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1 Samuel
Chapter Thirteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 13
This
chapter relates how Saul disposed of his army, 1 Samuel 13:1 that
Jonathan his son smote a garrison of Philistines, which provoked them to come
out with a large army against them, to the great terror of the Israelites, many
of whom fled to secret places, and to distant parts, 1 Samuel 13:3, that
Saul tarried at Gilgal waiting for Samuel, but he not coming so soon as
expected, offered sacrifice himself, 1 Samuel 13:8 for
which Samuel, when he came, reproved him, and told him the kingdom should not
continue with him, but be given to another man, 1 Samuel 13:11 on
which Saul departed to Gibeah, where he continued, the Philistines being
encamped at Michmash, 1 Samuel 13:15 from
whence went out spoilers, in three companies, into the land of Israel, where
they met with no opposition; for there were no weapons in the hands of any but
Saul and Jonathan, the Philistines having taken care that there should be no
smith in the land of Israel to make them any, so that they were defenceless, 1 Samuel 13:17.
1 Samuel 13:1 Saul reigned
one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,[a]
YLT
1A son of a year [is] Saul
in his reigning, yea, two years he hath reigned over Israel,
Saul reigned one year,.... "Or the son of
a year in his reigning"F19בן שנה שאול במלכו
"filius anni Saul in regnando ipsum", Montanus. ; various are the
senses given of these words: some interpret them, Saul had a son of a year old
when he began to reign, Ishbosheth, and who was forty years of age when his
father died, 2 Samuel 2:10,
others, who understand the words of Saul himself, think there is an
"ellipsis" or defect of the number, and that it may be supplied, that
Saul was the son of thirty or forty years, or whatsoever age he may be supposed
to be at when he began his reign; others take the words in a figurative sense,
that he was like a child of a year old, for purity and innocence; so the
Targum,"as the son of a year, in whom there are no faults, so was Saul
when he reigned;'or he was but a year old, reckoning from the time he was
turned into another man, and had another heart, which was immediately after he
was anointed king at Ramah by Samuel; or he was but a year old with respect to
his kingdom: the inauguration of a king is "natalis imperil", the
birthday of his kingdom, and therefore the words are well enough rendered by
us, "Saul reigned one year"; which is to be reckoned either from his
unction at Ramah, or rather from his election at Mizpeh, to the renewal of the
kingdom at Gilgal:
and when he had reigned two years over Israel; which the
Jewish chronologersF20Seder Olam Rabba, c. 13. p. 35. Juchasin, fol.
11. 1. make to be the whole of his reign, which is not probable, considering
the many things done in his reign, the many battles he fought with all his
enemies on every side of him, and his long persecution of David; and there were
no less than three high priests in his reign; Josephus saysF17Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 14. sect. 9. he reigned eighteen years in the lifetime of Samuel, and
twenty two years after his death, in all forty; which agrees with Acts 13:21. Some
interpret it he reigned two years well, and the rest in a tyrannical way; or
that at the end of two years, when David was anointed, the kingdom was not
reckoned to him, but to David; and to this purpose Dr. Lightfoot writes, that
he had been king one year from his first anointing by Samuel at Ramah, to his
second anointing by him at Gibeah (Gilgal I suppose he means); and he reigned
after this two years more, before the Lord cast him off, and anointed David;
and the time he ruled after that was not a rule, but a tyranny and persecutionF18Works,
vol. 1. p. 55. ; but the sense Ben Gersom gives is best of all, that one year
had passed from the time of his being anointed, to the time of the renewal of
the kingdom at Gilgal; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, then he
did what follows, chose 3000 men, &c. In the first year of his reign was
done all that is recorded in the preceding chapter; and when he had reigned two
years, not two years more, but two years in all, then he did what is related in
this chapter.
1 Samuel 13:2 2 Saul
chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with
Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with
Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, every man
to his tent.
YLT
2and Saul chooseth for himself
three thousand [men] out of Israel; and two thousand are with Saul in Michmash,
and in the hill-country of Beth-El; and a thousand have been with Jonathan in
Gibeah of Benjamin; and the remnant of the people he hath sent each to his
tents.
Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel,.... Out of
the 300,000 that went with him to fight the Ammonites, and returned with him to
Gilgal, where he now was, and had stayed as may be supposed about a year, since
now he had reigned two years. These 3000 men some of them doubtless were
appointed as a guard about his person, and the rest were a standing army to
preserve the peace of the nation, to protect them from their enemies, to watch
the motions of the Philistines, and to be ready on any sudden invasion:
whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash, and in Mount
Bethel; "Michmash", according to Bunting,F19Travels
of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 126. was four miles from Gilgal. JeromF20De
loc Heb. fol. 93. F. says, in his time it was shown a large village on the
borders of Aella, or Jerusalem, retaining its ancient name, nine miles distant
from it, near the village Rama. AdrichomiusF21Thestrum Terrae S. p.
28. says it is now called Byra, and Mr. MaundrellF23Journey from
Aleppo, p. 64. observes that it is supposed by some to be the same with Beer,
whither Jotham fled after he had delivered his parable, Judges 9:21.
Michmash is in the MisnahF24Menachot, c. 8. sect. 1. celebrated for
the best wheat being brought from it; and near to it, as appears from hence,
was Bethel, and the mount of that name; and so JeromF25Ut supra, (De
loc Heb.) fol. 89. G. speaks of Bethel as over against Michmash; and this mount
very probably is the same said to be on the east of Bethel, where Abraham built
an altar, Genesis 12:8 for
Michmash lay to the east of Bethel:
and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; the native
place of Saul, and this Jonathan was the son of Saul, 1 Samuel 13:16.
According to BuntingF26Ut supra, (Travels of the Patriarchs,
&c.) p. 127. , Gibeah, where Jonathan was stationed, was eight miles from
Michmash:
and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent; to their own
houses; or, as the Targum, to their cities; these were they that came at his
summons, and were numbered at Bezek, and went with him to the relief of
Jabeshgilead, and had been with him ever since, and now dismissed.
1 Samuel 13:3 3 And Jonathan attacked the
garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of
it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the
Hebrews hear!”
YLT
3And Jonathan smiteth the
garrison of the Philistines which [is] in Geba, and the Philistines hear, and
Saul hath blown with a trumpet through all the land, saying, `Let the Hebrews
hear.'
And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in
Geba,.... Not the same with Gibeah of Benjamin, as Jarchi; for it can
hardly be thought that Jonathan should place himself with his thousand men
where the Philistines had a garrison; or that if this was the same with that in
the preceding verse, that it should be called by another name in this; but
Gibeah and Geba were two places, as Kimchi observes, both indeed in the tribe
of Benjamin, and it is very probable not far from one another; see Joshua 18:24. This
seems to be the same with the hill of God, where was a garrison of the
Philistines, 1 Samuel 10:5, who
after their defeat by Samuel contented themselves with some strong holds and
garrisons in some parts of the land to keep Israel in awe; the Targum
understands this of a single person, a governor of the Philistines in this
place, whom Jonathan slew, and so Jarchi; and according to R. Isaiah he was one
that was appointed to gather the tax for them:
and the Philistines heard of it, which alarmed them, and
made them prepare for war:
and Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land; not he in
person, for he was at Gilgal, as the next verse shows; but he ordered it to be
blown, being aware of the preparations the Philistines were making to attack
him:
saying, let the Hebrews hear; both what his son had
done, and what the Philistines were doing.
1 Samuel 13:4 4 Now all Israel heard it
said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and that
Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were
called together to Saul at Gilgal.
YLT
4And all Israel have heard,
saying, `Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines,' and also, `Israel
hath been abhorred by the Philistines;' and the people are called after Saul to
Gilgal.
And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the
Philistines,.... For though it was smitten by Jonathan, yet it was by the
order of Saul, and so ascribed to him; it seems to be a concerted thing to fall
upon the garrisons of the Philistines, and get them out of their hands, and so
deliver Israel entirely from them; but it was not wise for Saul, if he had such
a scheme in his head, to disband his large army, as he had lately done:
and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines; who were
highly incensed against them by this action, and vowed revenge; the name of an
Israelite was abhorred by them; and perhaps this action might be attended with
much craft and cruelty; and if these garrisons were held by agreement, they
might charge them with perfidy, with breach of articles, and so their name was
made to stink among them, as the word signifies:
and the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal; by sound of
trumpet.
1 Samuel 13:5 5 Then the Philistines
gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty[b] thousand
chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on
the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the
east of Beth Aven.
YLT
5And the Philistines have
been gathered to fight with Israel; thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand
horsemen, and a people as the sand which [is] on the sea-shore for multitude;
and they come up and encamp in Michmash, east of Beth-Aven.
And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with
Israel,.... To prevent their further encroachments on them, and designs
against them; for they perceived they intended to cast off their yoke, and free
themselves entirely from them:
thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen; it may seem
incredible that so small a people as the Philistines were, who only were
possessed of five cities, or lordships, with the villages belonging to them,
except what they had taken from Israel; and even if assisted by the Tyrians,
the author of Sirach in the Apocrypha says:"And he destroyed the rulers of
the Tyrians, and all the princes of the Philistines.' (Sirach 46:18)though he
seems to have respect not to this time, but when Samuel discomfited them, 1 Samuel 7:10. I
say it may seem incredible that they should bring such a number of chariots
into the field; wherefore this must either be understood of 30,000 men that
fought in chariots, as Lyra interprets it, and in which sense it is plain and
certain the word chariots is sometimes used, as in 2 Samuel 10:18, or
else of some sort of carriages, not chariots of war, at least not all of them;
but what were brought to carry the baggage of their infantry, which was very
large, and to carry away the goods and substance of the Israelites; some have
thought that there is a mistake of the copier, who instead of שלש, "three", read שלשים,
"thirty": so Capellus; and the rather because in the Arabic and
Syriac versions it is only "three thousand"; but even this is too
great a number, understood of chariots of war; for never any people in the
world was known to have so many chariots of war; Pharaoh in his large host had
but six hundred, Exodus 14:7 Jabin
king of Canaan had indeed nine hundred, Judges 4:3 and
David took from the king of Zobah one thousand chariots; but whether they were
all chariots of war is not certain, 2 Samuel 8:4.
Solomon indeed had one thousand and four hundred chariots, but they do not
appear to be chariots of war, but some for use, and some for state and
grandeur. Wherefore, if a mistake in the copy is admitted of, and this can be
confirmed by some MSS, yet we must recur to one or other of the above senses;
some of them must be understood of other sort of carriages, or of men that
fought in these chariots; and allowing ten men to a chariot, which seems to be
the usual number by comparing 2 Samuel 10:18 with
1 Chronicles 19:18
then 3000 men would fill three hundred chariots, which are as many as it can
well be thought the Philistines had Zerah the Ethiopian, who brought into the
field an army of million men, had no more than three hundred chariots, 2 Chronicles 14:9,
and no more had Antiochus Eupator in his army,"And with him Lysias his
protector, and ruler of his affairs, having either of them a Grecian power of
footmen, an hundred and ten thousand, and horsemen five thousand and three
hundred, and elephants two and twenty, and three hundred chariots armed with
hooks.' (2 Maccabees 13:2)Darius in
his vast army had but two hundredF1Curtius, l. 4. c. 9. , and in the
very large one which Mithridates brought against the Romans there was but one
hundred; and now 3000 men in three hundred chariots were but a proportion to
6000 horsemen, which in those times and countries was a large cavalry:
and the people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude; the infantry
was so large as not to be numbered; however, the phrase denotes a great
multitude of them; Josephus saysF2Antiqu, l. 6. c. 6. sect. 1. there
were 300,000 footmen:
and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven; where Saul,
before he went to Gilgal, had his quarters, 1 Samuel 13:2.
Bethaven was a place near Bethel, on the east of it, Joshua 7:2 though
Bethel itself was afterwards so called when Jeroboam had set up the worship of
the calves there, Hosea 4:15 it
signifying the house of vanity or iniquity.
1 Samuel 13:6 6 When the men of Israel saw
that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid
in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.
YLT
6And the men of Israel have
seen that they are distressed, that the people hath been oppressed, and the
people hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high
places, and in pits.
When the men of Israel saw they were in a strait, for the people
were distressed,.... By reason of the vast army that the Philistines brought into
the field, greatly superior to theirs, and were likely to be encompassed by
them on every side; so that nothing but destruction was expected, which gave
them the utmost anxiety and uneasiness; though Abarbinel refers this last
clause, not to the people of Israel, but to the people of the Philistines, and
takes it in this sense:
for the people drew nigh; the army of the
Philistines was approaching, and got near to them; and so they were in great
danger of being quickly attacked by them, and destroyed, their numbers being so
great:
then the people did hide themselves in caves; of which
there were many in the land of Judea, capable of receiving a large number, as
the cave of Adullam, the cave of Engedi, &c. and such as the Israelites
made to hide themselves when oppressed by the Midianites, Judges 6:2.
and in thickets; woods and forests, or among thorns, as
Jarchi; where there was a very great number of brambles and thorn bushes; some,
as Kimchi, interpret the word of munitions, garrisons, and fortified places, to
which they betook themselves:
in rocks, and in high places, and in pits; in the holes
of rocks and mountains, particularly in Mount Ephraim; see 1 Samuel 14:22 and
where there were any pits or ditches, high or deep places, where they might be
out of sight, and be sheltered from their enemies.
1 Samuel 13:7 7 And some of the
Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was
still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
YLT
7And Hebrews have passed
over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; and Saul [is] yet in Gilgal, and
all the people have trembled after him.
And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and
Gilead,.... As far off as they could from the Philistines, who lay on
the west of the land of Israel, and these countries were to the east. Kimchi
observes, that the land of Reuben is not mentioned, which was on the other side
Jordan also; because that was nearer to it than what was inhabited by Gad, and
the half tribe of Manasseh; and therefore they chose to go further, thinking
themselves there safer:
as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal; where he stayed till
Samuel should come to him, as directed, 1 Samuel 10:8 to
have his advice and counsel:
and all the people followed him trembling; all that were
with him, the army as distinct from the common people; they abode by him, and
were at his command, and were ready to go where he should direct them; but with
trembling hearts when they saw the pain of the people, fleeing into holes and
corners, and considered what a huge host the Philistines were coming upon them
with, and Samuel their prophet not with them to encourage and counsel them.
1 Samuel 13:8 8 Then he waited seven days,
according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the
people were scattered from him.
YLT
8And he waiteth seven days,
according to the appointment with Samuel, and Samuel hath not come to Gilgal,
and the people are scattered from off him.
And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel
had appointed,.... He tarried to the seventh day, but not to the end of it, or
towards the close of it, as he should have done:
but Samuel came not to Gilgal; so soon as Saul
expected:
and the people were scattered from him; many deserted
him, the Philistines drawing nigh, and Samuel not coming, as Saul expected, and
had given the people reason to expect.
1 Samuel 13:9 9 So Saul said, “Bring a
burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt
offering.
YLT
9And Saul saith, `Bring nigh
unto me the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings;' and he causeth the
burnt-offering to ascend.
And Saul said,.... Being impatient, and seeing the people
deserting him apace, and unwilling to engage in a battle without first sacrificing
to God, and imploring his help and assistance:
bring hither a burnt offering to me; that is, a creature for
a burnt offering, a bullock, sheep, goat, or lamb:
and peace offerings; which also were either
of the herd, or of the flock:
and he offered the burnt offering; either he himself, or by
a priest. In this unsettled time, while the tabernacle, altar, and ark, were at
different places, and not yet fixed, it is thought that such who were not
priests might offer, and that in high places, and where the tabernacle and
altar were not.
1 Samuel 13:10 10 Now it happened, as soon
as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul
went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
YLT
10And it cometh to pass at
his completing to cause the burnt-offering to ascend, that lo, Samuel hath
come, and Saul goeth out to meet him, to bless him;
And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of
offering the burn offering,.... And before he could offer the peace
offerings:
behold, Samuel came; and it was told Saul
that he was come:
and Saul went out to meet him; left off sacrificing,
and would proceed no further, leaving the rest for Samuel and out of respect to
him, and to prevent a chiding of him, he went forth to meet him:
that he might salute him, or "bless him"F3לברכו "ad benedicendum ei", Montanus. ;
congratulate him on his coming, ask of his health and welfare, and wish him all
peace and prosperity.
1 Samuel 13:11 11 And Samuel said, “What
have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me,
and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the
Philistines gathered together at Michmash,
YLT
11and Samuel saith, `What
hast thou done?' And Saul saith, `Because I saw that the people were scattered
from off me, and thou hadst not come at the appointment of the days, and the
Philistines are gathered to Michmash,
And Samuel said, what hast thou done? This question
he put to bring him to a confession of what he had done, otherwise he guessed at
it by his countenance; or rather, by the prophetic spirit he was endowed with,
he knew it certainly that he had offered the sacrifices without waiting for
him:
and Saul said because I saw the people were scattered from me; they were
deserting, and he feared, if he stayed any longer, they would all leave him;
this was one reason of doing what he did:
and that thou camest not within the days appointed; seven days
were appointed, and because the seventh day was come, though it was not gone,
he concluded Samuel would not come at all; and that was another reason why he
did what he did; and by this would have laid the blame on Samuel, as if he did
not keep his time; whereas it was Saul's impatience that hurried him to this
action:
and that the Philistines gathered themselves together to Michmash; where his
station before was, and from thence he might quickly expect them at Gilgal; and
this was another reason why he hastened the sacrifice.
1 Samuel 13:12 12 then I said, ‘The
Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made
supplication to the Lord.’
Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”
YLT
12and I say, Now do the
Philistines come down unto me to Gilgal, and the face of Jehovah I have not
appeased; and I force myself, and cause the burnt-offering to ascend.'
Therefore said I..... That is, within himself:
the Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal; on a sudden,
unprepared for them, especially in a religious way:
and I have not made supplication to the Lord; for his
direction and assistance, and for success in the war; which it seems went along
with sacrifices, or was implied in them:
I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering; it was
reluctant to him, it was against his will as well as the command of Samuel, to
offer before he came, he suggests; but such were the circumstances he was in,
that he was obliged to it; these are the reasons or excuses he made, and some
of them have a specious appearance in them.
1 Samuel 13:13 13 And Samuel said to Saul,
“You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God,
which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established
your kingdom over Israel forever.
YLT
13And Samuel saith unto Saul,
`Thou hast been foolish; thou hast not kept the command of Jehovah thy God,
which He commanded thee, for now had Jehovah established thy kingdom over
Israel unto the age;
And Samuel said to Saul, thou hast done foolishly,.... Not by
intruding himself into the priest's office, with that he is not charged, but
not waiting the full time till Samuel came; which showed his impatience,
disregard to Samuel, and distrust of God; and though he thought he had acted
wisely, and taken the proper precautions in his circumstances, yet he acted
foolishly; and though a king, Samuel being a prophet of the Lord, and in his
name, spared not to tell him so:
thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he
commanded thee; by his prophet, that he should wait seven days for his coming,
who would then offer sacrifices, and tell him what he should do; and not to
keep the commandment of God was acting a foolish part:
for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel
for ever; that is, for a long time, on his son, and son's son; and then,
according to promise and prophecy, it would come to one of the tribe of Judah;
but now seeing he had acted such a part, it should not continue long in his
family, no longer than his own life, and quickly come into other hands.
1 Samuel 13:14 14 But now your kingdom shall
not continue. The Lord
has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded
him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded
you.”
YLT
14and, now, thy kingdom doth
not stand, Jehovah hath sought for Himself a man according to His own heart,
and Jehovah chargeth him for leader over His people, for thou hast not kept
that which Jehovah commanded thee.'
But now thy kingdom shall not continue,.... That is,
in his family, nor in his tribe, but be removed to another:
the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart: who was
David; though as yet Samuel knew him not, he knew by divine revelation that
there was another one chosen, to whom the kingdom would be given; a man every
way agreeable to the will of God, and who would fulfil his will, though he knew
not particularly who he was:
and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people; that is, had
appointed him to be king over Israel. God's decrees have the force of a law in
them, and must be fulfilled; and cannot be resisted so as to be frustrated:
because thou hast not kept that which the Lord hath commanded thee; it matters
not whether the thing commanded is greater or less, it is disobedience to the
command that is the sin, and is resented: this might seem a small thing, since
to offer the sacrifice was not criminal; but doing it before the time, a little
before it should have been done, not waiting long enough for the prophet; yet
it being against the command of God, or in neglect of it, it was sinful, and
severely chastised; and the rather, that it might be an example to all
succeeding kings how they offended, or broke the least of God's commandments;
and this being the first king of Israel, he was made an example of to the rest.
1 Samuel 13:15 15 Then Samuel arose and went
up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.[c] And Saul
numbered the people present with him, about six hundred men.
YLT
15And Samuel riseth, and
goeth up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin; and Saul inspecteth the people who
are found with him, about six hundred men,
And Samuel arose,.... Seemingly in wrath and displeasure, not
staying to offer up the peace offerings which remained; and though no mention
is made of Saul's going with him, yet it seems as if he did, or at least
quickly followed him, as appears from the next verse:
and got him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin; the native
place of Saul, thereby directing Saul where he should go, and which might be a
stronger place than Gilgal; or however where he might expect to be joined by
more persons of his own tribe, as well as in the first place protect and defend
that; and it looks by Samuel's going thither, though he was displeased with
Saul, yet that he did not intend to forsake him directly and entirely:
and Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six
hundred men: which was done either before he left Gilgal, or as soon as he
came to Gibeah; so great a desertion was there from him, that of the 3000 first
chosen by him, and of the people after called and gathered to him at Gilgal,
only six hundred remained with him; a small number indeed to encounter so large
an army the Philistines had brought into the field, and which therefore Saul
could not face.
1 Samuel 13:16 16 Saul, Jonathan his son,
and the people present with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin. But the
Philistines encamped in Michmash.
YLT
16and Saul, and Jonathan his
son, and the people who are found with them, are abiding in Gibeah of Benjamin,
and the Philistines have encamped in Michmash.
And Saul, and Jonathan his son,.... Who were now joined
to their men, on Saul's coming to Gibeah:
and the people that were present with them; the six
hundred men before numbered: abode in Gibeah of Benjamin; being perhaps a
strong fortified place, not choosing to go forth to meet the army of the
Philistines, so vastly superior to them:
but the Philistines encamped at Michmash; the old
quarters of Saul before he went to Gilgal, 1 Samuel 13:2.
1 Samuel 13:17 17 Then raiders came out of
the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned onto the
road to Ophrah, to the land of Shual,
YLT
17And the destroyer goeth out
from the camp of the Philistines -- three detachments; the one detachment
turneth unto the way of Ophrah, unto the land of Shual;
And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three
companies,.... Saul not daring to come out to fight them, and there being
none throughout the land to oppose them, they sent out three companies of
soldiers to ravage and spoil the country; of so little use and service was a
king to Israel, they were so extremely desirous of; and this was suffered, to
convince them of their vain confidence in him, and that their trust ought to be
in the Lord their God; never was their country more exposed to rapine and
violence than now:
one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah; a city in the
land of Benjamin, of which see Joshua 18:23 and
lay southwest from Michmash, where the army of the Philistines were:
unto the land of Shual: which the Targum
paraphrases,"the land of the south;'it seems to have had its name from the
multitude of foxes in it, Shual signifying a fox.
1 Samuel 13:18 18 another company turned to
the road to Beth Horon, and another company turned to the road of
the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
YLT
18and the one detachment
turneth the way of Beth-Horon, and the one detachment turneth the way of the
border which is looking on the valley of the Zeboim, toward the wilderness.
And another company turned the way to Bethhoron,.... Of which
name there were two cities, the upper and nether, and both in the tribe of
Ephraim, of which see Joshua 16:3 this
lay northwest from the camp of the Philistines at Michmash; eight miles from
it, according to BuntingF4Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 133.
:
and another company turned to the way of the border, that looketh
towards the valley of Zeboim, toward the wilderness; some take
this to be the Zeboim which was destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah; and the
wilderness, the wilderness of Jordan; but as that, so the valley in which it
stood, was turned into a bituminous lake; this seems to be a city in the land
of Benjamin, Nehemiah 11:34 near
to which was a valley, and this towards the wilderness of Jericho, and so lay
eastward; the Targum calls it the valley of vipers, perhaps from its being
infested with many; and so David de PomisF5Tzemach David, fol. 13.
2. & 153. 1. says it is the name of a place where plenty of serpents were
found, and which he says were called so because of the variety of colours in
them; with which agrees Kimchi's note on the place; they seem to mean serpents
spottedF6 αιολον οφιν,
Homer. Iliad. 12. ver. 208. "notis maculosus grandibus", Virgil.
Georgic. l. 3. v. 427. , as if they were painted and dyed of various colours,
as the Hebrew word which is thus paraphrased signifies: according to BuntingF7Ut
supra. (Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 133.) , it was eight miles from
Michmash.
1 Samuel 13:19 19 Now there was no
blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines
said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.”
YLT
19And an artificer is not
found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, `Lest the Hebrews
make sword or spear;'
Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel,.... The
Philistines, when they ruled over them, having removed them into their own
country, and forbid any to learn or exercise that trade in Israel:
for the Philistines said, lest the Hebrews make swords or spears: this they did
to prevent their having arms, and the use of them, that they might not rebel
against them, and fight with them, and overcome them; it was a piece of policy
to keep them subject to them; so Nebuchadnezzar, when he conquered the Jews and
carried them captive, took care particularly to carry away their smiths, and
left none but the poorest sort of people in the land, 2 Kings 24:14 and
Porsena, king of the Etrusci, when he made a covenant with the Romans, upon the
expulsion of their kings, made this a condition of peace with them, that they
should use no iron but in husbandryF8Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 34. c. 14.
. When this course was taken by the Philistines with the Israelites, and how
long it had continued is not certain; it is probable it might be in the space
of forty years they ruled over Israel, in which Samson was born, for we never
read of any sword or spear that he made use of; and though there were two
battles in the times of Eli, in both which Israel were beaten, they might make
use only of bows and arrows, slings, and stones, clubs, &c, as also in the
battle of Saul with the Ammonites; and as for the defeat of the Philistines in
the time of Samuel, it was by thunder; and though the Philistines were then
subdued, yet, as Samuel grew old, they regained their power in a good measure,
and the Israelites had not spirit enough to oppose them, nor diligence and
industry to learn and revive the trade of smiths among them; not even for what
was necessary to husbandry, as the following verse shows.
1 Samuel 13:20 20 But all the Israelites
would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man’s plowshare, his mattock,
his ax, and his sickle;
YLT
20and all Israel go down to
the Philistines, to sharpen each his ploughshare, and his coulter, and his axe,
and his mattock;
But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines,.... Were
obliged to go into Palestine, into some one or other of the cities of the
Philistines, or to their garrisons, where the trade of a smith was exercised:
to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter; which are the
parts of the plough made of iron, with which the earth is cut and thrown up:
and his axe and his mattock; or pick axe; with the
one wood is felled and cut, and with the other stones are dug; and each of
these for their several uses needed sharpening; and when they did, they were
obliged to go to the Philistines to have them done, they having no smiths among
them.
1 Samuel 13:21 21 and the charge for a
sharpening was a pim[d] for the
plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the
goads.
YLT
21and there hath been the
file for mattocks, and for coulters, and for three-pronged rakes, and for the
axes, and to set up the goads.
Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and
for the forks, and for the axes,.... Those that would not go to the
Philistines, or were not able, or thought it too much trouble, these kept files
by them to sharpen those several instruments with upon occasion; though the words
are by some rendered in connection with the preceding, to this sense, that they
went to the Philistines to sharpen them, when the mouths, or edges, of the
mattocks, coulters, &c. were dull; or "blunt"F9והיתה הפצירה פים
"retusae itaque erant acies vomerum", V. L. "quandoquidem acies
cultrorum aratri", &c. "obtusae erant", Tigurine version. ;
and so needed sharpening; and even
to sharpen the goads; with which they pricked
and pushed on the oxen in ploughing, when sluggish and remiss. (The word for
"file" in the verse is פים "pim",
and occurs only here in the Hebrew scriptures. It is not used elsewhere in
other Hebrew writings. Therefore the translators of the 1611Authorised Version
had only the root derivation to deduce what the word meant. Literally, it means
"a file with mouths". However, recently archaeologists have found a
stone inscribed with this word. Also they found a stone inscribed with the word
"shekel". Hence they deduced that the word was really a weight of
measure equal to about one third of a shekel. Newer translations usually
translate this as "the charge was a third of a shekel...", hence
removing the obvious contradiction between this verse and the preceding one.
Editor.)
1 Samuel 13:22 22 So it came about, on the
day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any
of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with
Saul and Jonathan his son.
YLT
22And it hath been, in the
day of battle, that there hath not been found sword and spear in the hand of
any of the people who [are] with Saul and with Jonathan -- and there is found
to Saul and to Jonathan his son.
So it came to pass in the day of battle,.... When that
drew near, and they were called to it, and obliged to fight or flee, or
surrender:
that there were neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any
of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: which was not owing to
their leaving them behind in the camp, or casting them away from them through
fear, as they followed Saul with trembling, but to the cause now mentioned. In
what manner some preceding battles were fought with the Philistines and
Ammonites, notwithstanding, have been accounted for on 1 Samuel 13:19, but
it is strange that the Israelites did not furnish themselves with the arms of
the Philistines at the defeat of them in Ebenezer, 1 Samuel 7:10 and
with the arms of the Ammonites at Jabeshgilead, 1 Samuel 11:11 and
that such a warlike prince as Saul appeared at his first setting out to be
should not in the first place take care to provide armour for his men by some
means or another; for that those that left him should have arms, and not those
that abode with him, does not seem reasonable. It may be the Benjamites, being
expert in slinging, were indifferent to and neglected the use of any other
weapon, or method of fighting:
but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found; swords and
spears, and with them only.
1 Samuel 13:23 23 And the garrison of the
Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.
YLT
23And the station of the
Philistines goeth out unto the passage of Michmash.
And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of
Michmash. According to Jarchi, these two places, Michmash where the
Philistines were, and Gibeah where Saul and Jonathan were, lay on two hills
over against each other, and there was a valley between them; and the garrison
of the Philistines drew nigh to the passage of Michmash, which led to the side
of Gibeah, to the valley between them, either with an intention to besiege
Gibeah, or to dare Israel to come out and fight them: but rather it seems to be
some strong pass between the rocks near Michmash, where the garrison placed
themselves to guard and keep against any sudden surprise; see 1 Samuel 14:4. The
Targum is,"the governor of the Philistines went out to the ford or passage
of Michmash;'and Kimchi interprets it of the princes or generals of the army;
these might go to mark out a camp, and pitch upon a proper place to draw up in
a line of battle.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)