The First Book of Samuel, otherwise called the First Book of the Kings
1 Samuel 14
Chapter XIV · Vol. II, pp. 647–651
1 Jonathan, without the knowledge of his father or any of the people, goeth and miraculously smiteth the Philistines' garrison. 15 A divine terror maketh them beat themselves. 17 Saul, not staying the priest's answer, setteth on them. 21 The captivated Hebrews, and the hidden Israelites, join against them. 24 Saul's unadvised adjuration hindereth the victory. 32 He restraineth the people from eating blood. 35 He buildeth an altar. 38 Jonathan, taken by lot, is saved by the people. 49 Saul's strength and family.
1 Now it came to pass upon a 1day, athat Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But bhe told not his father.
2 And Saul tarried cin the uttermost part of Gibeah, under a pomegranate tree2 which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men,
c ch.13.15,16. Is.10.28,29.
2 The pomegranate, though a beautiful fruit-tree, is of small size, and little calculated for a dwelling, either by its own shade, or by the admission of a tent under its boughs. The word translated pomegranate should more probably be retained as a proper name—Rimmon, a rock previously mentioned, Ju.29.45.—C.
3 And dAhiah the son of Ahitub, I-chabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, ethe LORD's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
d Or, Ahimelech, ch.22.9,12; 4.21.
e Ex.28.30.
4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock3 on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez,4 and the name of the other Seneh.5
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3 'Tooth of a rock.' Whoever has examined a fragment of dog-tooth spar, and compared it with any good pictorial view of the mighty Himalayas, or smaller pointed rocks, will have no difficulty in perceiving the accuracy of the Hebrew description.—C.
4 'Mud,' hence derivatively, slippery—also, 'in him the flower.' The last is most probably the meaning, from the rock flowers by which it was adorned.—C.
5 'A bush.'—C.
5 The fore-front6 of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.7
6 Heb. tooth.
7 Hebrew, 'Geba,' not Gibeah.—P.
6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, fCome, and let us go over unto the garrison of these guncircumcised; hit may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.8
g ch.17.36. Ep.2.11,12. Ge.17.7-12.
h De.32.36. Ju.7.7. 2 Ch.14.11. Ps.115.3. Mat.19.26. Zec.4.6. Ro.8.31. He.13.5,6. Is.41.10,14-16. ch.17.47.
8 A pious reflection, and a literal truth, teaching a most important lesson, viz.—That no man should ever despair of doing good because he is nearly alone; for if God employ a man, he will surely do his work by him.—C.
7 And his armour-bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.9
9 The greatest works have usually been effected by two associates: for example:—Moses and Aaron, Jonathan and his armour-bearer, the seventy disciples, sent two and two—an historical and divine testimony to the value of friendship, whereby God ordinarily effects his purposes in churches and kingdoms.—C.
8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
9 Ifi they say thus unto us, Tarry1 until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
i Ge.24.13,14; 15.8. Ju.6.36,37; 7.10-15. Ex.4.2-8. 2 Sa.5.24. 2 Ki.13.16-19; 19.29; 20.9-11.
1 Heb. be still.
10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand; and this shall be a sign unto us.
11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews2 come forth kout of the holes where they had hid themselves.
2 This recurrence of the word 'Hebrews,' as a general name for the Israelites, confirms the notes on ch.13.3,7,19.—C.
k ch.13.6; ver.22. Ju.6.2.
12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and said, Comel up to us, and we will show you a thing.3 And Jonathan said unto his armour-bearer, Come up after me; for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
l Ju.7.14. ch.17.45.
3 An example among thousands of the danger of despising an enemy. 'Come up,' meaning it is impossible. 'We will show you a thing'—a sword—death.—C.
13 And Jonathan mclimbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armour-bearer after him: and they nfell before Jonathan;4 and his armour-bearer slew after him.
m Ps.18.29. He.11.34. ch.17.51,52.
n Le.26.7,8. Ro.8.31. 2 Ch.14.11.
4 When Jonathan drew near the foot of the almost perpendicular rock, the Philistines lost sight of him, so that he fell upon them unawares.—C.
14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre5 of land, which a yoke of oxen might plough.6
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5 Or, half a furrow of an acre of land.
6 The meaning of the original, and of any translation hitherto proposed, is very obscure. It is evidently intended to convey the idea of a narrow space on the top of the rock, inclosed perhaps as by a yoke from which they could not escape.—C.
15 And othere was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the pgarrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled; and the earth quaked:7 so it was qa very great trembling.
o Jos.2.9; 23.10. Ps.27.2; 48.5,6; 118.10-12. Job 18.11. 2 Ki.7.6. Ex.15.15,16.
p ch.13.16-18,23.
7 Not an earthquake; for such is the terror inspired by an earthquake, that armies have, at the first motion, by common consent instantly ceased to fight. The earth in this case seems to have quaked with the tumult.—C.
q Heb. a trembling of God, Ge.35.5. Le.26.36,37. 2 Sa.5.25. Da.5.6. Ps.48.5,6.
16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.
17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not there.
18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, rBring hither the ark of God:8 (for sthe ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.)
r Ex.28.30. Nu.27.21. Ju.1.1; 20.18,23,28.
8 The ark had been brought to the camp from Kirjath-jearim, ch.7.1.—C.
s Not with the Philistines, as ch.5.1; nor lost, as in Ezra's time.
19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise9 that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and tSaul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.1
20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves,2 and they came to the battle: and, behold, uevery man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.
2 Heb. were cried together.
u Ju.7.22. 2 Ch.20.23.
21 Moreover,x the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
x ch.29.4.
22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had yhid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
y ch.13.6; ver.11. Ju.6.2. ch.31.7.
23 So the LORD zsaved Israel that day:3 and athe battle passed over unto Beth-aven.
z Ju.2.18; 6.14. 2 Ki.14.27. Ps.44.2. Ho.1.7.
3 National deliverances occur in the history of all countries, and are recorded by all people in their history, celebrated in their songs, and perpetuated—if men could perpetuate anything—in their monuments. But, alas! in all these how seldom is God acknowledged. In the Bible it is otherwise—though Saul and Jonathan are valiant, and all the people follow—the Lord saves Israel.—C.
a ch.13.5, with ver.2. Jos.7.2.
24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for bSaul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening,4 that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped;5 but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people fearedd the oath.
5 In warm countries where there is much uncultivated land, and where consequently flowers abound, honey is exceedingly plentiful: the bees fixing their combs in hollows of rocks and trees, and even in cavities in the ground. The collision of branches produced by the turmoil of the flight and pursuit may account for the dropping of the honey.—C.
d Ec.9.2.
27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honey-comb,6 and put his hand to his mouth: and ehis eyes were enlightened.7
6 Or, wood-honey.
e ch.30.12.
7 He had been near fainting, which is usually preceded by tingling of the ears and indistinctness and dimness of sight. And it is truly astonishing how little will sometimes revive the sinking powers—a few drops of water sprinkled or tasted, some pungent or aromatic smell, a mouthful of some simple food, or a few grains of common salt—being usually sufficient. So weak is man, so merciful is Providence.—C.
28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly8 charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.9
8 Heb. adjuring, adjured.
9 Or, weary.
29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey;
30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?1
1 But now that the defeat of the Philistines is not great.
31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to fAijalon: and the people were very faint.
f Perhaps not that Jos.10.12; 19.42, or Ju.12.12, but that 2 Ch.11.10, about 12 miles westward from Michmash.
32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people gdid eat them with the blood.2
g Ge.9.4. Le.7.26; 3.17; 19.26; 17.10,11,14. De.12.16.
2 They ate the raw flesh with the blood, which God had strictly forbidden, De. 12. 23. This was accordingly a direct sin against the law, another demonstration of the folly and rashness, nay, blasphemous, because vain and unnecessary adjuration of the hasty monarch.—Note, One man's sin may easily become the cause of the sin of another. No excuse for the man thus led or driven into guilt, but a terrible aggravation of the crime of him that so leads or drives him.—C.
33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have htransgressed: iroll a great stone unto me this day.
34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him3 that night, and slew them there.
3 Heb. in his hand.
35 And Saul kbuilt an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.4
k Ju.21.4. ch.7.9,17, with 11.11. Ge.8.20; 12.7,8.
4 A comparison of the conduct of Abraham and Saul, though Saul was placed in circumstances so much more favourable, would tell wonderfully to Saul's disadvantage. Almost every movement of Abraham is marked by an altar to God; Saul had never thought of erecting one till now.—Note, What shall we say of those fathers and mothers who have never yet established God's worship in their houses? They are yet worse than Saul, he at last built an altar to the Lord.—C.
36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, lLet us draw near hither unto God.5
l Ja.4.8. Nu.27.21. Ju.1.1; 20.18. ver.18,19; ch.23.2,4,11,12; 30.7,8.
5 Saul's precipitancy appears even in his religion. He builds an altar, but before seeking God's direction at it, he resolves to pursue the Philistines, nor ever thinks of consulting God till recalled to his duty by the high-priest.—Note, It is always difficult to give advice to kings. Blessed are they who have faithful men to tell them of their faults and exhort them to seek the Lord.—C.
37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But mhe answered him not that day.
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m ch.28.6 with ver.18,19,24.
38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither all the nchief of the people; and oknow and see wherein this sin hath been this day:
n Heb. corners, 2 Sa.18.3. Ju.20.2. Ps.47.9. Zec.10.4.
o Jos.7.1,12-15. ch.10.19.
39 For as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.6 But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
6 Another melancholy example of Saul's impious precipitancy.—Note, Let every man be warned against rash and inconsiderate vows. C.——This was quite in keeping with Saul's reckless character. He had formerly interrupted the priest when asking counsel of the Lord, ver. 19, and afterwards made a most senseless adjuration to the people to abstain from food; and now, before the lots are cast, he rashly swears to put the offender to death, were it his own son (who had under God obtained the victory), without waiting to know what the crime was, or whether it really deserved death, or might not be expiated by a sin-offering.—I.
40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, pGive a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken; but the people 7escaped.
p Or, show the innocent, Pr.16.33. Ac.1.24.—[There is no mention of a lot in the original, which Gesenius translates, 'Give truth,' i.e. a true decision. Yet with all Saul's presumption, we can scarcely suppose him using language which savours of impious profanity. The marginal translation seems preferable: unless we rather adopt the clause added in the Greek and Latin versions: 'If this iniquity be in me or in Jonathan my son, give urim; or if this iniquity be in thy people, give thummim,' for the word translated 'perfect' is in the Heb. 'thummim.'—I.]
7 Heb. went forth.
42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, qI did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
q ver.27-30.
44 And Saul answered, rGod do so, and more also: for sthou shalt surely die, Jonathan.8
r Ru.1.17. ch.17.43; 25.22. 2 Sa.3.9,35; 19.13.
8 Unhappy monarch! the bravest man, and the best of sons, is doomed to die by rashness and impiety. But was he not so doomed of the Lord? No. God makes the discovery of the act of Jonathan in taking the honey, and of the guilt of Saul in making the vow.—C.
45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath twrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, uthere shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for xhe hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
47 So Saul ytook the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against zMoab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of aZobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.
y ch.13.1. Da.7.27. 2 Ki.14.27.
z Ge.19.37,38; xxxvi. Ex.15.14,15. De.23.3-7. Ju.3.12-14; 10.7,11; xiii.-xvi. ch.iv.vii.xi.
a 2 Sa.8.3,5,12; 10.6,8.
48 And he gathered9 an host, and bsmote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
9 Or, wrought mightily.
b Ex.17.14,16. De.25.19. ch.15.3,7.
49 Nowc the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the first-born Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
c ch.31.2; 18.17-21. 1 Ch.8.33-40; 9.39-44.
50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz; and dthe name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle:
d ch.17.55; 10.14,15. 2 Sa.2.8.
51 And eKish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.1
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1 The word 'was,' being in italic letter, tells the reader that it is not in the original Hebrew, but is supplied by the translators; and here its insertion has obscured or rather misrepresented the meaning, for it is the evident intention of the sacred historian to tell that both Kish and Ner were the sons of Abiel.—C.
Notes
[Ver. 1. He told not his father. This was not only a military but a filial fault in Jonathan, for which it is more than probable, from the whole history of Saul, that his conduct afforded his amiable and valiant son but too much excuse.—Note, If there be any one thing which, next to piety, it is important for parents to cultivate in their children, it is that of filial confidence in their wisdom, temper, and integrity. For want of this Saul nearly lost his son, and finally ruined his family and lost his kingdom. C.]
Ver. 2. [Saul had retreated some little distance southward from Geba, and encamped at Migron, on the border of the territory of Gibeah, probably in order to be nearer Samuel in case of an attack on the part of the Philistines. P.]
Ver. 16. [The details of this most remarkable adventure and victory, which are here recorded with great minuteness, may be thus summed up. The two armies were separated by the deep and almost impassable ravine then called 'the Pass of Michmash,' now Wady Suweinît, which runs down eastward to the Jordan. On the opposite banks of the ravine, facing each other, are precipitous cliffs rising up into jagged tooth-like points. Jonathan determined to cross the ravine, and by a sudden attack throw the camp into confusion. He and his armour-bearer descended the southern cliff undiscovered; they then clambered up the northern cliff until reaching a projecting crag they showed themselves to the Philistine sentinels. Encouraged by the words of the enemy, they climbed to the top on their hands and feet, made a sudden and bold attack and slew the sentinels. The outpost was thrown into confusion; the confusion spread to the camp; a panic seized the whole host; it was increased by the shock of an earthquake, and the Philistines fled in terror. The camp of Saul observed the commotion, consulted the high-priest, and dashed away in pursuit of the enemy, who were driven with great slaughter through the mountain passes down into the western plain. From that day till the fatal battle of Gilboa Israel was freed from the incursions of the Philistines. P.]
Ver. 26. [No man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. This surprising self-denial out of regard to Saul's curse may, no doubt, be justly traced to superstition; for the curse causeless will not come: still, it is a superstition nearly akin to what is good, that solemn respect for an oath of which so many examples occur in the history of Israel. See Jos. 9. 19.—Note, Superstition is always better than infidelity; superstition is an erroneous addition to some good principle admitted; infidelity is the denial of every good principle, and the substitution either of nothing or of evil. C.]
Reflections.—Carnal men are often more anxious for the presence of God's ministers than for his own. But how seasonable are God's interpositions for the deliverance of his people! He makes the faith of his servants strong, and then delights to crown their strong faith with signal victories and honours. The proud derision of their enemies issues in terrible destruction. Yea, the mightiest armies, in the hand of such an angry God, make a most pitiful appearance. And it is easy for the weakest cowards to pursue those whom the Lord hath routed. In all our ways it is best to consult God's word. But how ready are wicked consulters, like Saul, to take their own way, without waiting for an answer! Yet rash expedients, to obtain carnal ends, are often the noted hindrances of these ends. And such as cast abroad curses, firebrands, and death, endanger themselves and families; and entangle their children, who are far better than themselves. When God refuses to answer, it is an evidence that he is angry; and it is time to think seriously in what we have offended him. Violent tempers are prone to sacrifice their nearest relations to their angry passions. In such a case we ought to resist them, kings not excepted; and to protect such as are not only innocent, but honoured of God. Wicked men's zeal often flames in trifling matters, while it languishes in things important; and rash cursing bids fair to end in profane perjury. The comforts and honours of royalty are dearly bought by the constant care, danger, and toil which attend them. And often men's earthly glory makes a blaze just before the dark night of ignominy and woe seizes upon them.