In thickets - literally, “among thorns.”High places - Not the high places for worship, but holds or towers Judges 9:46, Judges 9:49; that particular kind of tower which was the work of the old Canaanite inhabitants, and which remained as ruins in the time of Saul. read more
The words “some of,” which are the emphatic words in the King James Version, as distinguishing those who crossed the Jordan from those who hid themselves, are not in the Hebrew at all. The “Hebrews” seem to be distinguished from the “men of Israel” in 1 Samuel 13:6. (Compare 1 Samuel 14:21.) read more
1 Samuel 13:5. Thirty thousand chariots The Syriac and Arabic copies mention only three thousand chariots, which seems to be the true reading; for there is no foundation for believing that the Philistines could bring into the field thirty thousand chariots of war. Indeed we read of nothing like it in all history. Or, we may suppose that most of them were but carriages for the baggage of the army. read more
1 Samuel 13:6. Israel saw that they were in a strait Though their wonderful success against the Ammonites had encouraged them to obey the summons of such a prosperous leader as Saul had been; yet when they saw the vast army of the Philistines, how well they were appointed, and themselves unprovided, their hearts failed them, and they slunk away from him as fast as they had flocked to him. The people were distressed Notwithstanding their former presumption, that if they had a king they... read more
1 Samuel 13:7-8. Some of the Hebrews went over Jordan They fled as far as they could from the present danger, even into the country of the two tribes and a half. All the people followed him trembling That is, all that were left, who, it appears, were not many. He tarried seven days Not seven complete days, for the last day was not finished. According to the set time that Samuel had appointed This seems to refer to the command given two years before, and recorded 1 Samuel 10:8: see the... read more
13:1-15:35 SAUL’S EARLY VICTORIESPreparing to fight the Philistines (13:1-14)Israel’s regular army consisted of two divisions, one under the command of Saul, the other under the command of Saul’s son Jonathan. Other fighting men were called to join the army when needed. Such a need arose when Jonathan attacked a Philistine camp, and the Philistines replied by sending a large army to attack Israel (13:1-6a).In a time of national emergency, Saul was apparently to go to Gilgal, where he was to... read more
thirty thousand . . . six , &c. Multiples of six. See App-10 . as the sand , &c. Figure of speech Parcemia. App-6 . read more
men. Hebrew. 'ish. . App-14 . distressed = pressed: i.e. into Saul's service. and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 . read more
the Hebrews went over . Figure of speech Paronomasia (Revelation 6:0; Revelation 6:0 ), `ibrim `abru. read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:5
Thirty thousand chariots - Probably a copyist’s mistake for 300. (Compare, for a similar numerical variation, 1 Chronicles 18:4 with 2 Samuel 8:4.)Eastward from Bethaven - Or more simply “to the east of Bethaven,” which Joshua 7:2 lay “on the east side of Bethel.” Bethaven (thought to be the same as Deir Diwan) lay between Bethel and Michmash, which had been evacuated by Saul. read more