1 Samuel 14
DOYLY1 Samuel 14:10
- — this shall be a sign unto us.] This shall be a watchword to us, presaging our certain victory. Bp. Hall. Hence it appears, that the undertaking of Jonathan proceeded wholly from a Divine instinct, which had suggested to him what is contained in this and the foregoing verse, as a sign of what they were to do. Dr. Wells.
1 Samuel 14:15
- — and the earth quaked:] Some think there was a real earthquake, which increased their fear; but it may be no more than a metaphorical expression for the great tumult into which they were thrown. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 14:16
- — the multitude melted away.] The multitude of the Philistines grew less and less, from the confusion into which they were thrown. Dr. Wells.
1 Samuel 14:18
- — Bring hither the ark of God.] The ark mentioned here, as also at 2 Sam. xi. 11, is understood not
to mean the ark of the covenant which contained the tables of the Decalogue, but another ark or chest, which was made for the conveniency of carrying about the sacred ephod with the Urim and Thumenim, that they might be able to consult God on any sudden emergency Dr. Berriman.
1 Samuel 14:23
- — the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.] These words seem to imply that the fight continued till they came to this place, which lay westward from Michmash, chap. xiii. 5; and there the Philistines threw down their arms, and fled as fast as they could to their own country. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 14:24
- — for Saul had adjured] As Saul’s intention in making this adjuration was good, namely to execute vengeance on the enemies of God and His people; so the matter of the obligation was not in itself unlawful, if he had not been so rigorous in the exclusion of food,
hindereth the victory. CHAP. XIV. The people restrained from eating blood.
1 Samuel 14:25
- — there was honey upon the ground.] Which dropped from the hollow trees or the clefts of rocks, where bees make their combs in that country, as they do sometimes on the ground. Wild honey was so copious there, and flowed so plentifully, that it gave occasion to the hyperbolical expression in the book of Job, chap. xx. 17, of brooks or torrents of honey and butter. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 14:27
- — and his eyes were enlightened.] He received new strength, by which all his senses were cheered and revived. Bp. Hall.
1 Samuel 14:32
- — did eat them with the blood.] For want of patience to dress their provisions in due form, they ate their flesh, half boiled and half roasted, with the blood not duly drained from it, contrary to the express injunction of their law, Lev. vii. 26; xix. 26; Deut. xv. 23; xii. 16. Pyle. It seems probable, that on this occasion the people, in their haste to satisfy their hunger,
1 Samuel 14:33
- — roll a great stone unto me this day.] He desires them to roll a great stone unto him, for the purpose of building an altar, as is related at ver. 35, in order that they might slaughter their animals on it before God, and under his own view; or else that the blood of the animal slaughtered might sooner run off, by its head hanging from the stone; for, before, they had been slaughtering their animals on the level ground, by which means the blood was so long in running off, that, in the impatience of their hunger, they could not wait for it.—“This day,” means “now,” “at this time.” Poole’s Syn. Critic.
1 Samuel 14:35
- — built an altar unto the Lord:] To offer sacrifices of peace offerings, and to give thanks to God for this great victory; though others think it was a monument in the form of an altar, in remembrance of the Divine mercy in the late deliverance. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 14:38
- — wherein this sin hath been] From God’s not regarding his supplication, he concluded that some
Jonathan taken by lot. Saul’s strength and family. Before CHRIST about 1687.
1 Samuel 14:41
- — Give a perfect lot.] The word “lot” is not in the original: but the Hebrew words signify give perfect, that is, declare who is innocent. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 14:45
- — So the people rescued Jonathan.] By their petition to Saul, and also by earnest prayers to God, who
perhaps signified to the high priest that He approved the people’s desire, and annulled Saul’s oath as rash and inconsiderate. Dr. Wells. Saul’s conduct on this memorable day was rash and impolitick in the extreme. Instead of trusting in the Lord to avenge him of his enemies, like his pious son Jonathan, he cursed any of the people, who would eat food until the evening, that nothing might interrupt the slaughter: but he “troubled the land” thereby, for the people, growing faint with hunger, were forced to tranagress; and Jonathan would have suffered death Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
1 Samuel 14:52
- — he took him unto him.] That is, he chose the best men for strength and courage to be his guards, and to be preferred in the army. Pyle. Chap. XV. ver. 3.—go and smite Amalek, &c.] This heavy sentence was pronounced against the Amalekites long ago, Exod. xvii. 14; and renewed at the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan, with a charge not to forget it, Deut. xxv. 19: the order is now given to put it in execution. Bp. Patrick. It may justly be esteemed a question of some difficulty, whence it might come to pass that God should give so very severe a command. There certainly cannot happen any case, wherein it would be justifiable for any mortal power, upon his own authority, to take upon to deal in such a manner with any enemy whatever. But God, who is the supreme