1Jonathan, without the knowledge of his father or any of the people, attended by his armourbearer only, smiteth the Philistine garrison. 15The Philistines seized with a panic beat down one another. 17Saul perceiving the tumult enquireth of God, but without waiting for the priest's answer setteth upon the enemy, and is joined by the Hebrews, and by the Israelites out of their hiding places. 24His ill-advised adjuring of the people is a hindrance of the victory. 31The people, faint for want of food, fly upon the spoil, and are hardly restrained from eating the blood. 35Saul buildeth an altar; 37he asketh counsel of God, but receiveth no answer. 38Jonathan taken by lot, and sentenced to die, is rescued by the people. 47Saul's victories. 49His family.
1NOW it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. 1But he told not his father.
1 Because perhaps he feared that his father would not have consented hereunto.
2And Saul 2tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is 3in Migron: and thea people that were with him were about six hundred men;
2 That is, had pitched his tent.
3 Of Migron is likewise spoken, Isa. 10:28. It is a portion of land situated on the one side of the strait toward Gibeah; here Saul with his six hundred men were in the caves, watching to see what the Philistines would do, below verse 11.
a 1 Sam. 13:15.
3And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, 4I-chabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S 5priest in Shiloh, 6wearing an 7ephod. And 8the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
4 See 1 Sam. 4:21.
5 Or, pertained to the Lord’s priests at Shiloh.
6 Or, wore.
7 Understand herewith likewise the breast-plate and the Urim and Thummim, which the high priest put on when he asked counsel of the Lord.
8 Yea, neither did Saul nor the priest knew it.
4¶And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a 9sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the 10other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the 11other Seneh.
9 Hebr. tooth, and so in the following.
10 So that the way was between two rocks.
11 Hebr. of the one.
5The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
6And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison 12of these uncircumcised: 13it may be that the LORD will 14work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or 15by few.
12 As if he would say: These Philistines are strangers from the covenant of God, and therefore hateful in His eyes: but we are circumcised, and bear the token of God’s covenant in our bodies.
13 Jonathan speaks thus, because he had no promise of victory from God.
14 Or, do something for us.
15 See an example hereof, Judges 7:7; 2 Chronicles 14. See also Joshua 14:12.
7And his armourbearer said unto him, Do 16all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according 17to thy heart.
16 That is, all that seems good unto thee.
17 That is, so as it pleaseth thee, or seems good unto thee.
8Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and 18we will discover ourselves unto them.
18 That is, we will let ourselves be seen of them.
9If 19they say thus unto us, 20Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
19 See similarly, Gen. 24:14.
20 Hebr. be silent. See Joshua 10:12, 13.
10But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and 21this shall be a sign unto us.
21 Compare Gen. 24:14 with the annotation.
11And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
12And the men of the garrison 22answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and 23we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
22 That is, said, or spoke; for it was not preceded with a question.
23 As if they had said thus: We will teach you and make you feel what it is for a man to jeopardize himself rashly.
13And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and 24they fell before Jonathan; and 25his armourbearer slew after him.
24 Namely, his enemies, whom he slew.
25 Namely, having now gotten a sword, and weapons of one of them who were slain; for before only Saul and Jonathan had swords, as appears 1 Sam. 13:22.
14And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, 26within as it were an half acre of land, which 27a yoke of oxen might plow.
26 By these words is intimated, that this slaughter was made in a small plot or compass of ground, so that Jonathan could easily have been surrounded and set upon by his enemies, had not God wonderfully assisted him.
27 That is, as much as a yoke of oxen going under the yoke are able to plow in one day.
15And there was trembling in 28the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the 29spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was 30a very great trembling.
28 Namely, in the camp of the Philistines.
29 Namely, those soldiers who were gone forth to spoil and destroy the land, whereof mention is made 1 Sam. 13:17.
30 See the annotation on Gen. 30:8. Intimating that it was a terror which God sent upon them, or a trembling of God; that is, a very great trembling.
16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the 31multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
31 Namely, of the Philistines.
17Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
18And Saul said unto 32Ahiah, 33Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time 34with the children of Israel.
32 See verse 3.
33 Namely, to inquire of God at the ark, if I shall pursue the Philistines.
34 Namely, in the camp, whereas it was at other times, (as it is thought) at Shiloh.
19¶And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines 35went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, 36Withdraw thine hand.
35 Hebr. going went and multiplied.
36 That is, let it alone, which I commanded you ere-while concerning the ark. Saul would not tarry so long, till he received answer from God.
20And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s 37sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
37 Hebr. the sword of the man against his neighbour, that is, the Philistines slew one another. See similar example, Judges 7:22; 2 Chron. 20:23.
21Moreover the Hebrews that were 38with the Philistines 39before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also 40turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
38 Namely, who ministered to them as servants, or, were run away from their colors to them, who upon this occasion joined themselves to the Israelites.
39 Hebr. as yesterday ere-yesterday.
40 Hebr. they were to be with Israel.
22Likewise all the men of Israel 41which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, 42even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
41 See 1 Sam. 13:6.
42 That is, they likewise helped to pursue and slay the Philistines.
23So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the 43battle passed over unto 44Beth-aven.
43 Hebr. the war or battle, that is, men of war or soldiers; understand it of the men of war who pursued the Philistines.
44 Situated not far from Michmash, as appears 1 Sam. 13:5.
24¶And the men of Israel were 45distressed that day: for Saul 46had adjured the people, saying, 47Cursed be the man that eateth any 48food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
45 Or, distressed, pressed, oppressed, namely, through hunger, as follows.
46 Saul forbade the people to eat, that he would pursue quicker and vanquish his enemies, fearing they might escape his hands, if the people would give themselves to eating; but he uses ill means to accomplish his design.
47 And consequently worthy to lose his life. See verse 39.
48 Hebr. bread; so in the following words. Here, it appears, that bread is taken for all manner of food, for even honey is comprehended under that name; so also verse 28 and Gen. 43:31.
25And 49all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
49 That is, all the people of the land; so also verses 15, 29 and Gen. 41:57.
26And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but 50no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
50 Namely, after he had dipped it into the honey, to put thereof into his mouth, and to eat; that is, no man did eat thereof.
27But 51Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put 52his hand to his mouth; and his eyes 53were enlightened.
51 For he had not been in the camp after he had smitten the Philistines.
52 Understand additionally: after he had eaten of the honey, which they could notice on his eyes.
53 Or, then his eyes saw, namely, clearly; that is, he obtained as it were new strength and vigor.
28Then 54answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly 55charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food 56this day. 57And the people were faint.
54 That is, spoke, or, began to speak.
55 Hebr. adjuring adjured.
56 Namely, until evening, as verse 24 indicates. For among the Hebrews the day ends at sunset.
57 Or, Therefore the people fainteth. Or, the people is wearied or weary.
29Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled 58the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
58 That is, the inhabitants of the land, or the soldiers who are in the camp.
3059How much more, if haply the people had eaten 60freely to day of 61the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
59 Namely, the people would have been strong and lusty to pursue the enemy, if, etc.
60 Hebr. eating eaten.
61 Namely, of the cattle, and other provision of food.
31And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to 62Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
62 There was an Ajalon in the tribe of Dan, Joshua 19:42, given to the priests, Joshua 21:24; 1 Chron. 6:69. But here mention is made of another in the tribe of Judah. Rehoboam strengthened or fenced the same, and it is accounted among the strong cities of the kingdom of Judah, 2 Chron. 11:10.
32And the people 63flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and 64calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them 65with the blood.
63 Other, the people turned themselves to the prey.
64 Hebr. the sons of oxen.
65 Namely, before the blood was quite severed from the flesh. This the people did by reason of the great hunger they sustained, being not able to tarry till the beasts had left bleeding. See Lev. 3:17; 17:10; Deut. 12:16, 23.
33¶Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have 66transgressed: roll 67a great stone unto me 68this day.
66 Namely, against God.
67 Namely, to slay the beasts thereon, in order that the blood may the sooner and in greater quantity run or issue out of them. Some conceive that the altar, whereof mention is made verse 35 was made of that great stone.
68 That is, forthwith, before it becomes evening.
34And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
35And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: 69the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.
69 Hebr. he began to build that altar unto the Lord.
36¶And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither 70unto God.
70 That is, unto the ark of God; namely, to inquire of Him, if it be His will, that we should do this.
37And Saul 71asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But 72he answered him not that day.
71 Namely, by the high priest.
72 This was a sign that God was displeased with him; see the like example, 1 Sam. 28:6. The Lord was angry, not with Jonathan, but with Saul, because he had made such a foolish and imprudent oath, and had charged the people therewith.
38And Saul said, Draw ye 73near hither, all the chiefb of the people: and 74know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
73 See Judges 20 on verse 2.
b Judges 20:2.
74 Other, know, acknowledge.
39For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely 75die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
75 Hebr. he shall dying die.
40Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
41Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, 76Give a perfect lot. And 77Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people 78escaped.
76 Hebr. give the perfect or upright one. Other, Give an upright lot.
77 Namely, by the lot; to be taken and to escape are here opposed to each other.
7877 Namely, by the lot; to be taken and to escape are here opposed to each other.
42And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan 79was taken.
79 Saul prays in verse 41: Give a perfect lot, he wanted to say, the guilty person, but God shows him here who indeed and in truth was innocent, or guiltless, as Saul’s words do import.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did 80but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
80 Hebr. tasting tasted, etc.
44And Saul answered, 81God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
81 Of this manner of making an oath, see Ruth 1:17. Since Saul here and elsewhere so often swears, it appears plainly, that he was bent and accustomed to cursing and swearing.
45And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, 82there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought 83with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
82 Understand additionally, let God punish us, or something similar. It is an abrupt kind of oath in use among the Hebrews, and see further hereof 2 Sam. 14 on verse 11.
83 That is, by the help and guidance of God. See verse 6.
46Then Saul went up 84from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
84 That is, he ceased from pursuing the Philistines, partly because the night was past, partly because God had not answered him, verse 37.
47¶So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against 85Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against 86Edom, and against the 87kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he 88vexed them.
85 That is, the Moabites.
86 That is, the Edomites.
87 Their land was from Batanea unto the river Euphrates. See further on 2 Sam. 10:6.
88 That is, God used him as an instrument to punish the enemies of His church. Other, he made it ill, or, he did hurt, he troubled them, he plagued them, namely, in hurting, or, damaging the enemies.
48And he 89gathered an host, and 90smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
89 Other, he made or gathered an host.
90 Of this is spoken more at large 1 Samuel 15.
49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and 91Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the 92younger Michal:
91 He is also called Abinadab in 1 Sam. 31:2, likewise 1 Chron. 8:33; 10:2.
92 Or, youngest.
50And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was 93Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
93 Hebr. Abiner.
51And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of 94Abiel.
94 He is called Ner, 1 Chron. 8:33. See 1 Sam. 9:1.
52And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or 95any valiant man, he took him unto him.
95 Hebr. every son of valor or strength.