Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 14

Verse 1

a day : i.e. a certain day.

Verse 2

a pomegranate tree = the pomegranate tree: i.e. the well-known one.

Migron . North of Gilgal.

men. Heb, 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 3

Ahiah (= brother or friend of Jehovah). As Ahimelech (brother or friend of the king) was also the son of Ahitub, therefore Ahiah and Ahimelech were brothers, and the latter succeeded the former (1 Samuel 22:11 ). I-chabod's. Compare 1 Samuel 4:21 .

the LORD'S . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

wearing an ephod . See note on 1 Samuel 14:18 .

Verse 4

sharp rock = a crag. Hebrew. sela '. See notes on Exodus 17:6 . Psalms 18:1 , Psalms 18:2 .

and. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, omit this "and".

Bozez = Shining.

Seneh = Sharp, or pointed. Hebrew = thorn.

Verse 5

was situate. Hebrew. mazuk, only here, and 1 Samuel 2:8 the sharp crag, or pillar of 1 Samuel 14:4 .

Michmash . Nine miles from Jerusalem.

Gibeah = - Geba.

Verse 6

the LORD (Jehovah) will work . Note the language of faith. Compare 2 Chronicles 14:11 .

Verse 7

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 8

men. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 9

Tarry = keep quiet.

Verse 10

hand . Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "hands ".

Verse 11

the Hebrews . Compare 1 Samuel 14:21 .

Verse 12

shew you a thing = tell you something.

Verse 14

acre . Hebrew = furrow, or a furrow's length. The Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) is supplied, but the words "in a day" might be added for completeness at end of verse. This is the standard measure throughout the Turkish empire, called a deunum = 40 arshuns.

Verse 15

host = camp.

trembled = were panic-stricken. Compare 2 Samuel 5:24 . 2 Kings 7:6 ; 2 Kings 19:7 .

a very great trembling = a preternatural trembling. Hebrew a trembling from Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 16

and they went on beating down , &c. Hebrew hither and thither. A supposed Ellipsis is unnecessarily supplied. Read "melted away hither and thither", with Septuagint and Syriac.

Verse 18

the ark of God . The word rendered "bring" (nayash) inappropriate for the Ark, which was at Kirjath-jearim (Judges 20:27 , and compare 2 Samuel 11:11 ; 2 Samuel 15:24 ). The Septuagint reads "the ephod, for he bare the ephod at that time before Israel". Compare 1 Samuel 14:3 . The context shows that inquiry of the LORD by Urim and Thummim was in Saul's mind. See 1 Samuel 14:18 and note on Exodus 28:30 , and compare 1 Samuel 28:6 , 1Sa 28:9 ; 1 Samuel 30:7 , 1 Samuel 30:8 , where the same word is used for "bring".

God . Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 . Literally "the God".

children = sons.

Verse 19

talked : i.e. concerning the inquiry proposed.

Withdraw : i.e. from the ephod = Stop!

hand. Some codices, with three early printed editions, and Septuagint, read "hands".

Verse 20

assembled themselves = were assembled (by proclamation).

every man's . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 21

the Hebrews . Called so in distinction from the foreigners among whom they lived; referring to language rather than nationality. Compare 1 Samuel 14:11 . turned. Septuagint and Vulgate read "turned round".

Verse 22

mount = hill country of.

Verse 23

the LORD (Jehovah) saved : according to Jonathan's faith.

unto. Some codices, with Aramaean and Vulgate, read "as far as".

Beth-aven. The Septuagint adds: "and all the people with Saul were about 10,000 men: and the battle extended itself to every city in the mount Ephraim. And Saul committed a great trespass of ignorance on that day. "

Verse 24

food. Hebrew "bread", put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 , for all kinds of food.

Verse 25

the ground. Hebrew "the face (i.e. surface) of the ground". Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 .

Verse 26

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

Verse 27

an honeycomb. The Hebrew ya'ar never means honeycomb, but "a wood". It is rendered "forest" thirty-eight times, "wood" nineteen times, "honey-comb" only here and Song of Solomon 5:15

Verse 28

straitly = strictly.

faint = weary.

Verse 29

land = people. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 .

Verse 30

How. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 33

sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

transgressed = dealt treacherously.

this day . Septuagint reads "here".

Verse 34

his ox with him. Septuagint reads "what was in his hand".

Verse 41

the LORD = Jehovah. Punctuate thus: "Saul said unto Jehovah: `O God of Israel' ", &c.

Give a perfect lot = Give perfections: i.e. Thummim. See Exodus 28:30 . There is evidently a Homceoteleuton ( App-6 ) here. The scribes, having written the word "Israel", went forward to the word "Israel "a line or two farther on, and omitted the words between, which are preserved in two ancient versions, older than any Hebrew manuscript extant. These omitted words are enclosed within brackets below, in the translation given of the Septuagint version:-" LORD God of Israel, [Why hast thou not answered Thy servant this day? Is the iniquity in me, or in Jonathan my son? LORD God of Israel, Give clear [manifestation, i.e. Urim]; and if [the lot] should declare this, give, I pray Thee, to Thy People Israel, give, I pray, holiness" (i.e. Thummim, a perfect lot). The Hebrew (unpointed) thamim (perfect) would thus have been Thummim.

Verse 43

lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 44

do so . Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, add "unto me".

Verse 45

not one hair , &c. Figure of speech Parcemia. App-6 .

rescued . Hebrew pieta = redeemed. See note on Exodus 6:6 with Exodus 13:13 . Perhaps a victim was offered in his stead.

Verse 47

and . Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in verses: 1 Samuel 14:47-48 .

children = sons.

he vexed them = he put them to the worse. But Septuagint reads "he was victorious".

Verse 48

an host . Hebrew "power". Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , put for the army which manifested the power. Or, it may be rendered "he wrought mightily".

Verse 49

Ishui . Called Abinadab in 1 Samuel 31:2 .

Verse 51

Kish was the father of Saul. For the difficulties of this genealogy, see note on 1 Chronicles 8:33 .

Verse 52

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

valiant man . Hebrew son of valour.

he took him . As Samuel had said (1 Samuel 8:11 , 1 Samuel 8:16 ).