Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:1 - 13:7
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
The Invasion of the Philistines
v. 1. Saul reigned one year, literally, "A son of [probably forty] years was Saul when he became king"; and when he had reigned two years over Israel (he was king, as nearly as can be estimated, twenty-two years),
v. 2. Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, evidently from the total number of those who were able to bear arms; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash, some eight miles northeast of Jerusalem, and in Mount Bethel, the range on which the old Bethel lay, and a thousand were with Jonathan, the valiant son of Saul, in Gibeah of Benjamin; and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent, he dismissed them to their homes.
v. 3. And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, on the hill near his home town, 1Sa_10:5, thereby taking the offensive against the invaders; and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear; the Israelites, especially those living west of Jordan, should know of Jonathan's heroic exploit, arouse themselves to action against the oppressors, and fight for their freedom.
v. 4. And all Israel heard say that Saul, who is named as the chief commander of the military forces of Israel, had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines, literally, "was ill-smelling," Gen_34:30, said of one who is thoroughly despised and hated. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal, summoned to the old mustering-place to make ready for the campaign against the Philistines.
v. 5. And the Philistines gathered themselves together, they quickly mobilized an army, to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, or, one thousand, as the text seems originally to have had, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude; and they came up, from the lowlands of Philistia, and pitched in Michmash, where Saul had first been stationed, eastward from Beth-aven, literally, "over against, in front of, Beth-aven," which itself was east of Michmash, Jos_7:2.
v. 6. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, in a most difficult and dangerous position, (for the people were distressed, oppressed by the enemy, who robbed and plundered as they chose,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, secluded places in thorny undergrowth, and in rocks, in clefts and caves of the hills, and in high places, strongly built towers in lonely situations, and in pits.
v. 7. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, the territory of the two and one half tribes. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, in the lowlands near Jordan, and all the people, the soldiers summoned to duty against the oppressors, followed him trembling, literally, "they trembled after him," utterly lacking in the spirit necessary to throw off the yoke of the tyrants. It was a time of trial for Saul and for all Israel, a period such as comes upon all Christians from time to time, to test their faith.