1 Samuel 13

Saul choses three thousand souldiers to be with him, and Jonathan, verse I, &c. Jonathan smitteth the garrison of the Philistins at Gibea, 3. Saul summoneth all the people together, 4. The Philistines come with great strength to fight against Israel, 5. The Israelites for fear, hide themselves in caves, &c. 6. Saul offereth before Samuel cometh to him, 7. For which he is reproved by Samuel, 11. Who fore-telleth him that his Kingdome should not last long, 13. Saul with his people stay at Gibea, 16. The Philistines invade the land of Israel with three companies, 17. Where armes are wanting, 19. Onely Saul and Jonathan have arms, 22.

1. Saul had been one year in his government [Heb. Saul being the son of one year in his governing] and the second year [Heb. Two years; i.e. the second year: see Judg.14. on ver.17.] he reigned over Israel.

2. Then Saul chose him three thousand men out of Israel, [These three thousand men waited alwayes upon Saul’s service, where-ever or whereunto he would use them] and there were two thousand men with Saul at Michmas, [understand this, not of a city so called, but of a corner of the land in the border of Benjamin, by the mountain of Bethel: for as it is here said, that Saul was with his people at Michmas; so it is said below verse 5. that the Philistines also camped themselves at Michmas] and on the mountain of Bethel, and there were a thousand with Jonathan at Gibea of Benjamin, [see Judg.19.12.] and he let the rest of the people go, every one to his tent.

3. But Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines, [viz. By Sauls’s command, as appeareth ver.4.] which was at Geba, [oth. on the hill; see above chap.10.5.] which the Philistines heard: [understand withal, and they prepared themselves to fight against the Israelites] where-fore Saul blew with the trumpet in all the land, saying: Let the Hebrews hear it. [viz. That they may beware they be not surprised by the Philistines, but arm themselves against them, or prepare to give the Philistines battle.]

4. Then all Israel heard say, Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines, [Not Saul, but Jonathan Saul’s command, or they thought that Saul had done it] and also Israel is become stinking among the Philistines: see Gen.34.30.] then the people were called together, after Saul, to Gilgal.

5. And the Philistines were gathered together to fight against Israel, thirty thousand charets, [i.e. Thirty thousand men, who being in charets, fought out of them] and six thousand horsemen, and people in multitude, as the sand is on the sea-shore: [Heb.lip] & they marched up, & camped themselves at Michmas, [see above verse 2.] toward the cast of Beth-Aven. [There was a city so called, and also a wilderness, Jos.18.12.]

6. When the men of Israel saw that they were in need (for the people were distressed), then the people [viz. The souldiers of the Israelites, that were with Saul] hid themselves in caves, and in thorn-bushes, and in rocks, and in strong holds, and in pits.

7. Now the Hebrews [Understand her the common people, which were not souldiers, or military men] went over the Jordan into the land of God, and Gilead: When Saul himself was yet at Gilgal, then all the people came trembling after him. [Heb. Then all the people trembled after him. This seemeth to be understood of the people that had hid themselves, v.6.]

8. And he tarried seven dayes, [I Sam.10.8.] till the time that Samuel had appointed: [See above chap.10. vers.8. to what end and purpose this day was appointed] when Samuel came not up to Gilgal, the people were scattered from him. [viz. The souldiers, or warlike people, that had been with him: they ran hither and thither, leaving Saul.]

9. Then Saul said, [To wit, being vexed and wearied with tarrying any longer, and fearing the danger that was neer hand; see ver.11,12.] bring me hither a burnt-offering, and a thank-offering, and he offered burnt-offering. [viz. By a Priest; and understand withal, that Saul likewise prayed unto the Lord, as appeareth below verse 12. If Saul himself in his own person, had offered (as some conceive) then his sinne was yet so much the greater.]

10. And it came to pass when he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, then Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him, to bless him. [i.e. to salute him, and to bid him welcome: see the annotate. on Gen.31.55.]

11. Then Samuel said, What hast thou done? [This is no question of one that was ignorant, but rather a severe reproof; as Gen.3.13.] now Samuel said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and thou camest not at the appointed time of days, [Samuel came certainly on the seventh day to Saul, although he was not there at the very hour that Saul looked for him] and the Philistines were gathered together at Michmas:

12. Therefore, said I, [viz. To my self, i.e. I thought] now will the Philistines come down to me at Gilgal, and I have not earnestly besought the face of the LORD: [With the offerings prayers were made unto God] I forced my self therefore, [Or, I offered violence to my self; i.e. I did it unwillingly, and with great regret and reluctancy of mind, yea, as it were, being through need compelled thereto] and offered burnt-offering.

13. Then Samuel said unto Saul, Thou hast done foolishly, [To wit, in that thou hast not waited out the appointed time] thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee; for now would the LORD have established thy Kingdom, [viz. The Kingdom over which he hath set thee, to reign as King] over Israel for ever. [i.e. a long time, all thy life time, either upon thy self, or upon some of thy posterity, to wit, if thou hadst obeyed me: Yet according to the everlasting decree of God, the Kingdome must of necessity at length come to the tribe of Juda; see Deuteronomy 15:17. in the annotation]

14. But now thy Kingdom shall not stand, the LORD hath sought him [Samuel could now know this but by the instinct and inspiration of God] a man according to his heart, [viz. David, of whom farther mention is made below ver.16. But at this time Samuel himself knew not this; as appeareth below chap.16.] and the Lord hath commanded him to be a Leader over his people, [from that very time that David was chosen of God to the King, did Saul govern illegally] because thou hast not kept that which the LORD had commanded thee.

15. Then Samuel gat him up, and he went up from Gilgal, to Gibea of Benjamin: and Saul numbred the people that were found with him, about six hundred men. [Whereas he was wont to have two thousand, v.2. It seemeth that the rest were run away for fear: see above v.6. and 8.]

16. And Saul and his son Jonathan, and the people that were found with them, abode at Geba of Benjamin: [Oth. Gibea of Benjamin, ver.15. and below, Gibea of Saul] but the Philistines were camped at michmas.

17. And the destroyers, [Heb. The destroyer; i.e. the souldiers that were sent forth to fire and burn the country, and other ways to endamage it] went out of the camp of the Philistines in three heaps (or companies) one heap turned unto the way toward Ophra, [a city of the Benjamites, whereof also mention is made, Jos.18.23.] toward the land of Saul.

18. And one heap turned toward the way of Beth-ho-ron: [Lying in the tribe of Ephraim, on the border of Benjamn, Jos.16.3. and 18.13.] and one heap turned toward the way of the border that looketh toward the valley of Zeboim [lying in the tribe of Benjamin, by the Wilderness of Jordan; whereof also mention is made, Neh.11.34.] toward the wilderness.

19. And there was no Smith found in all the land of Israel; for the Philistines had said, Lest the Hebrews make either sword or spear. [Understand withal, it behoveth us to look to it; as Gen.3.22.]

20. Therefore all Israel were fain to go down to the Philistines, every man to cause his plough share, or his spade, or his axe, or his mattock to be sharpened.

21. But they had teethy files [Heb. Files (with) mouths; i.e. which had sharp teeth] for their mattocks, and for their spades, and for the three toothy forks [Or, hooks] and for the axes, and to set the goads. [The Hebrew word signifieth the sharp edge in a plough-staff, whereby they use to prick the beasts that are plowing, to drive them on the faster.]

22. And it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword, nor spear found in the hand of all the people, that were with Saul, and with Jonathan: [In regard of the heavy and cruel dominion of the Philistines, v.19.] but with Saul and with Jonathan his son they were found.

23. And the Philistines camp [Oth. Garrison] marched toward the passage of Michmas. [Which when once they had got, they had a free passage into the land of the Benjamites.]