1 Samuel 14:52 Komentář

We left the host of Israel in a very ill posture, in the close of the foregoing chapter; we saw in them no wisdom, nor strength, nor goodness, to give us ground to expect any other than that they should all be cut off by the army of the Philistines; yet here we find that infinite power which works without means, and that infinite goodness which gives without merit, glorified in a happy turn to their affairs, that still Samuel's words may be made good: "The Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake," (Sa1 12:22). In this chapter we have, I. The host of the Philistines trampled upon, and triumphed over, by the faith and courage of Jonathan, who unknown to his father (Sa1 14:1-3), with his armour-bearer only, made a brave attack upon them, encouraging himself in the Lord his God (Sa1 14:4-7). He challenged them (Sa1 14:8-12), and, upon their acceptance of the challenge, charged them with such fury, or rather such faith, that he put them to flight, and set them one against another (Sa1 14:13-15), which gave opportunity to Saul and his forces, with other Israelites, to follow the blow, and gain a victory (Sa1 14:16-23). II. The host of Israel troubled and perplexed by the rashness and folly of Saul, who adjured the people to eat no food till night, which 1. Brought Jonathan to a praemunire (Sa1 14:24-30). 2. Was a temptation to the people, when the time of their fast had expired, to eat with the blood, (Sa1 14:31-35). Jonathan's error, through ignorance, had like to have been his death, but the people rescued him (Sa1 14:36-46). III. In the close we have a general account of Saul's exploits (Sa1 14:47, Sa1 14:48) and of his family (Sa1 14:49-52).

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 14 This chapter gives an account of an adventure of Jonathan and his armourbearer smiting a garrison of the Philistines, Sa1 14:1, which with other circumstances struck terror into the whole army; which being observed by Saul's spies, he and his men went out against them, and being joined by others, pursued them, and obtained a complete victory, Sa1 14:15, but what sullied the glory of the day was a rash oath of Saul's, adjuring the people not to eat any food till evening which Jonathan not hearing of ignorantly broke, Sa1 14:24 and which long fasting made the people so ravenous, that they slew their cattle, and ate them with the blood, contrary to the law of God, for which they were reproved by Saul, Sa1 14:32, upon which he built an altar, and inquired of the Lord whether he should pursue the Philistines all that night till morning, but had no answer; which made him conclude sin was committed, and which he inquired after, declaring that if it was his own son Jonathan that had committed it he should surely die, Sa1 14:35, the people being silent, he cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonathan; who had it not been for the resolution of the people that rescued him out of his hands, because of the great salvation he had wrought, must have died, Sa1 14:40 and the chapter is cited with an account of Saul's battles with the neighbouring nations in general, and of his family, Sa1 14:47.

And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul,.... For notwithstanding the late victory over them, and slaughter made among them, they recovered themselves, and came out again to battle, and gave Saul a great deal of trouble, and he at last died in battle with them: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him; to be his bodyguard, as Josephus (q) says; or for soldiers and officers in his army, even such, as the same writer observes, that exceeded others in comeliness of person, and in largeness and height; such as were in some measure like himself, that were strong, able bodied men, and of courage, and valour, and fortitude of mind. (q) Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 5.) Next: 1 Samuel Chapter 15

Such men, because they profitably stand over the chosen faithful, because they mightily advance their subjects to victories of virtues, it follows: "And there was fierce war against the Philistines all the days of Saul." The war of those teachers is weak and altogether feeble who have neither the light of divine knowledge nor the strength of good work. Therefore war is called powerful when harsh sons rule over the chosen peoples, because he is able to speak good things profitably to others who has been accustomed to precede his words with great deeds. But we must also subtly consider what is said in a more complex way: 'All the days of Saul'. What are the days of Saul, if not works of light? What is the war of a teacher other than what is waged by the tongue? Therefore he fights all his days who teaches others many things, yet puts forth nothing in his teaching except what first shines forth in his own work. For he fights in his own day who draws the words of preaching from the light of his own virtue. He therefore wishes to fight in another's day who strives to oppose wicked spirits not by speaking what he does, but by preaching what he knows. But he fights all his days, because he displays all the commandments of God in the light of his work, which he then wishes to set forth through the care of preaching. Rightly therefore is the war called powerful in which one fights with every kind of light of virtues and works. It can also be that by the statement that he fights all his days, the urgency of spiritual combat is signified. For he who leads a life full of virtues lives in days. Therefore the powerful war of the chosen teacher is recognized in all his days, because he is always seen to overcome evil spirits who is never separated from the light of virtues. But chosen men have the virtue of fighting and also the humility of fear. Through virtue they triumph, but through fear they do not cease to gather reinforcements. Hence they fight all the more bravely, the more they do not stop gathering forces for the conflict. Rightly therefore the cause of the powerful war is added: 'For whomever Saul saw to be a strong man and fit for battle, he joined him to himself.' As if to say: He was able to wage war powerfully for this reason, because he did not cease to gather an army. But since he is said to have allied to himself not only strong men but also those fit for battle, the prudent teacher is shown in choosing Christ's soldiers. For some are strong for bearing burdens, not for waging battles, because when they do not know how to fight from their own strength, they are utterly unable to do so. Therefore men who are strong and fit for battle are those who know how to fight and are willing. By their will they are indeed strong, and by their knowledge they are fit for fighting. The recklessness of some is therefore repelled from Christ's war, since those chosen are remembered as both fit and strong. For some know how to fight against the devil but are unwilling. They are indeed wise to do evil, but they do not know how to do good (Jer. 4:22). These wish to serve the ancient enemy; they refuse to resist him. For what would a teacher accomplish if he allied such men, fit for battle, to himself? Such men are more able to destroy others by their examples than the teacher himself is able to build up by his word. For often such men even dare to teach, yet they do not maintain the power of teaching by their practice. When they speak with us, they rush against the enemies, but through their deeds they suddenly turn their weapons into our own bowels. Like certain traitors in an army, they put on the armor of Christian doctrine, and by their examples they suddenly strike the little ones of Christ whom we thought they wished to protect by their speaking. Therefore strong men who are not fit must be repelled, not allied to us, because through wise but reprobate men our strength is destroyed, not increased. Who then are those who are strong but not fit, except those whom we see bearing the burdens of the world bravely, yet not knowing how to transfer their strength into the service of their Creator? For they bear the yoke of men and the great labors of the world bravely, but they are afraid to approach the service of God as though they were weak. What then are these, if not strong yet not fit — those who accomplish great things of the world yet cannot perform the light and gentle tasks of Christ? Often they are even converted in monasteries, and those who had bravely borne the burdens of the world sweat over the small tasks they perform as though amid great labors. What then is shown by these words, except that we should ally men to Christ's service with great discernment, and not grant entrance to those approaching before we know them to be both fit through knowledge and strong through good will? Moreover, the reason they can be called men strong and fit for battle is that they follow up the wars against Amalek, that is, the wars against lusts. For those who cannot extinguish carnal desires are not strong men. And those who are not fit for fighting on behalf of chastity do not appear fit for battle. Let the teacher therefore choose Christ's soldiers; let him choose strong men, so that while they bravely subdue the flesh, they may powerfully conquer the unclean spirits. Let him therefore choose men fit for battle, so that while they do not grow proud amid the gifts of their strength, they may be exalted in heavenly places by the glory of triumph.

There was indeed a mighty war against the Philistines, etc. The primary cause of the mighty war against the Philistines was this, because Saul was gathering all the strong and fit men for battle to himself. For if the king himself were not encircled by the hand of a stronger military, by no means would he be terrifying to the neighboring enemies, nor would he powerfully incite them to war; but as in the former times Israel had served them most disgracefully without any hope of freedom; thus surely, thus in the Church, all who are dissolved from good works, nor are endowed with the army of spiritual virtues; because being idle and neglectful we sin, we pay the enemy's tributes of evil conversation with weak languor from the hostile ones. But when we recover from servitude to sin, we resume the hope of victory, the enemy rises, and attacks us with more frequent and sharper stings of temptations, so that if possible, he may recall us to the servitude of crimes; or, if not possible, at least avenge by fiercely raging the injury of his own contempt. But let us pass from our morals to view the allegorical deeds of the ancients; and in the very beginning of the nascent Church, the more the stronger and more fit men for spiritual battle Christ was gathering to himself, the more spoils of souls at that time and they were frequently taking from unclean spirits; but also they were enduring greater struggles of martyrdom from the same.

Jonathan and his armor-bearer purpose to attack a garrison of the Philistines, Sa1 14:1. Saul and his army, with Ahiah the priest, tarry in Gibeah, Sa1 14:2, Sa1 14:3. Jonathan plans his attack of the Philistine garrison, Sa1 14:4-10. He and his armor-bearer climb over a rock: attack and rout the garrison, Sa1 14:11-15. Saul and has company, seeing confusion on the Philistine host, come out against them; as did the men who had hidden themselves; and the Philistines are defeated, Sa1 14:16-23. Saul lays every man under a curse who shall eat food until the evening; in consequence of which the people are sorely distressed, Sa1 14:24-26. Jonathan, not hearing the adjuration, eats a little honey, which he found on the ground, Sa1 14:27-30. The Philistines being defeated, the people seize on the spoil, and begin to eat flesh without previously bleeding the animals, which Saul endeavors to prevent, Sa1 14:31-34. He builds an altar there, Sa1 14:35. Inquires of the Lord if he may pursue the Philistines by night, but receives no answer, Sa1 14:36, Sa1 14:37. Attributes this to some sin committed by some unknown person: makes inquiry by lot; and finds that Jonathan had tasted the honey, on which he purposes to put him to death, Sa1 14:38-44. The people interpose, and rescue Jonathan, Sa1 14:45. Saul fights against the Moabites, Ammonites, and Amalekites, Sa1 14:46-48. An account of the family of Saul, Sa1 14:49-52.

When Saul saw any strong man - This was very politic. He thus continued to recruit his army with strong and effective men.

JONATHAN MIRACULOUSLY SMITES THE PHILISTINES' GARRISON. (Sa1 14:1-14) the Philistines' garrison--"the standing camp" (Sa1 13:23, Margin) "in the passage of Michmash" (Sa1 13:16), now Wady Es-Suweinit. "It begins in the neighborhood of Betin (Beth-el) and El-Bireh (Beetroth), and as it breaks through the ridge below these places, its sides form precipitous walls. On the right, about a quarter of an acre below, it again breaks off, and passes between high perpendicular precipices" [ROBINSON].