1 Samuel 14

Chap. XIV. Ver. 1—23. Jonathan having surprised a garrison of the Philistines, their army is thrown into a panic, and dispersed; on which, Saul and all Israel pursue them.—The given to attack of Jonathan seems to have been the rash attempt of a young hero, and can only be justified on the supposition that he acted under a divine impulse; for otherwise he certainly ought to have informed the king his father. Rash, however, as the attempt appears, it struck a panic into the Philistine army, which seems to have been aided by divine providence; for not only did the host tremble and the people trembled, but (as it is beautifully expressed) even “the earth trembled,” — with “a trembling of God,” — perhaps a slight shock of earthquake, which, without swallowing up the people, so increased the terror, that the multitude—a panic mass of undisciplined soldiers—melted away, beating down, or falling over one another. This affair appeared as mysterious to Saul as to the Philistines: he seems to have heard of the attack, but knew not by whom; panic-struck, Saul collects his forces: those who had deserted returned from their hiding places: the Hebrew slaves that had been carried away captive by the Philistines, now turning against them joined their own people.

So “the Lord saved the people that day,” as he has often done before and since, with a great salvation, and in a way that there could be no room for them to take any of the glory to themselves. It was the Lord’s doing, and marvellous in their eyes. Ver. 24—52. Saul makes a rash vow, which produces painful consequences; but he is victorious over all his enemies.—The folly of Saul, however, marred this splendid victory. Lest the people should stop in their career to devour the spoil—that is, the food which they might meet with in the Philistine camp, he imprecates a curse on any of the people that tasted food that day, though they were faint with the pursuit; Jonathan, who heard nothing of the prohibition, meeting with some of the honey, and tasted it, by which he was so much refreshed that his eyes, which had become dim with fatigue, were now enlightened, and he much regretted that others had been prevented from the like indulgence, as it might have enabled them to pursue their victory farther, and have prevented the excess which followed; for as soon as the day was over, which with them was about dusk, the people, faint with hunger and fatigue, flew upon the spoil of cattle with such eagerness, that they waited not to drain the blood, as the law enjoined, but began to eat the cattle while their blood was in them.

To prevent this, messengers were sent through the army to have the animals properly slain; and Saul erected an altar unto the Lord, which is stated to be the first which he had erected; but it appears (by ver. 36) that he had a priest with him to make the offerings. The people being somewhat refreshed, Saul is for renewing the pursuit, but is persuaded to ask counsel of God, to which no answer was returned. Perhaps the question was at this time impertinent and improper. The event, however, led to results of real importance: to a justification of Jonathan, and to a proof of his father’s rashness—to a display of the people’s love for Jonathan, and to a most mortifying reproof of Saul’s folly, in the evidence which the people gave of their preference to his son Jonathan.

The kingdom of Saul was notwithstanding confirmed over all Israel, and the rest of his days were spent in war, (which had now become his element,) and he fulfilled Samuel’s prediction, ((1 Samuel 8:11), &c.;) “He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself,” &c.; for we are here told, whenever he “saw any strong man or any valiant man,” he took him into the army, and made a soldier of him. So he did, probably, David’s elder brethren.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XIV. Ver. 2. Pomegranate.—[Rimmon, in Arabic, romman, whence the Portuguese romã, denotes the pomegranate, both tree and fruit; called by naturalists malus punica or malo-granatum. It is, according to the Linnean system, a genus of the icosandria monogynia class of plants; and is a low tree, growing very common in Palestine, and other parts of the East. It has several small angular boughs, very thick and bushy, covered with a reddish bark, and some of them armed with sharp thorns. They are garnished with small narrow spear-shaped leaves, like those of the myrtle, but not so sharp, of a green colour, inclining to red. Its blossoms are large, beautiful, of an elegant red colour, inclining to purple, composed of several stalks resembling a rose, in the hollow of the cup; this cup is oblong, hard, purple, having a figure somewhat like that of a bell.

It is chiefly valued for its fruit, which is exceedingly beautiful, of the form and size of a large apple, with a reddish rind, and red within; being full of small kernels, with red grains, replenished with a generous liquor, of which Sir J. Chardin informs us, they still make considerable quantities of wine in the East, particularly in Persia. But as a pomegranate tree, from its low growth, is but little adapted for pitching a tent under, it is probable that Rimmon here is the name of the rock mentioned in Ju. xx. 45.]— Ver. 3. Ahiah…. the Lord’s priest.—The office of high-priest was now restored to the family of Eli. Ver. 5. The forefront.—Hebrew, “Tooth;” i.e. the one pointed north, and the other southward.

Ver. 6. There is no restraint.—[This is a fine, as well as a just sentiment; and where there is a promise of defence and support, the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely on it with the utmost confidence.]—B. Ver. 12. Come up.—[Meaning that they would cause them to repent of their audacity. This was the favourable sign which Jonathan had requested.] Ver. 14. Half an acre.—See Margin. [The original is obscure and variously understood; but it is probably a proverbial expression for a small space.]—Bagster. This method of measuring, by alluding to agricultural labours, was also adopted by the Greeks. So Homer— “So distant they, and such the space between, As when two teams of mules divide.” Ver. 18. Bring hither the ark.—[The Septuagint reads, “Bring hither the Ephod; for he bore the Ephod on that day before Israel:” which Houbigant and others think is the true reading.—Finding that his son Jonathan and his armour-bearer were absent, Saul wished to consult the high-priest; but the tumult increasing, he says to him, “Withdraw thy hand:” i.e. desist from consulting the Ephod on the present occasion; and immediately hastened to make the best use he could of this astonishing victory.]—Bagster. Ver. 25. Honey.—[This was wild honey, which even now abounds in Judea; and bursting from the comb, runs down the hollow trees, rocks, &c.]— Ver. 29. Eyes enlightened.—[It is well known, that hunger and fatigue produce faintness and dim the sight; and on taking a little food, this affection is immediately removed.]—Bagster. Ver. 33. Roll a great stone unto me.—That is, for an altar, as ver. 35. Ver. 35. Built an altar.—[It is probable that Saul converted the great stone, on which the cattle had been slaughtered, into an altar on which sacrifices were offered, before the people attempted to proceed any farther. This we are told was the first he had built: Samuel, as a prophet and a priest, had hitherto erected the altars; but Saul seems to have thought he had sufficient authority to erect one himself, without the prophet, as he had once offered sacrifice without him.]—Bagster. Ver. 36. Said the priest,—[It is evident that Ahiah, who had before been interrupted by Saul’s impatience, doubted of the propriety of pursuing the Philistines that night; and properly counselled them to inquire of the Lord.]—Bagster.

Ver. 41. Therefore Saul said.—(Both the Septuagint and Vulgate add much to this verse. “And Saul said [to the Lord God of Israel, Vulgate.] Lord God of Israel [give a sign, Vulgate.] Why is it that thou hast not answered thy servant today? If the iniquity be in me, or in my son Jonathan [O Lord of Israel, LXX.,] make it manifest; and if thou say thus, give to thy people Israel, give mercy,” &c. [but Vulgate, “Or, if this iniquity be in thy people give sanctification,” &c.]—Bagster Ver. 45. There shall not one hair, &c.—[The people judged rightly, that the guilt was contracted by Saul, and not by Jonathan; and therefore they rescued him from the hands of his rash and severe father.]—Bagster.