be a sign to us.”
YLT
10and if thus they say
`Come
up against us
' then we have gone up
for Jehovah hath given them into our
hand
and this to us [is] the sign.
But if they say unto us
come up unto us
.... Which
however spoken in contempt of them
yet would discover some fear
that they did
not care to come out of their hold to them
and expose themselves to any
danger; and besides being bid to come up
though it might be in a sneering
ironical way
as supposing it impracticable for them; yet this would lead them
on to make the attempt; and while the men were careless and secure
they might
obtain their point:
then we will go up: the precipice
which was supposed
impassable:
for the Lord hath delivered them into our hands: they being
afraid to come out
and scornful and self-confident in their garrison: and this
shall be a sign unto us; a direction how to behave
what steps to take
and a
confirming sign assuring of success. Bishop Patrick and others observe
from
HerodotusF15Terpsichore
sive
l. 5. c. 1.
something similar to
this
of the Paeonians
who went to war with the Perinthians
directed by the
oracle; and were ordered that if the Perinthians provoked them to fight
calling them by name
then they should invade them; but
if not
should
abstain; and so they did
and overcame; for when they met
there were three
single combats; in the two first the Perinthians were conquerors
and began to
triumph and insult; upon which the Paeonians said to one another
now is the
oracle fulfilled
now is our business
and so fell upon them
and left few of
them.
1 Samuel 14:11 11 So both of them showed
themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said
“Look
the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.”
YLT
11And revealed are both of
them unto the station of the Philistines
and the Philistines say
`Lo
Hebrews
are coming out of the holes where they have hid themselves.'
And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the
Philistines
.... They passed over the valley that lay between Michmash and
Gibeah
and presented themselves at the bottom of the hill or rock on which the
garrison was
to the open view of it; and who might easily discern who they
were
that they were Hebrews
as they did
as follows:
and the Philistines said
behold
the Hebrews came forth out of
the holes where they had hid themselves
being in want of
provisions
and almost starved
and so obliged to come out to seek for
sustenance; see 1 Samuel 14:6.
1 Samuel 14:12 12 Then the men of the
garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer
and said
“Come up to us
and
we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armorbearer
“Come up after
me
for the Lord
has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
YLT
12And the men of the station
answer Jonathan
and the bearer of his weapons
and say
`Come up unto us
and
we cause you to know something.' And Jonathan saith unto the bearer of his
weapons
`Come up after me
for Jehovah hath given them into the hand of
Israel.'
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer
.... The
guards that were set to watch the garrison
who descrying them
called to them
and said:
come up to us
and we will show you a thing; we have something
to say to you
a pretty thing to show you
when you shall pay dear for your
boldness and impudence
in daring to come so near; not imagining that they
could come
or would dare to attempt to come any further:
and Jonathan said unto his armourbearer
come up after me; follow me
and never fear but we will find a way to come up to them
however difficult it
may be:
for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel; he knew by
their language that God had given them a spirit of fear
that they durst not
come out of their hold
and come down to them; and that he had cast them into a
spirit of security and vain confidence
that they could never come at them
and
give them any trouble; and from thence he concluded deliverance was at hand for
the people of Israel
he seeking not his own private interest and glory
but
the public good; and which he was ready to ascribe not to his own valour and
courage
but to the power
kindness
and goodness of God.
1 Samuel 14:13 13 And Jonathan climbed up on
his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before
Jonathan. And as he came after him
his armorbearer killed them.
YLT
13And Jonathan goeth up on
his hands
and on his feet
and the bearer of his weapons after him; and they
fall before Jonathan
and the bearer of his weapons is putting to death after
him.
And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet
.... He did
not attempt to go up the way or pass the Philistines kept
but turned aside and
climbed up a precipice thought inaccessible
and came upon them unseen
and at
unawares; for had he attempted to come up in any part where he was seen
they
could easily have beat him down
and prevented his ascent; but though the place
he climbed was so very steep and cragged
yet going on all four
as we say
he
surmounted the difficulty; for he took this method of going on his hands and
feet
not so much that he might not be seen; but because otherwise he could not
have got up
not being able to stand on his feet; some think it was the
precipice called Bozez he climbed
which
according to the Targum
had its name
from its being lubricous and slippery:
and his armourbearer after him; who clambered up in the
same manner
in imitation of his master
and as taught and directed by him:
and they fell before Jonathan
and his armourbearer slew after him; Jonathan
coming upon them at an unawares
knocked them down; or falling upon them
and
laying about him with great dispatch
wounded them
and laid them prostrate to
the ground; and his armourbearer following them
put them to death
dispatched
them at once; and so between them both made quick riddance of them.
1 Samuel 14:14 14 That first slaughter which
Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an
acre of land.[a]
YLT
14And the first smiting which
Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons have smitten is of about twenty men
in
about half a furrow of a yoke of a field
And the first slaughter which Jonathan and his armourbearer made
was about twenty men
.... Or the first blow they struck
as the Targum
they killed
about twenty men; that is
they did not stop smiting
but followed their blows
so quickly
that in a very little time
as well as in a very small space of
ground
so many were killed:
even within as it were an half acre of land
which a
"yoke" of oxen might plough; that is
in one day; the word is used
for a furrow
Psalm 129:3 and is
supposed by someF16Vid. David. de Pomis Lexic. fol. 129. 1. to be
the length of one furrow; but if so
it must be a circular furrow; so much
ground was given to Horatius Cocles as could be ploughed round about in one
day
for his brave opposition to Porsena
king of the Etruscans
when he
endeavoured to restore the family of the TarquinsF17Aurel. Victor.
de vir. illustr. c. 14. Liv. Hist. l. 2. c. 10. . This was a space of ground
which the Romans call "actus"
a measure of land one hundred and
twenty feet square
which being doubled made an acre
called by them
"jugerum"
being as much as a yoke of oxen could plough in one day
as Pliny saysF18Nat. Hist. l. 18. c. 3. Vid. Alex. ab Alex. Genial.
Dier. l. 2. c. 20. ; so that an acre was two hundred and forty feet long
and
one hundred and twenty broad
and contained an area of 28
800 four square Roman
feet; and this space here mentioned
which was half an acre
contained 14
400
Roman feetF19Vid. Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. p. 487. ; and within
this space of ground
without going any further
twenty men were killed
which
struck a panic into the whole garrison and host
supposing there was a large
army of men behind them coming on
as follows. The Septuagint version renders
these words as representing the slaughter made "with darts
and the casts
of stones
and flints of the field"F20See Dr. Kennicett's
Dissertat. 1. p. 453. .
1 Samuel 14:15 15 And there was trembling in
the camp
in the field
and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders
also trembled; and the earth quaked
so that it was a very great trembling.
YLT
15and there is a trembling in
the camp
in the field
and among all the people
the station and the
destroyers have trembled -- even they
and the earth shaketh
and it becometh a
trembling of God.
And there was trembling in the host in the field
.... Belonging
to Michmash
where the army lay encamped:
and among all the people; the inhabitants of
Michmash
or that attended the army
and furnished them with provisions
trafficking with them; the common people
as distinguished from the soldiers:
the garrison; those that were in it
who did not sally
out
but perceiving a great slaughter made of their outer scouts
were seized
with a panic:
and the spoilers they also trembled; who had been about the
country
ravaging and plundering it
and were returned with their booty; see 1 Samuel 13:17.
and the earth quaked; the inhabitants of it
thereabout
or the earth itself literally; a real earthquake was caused at the
same time
which increased the terror:
so that it was a very great trembling; both with
respect to the numbers that were affected with it throughout the camp and
garrison
and the causes of it; the terrible apprehension they had of a large
army just ready to rush upon them; the earth quaking and opening in various
places
threatening to swallow them up; and perhaps suspicions of treachery
among themselves
they consisting of various nations
and some among them
Hebrews; hence they fell upon and slew one another
1 Samuel 14:20
or
"a trembling of God"F21לחרדת אלהים "in trepidationem Dei"
Montanus
Drusius
Vatablus. ; either in the same sense to which we translate it
as cedars of
God
flame of God
&c. that is
large and great ones; or which came from
God; it was he that sent this trembling among them
struck their minds with
fear and dread
so that they were in the utmost consternation
and knew not
what to do
nor which way to take
and had no heart to oppose the enemy
and
defend themselves.
1 Samuel 14:16 16 Now the watchmen of Saul
in Gibeah of Benjamin looked
and there was the multitude
melting away;
and they went here and there.
YLT
16And the watchmen of Saul in
Gibeah of Benjamin see
and lo
the multitude hath melted away
and it goeth
on
and is beaten down.
And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked
.... The city
of Gibeah was built on an hill
from where it had its name; and these watchmen
or sentinels of Saul were set by him no doubt in the highest part of it
whereby they could overlook the army of the Philistines as they lay encamped
and could observe their motions
and give notice accordingly; and it being now
broad day light
could see the condition they were in:
and
behold
the multitude melted away; like snow
gradually
and yet apace; they could discern their numbers lessening more and
more
through the slaughter of many made among them by one another
and the
flight of others; and they went on beating down one another; they could
perceive they fled with great precipitation
throwing one another down in
running
tumbling over one another
and trampling on each other which were in
their way.
1 Samuel 14:17 17 Then Saul said to the
people who were with him
“Now call the roll and see who has gone from
us.” And when they had called the roll
surprisingly
Jonathan and his
armorbearer were not there.
YLT
17And Saul saith to the
people who [are] with him
`Inspect
I pray you
and see; who hath gone from
us?' and they inspect
and lo
Jonathan and the bearer of his weapons are not.
Then said Saul unto the people that were with him
.... To some
of the officers
particularly the muster master:
number now
and see who is gone from us: for he
concluded that this agitation and confusion in the host of the Philistines were
occasioned by an enterprise of some of his men
who by some stratagem or
another had thrown them into this disorder:
and when they had numbered: which was soon done
being but six hundred men in all:
behold
Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there; from whence
it might be inferred
that this commotion the Philistines were in was
occasioned by an onset of theirs on the outer guards or sentinels of their
garrison or army
which had alarmed them.
1 Samuel 14:18 18 And Saul said to Ahijah
“Bring the ark[b] of God
here” (for at that time the ark[c] of God was
with the children of Israel).
YLT
18And Saul saith to Ahiah
`Bring nigh the ark of God;' for the ark of God hath been on that day with the
sons of Israel.
And Saul said unto Ahiah
bring hither the ark of the Lord
.... That he
the high priest
might put on the ephod
with the Urim and Thummim
and inquire
by them of the Lord before it
concerning the affair of Jonathan
what he had
done
and the agitation that was in the host of the Philistines; so the
Septuagint version
"bring the ephod"
of which
with the Urim and
Thummim
Kimchi interprets it; and ask
whether it was right for him to go out
unto them
or continue where he was:
for the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel; and so it
always was
except a few months it was in the hands of the Philistines; so it
was at Kirjathjearim
where it was last. Jarchi thinks a word is wanting
and
to be supplied thus
"the ark of God was there at that time with the
children of Israel
'at Gibeah; perhaps it might be removed first to Gilgal
when Saul and Samuel were there
and when they came to Gibeah it was brought
along with them; but the last words may be considered as a distinct clause
and
literally tendered
are
"and the children of Israel": which
Abarbinel accounts for thus
and Saul said this:
bring hither the ark of the Lord; and the children of
Israel said so likewise
joined with him in it: though the ark had been with
Saul
and the people
some time
and also the high priest
yet we do not find
that Saul in all his straits and difficulties consulted the Lord before; but
perceiving something extraordinary was doing
and might turn to his advantage
he begins to inquire.
1 Samuel 14:19 19 Now it happened
while
Saul talked to the priest
that the noise which was in the camp of the
Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest
“Withdraw your
hand.”
YLT
19And it cometh to pass
while Saul spake unto the priest
that the noise which [is] in the camp of the
Philistines goeth on
going on and becoming great
and Saul saith unto the
priest
`Remove thy hand.'
And it came to pass
while Saul talked with the priest
.... With
Ahiah about bringing the ark
and inquiring before it:
that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on
and increased; the shrieks and cries of those that were beat down and trampled
upon
and were bruised and wounded; and indeed the cry of the whole host
being
alarmed with the enemy being upon them
or among them; and it seems that not
only their motions could be seen
but the noise of them heard at this distance:
and Saul said unto the priest
withdraw thine hand; from putting
on the ephod
or opening the breastplate of Urim and Thummim
or placing the
ark in a proper position
to inquire before it
or from lifting up both hands
in prayer for direction. Saul by the noise he heard concluded the army of the
Philistines was routed
and therefore there was no need to consult the Lord
and he had no leisure for it; no time was to be lost
the advantage was to be
taken directly
and the enemy pursued
to complete the victory. The Jews look
upon this as a piece of profaneness in Saul
as no doubt it was
and reckon it
one of the sins for which his kingdom was not prolongedF15Vajikra
Rabba & Midrash Tillim apud Abarbinel in loc. .
1 Samuel 14:20 20 Then Saul and all the
people who were with him assembled
and they went to the battle; and
indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor
and there was very
great confusion.
YLT
20And Saul is called
and all
the people who [are] with him
and they come in unto the battle
and
lo
the
sword of each hath been against his neighbour -- a very great destruction.
And Saul
and all the people that were with him
assembled themselves
.... The six
hundred men that were with him
unless we can suppose the 1000 that had been
with Jonathan in Gibeah were here still
see 1 Samuel 13:2.
and they came to the battle; to the field of battle
the place where the army of the Philistines had lain encamped:
and
behold
every man's sword was against his fellow; taking one
another for Hebrews
or treacherous and disaffected persons; so that
though
the Israelites had neither swords nor spears
they needed none
for the
Philistines destroyed one another with their own swords; and there was a
very great discomfiture; noise
tumult
confusion
slaughter
and destruction.
1 Samuel 14:21 21 Moreover the Hebrews who
were with the Philistines before that time
who went up with them into the camp
from the surrounding country
they also joined the Israelites who
were with Saul and Jonathan.
YLT
21And the Hebrews [who] have
been for the Philistines as heretofore
who had gone up with them into the
camp
have turned round
even they
to be with Israel who [are] with Saul and
Jonathan
Moreover
the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that
time
.... Who either were their servants and bondsmen they brought
along with them
or such in whose cities they dwelt
or had taken as they came
along
and forced into their army; or it may be some of them were renegades
from the Israelites
deserters
who for safety and subsistence betook
themselves to them as the stronger party. The Greek version reads
"the
servants that were with the Philistines:"
which went up with them into the camp from the country
round about; either willingly or by force; the words
"from the
country"
are not in the text
wherefore some observe
as Kimchi and
Abarbinel
that this respects their being round about the camp
and that they
were not within it
but without it
that if possible they might escape fighting
against the Israelites:
even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with
Saul and Jonathan; who were now joined; when they saw the dread and confusion in
the camp of the Philistines
and them destroying one another
and the
Israelites prevailing over them
victorious and pursuing
they took part with
them
and assisted them in completing the victory.
1 Samuel 14:22 22 Likewise all the men of
Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim
when they heard that
the Philistines fled
they also followed hard after them in the battle.
YLT
22and all the men of Israel
who are hiding themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim
have heard that the
Philistines have fled
and they pursue -- even they -- after them in battle.
Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in Mount
Ephraim
.... In the caves and rocks
thickets and pits there
see 1 Samuel 13:6 when
they heard that the Philistines fled; now being
delivered from their fears
and thinking themselves safe
ventured out of their
lurking places:
even they also followed hard after them in the battle; they joined
the pursuers who came their way
and stuck to them
and closely pursued the
flying army of the Philistines. According to JosephusF16Antiqu. l.
6. c. 6. sect. 3.
the army of Saul was now increased to 10
000.
1 Samuel 14:23 23 So the Lord saved Israel
that day
and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.
YLT
23And Jehovah saveth Israel
on that day
and the battle hath passed over to Beth-Aven.
So the Lord saved Israel that day
&c. And a wonderful
salvation it was
that two men should throw such a vast army into confusion
which issued in the utter rout and destruction of them; this only could be of
the Lord
to whom it is justly ascribed
and was the effect of his sovereign
good will and pleasure
and of his unmerited goodness; a free favour bestowed
on an undeserving prince
who had behaved ill to his prophet at Gilgal
and now
to him and his high priest at Gibeah:
and the battle passed over unto Bethaven; the men of
battle or war; those that made war
as the Targum
these pursued and went as
far as Bethaven
or rather "passed Bethaven"F17עברה את בית
און "transiit Bethaven"
Montanus
Junius
& Tremellius
Piscator; "vel
beliatores transierunt Bethaven"
Pagninus
Vatablus
Drusius. ; they not only
went as far as that
but
"from" it
as Ben Gersom and Abarbinel interpret it; they passed that
place
and went on from thence in pursuit of the Philistines; for their camp at
Michmash was eastward from this place
and had it on the east
1 Samuel 13:5.
1 Samuel 14:24 24 And the men of Israel were
distressed that day
for Saul had placed the people under oath
saying
“Cursed
is the man who eats any food until evening
before I have taken
vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.
YLT
24And the men of Israel have
been distressed on that day
and Saul adjureth the people
saying
`Cursed [is]
the man who eateth food till the evening
and I have been avenged of mine
enemies;' and none of the people hath tasted food.
And the men of Israel were distressed that day
.... By reason
of the following order Saul gave with an oath
forbidding any to taste meat
till evening
when the people were faint and weary
which is the common sense
of interpreters; but Jarchi interprets it
the men of Israel were ready
forward
and hasty
and drew nigh to fight with the Philistines
and so refers
it to the persons before mentioned
who came out of their lurking places; and
this sense is approved of by Abarbinel: "for"
or "and Saul had
adjured"
or "did adjure the people"; or willed them
signified
to them his will and pleasure
which would not have been so much amiss
had he
not annexed a curse to it
as follows:
saying
cursed be the man that eateth any food until the evening: or
"bread"
which comprehends all food
and among the rest honey; the
design of which was
that no time might be lost
and that he might make the
victory over the Philistines
and their destruction
as complete as possible;
though it may seem a little too hard and severe upon the people
and too
imperious in him
as well as imprudent; since a little refreshment would have
animated and enabled them to have pursued their enemies with more ardour and
rigour; and yet by the lot afterwards made
it seems to have been countenanced
by the Lord:
that I may be avenged on mine enemies; who long
tyrannised over the people of Israel
more or less for many years
and lately
had sadly spoiled and plundered them:
so none of the people tasted any food; so observant
were they of
and so obedient to the order of their king
and so much awed by
the oath or imprecation annexed to it; though they were faint and hungry
and
had an opportunity of refreshing themselves as follows
which was no small
temptation to disobedience.
1 Samuel 14:25 25 Now all the people
of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground.
YLT
25And all [they of] the land
have come into a forest
and there is honey on the face of the field;
And all they of the land came to a wood
.... Which lay
between Bethaven and Aijalon; by whom are meant not all the inhabitants of the
land of Israel
but all that came with Saul and Jonathan
and that joined them
in the pursuit:
and there was honey upon the ground; which dropped upon it
as in the following verse
or where it was produced by bees; for AristotleF18Hist.
Animal. l. 5. c. 22. reports
that bees in some places make their combs upon
the ground; this was wild honey
which Diodorus SiculusF19Bibliothec.
l. 19. p. 731. speaks of as common in Arabia
and which perhaps John the
Baptist ate of
Matthew 3:4. Jarchi
says
this was the honey of canes
or sugar canes
which grew in the land of
Israel; and affirms from Nathan an Ishmaelite
that in the Ishmaelitish or
Arabic language they call honey
sugar; but neither of these can be proved.
1 Samuel 14:26 26 And when the people had
come into the woods
there was the honey
dripping; but no one put his hand to
his mouth
for the people feared the oath.
YLT
26and the people come in unto
the forest
and lo
the honey dropped
and none is moving his hand unto his
mouth
for the people feared the oath.
And when the people came into the wood
behold
the honey dropped
.... Either
from trees
which produced it; so Diodorus SiculusF20Bibliothec. l.
17. p. 548. speaks of trees in some countries which produce honey; or from the
sugar canes
as Jarchi; or rather from the honeycombs which were framed in
trees by bees; so HesiodF21Hesiod
Theogon. ver. 230. Vid. Diodor.
Sic. ut supra. (Bibliothec. l. 17. p. 548.) speaks of bees making their nests
or combs in trees. Ben Gersom thinks that bee hives were placed here in rows by
the wayside
from whence the honey flowed; or "went"F23הלך דבש "ambulatio
mellis"
Montanus; "itio mellis"
Drusius; so in Ovid.
Metamorph. l. 1. fab. 3. "----jam flumina nectaris ibant".
or there
was a going of it; perhaps the combs being pressed by the Philistines as they
fled: the land of Canaan was a land flowing with milk and honey:
but no man put his hand to his mouth; that is
took
not any of the honey and ate it
though it was so near at hand
and there was
plenty of it:
for the people feared the oath: Saul adjured them by
or
the imprecation he made on the person that should eat any food that day.
1 Samuel 14:27 27 But Jonathan had not heard
his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end
of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb
and put
his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened.
YLT
27And Jonathan hath not heard
of his father's adjuring the people
and putteth forth the end of the rod
which [is] in his hand
and dippeth it in the honeycomb
and bringeth back his
hand unto his mouth -- and his eyes see!
But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the
oath
.... Which charge was given
either before he came from Gibeah
before he came to Jonathan
or while pursuing
when Jonathan was with another
party either fighting or pursuing:
wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand: the staff
with which he walked
or rather the spear which he carried in his hand
and
fought his enemies with:
and dipped it in an honeycomb; or sugar cane
as
Jarchi; or in wood honey
as the margin of our Bibles; but best
in the
honeycomb
as the word is rendered
Song of Solomon 5:1
and so the Targum
into the nest of honeyF24"Progeniem nidosque
fovent----"
Virgil. Georgic. l. 4. ver. 56. :
and he put his hand to his mouth; first he took the honey
off of the top of his rod
and then put it to his mouth and ate it:
and his eyes were enlightened: which before were dim
and dull through want of food
which is a common case; but became brisk and
lively on eating the honey
nourishment being presently communicated
and he
refreshed with it
and his spirits revived; and which quickly appeared in the
briskness and sparkling of his eyes: honey being of a subtle nature
gives
immediate refreshment and rigour; hence this phrase is frequently used by
Jewish writersF25T. Bab. Pesachim
fol. 42. 1
2. Yoma
fol. 18
2.
& 83. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Maacolot Asurot
c. 14. sect. 16. for refreshment
after hunger
fatigue
and weariness; and which virtue is ascribed by them to
fine bread
wine
oil
and particularly to honey.
1 Samuel 14:28 28 Then one of the people
said
“Your father strictly charged the people with an oath
saying
‘Cursed is
the man who eats food this day.’” And the people were faint.
YLT
28And a man of the people
answereth and saith
`Thy father certainly adjured the people
saying
Cursed
[is] the man who eateth food to-day; and the people are weary.'
Then answered one of the people
and said
.... To
Jonathan
who might direct and encourage the people to do as he had done
at
least so he did by his example
if not by words; the latter is not improbable:
and therefore one of the men that came along with Saul
and had now joined
Jonathan
and who heard what Saul had said
replied:
thy father straitly charged the people with an oath; gave them a
strict charge
with an oath or imprecation annexed to it:
saying
cursed be the man that eateth any food this day; that is
until the evening
as in 1 Samuel 14:24.
and the people were faint; which is either the
observation of the writer of the book; or it may be the words of the man
imputing the faintness of the people to this adjuration of Saul restraining
them from food; or as taking notice how strictly the people observed it
though
they were hungry
faint
and weary.
1 Samuel 14:29 29 But Jonathan said
“My
father has troubled the land. Look now
how my countenance has brightened
because I tasted a little of this honey.
YLT
29And Jonathan saith
`My
father hath troubled the land; see
I pray you
that mine eyes have become
bright because I tasted a little of this honey.
Then said Jonathan
my father hath troubled the land
.... The
people of the land
as the Targum
the soldiers in his army; afflicted and
distressed them
and made them uneasy in their minds
like troubled waters; the
Arabic version is
"my father hath sinned against the people;'hath done
them injury by forbidding them to eat. This was not wisely said by Jonathan;
how much soever his father was to be blamed
it did not become him as a son
thus to reflect upon him
and it might have tended to mutiny and sedition:
see
I pray you
how mine eyes have been enlightened
because I
tasted a little of this honey; the benefit he received by it was very
visible; it might easily be discerned that he was greatly refreshed with it
and his spirits invigorated by it; it was to be seen in the cheerfulness of his
countenance
and the briskness of his eyes: and he suggests it would have had the
same effect upon the people
had they eaten of it
as he had done.
1 Samuel 14:30 30 How much better if the
people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found!
For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the
Philistines?”
YLT
30How much more if the people
had well eaten to-day of the spoil of its enemies which it hath found
for now
the smiting hath not been great among the Philistines.'
How much more
if haply the people had eaten freely today of the spoil
of their enemies which they found?.... That is
had they
been
allowed eat freely of the provisions
of bread
wine
&c. they found
in the enemy's camp
they would have been much more refreshed and strengthened
than it could be supposed he was with eating a little honey; if that had had
such an effect upon him
of what service would a full meal have been to the
people?
for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the
Philistines? the people would have had more strength to smite them
and would
have pursued them with greater ardour and swiftness
and so have made a greater
slaughter among them than they had; he intimates that Saul's end would have
been better answered by suffering the people to eat
than by forbidding them.
1 Samuel 14:31 31 Now they had driven back
the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the people were very
faint.
YLT
31And they smite on that day
among the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon
and the people are very weary
And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon
.... Michmash
was the place where the camp of the Philistines was when Jonathan first
attacked them
and from whence they fled
and they were pursued by the
Israelites that day as far as Aijalon. There was a city of this name in the
tribe of Dan
famous for the moon standing still in a valley adjoining to it
in the time of Joshua
Joshua 10:12 and
another in the tribe of Zebulun
Judges 12:12
but
they both seem to be at too great a distance to be the place here meant
which
rather seems to be Aijalon in the tribe of Judah
2 Chronicles 11:10
according to BuntingF26Travels of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 127.
it was twelve miles from Michmash:
and the people were very faint; as they might well be
with pursuing the enemy so many miles
and doing so much execution among them
without eating any food.
1 Samuel 14:32 32 And the people rushed on
the spoil
and took sheep
oxen
and calves
and slaughtered them on the
ground; and the people ate them with the blood.
YLT
32and the people make unto
the spoil
and take sheep
and oxen
and sons of the herd
and slaughter on the
earth
and the people eat with the blood.
And the people flew upon the spoil
.... Like a swift and
ravenous bird
as the eagle
and which seems to have its name in Greek from
this word
see Isaiah 46:11. When
the evening was come
and they were free from the oath of Saul
and being
extremely hungry
faint
and weary
they were even ravenous for food and with
the greatest haste and eagerness laid hold on what came first to hand:
and took sheep
and oxen
and calves
and slew them on the
ground; and there they lay in their blood
which in such a position
would not run out freely as when slain and hang up:
and the people did eat them with the blood; they were so
hungry they could not stay the dressing of them
but ate them raw with the
blood in them
not being squeezed or drained out
at least not half boiled or
roasted. Some of the Jewish RabbinsF1 are of opinioncf13 (a) See
Jarchi in loc.
1 Samuel 14:33 33 Then they told Saul
saying
“Look
the people are sinning against the Lord by eating with
the blood!” So he said
“You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me
this day.”
YLT
33And they declare to Saul
saying
`Lo
the people are sinning against Jehovah
to eat with the blood.'
And he saith
`Ye have dealt treacherously
roll unto me to-day a great stone.'
Then they told Saul
.... Some that were more
conscientious and religious
were more circumspect
and strictly attended to
the laws forbidding the eating of blood
and were concerned at the indecent
behaviour of others
and therefore thought fit to acquaint Saul with it
to
restrain it:
behold
the people sin against the Lord
in that they eat with the
blood; by breaking the laws of God respecting the eating of blood in Genesis 9:4
especially in Leviticus 19:26.
and he said
ye have transgressed; the above laws of God;
that is
Saul said to some persons who were accused of the breach of them
and
were ordered to come before him
and did come:
roll a great stone unto me this day; pointing
perhaps
at
one which lay at some distance from him
and which he ordered to be rolled to
him; this was done
that the creatures might be slain on it
and their blood
drawn out from them
or to offer sacrifice upon
and indeed for both.
1 Samuel 14:34 34 Then Saul said
“Disperse
yourselves among the people
and say to them
‘Bring me here every man’s ox and
every man’s sheep
slaughter them here
and eat; and do not sin against
the Lord
by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his ox with him
that night
and slaughtered it there.
YLT
34And Saul saith
`Be ye
scattered among the people
and ye have said to them
Bring ye nigh unto me
each his ox
and each his sheep; and ye have slain [them] in this place
and
eaten
and ye do not sin against Jehovah to eat with the blood.' And all the
people bring nigh each his ox
in his hand
that night
and slaughter [them] there.
And Saul said
disperse yourselves among the people
.... In the
camp
some one way
and some another
and make proclamation throughout it; this
he said to some of his officers
whom he sent out as heralds
to publish his
will and pleasure:
and say unto them
bring me hither every man his ox
and every man
his sheep
and slay them here; on the great stone he had ordered to roll
to the place where he was:
and eat them; in the same place
being rightly slain
and
the blood let out; all this was to be done
the slaying of the beasts
and
eating them
in the presence of Saul
and under his inspection
that every
thing might be done decently
and in order
and according to the law of God:
and sin not against the Lord
in eating with the blood; as some of them
had done
1 Samuel 14:32 and
all the people brought every man his ox with him; and his sheep also
though
not expressed
yet to be supplied from the preceding clause: and these every
man brought "with him that night"; the Jewish RabbinsF3T.
Bab. Zebachim
fol. 120. 1. are divided about these creatures slain
whether
for sacrifices or common food; and those that think sacrifices are meant
dispute whether it was lawful to slay them in the night
which some allow to be
lawful
if on a small and private altar
but not upon a large and public one;
but these were slain no doubt for common food
which all agree might be slain
in the night:
and slew them there; before Saul
and on the
great stone rolled unto him.
1 Samuel 14:35 35 Then Saul built an altar
to the Lord.
This was the first altar that he built to the Lord.
YLT
35And Saul buildeth an alter
to Jehovah; with it he hath begun to build altars to Jehovah.
And Saul built an altar unto the Lord
.... To offer
peace offerings upon
in thankfulness for the victory obtained over his
enemies
or sin offerings to make atonement for the sin of the people
perhaps
both
however the former:
the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord; for though he
had offered sacrifice at Gilgal
there was an altar ready built for him: or
"he began to build"; he laid the first stone of it
and the builders
built upon it; so some others say
that he was the first of the kings that
built an altar to the LordF4See Kimchi in loc. ; others
the first
of the judges that built one; though Gideon built one
it was for his own
private use
not for all Israel
as this
so R. Isaiah; but Ben Gersom
and so
Abarbinel
refer this to the great stone Saul ordered to be rolled to him
and
take the sense to be
that that began to be built an altar to the Lord; that
was the beginning of one; for he did not now stay to finish it
being eager on
his pursuit of the Philistines
as follows.
1 Samuel 14:36 36 Now Saul said
“Let us go
down after the Philistines by night
and plunder them until the morning light;
and let us not leave a man of them.” And they said
“Do whatever seems good to
you.” Then the priest said
“Let us draw near to God here.”
YLT
36And Saul saith
`Let us go
down after the Philistines by night
and we prey upon them till the light of
the morning
and leave not a man of them.' And they say
`All that is good in
thine eyes do.' And the priest saith
`Let us draw near hither unto God.'
And Saul said
.... To his son Jonathan
or to some of the
principal officers of his army:
let us go down after the Philistines by night; or tonight
that same night; which is another hardship he laid his troops under; as he had
restrained them from eating all that day until evening
now he proposed they
shall take no sleep that night
but proceed on in their pursuit of the
Philistines
having eaten
and drank
and refreshed themselves. The Arabic
version is
"let us go down to the Philistines"; and so NoldiusF5Ebr.
Concord. Part. p. 15. No. 92. chooses to render the words; which I pretty much
wonder at
and especially at what he observes in favour of it
and against the
common rendering; that at this time the Philistines had not turned their backs
so that the Israelites could not be said to go after them
but were in a camp
opposite to them; but that they had fled
and were pursued
is most certain
from 1 Samuel 14:22
and spoil them until the morning light; or kill of
them
as the Targum
and so the Arabic version; for spoiling must be meant of
killing; for as for the spoil of their provisions
riches
&c. that had
already fallen into their hands
1 Samuel 14:30
and
this is confirmed by what follows:
and let us not leave a man of them; great numbers had been
slain already
partly by their falling upon one another
and partly by the
swords of Jonathan and his armourbearer at the first onset
and by Saul and his
men in the pursuit of them; and so intent was Saul in the utter destruction of
them
that he was for following and cutting them off
that none of their
prodigious army might return home:
and they said
do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; they had
religiously observed his oath
in refraining from food all the day
and now
they were as willing to be obedient to his command in denying themselves
refreshing rest in sleep:
then said the priest
let us draw near hither unto God; Ahiah the
priest
JosephusF6Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 4. calls him Ahitob
who
was present with the ark
agreed to the proposal of Saul
only moved
that
before they set forward they would seek the Lord; perhaps reflecting upon the
abrupt manner in which Saul departed from Gibeah
just as he was consulting the
Lord
and not staying for an answer from him; which the priest might fear would
be resented by him
and therefore proposes first to draw nigh to God; not to
the altar Saul had built
or had just begun to build
but to the ark
with
which the high priest was
and was a symbol of the divine Presence: the Targum
is
"let us draw near hither
and inquire by the word of the Lord.'
1 Samuel 14:37 37 So Saul asked counsel of
God
“Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the
hand of Israel?” But He did not answer him that day.
YLT
37And Saul asketh of God
`Do
I go down after the Philistines? dost Thou give them into the hand of Israel?'
and He hath not answered him on that day.
And Saul asked counsel of
God
.... He agreed to the motion of the high priest
and asked
counsel by Urim and Thummim; the Targum is
as before
"inquired by the
Word of the Lord:"
shall I go down after the Philistines? pursue after
them in their flight to their own country
which
lying to the sea
was a
descent:
wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? what remain
of them
otherwise a victory over them was obtained:
but he answered him not that day; no answer was returned
by Urim and Thummim
so that he was left in suspense whether he should pursue
or no; the Targum is
"he received not his prayer that day;'this was
treating him in a righteous manner; since he would not stay for an answer from
the Lord
1 Samuel 14:19
the
Lord now will not give him any; though the principal view was
that he might
take the step he did.
1 Samuel 14:38 38 And Saul said
“Come over
here
all you chiefs of the people
and know and see what this sin was today.
YLT
38And Saul saith
`Draw ye
nigh hither all
the chiefs of the people
and know and see in what this sin
hath been to-day;
And Saul said
draw ye
near hither all the chief of the people
.... Or
the corners of
the peoplesF7פנות העם
"anguli populi"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c. ; the princes
as Jarchi
interprets it: and so the Targum
the heads of the people
in allusion to the cornerstones
in buildings
which are the ornament
strength
and cement of them
see Zechariah 10:4
though Abarbinel thinks the tribes themselves are meant
which lay encamped
everyone in a corner by themselves
separated from one another; and these he
would have brought together; not the heads only
but everyone
small and great
that it might be seen and known where the sin lay; but he should have observed
that the tribes of Israel were not now present with Saul
but a small number of
them:
and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day; he concluded
from having no answer from the Lord
that sin had been committed
which was the
cause of it; but never thought of his own rash oath
which was the cause of the
people's sinning
and had brought his son into danger; nor the sin of the
people in eating the flesh with the blood; nothing ran in his mind but the
breach of the oath with which he had adjured the people
and this he was
determined to find out
if possible.
1 Samuel 14:39 39 For as the Lord lives
who
saves Israel
though it be in Jonathan my son
he shall surely die.” But not a
man among all the people answered him.
YLT
39for
Jehovah liveth
who is
saving Israel: surely if it be in Jonathan my son
surely he doth certainly
die;' and none is answering him out of all the people.
For as the Lord liveth
which saveth Israel
.... And had saved them that day with a great salvation and had
wrought a great deliverance for them in freeing them from the Philistines
who
had threatened the ruin of the whole nation. This is the form of an oath:
though it be in Jonathan my son
he shall surely die; that is
though the sin should be found in him
or he should be found guilty of the
breach of what he had charged them with an oath to observe
namely
to eat no
food that day till evening:
but there was not a man among all the people that answered him; who knew that
Jonathan had tasted of honey
but they would not acquaint him with it; partly
because they knew he did it ignorantly
having no knowledge of his father's
charge and oath
and partly because of their great affection to him
who had
been the instrument of their deliverance and salvation that day.
1 Samuel 14:40 40 Then he said to all
Israel
“You be on one side
and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other
side.” And the people said to Saul
“Do what seems good to you.”
YLT
40And he saith unto all
Israel
`Ye -- ye are on one side
and I and Jonathan my son are on another
side;' and the people say unto Saul
`That which is good in thine eyes do.'
Then said he unto all
Israel
.... As many of them as were present; not the principal men only
but the common people; not the officers only
but the common soldiers in the
army:
be ye on one side
and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other
side: so they divided to the right and left
one went one way
and the
other the other; there were two boxes or urns
as Kimchi says
in one of which
were the names of Saul and Jonathan
and in the other Israel; though Abarbinel
observes
that such a partition of them on one side
and the other
is not
according to the manner of lots; and he suspects that Saul knew that Jonathan
had tasted of honey
being told it by the man that saw him eat it; and who said
to him then
"thy father straitly charged"
&c. 1 Samuel 14:27 but
chose this way to make it manifest to the people
and to show what a strict
regard he had to justice:
and the people said unto Saul
do what seemeth good unto thee; they were
very obsequious to him in everything
see 1 Samuel 14:36.
1 Samuel 14:41 41 Therefore Saul said to the
Lord God of Israel
“Give a perfect lot.”[d] So Saul
and Jonathan were taken
but the people escaped.
YLT
41And Saul saith unto
Jehovah
God of Israel
`Give perfection;' and Jonathan and Saul are captured
and the people went out.
Therefore Saul said to the
Lord God of Israel
.... After the division was made between him and his son on one
side
and the people of Israel on the other
and everything was ready for the
drawing of the lot; Saul put up to God the following petition
as knowing that
though the lot is cast into the lap
the disposing of it is of the Lord:
give a perfect lot; or man
let it fall upon the guilty person
and let the innocent go free; the Targum is
"cause it to come in truth;'
let
truth and righteousness take place; let the right man be found out
and taken;
the petition seems to be too arrogant and presumptuous
and insinuates as if
the Lord did not always dispose the lot aright:
and Saul and Jonathan were taken; the lot being cast
it
fell upon them:
but the people escaped; from the lot
and
appeared to be innocent
clear of any blame; so that it was not the sin they
had been guilty of
in eating flesh with the blood
which was the cause that no
answer was returned.
1 Samuel 14:42 42 And Saul said
“Cast lots
between my son Jonathan and me.” So Jonathan was taken.
YLT
42And Saul saith
`Cast
between me and Jonathan my son;' and Jonathan is captured.
And Saul said
cast lots
between me and Jonathan my son
..... Which showed his regard strict
justice
and that he had no consciousness of guilt in himself
and should not
spare his own son if found guilty:
and Jonathan was taken: the lot fell upon him
which was so directed
that his ignorance of his father's charge and oath might
appear; and that the affection of the people might be discovered; and that a
regard is to be had to the orders and commands of princes
and obedience to be
yielded to them in all in which conscience is not concerned
though they may be
grievous; and to bring Saul to a sense of rashness in making such an oath
which brought his own son into so much danger.
1 Samuel 14:43 43 Then Saul said to
Jonathan
“Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him
and said
“I
only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand.
So now I must die!”
YLT
43And Saul saith unto
Jonathan
`Declare to me
what hast thou done?' and Jonathan declareth to him
and saith
`I certainly tasted with the end of the rod that [is] in my hand a
little honey; lo
I die!'
Then Saul said to
Jonathan
tell me what thou hast done
.... What sin he had
committed
the lot having fallen on him
and found him out:
and Jonathan told him; the whole of the matter
all the truth
without any reserve:
and said
I did but take a little honey with the end of the rod
that was in mine hand; he speaks of the fact as a trivial thing
as if it was not
deserving of death
though he was willing to submit to it; yet it seems strange
he should say nothing of his ignorance of the charge and oath of Saul
and
plead that in excuse of it; though JosephusF8Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6.
sect. 4. makes him to take notice of it: and
"lo
I must die"; am
condemned to die
as the Targum; for which he was prepared and ready
being
willing to testify an entire subjection to his father's authority and will.
JosephusF9lbid. represents him speaking with a generosity and
greatness of soul
after this manner
"death is most sweet to me
which is
for the sake of maintaining thy piety and religion; and after so glorious a
victory
it is the greatest consolation to me to leave the Hebrews conquerors
of the Philistines.'
1 Samuel 14:44 44 Saul answered
“God do so
and more also; for you shall surely die
Jonathan.”
YLT
44And Saul saith
`Thus doth
God do
and thus doth He add
for thou dost certainly die
Jonathan.'
And Saul answered
God do
so and more also
.... A form of an oath imprecating evils upon him more and
greater than he chose to mention
see the like form in 1:17
though Abarbinel thinks this is not the form of an oath
but an asseveration of
a curse that would befall him; as that God would not answer him when he
inquired of him
and that he would add to do so again and again
if he died
not:
for thou shall surely die
Jonathan; such words from a father
must be very striking to a son
and argue a want of paternal affection in Saul
that could call his son by his name
and deliver such a speech unto him in so
strong a manner.
1 Samuel 14:45 45 But the people said to
Saul
“Shall Jonathan die
who has accomplished this great deliverance in
Israel? Certainly not! As the Lord lives
not one hair of
his head shall fall to the ground
for he has worked with God this day.” So the
people rescued Jonathan
and he did not die.
YLT
45And the people say unto
Saul
`Doth Jonathan die who wrought this great salvation in Israel? -- a
profanation! Jehovah liveth
if there falleth from the hair of his head to the
earth
for with God he hath wrought this day;' and the people rescue Jonathan
and he hath not died.
And the people said unto
Saul
.... Hearing such words
and filled with grief
pity
and
sympathy for Jonathan
as JosephusF11Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 4.
observes:
shall Jonathan die
who hath wrought this great salvation in
Israel? no
he shall not; what
such a man as he die
who
under God
has been the instrument of so great deliverance
who first began it himself
with one man only with him
and has proceeded in it to the finishing of it?
God forbid: this shall not be so; they speak of it with the utmost
abhorrence and detestation
as a shocking piece of cruelty and ingratitude
unheard of
and not to be paralleled:
as the Lord liveth
there shall not one hair of his head fall to
the ground; as Saul swore he should die
they also swear he should not
expressing their firm resolution to stand by him
and preserve his life; and so
far should it be from him to have his life taken away
that an hair of his head
should not be touched
or the least injury done to his person; for though they
had yielded a ready obedience to all the orders and commands of Saul
which
were distressing to themselves
they were determined to oppose him in this case
of his son:
for he hath wrought with God this day; God has been
with him
assisted him to do great things for Israel
and therefore should not
die for a thing so trivial; and it being not done in disobedience to his
father
nor in contempt of him
but through pure ignorance
as some of them
well knew; so the Targum
"for it is known before the Lord
that in
ignorance he did it this day:"
so the people rescued Jonathan
that he died not; not by force
but by their resolution and importunity; or "redeemed" himF12יפדו "redemerunt"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c.
by exposing their own lives to danger in opposing their king
and by their
petitions to him for him; and
as Josephus saysF13Ut supra
(Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 6.) sect. 5.
by their prayers to God for him
that his fault might
be forgiven.
1 Samuel 14:46 46 Then Saul returned from
pursuing the Philistines
and the Philistines went to their own place.
YLT
46And Saul goeth up from
after the Philistines
and the Philistines have gone to their place;
Then Saul went up from
following the Philistines
.... Returned home to his own city
finding
that he could get no answer from the Lord
whether he should pursue further or
not
and losing the time and opportunity of doing it
by examining into the
affair of his son
and casting lots to find it out:
and the Philistines went to their own place; their country
and cities
such of them as remained
who were not cut off by their own and the
sword of the Israelites. JosephusF14Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 5.
says
Saul killed about 60
000 of them. It seems to be the will of God that
they should not now be utterly destroyed
that they might be a rod of
correction in his hand
to chastise the people of Israel hereafter.
1 Samuel 14:47 47 So Saul established his
sovereignty over Israel
and fought against all his enemies on every side
against Moab
against the people of Ammon
against Edom
against the kings of
Zobah
and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned
he harassed them.[e]
YLT
47and Saul captured the
kingdom over Israel
and he fighteth round about against all his enemies
against Moab
and against the Bene-Ammon
and against Edom
and against the
kings of Zobah
and against the Philistines
and whithersoever he turneth he
doth vex [them].
So Saul took the kingdom
over Israel
.... Which seemed to be almost taken from him when he was shut up
in Gibeah
and the Philistines ravaged his country at pleasure; but now
having
obtained a victory over them
he recovered his kingdom
and reassumed his power
and authority; or he was now strengthened in it
as Kimchi interprets it; the
people seeing that he succeeded in his wars with their enemies
they readily
submitted to his government without any hesitation
and obeyed his commands; so
the Targum
"Saul prospered in the kingdom over Israel;'and
according to
Abarbinel
these words will admit of another sense
that whereas
after he was
anointed and made king
he followed the herd
and attended rustic affairs; but
now
after this victory over the Philistines
he took upon him the state and
majesty of a king
and no more concerned himself with his farm and cattle
but
betook himself wholly to regal and military affairs
as follows:
and fought against all his enemies on every side; who invaded
his kingdom from different quarters; he defended himself against them
and
preserved his kingdom:
against Moab
and against the children of Ammon; who lay to
the east of him:
and against Edom; which was on the southern border of his
land:
and against the king of Zobah; a part of Syria
which
was to the north of the land of Israel
and was near Damascus
see 2 Samuel 8:3
and
according to Benjamin of TudelaF15Itinerar. p. 59.
the same with
Haleb
or Aleppo
There never were but two kings of it
Rehob and Hadadezer
who lived in the reigns of Saul and David
2 Samuel 8:3.
and against the Philistines; who were on the western
border of the land of Canaan:
and whithersoever he turned himself
he vexed them; disturbed and
disquieted them
and made them very uneasy; he terrified and distressed them;
the Targum is
he "condemned" them
he treated them as wicked and
ungodly persons
and punished them as such.
1 Samuel 14:48 48 And he gathered an army
and attacked the Amalekites
and delivered Israel from the hands of those who
plundered them.
YLT
48And he maketh a force
and
smiteth Amalek
and delivereth Israel out of the hand of its spoiler.
And he gathered an host
.... A large
army; for after the battle with the Ammonites he disbanded his army
and sent
them home
retaining only 3000 men
and these deserted him to six hundred
which were all the men he had with him
when he fought last with the
Philistines; but now
finding he had enemies on every side of him
he gathered
a numerous host to defend his country against them
and particularly to attack
the people next mentioned:
and he smote the Amalekites; a people that Israel
by
the law of God
were bound to destroy
and blot out their name; a particular
account of his expedition against them is given in the following chapter:
and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them; the nations
before mentioned
Moabites
Ammonites
Edomites
Syrians
and Philistines.
1 Samuel 14:49 49 The sons of Saul were
Jonathan
Jishui
[f] and
Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of
the firstborn Merab
and the name of the younger Michal.
YLT
49And the sons of Saul are
Jonathan
and Ishui
and Melchi-Shua; as to the name of his two daughters
the
name of the first-born [is] Merab
and the name of the younger Michal;
And the sons of Saul were
Jonathan
.... Who seems to be his firstborn
of whom
his valour and
success
we read in this and the preceding chapter:
and Ishui; the same with Abinadab
1 Chronicles 8:33
for he had two names:
and Melchishua; and besides these three there was another
whose name was Ishbosheth
sometimes called Eshbaal
2 Samuel 2:8 who
succeeded him in the kingdom; for which reason Abarbinel thinks he is not
mentioned here
because he was a king; though it is generally supposed the
reason why these only are named is
because they went out to war with him
and
died with him
but this did not; he had other children by a concubine
or
secondary wife
whose name was Rizpah
not mentioned here
2 Samuel 21:8
and the names of his two daughters were these
the name of the
firstborn Merab; who was afterwards married to Adriel the Meholathite
1 Samuel 18:19 and
the name of the younger Michal; who became the wife of David
1 Samuel 18:27.
1 Samuel 14:50 50 The name of Saul’s wife was
Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was
Abner the son of Ner
Saul’s uncle.
YLT
50and the name of the wife of
Saul [is] Ahinoam
daughter of Ahimaaz; and the name of the head of his host
[is] Abner son of Ner
uncle of Saul;
And the name of Saul's
wife was Ahinoam
the daughter of Ahimaaz
.... Who very probably
was the mother of all the above children
and therefore taken notice of; and
Abarbinel conjectures that Ishbosheth was not a son of her's
but the son of
Saul by another wife
and which he takes to be another reason why he is not
mentioned here; but though Saul had a concubine
we nowhere read of his having
another wife:
and the name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner
Saul's uncle; not Abner
but Ner
was Saul's uncle; for Kish the father of Saul
and Ner
were brothers
as JosephusF16Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6.
sect. 5.) says
and as appears from the next verse; and Abner was first cousin
to Saul
whom he raised and advanced to be captain of his army
and a very
valiant man he was: we hear of him again in this history
and in the beginning
of David's reign.
1 Samuel 14:51 51 Kish was the father
of Saul
and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
YLT
51and Kish [is] father of
Saul
and Ner father of Abner [is] son of Ahiel.
And Kish was the father of Saul
.... See 1 Samuel 9:1.
and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel; this Abiel
was the father both of Kish and Ner
and the grandfather of Saul
see 1 Samuel 9:1.
1 Samuel 14:52 52 Now there was fierce war
with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or
any valiant man
he took him for himself.
YLT
52And the war is severe
against the Philistines all the days of Saul; when Saul hath seen any mighty
man
and any son of valour
then he doth gather him unto himself.
And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of
Saul
.... For notwithstanding the late victory over them
and
slaughter made among them
they recovered themselves
and came out again to
battle
and gave Saul a great deal of trouble
and he at last died in battle
with them:
and when Saul saw any strong man
or any valiant man
he took him
unto him; to be his bodyguard
as JosephusF17Ut supra. (Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 6. sect. 5.) says; or for soldiers and officers in his army
even
such
as the same writer observes
that exceeded others in comeliness of
person
and in largeness and height; such as were in some measure like himself
that were strong
able bodied men
and of courage
and valour
and fortitude of
mind.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)