Withdraw thine hand - i. e., “Desist from what thou art about.” Saul in his impatience to join the battle would not wait for the answer from God, which he had desired Ahijah to inquire for; just as later 1 Samuel 14:35 he would not wait to finish the altar which he had begun to build. Had he now waited he would doubtless have avoided the error into which he fell. read more
Assembled themselves - See marg. Many versions give the sense “shouted,” which is far preferable, and only requires a different punctuation. read more
1 Samuel 14:18-19. Saul said, Bring hither the ark of God Finding only Jonathan and his armour-bearer missing, Saul did not know what to conclude, and therefore called in all haste for Ahiah the priest, to inquire of the Lord concerning it, and in what manner he and the people with him were to act. But before the priest had performed his office, the rout and flight of the Philistines were perceived so plainly that Saul called to the priest to desist, or, as it is expressed, to withdraw his... read more
1 Samuel 14:20-21. There was a very great discomfiture Namely, in the army of the Philistines; which, it is likely, consisted of various nations, and in the confusion into which they were thrown, they fell upon one another, not distinguishing friends from enemies. The Hebrews that were with the Philistines Having gone with their army, either by constraint, as servants, or in policy, to gain their favour and protection. They also turned to be with the Israelites In the midst of this... read more
War against the Philistines (13:15-14:46)After Samuel left Gilgal, Saul took his troops and joined with the other section of the Israelite army, which was under Jonathan. Together they prepared for the battle against the Philistines (15-18). The Philistines were confident of victory, partly because for many years they had so controlled metal-working activities in the area that the Israelites owned hardly any weapons. This enabled the Philistines to raid throughout Israel without fear of strong... read more
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... read more
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". read more
assembled themselves = were assembled (by proclamation). every man's . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . read more
18. Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God—There is no evidence that the ark had been brought from Kirjath-jearim. The Septuagint version is preferable; which, by a slight variation of the text, reads, "the ephod"; that is, the priestly cape, which the high priest put on when consulting the oracle. That this should be at hand is natural, from the presence of Ahiah himself, as well as the nearness of Nob, where the tabernacle was then situated. read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 14:18
For “the ark,” some read “the ephod,” owing to the improbability of the ark being with Saul at this time, and from the verb “Bring hither” being never applied to the ark, but regularly to the ephod 1Sa 23:9; 1 Samuel 30:7. Moreover, not the ark, but the ephod with Urim and Thummim, was the proper instrument for inquiring of the Lord. If, however, the Hebrew text is correct, they must have brought the ark into Saul’s camp from Kirjath-jearim 1 Samuel 7:0, possibly to be safe from the Philistines. read more