1 Samuele 14:47 Commento

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).

Here is a general account of Saul's court and camp. 1. Of his court and family, the names of his sons and daughters (Sa1 14:49), and of his wife and his cousin-german that was general of his army, Sa1 14:50. There is mention of another wife of Saul's (Sa2 21:8), Rizpah, a secondary wife, and of the children he had by her. 2. Of his camp and military actions. (1.) How he levied his army: When he saw any strong valiant man, that was remarkably fit for service, he took him unto him (Sa1 14:52), as Samuel had told them the manner of the king would be (Sa1 8:11); and, if he must have a standing army, it was his prudence to fill it up with the ablest men he could make choice of. (2.) How he employed his army. He guarded his country against the insults of its enemies on every side, and prevented their incursions, Sa1 14:47, Sa1 14:48. It is supposed that he acted only defensively against those that used to invade the borders of Israel; and withersoever he turned himself, as there was occasion, he vexed them, by checking and disappointing them. But the enemies he struggled most with were the Philistines, with whom he had sore war all his days, Sa1 14:52. He had little reason to be proud of his royal dignity, nor had any of his neighbours cause to envy him, for he had little enjoyment of himself after he took the kingdom. He could not vex his enemies without some vexation to himself, such thorns are crowns quilted with.

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.

So Saul took the kingdom over Israel,.... Which seemed to be almost taken from him when he was shut up in Gibeah, and the Philistines ravaged his country at pleasure; but now, having obtained a victory over them, he recovered his kingdom, and reassumed his power and authority; or he was now strengthened in it, as Kimchi interprets it; the people seeing that he succeeded in his wars with their enemies, they readily submitted to his government without any hesitation, and obeyed his commands; so the Targum,"Saul prospered in the kingdom over Israel;''and, according to Abarbinel, these words will admit of another sense, that whereas, after he was anointed and made king, he followed the herd, and attended rustic affairs; but now, after this victory over the Philistines, he took upon him the state and majesty of a king, and no more concerned himself with his farm and cattle, but betook himself wholly to regal and military affairs, as follows: and fought against all his enemies on every side; who invaded his kingdom from different quarters; he defended himself against them, and preserved his kingdom: against Moab, and against the children of Ammon; who lay to the east of him: and against Edom; which was on the southern border of his land: and against the king of Zobah; a part of Syria, which was to the north of the land of Israel, and was near Damascus, see Sa2 8:3, and, according to Benjamin of Tudela (o), the same with Haleb, or Aleppo, There never were but two kings of it, Rehob and Hadadezer, who lived in the reigns of Saul and David, Sa2 8:3. and against the Philistines; who were on the western border of the land of Canaan: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them; disturbed and disquieted them, and made them very uneasy; he terrified and distressed them; the Targum is, he "condemned" them, he treated them as wicked and ungodly persons, and punished them as such. (o) Itinerar. p. 59.

The kingdom is indeed weakened when pastors fall into certain faults. But the weakened kingdom is strengthened when through the satisfaction of penance they are raised up to the work of great virtue. And it is said to be strengthened over Israel, because as one advances to the height of life, he surpasses by his conduct those whom he exceeds in rank. He is set over those who see God, but he is raised above those who see God when he is taken up beyond all others in divine contemplation. Rightly therefore it is said: "He fought against all his enemies, and wherever he turned he prevailed," because he who contemplates eternal things more deeply easily crushes whatever comes against him from below to fight. For since no earthly things now please him who reigns through great charity over Israel, that is, in heavenly things, wherever he turns, he prevails. For what can the malignant spirit suggest to him who considers no earthly things, who no longer loves any joys of the world? The teacher fights when he preaches, but he prevails, because what he prohibits in preaching from touching worldly delight, he persuades by the virtue of his conduct. And because he is said to fight on every side against his enemies, his victory is shown to be one of great praise. He teaches that the teacher is perfect on every side who has the strongest enemies on every side. Therefore when he is said to turn and prevail everywhere, how great is the glory proclaimed of him? What then does it mean that he is said to have enemies on every side, except that malignant spirits lie in ambush against all our senses? For they deceive some through speech, others through sight. Some they mislead through hearing, others through taste or smell. Still others they strive to drag into impurities through the snares of enticing delight or thought. To some they outwardly present obscene things, which they may then pursue by deliberation of the mind. But to show this encirclement more accurately: when they drag one toward pleasant things, they set their ambush as if on the right. When they cast another down through adversity, they press in as if from the left. When they invite us to past pleasures, they thrust us down as if from behind. They meet others as if from the front, because they often show to the minds of the weak the length of a strict way of life, as though giving counsel. For they come from the front because they do not allow souls to advance toward heaven. Therefore we have enemies on every side, because before, behind, on the right and on the left we endure the battle of malignant spirits. Hence the blessed apostle Peter also exhorts us, saying: "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour; resist him, steadfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8). But now we know the circuit of war; let us see how kings conquer by going around. They indeed conquer in the circuit who guard their tongue, and mouth, and eyes, and all the members of the body from unlawful action. For while they perfectly fortify the tongue through silence, they are, as it were, victors on one side; and while they see with their eyes things which they disdain to covet, they become victors on another side. Often too they hear evil things and repel them, and because they reject what is harmful, they triumph by rejecting it. Therefore they are victors in all their senses who refuse to be subjected to malign spirits through any one of them. But also when an unfit thought is presented to the heart, the enemy who is rejected is crushed. For he who casts away whatever is harmful powerfully presses down the enemy. And because he likewise despises pleasant things and does not fear adverse things, does not return to the perverse things he once left behind, and fervently runs toward heavenly things, he is shown to overcome the enemies whom he suffers round about. Among these adversaries indeed, because the ambushes set against the five bodily senses are signified, they are fittingly expressed by the number five. 'Against Moab', he says, 'and the sons of Ammon, and Edom, and the king of Zobah, and the Philistines.' For he who named the five nations designated the deceits of demons opposed to the five senses of the body. But because a teacher fights not only by living but also by teaching, when he disputes against all vices, when he slays them with the sword of the word in the minds of his hearers, he is surely seen to fight on every side, and wherever he turns, to overcome. But certain ones are specially named which principally stand against him: Against Moab, he says, and the sons of Ammon, Edom, and the king of Zobah, and the Philistines. Moab is interpreted "from the father," Ammon "people of sorrow," Edom "red," Zobah "burning" or "converting," Philistine "falling by the cup." For what is expressed by these names but the stages of the worst life? In Moab indeed, who is called "from the father," concupiscence is designated. In the reprobate mind, because it is planted by the devil, it is as though begotten from a father. But what is shown by Ammon, who is interpreted "people of sorrow," except the frequency of evil works? For because they are many, they are called a people, and because they lead each reprobate to the bitterness of eternal mourning, they are rightly named the people of sorrow. But Edom, who is called "red," what does he suggest but the excessive fervor of sinning? For first one becomes accustomed to sin, then through the habit of sinning advances to an increase of fervor, so that he dares to sin more often, and what he redoubles by daring, he always desires to repeat more ardently. By this ardor of sinning it comes about that in the reprobate mind whatever of virtue or good work had flourished is burned up. Therefore "burning" is described after Edom in the spiritual war, because such is the fall of the lost mind that when it fervently strives to heap up evils, it is despoiled of all goods as though consumed by fire and reduced to nothing. Zobah is also called "converting," because fervent sin both removes the image of God from the reprobate mind and reshapes it into the likeness of the apostate angel. Of which it is already said by divine sentence: When the wicked comes into the depth of evils, he despises (Prov. 18:3). The proud mind now scorns the divine commandments and subjects itself to carnal desires. Who then is the king of Zobah, except he of whom it is said to blessed Job by the Lord: He is king over all the children of pride (Job 41:2)? But the Philistines, who fall by the cup, who are they except those who are drunk with all the above-mentioned evils? Who so forget heavenly things that they seem to awaken to them either scarcely or never. By Moab, therefore, the concupiscence of the flesh is expressed; by Ammon, the frequent practice of evil operation; by Edom, the burning desire of sinning; by Zobah, the devastation and burning of virtues; by the Philistines, the forgetfulness of heavenly things. When therefore the chosen teacher seeks to lead someone out from the midst of so many snares, what a great contest of virtue does he undertake! And because from every stage of this perdition they return to repentance through the labor of teachers, wherever he turns he is said to overcome. For by preaching he sometimes slays concupiscence in someone's heart, sometimes the habit of wicked operation. Now he draws those who had passed into the habit of sinning, now those who, with their virtues burned up and reduced to nothing, were serving their king the devil as though set ablaze. And because by preaching he recalls heavenly things to mind, he rouses those falling by the cup and forgetful of heavenly things to the pursuit of the spiritual life, and inflames them ardently through love. Rightly therefore it is said: Wherever he turned, he overcame.

Against Moab and the sons of Ammon, and Edom, etc. Moab and Ammon, who were conceived by incest at night through the help of drunkenness, in which there is lust (Eph. V), signify heretics, degenerate by the disorderly reception of the seed of paternal faith. Edom, who, though the elder, was condemned to serve his younger brother, represents the Jewish people; who are subjected to the nations of the Gentiles throughout the world, both by the blindness of the perfidy of their minds and by the condition of earthly servitude. The kings of Zobah, the Philistines, and Amalek, about whom it is subsequently said.

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.

So Saul took the kingdom - The Targum appears to give the meaning of this expression: "Saul prospered in his government over Israel." And the proofs of his prosperity are immediately subjoined. Fought against all his enemies - Of the wars which are mentioned here we have no particulars; they must have endured a long time, and have been, at least in general, successful.

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].

So Saul . . . fought against all his enemies on every side--This signal triumph over the Philistines was followed, not only by their expulsion from the land of Israel, but by successful incursions against various hostile neighbors, whom he harassed though he did not subdue them. Next: 1 Samuel Chapter 15

General Summary of Saul's other Wars, and Account of his Family. - Sa1 14:47. "But Saul had taken the sovereignty." As Saul had first of all secured a recognition of himself as king on the part of all the tribes of Israel, through his victory over the Ammonites at Jabesh (Sa1 11:12.), so it was through the victory which he had gained over the Philistines, and by which these obstinate foes of Israel were driven back into their own land, that he first acquired the kingship over Israel, i.e., first really secured the regal authority over the Israelites. This is the meaning of המּלוּכה לכד; and this statement is not at variance either with the election of Saul by lot (Sa1 10:17.), or with his confirmation at Gilgal (Sa1 11:14-15). But as Saul had to fight for the sovereignty, and could only secure it by successful warfare, his other wars are placed in the foreground in the summary account of his reign which follows (Sa1 14:47, Sa1 14:48), whilst the notices concerning his family, which stand at the very beginning in the case of other kings, are not mentioned till afterwards (Sa1 14:49-51). Saul fought successfully against all the enemies of Israel round about; against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, a district of Syria on this side the Euphrates (see at Sa2 8:3), and against the Philistines. The war against the Ammonites is described in Sa1 11:1-15; but with the Philistines Saul had to wage repeated war all the days of his life (Sa1 14:52). The other wars are none of them more fully described, simply because they were of no importance to the history of the kingdom of God, having neither furnished occasion for any miraculous displays of divine omnipotence, nor brought about the subjection of hostile nations to the power of Israel. "Whithersoever he turned, he inflicted punishment." This is the rendering which Luther has very aptly given to ירשׁיא; for הרשׁיע signifies to declare wrong, hence to condemn, more especially as applied to judges: here it denotes sentence or condemnation by deeds. Saul chastised these nations for their attacks upon Israel. Sa1 14:48 "And he acquired power;" חיל עשׂה (as in Num 24:18) does not merely signify he proved himself brave, or he formed an army, but denotes the development and unfolding of power in various respects. Here it relates more particularly to the development of strength in the war against Amalek, by virtue of which Saul smote this arch-enemy of Israel, and put an end to their depredations. This war is described more fully in 1 Samuel 15, on account of its consequences in relation to Saul's own sovereignty. Sa1 14:49-51 Saul's family. - Sa1 14:49. Only three of his sons are mentioned, namely those who fell with him, according to Sa1 31:2, in the war with the Philistines. Jisvi is only another name for Abinadab (Sa1 31:2; Ch1 8:33; Ch1 9:39). In these passages in the Chronicles there is a fourth mentioned, Esh-baal, i.e., the one who is called Ish-bosheth in Sa2 2:8, etc., and who was set up by Abner as the antagonist of David. The reason why he is not mentioned here it is impossible to determine. It may be that the name has fallen out simply through some mistake in copying: the daughters Michal and Merab are mentioned, with special reference to the occurrence described in Sa1 18:17. Sa1 14:50-51 Abner the general was also Saul's cousin. For "son of Abiel" (ben Abiel) we must read "sons of Abiel" (bne Abiel: see Sa1 9:1). Sa1 14:52 The statement, "and the war was hard (severe) against the Philistines as long as Saul lived," merely serves to explain the notice which follows, namely, that Saul took or drew to himself every strong man and every brave man that he saw. If we observe this, which is the true relation between the two clauses in this verse, the appearance of abruptness which we find in the first notice completely vanishes, and the verse follows very suitably upon the allusion to the general. The meaning might be expressed in this manner: And as Saul had to carry on a severe war against the Philistines his whole life long, he drew to himself every powerful man and every brave man that he met with.